Cora Elizabeth Miller Frey was born April 2, 1918, near Sharon Center, Iowa, the daughter of Eli L. and Anna (Gingerich) Miller. She grew up on the family farm with three brothers and one sister. She received Jesus Christ as her Savior as a youth and was baptized in the Fairview Mennonite Church.
On June 9, 1940, she was united in marriage to Mahlon Frey in the front yard on her parents’ family farm. They lived in Topeka, Indiana, near Mahlon’s birth place for a couple of years before moving back to Iowa on the farm near Kinross.
They were blessed with two sons: Kenneth DeWayne and Mahlon Dan Elias. In 1957 due to Mahlon’s heath they needed to sell the farm and moved to Wellman. Mahlon passed away October 5, 1964.
Cora shortly after became a full-time employee at the University of Iowa Hospital as a medical records technician and was the first person to computerize medical records at the hospital.
Cora retired after 20 years.
After retirement she did voluntary service in Sarasota, Florida, setting up a medical record system for Hospice. She also earned a diploma in Hospice patient care and bereavement care.
Cora then served at the Children’s Haven International in Texas and Mexico and was lovingly called Tia a Corena (Aunt Cora) to many Mexican children.
At the age of 90 she moved from Wellman to near El Monte, California, to be near her son, Dan. Then at age 92 Cora moved to Kansas Christian Home in Newton, Kansas, near her son, Kenneth
Cora was a member of the Wellman Mennonite Church her entire life in Wellman. She enjoyed serving as a children Sunday School and Bible School teacher. She also served several years on the food committee. Cora served on the Washington County Hospice chapter for patient care and bereavement.
Her love of baking cakes made her well known for her wedding cakes and doll cakes for girls. Cora passed away Friday, May 7, 2021, at the Kansas Christian Home in Newton, Kansas, at the age of 103 years.
Cora is survived by sons: Kenneth “Frenchy” and wife Neva of Newton, Kansas and Dan and wife Virginia of El Monte, California; grandchildren: Chad (Mary) Frey, Kenna (Kelson) Graber, Penny (Gus) Dorado all of Newton, Kansas, Christopher (Catalina) Frey of Covina; stepgrandsons Philip and Daniel Trigueros of the El Monte, California area; 10 great-grandchildren and two step great-grandchildren; sister-in-law: Emma Jean Miller of Kalona; and several nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Mahlon; parents Eli and Anna Miller; two brothers Eldon, Paul, and Monroe, a sister Nettie Schrock, infant brother George, infant sister Ella, sisters-in-law Gladys Miller, Nina Miller and Mary Ann Yoder, brother-in-law: Truman Schrock; and special friend Albert Hershberger.
A private graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday May 19, 2021. Face masks and social distancing will be required. It will be live streamed on the Powell Funeral Home facebook page. Visitation will be Tuesday May 18, 2021 from 4-6 p.m. at the Powell Funeral Home in Wellman. Family will not be present. In lieu of flowers the family ask that memorials be made to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice 1715 Medical Pkwy, Newton, KS 67114. Messages and tributes may be sent to the family at www.powellfuneralhomes.com
