Obituary of Theda Charlene Savage

Theda Charlene Logan Savage passed away on December 6, 2023. She was born September 7, 1920, at Mulvane, KS, the daughter of James Cleo and Lucy Ellen Jeffries Logan. She weighed five pounds at birth. At age six her parents moved the family to Noel, MO, and later to Neosho where she attended Jaybird School in seventh and eighth grades, then graduated from Neosho High School in 1938. She married Miles Edward Savage of Neosho April 23, 1944 at Lamar. They had three children, James Michael, Romney, and Wendy Kathleen. Mike preceded her in death in 1988 at age 43. In 1955 they purchased a weekly newspaper, The Liberal News, at Liberal, MO, and she became editor and publisher for the next 20 ½ years. With no previous experience in writing, photography, or type setting, she attended Pittsburg State University at Pittsburg, KS for a semester to learn to operate the Linotype, a process that is obsolete today. A Speed Graphic press camera was purchased and she went through another learning process, taking pictures at ballgames, weddings, anniversaries, and civic events and then developing the pictures and had a 4x6 negative for printing and using in the paper. Owning the newspaper was a learning experience for the entire family with the three kids helping out each week. After retiring at age 55 she and her husband traveled all over the United States mostly pulling a Shasta trailer. They belonged to a Shasta trailer club and made many trips with that group. She learned to use a computer at age 80 and used it until she was over 100. She enjoyed fishing and became quite proficient at it earning a lunker patch. She would still wade into the stream to fish at age 91 at Bennett Spring State Park her favorite place to camp and fish. She enjoyed her family especially on special occasions when everyone was together. She also loved nature and took pride in her yard and flowers many of which were transplanted from her folks place, she was a great cook and made the best pies, and people always commented on her infectious smile. Survivors include two daughters, Romney Savage Baker of Lamar and Wendy Savage Peterson of Liberal; five grandchildren, Russ Savage, Coconut Creek, FL, Gina Peterson Williams, Kansas City, MO, Keira Shipley Welter, Bowling Green, KY, Michelle Savage, Houston, TX, and Jared Peterson, Pittsburg, KS; 11 great grandchildren, Mariah and Madison Williams, Ben and Adam Savage, Kyrsha, Addison, and Salyn Welter, Logan and Ian French, Lily and Jack Peterson; two great great grandchildren, Ariyah and Asher Fondren; a cousin, her parents raised from birth, Marie Jeffries Capps, Carthage; two nieces, Cheryl Jones, Louisville, KY, and Sheila Jackson, Monett; and several grand nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband of 73 years, her parents, her son Mike, a brother LeRoy Melvin Logan, a sister, Donna Logan Jones, a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Grace and Charles Savage, a nephew-in-law, Bill Savage, and a daughter-in-law, Cyndy Denny Savage. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 10, 2023, at the Liberal City Cemetery. Burial is under the direction of Konantz Warden Funeral Home, Lamar. If you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, the family suggests the Liberal City Park in care of Konantz Warden Funeral Home.