Marcia Ohmie Ashton

Profile Updated: November 8, 2021
Residing In: Wichita, KS USA
Spouse/Partner: Widowed - Married to John Ashton 21 years. Best years of my life.
Occupations: Worked and retired from SWB-Yellow Pages. Substitute taught for 10 years. Elementary.
Children and grandchildren: Kimberly - 1971
Melvin Ray (Kam) - 1976
Comments:

“As many of you know I was pregnant the summer before my senior year.  Tamara Lynn was born 8 weeks early and passed away within a few hours. I was devastated.  This loss would be with me all my life.  Mr. Sunderland, our counselor, called me and told me if I took an evening class, I could graduate with my class.  I would find out later, when I spoke at his retirement, that he was always going to bat for each student and made sure as many students as possible would graduate!  I did graduate, and obtained a business degree in organizational management from Friends University in my forties! I worked at Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages and retired after 21 years. Then, I substitute taught in elementary school for 10 years.

A few years after high school, a friend of mine that was class of 1969, asked me to join her in a bible study class.  I was a religious person. I even had a 13-year perfect attendance pin for Sunday school! But, I didn’t have a relationship with Jesus. In a bible study downtown in Brown’s grill, Maxine, who was leading the study and the organist at Central Community, told me about a personal relationship with the Lord.  I actually went into my closet and asked God to forgive me and accepted His free gift of salvation. I’ve shared my walk with the Lord with others. John and I taught second grade Sunday School together for 20 years. I’ve been active in Awana’s, a pre-school thru high school program, and lately, I’ve helped with Elevate, which is for middle school kids! God has always brought young ladies into my life to take to Sunday school. I have two, twelve year-old girls I take to Elevate and four kids I take to Sunday school. They are a blessing to me.  

At our 20 year class reunion at the Cotillion, I ran into John Ashton. I found out this was part of God’s plan. John and I married, and blended our five wonderful children together. John’s youngest son, Daniel, lived with us while he was in high school. John wanted our two families to feel connected, so we had Family Night once a month. We would play games, and John would write skits, with parts for each person. He was so funny, calm and caring. John worked for IFR in the lab. After he got his engineering degree, he started working at Case New Holland. He was an avid bicyclist, sometimes riding 100 mile trips with a group.John and I traveled to Mexico, France, Israel and 46 states in this wonderful country of ours, often on our way to see one of our kids and grandkids. My daughter Kimberly is a French teacher.  My son, Kam works in the aircraft industry.  John had Jeff, Trisha and Daniel.  We have 4 grandchildren.  Both of our daughters have the kids!  Alex, Cody, Cameron and Summer.  They are all grown up.  Summer is 16 and the youngest!  We had 21 wonderful years.

The night John was killed riding his bicycle home from work, I found out just where my faith in Christ was.  I heard about an accident on 135th and McCarther on the TV.  I knew it was John.  The police and hospitals wouldn’t give me any information.  I sat and prayed.  God gave me His perfect peace.  When I went to the hospital and was told that John was gone, I held onto my Lord for strength and comfort.  The hardest part was telling his mother.  I still visit her often.

I quilted by hand, until my hands wouldn’t let me. I still make quilt tops, and have my sister quilt them by machine. I love to do scrapbooking, and was a Creative Memories dealer for 20 years. Now, everything for scrapbooking has gone digital. I have created several of the class reunion albums digitally, including the 50th reunion photo album.

But, carting around the heavy albums and supplies as a dealer, and cheerleading and gymnastics, took a toll on my back. I had two vertebrae in my lower back fused last summer, because they had disintegrated. I also have fibromyalgia.

I go line dancing once each week, and I’m still helping the reunion committee. Jim Petty and I are interviewing West High applicants in order to give three $500 scholarships this year from your donations. I hope this will be an ongoing thing. I also hope that we can continue to get together more often, meeting at a restaurant or local business.

So, you see I have had a stressful life but also a good life. 

I’ve been very blessed.  Thank you, Lord.

What Junior High did you attend?

Allison

Where have you lived since leaving high school?

Citrus Heights, California
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Who were your favorite teachers?

Mrs. Berig - went to her and her husbands funeral - Same time
Mr. Ruth
Mrs. Hunnicutt - went to her funeral

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Quilt, Scrapbook and travel.
Germany, France and Israel.

What did you want to do or think you were going to do when you finished high school?

Get married

What did you do right after high school?

I did!

What would we be surprised to know about you?

I earned by Bachelors degree at Friends University when I was in my 40's!

Famous or interesting people you've met?

