Peggy J. Cares, 92, of Parsons died at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Society of Parsons.
She was born Oct. 26, 1931, to Harlan and Hazel (Wagner) Stringer at their home in Parsons. She grew up in Parsons and graduated from Parsons High School in 1949.
Peggy married A.W. Cares on Dec. 19, 1948, at her parent’s home. Peggy and A.W. lived eight miles east of Parsons on the family farm for 25 years before moving to Topeka.
When her daughters were young, Peggy was a Meadowlark Flier 4-H Club leader, teaching sewing and baking. She was also a member of the Center Chapel Club, First Baptist Church and worked at the J.C. Penney Store in Parsons.
In 1974, Peggy and A.W. moved to Topeka where A.W. worked as a branch claims manager for Shelter Insurance. During their time in Topeka, Peggy held several offices in the Nu-Cumber Club, an organization that welcomed people who were new to the Topeka area. She was a member of the St. Francis Hospital Auxiliary and accumulated over 10,000 hours of volunteer work as a Pink Lady. She also was a Queen City F.C.E. member and enjoyed playing pinochle and taking bus tours with her friends.
In 1995, Peggy and A.W. moved back to Parsons to begin their retirement. During that time she became a member of the Labette County Medical Center Auxiliary and volunteered as a Pink Lady. The First Baptist Church was her home church and she enjoyed singing in the choir and being a part of the Amoma Sunday school class. She served on the bereavement committee at the church for many years. She was also a member of P.E.O.
Peggy loved being a homemaker and enjoyed quilting, needlepoint, crocheting, shopping, reading and her church. She had a servant’s heart. Most of all, Peggy loved and enjoyed her family.
She is survived by two daughters, Terry Ashmore of Parsons and Becky Cornell of Shawnee; three grandchildren, Tammy Ascanio, Max Cornell (Molly Roberts) and Sarah Grindel (Neil); seven great-grandchildren, Gracie Stringer, Landon and Makenna Grindel, Isaac, Eleanor, Iris and Esther Cornell; and many cousins.
She was preceded in death was her husband, A.W. Cares, on Nov. 22, 2019; her parents; three brothers, Jack, Wayne and Roy Stringer; two sisters, Jeanne Taylor and June Delrie; and a granddaughter, Stephanie Kaelene.
The service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, with her grandson, Max Cornell, officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday.
The family suggests memorials to First Baptist Church. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS, 67357. Leave online messages at www.wallfuneralservices. com.
