Emajane Gingles

Emajane D. Gingles, 97, passed away July 2, 2026, at Via Christi hospital in Manhattan, Kansas. Jane was born to Chalmer & Cora (Wolf) Devore April 20, 1929, in Narka, Kansas. She attended school in Haddam and graduated with the class of 1947 as their valedictorian.

Jane was married to LeRoy Gingles on May 3, 1947, in Belleville, Kansas. To this union four children were born. They were married sixty-two years until LeRoy's death in 2009. The family moved to Clay Center in 1955. While at home with small children & babies Jane taught piano lessons to supplement the family income.

She began working for the Clay County Welfare Dept. which later became the S.R.S. in 1961. While working she earned her baccalaureate degree in social work in 1975. This career spanned thirty-four years, but she wasn't finished. She continued as a consultant in several area nursing homes until the age of 89. She was a dedicated advocate for the elderly, conducting workshops on various topics such as grief, medicare & loneliness.

During her working and retirement years Jane shared her time & talents with many organizations that were near and dear to her heart. They include: Scouting, Pack 55, American Legion Auxiliary, Elks, BPW, KS Conference on Social Welfare, State Medicare Board, Clay Center Tree Board, Area Agency on Aging, Silver Haired Legislators and Sweet Adelines Intl'. Many awards and accolades were received from her years of dedication & service to these many organizations.

To say her talents were many is an understatement. Recently she began painting again. She loved to create and preserve memories of family and friends, and time spent together and was especially partial to windmills. "Windmill Memories", the column she wrote for the local paper was a testament to her amazing memory. This weekly endeavor began January 6, 2020. Her seamstress skills spanned the years from sewing for her children to her daughters' wedding dress to finishing quilts her mother had started. And she was a gardener. She planned her gardens and then planted them excited to see her plans come to fruition.

Jane leaves behind daughter Jeanette Hupe-Lang (Ken), Wamego, Sons Darrell, Clay Center and David, Morganville. Grandchildren Chris Hupe (Jill), Wamego, Sean Hupe, Nashville, TN., Scott Gingles, Olathe, Danny Gingles and Caitlin Gingles, Clay Center, Stevie Gingles, Manhattan and Jordan Gingles, Austin, TX. She had nine great grandchildren and special nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, a brother and a sister, her youngest son, Douglas of Broken Arrow, OK. And son-in-law Norman Hupe, Wamego.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 25th at the Evangelical Covenant Church, 1330 15th Street, Clay Center

Lunch will be served immediately following the service with time to greet family.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Legion Auxiliary, c/o Karen Reed, 1310 9th st., Clay Center, KS., 67432.