Chuck Connors - Riflemen - wish I hadn't.
Disappointing!

What did you always want to do that you haven't done yet?

Travel more...

Biggest thing you would do differently if you went back to your time at WHSW?

Study! Have the wisdom I have now!

Marcia's Latest Interactions

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Mar
15
Mar 15, 2023 at 10:15 AM

Thank you for sharing! So glad to hear about your family and your love for the Lord!

Marcia Ohmie Ashton posted a message. New comment added.
Feb
07
Feb 07, 2023 at 2:50 PM

Posted on: Feb 07, 2023 at 3:43 AM

Thank you for sharing! What a great life helping others! Enjoy your retirement! God's blessings!

Jan
31
Jan 31, 2023 at 8:18 AM

Lynn, it was good to hear your story! Thanks for sharing! If you are ever in Wichita, let us know. The Allison group has started meeting once a month for lunch! So impressed by your education! Keep in touch!

Marcia Ohmie Ashton posted a message on Debbie Dinsmoor's Profile. New comment added.
Jan
25
Jan 25, 2023 at 4:44 PM

Posted on: Jan 24, 2023 at 11:54 AM

Thank you for sharing! Wonderful life!

Jan
10
Jan 10, 2023 at 3:33 AM
Jan
09
Jan 09, 2023 at 3:50 PM

Thanks for sharing! Toby Mac - wow! Love his music!

Marcia Ohmie Ashton posted a message on Joe A Jones' Profile. New comment added.
Dec
03
Dec 03, 2022 at 11:13 PM

Posted on: Sep 05, 2022 at 6:39 PM

What a great profile! Exciting life! Can you donate one of your poetry books to our class?

Marcia Ohmie Ashton posted a message. New comment added.
Aug
26
Aug 26, 2022 at 1:33 PM

Posted on: Aug 25, 2022 at 4:21 AM

Thank you for sharing! What a wonderful, exciting life you have lived! I hope you get to Brazil!!!!!!

Marcia Ohmie Ashton posted a message. New comment added.
Jun
09
Jun 09, 2022 at 10:16 AM

Posted on: Jun 07, 2022 at 7:36 AM

Rosemary! You did surprise me with the motorcycles and packing a gun!!!!! What a great vocation! Miss you!

Marcia Ohmie Ashton posted a message. New comment added.
May
03
May 03, 2022 at 4:44 PM

Posted on: May 02, 2022 at 4:56 PM

Wow Cindy, what a blessed life! You have always been the sweetest, caring person! Enjoy the next wonderful years!

Marcia Ohmie Ashton posted a message. New comment added.
Mar 12, 2022 at 4:46 PM

Posted on: Mar 12, 2022 at 8:39 AM

I heard at lunch yesterday that Randy Stovall had heart surgery. He is home. Thought you might like to know. Did you know Dan Daze? His wife told me.

Marcia Ohmie Ashton posted a message on Michael G Sullivan's Profile. New comment added.
Apr
12
Apr 12, 2022 at 7:20 PM

Posted on: Feb 23, 2022 at 10:06 PM

Michael, thank you for a great story of your life! You do have a gift of writing! Wonderful travels and great opportunity! Is your wife related to Niki Wieppert?

Marcia Ohmie Ashton added a comment on her Profile.
Feb 15, 2022 at 7:59 AM
Marcia Ohmie Ashton posted a message. New comment added.
Feb 23, 2022 at 4:35 PM

Posted on: Feb 15, 2022 at 7:58 AM

Cheryl, thank you for opening up your soul to us. I'm very thankful God has blessed you and your family. I had relatives in Peabody! We went there when I was younger for their 4th of July fireworks. God's blessings.

Marcia Ohmie Ashton posted a message. New comment added.
Jan 31, 2022 at 8:56 PM

Posted on: Jan 31, 2022 at 7:30 PM

Wow, thanks for sharing your personal and professional life. I have always admired all you do for the city of Wichita.

Marcia Ohmie Ashton added a comment on her Profile.
Jan 26, 2022 at 10:32 AM
Jan 10, 2022 at 8:37 PM

Wow, thank you for your service! Great career!

Marcia Ohmie Ashton has a birthday today. New comment added.
Jan 10, 2022 at 11:22 AM

Posted on: Jan 10, 2022 at 3:33 AM

Marcia Ohmie Ashton added a comment on her Profile.
Dec 07, 2021 at 12:48 PM
Marcia Ohmie Ashton added a comment on her Profile.
Nov 29, 2021 at 6:04 PM
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