Virginia Mae Fisher

Virginia Mae Syring Fisher, 96, a longtime resident of the Alta Vista/ Council Grove area passed away on Friday, August 25, 2023 at Diversicare of Council Grove.

She was born August 9, 1927 in the rural Chalk community to Herman William Syring Jr. and Alta Virginia Kahle Syring.

She graduated from Alta Vista High School in 1945. She married Hal Clement Fisher on January 15, 1946. 

She was a farmer’s wife and homemaker living in rural Alta Vista for many years. She had several part time jobs while the family grew culminating with 12 years as a full time teacher’s aide for District 417 (working in Dwight and Council Grove) before ultimately retiring. 

She loved her family and enjoyed attending all their school and sport activities.

She herself was competitive! She played softball into her 40s and then learned to play golf (which she continued to enjoy till she was 80). She relished playing card games (was a member of several bridge club groups) and board games with her friends and family and often entertained. She loved to solve crossword puzzles and put together jigsaw puzzles. She was an avid reader with a book always by her chair and her bedside.

Virginia was always a K-State fan, a Chiefs fan and a Royals fan. She was even sometimes a KU fan…unless they were playing K-State.

Her church life was important. She had family roots in both the Baptist and Methodist faith. In her youth she joined the Baptist Church in Alta Vista. While living on the farm the family was active at the Emmanuel Methodist Church where she served as a Sunday school teacher, helped with Bible school, worked at the Germany Picnic, and assisted in church activities. At different times in her life she was also an active member of the Simpson United Methodist Church in Alta Vista. Eventually, after moving to Council Grove she became a member of the 1^st Baptist Church until her passing.

She was preceded in death by:  her parents, husband (Hal Fisher), daughter (Doris Gill), brother (Curtis Syring), and a great-grandson (Osvin Loescher). Those left to morn are: her children; Steve (wife Cathy Campbell) Fisher, Rhonda (husband Robert) Spencer, Carol (husband Craig) Morton; 14 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and 8 great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30, Saturday, September 16, 2023, at First Baptist Church, Council Grove. Interment will follow at Prairie View Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made in her name to First Baptist Church  and may be sent in care of Sawyer Funeral Home, PO Box 273, Council Grove, KS 66846.