ONAGA – Florence Mildred Florence, 86, of Onaga, passed away on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at the Eastridge Nursing Facility in Centralia.

She was born April 8, 1937 on a farm near Centralia, the daughter of Roland and Bernice Surdez Mars.  She graduated from Centralia High School in 1955.

She married Wayne "Cotton" Florence on February 14, 1957 in Onaga.  He preceded her in death on January 15, 2010.

Florence had worked as kitchen staff at Onaga schools, did janitorial work at the Onaga Post Office, and Morrill and Janes Bank and The Trust Company of Onaga. She and Wayne owned and operated the Econo-Wash Laundromat in Onaga for 25 years. They also were "Uber" drivers before Uber was a thing, assisting several elderly individuals without transportation. They also did lawn care for the Uber customers and made local deliveries for EFD.

Her hobbies included bingo, gardening and canning, attending school events, ballgames, auctions, 4-H events, fishing, hunting mushrooms, putting together puzzles, and spending time with family and friends.

Florence was also preceded in death by her parents, two granddaughters, Jennifer Mayhew and Sarah Henneberg, a great granddaughter, Macey Griggs, a great grandson, Colton Griggs, her sister, Lucille Chadwick, her brother, Ralph Mars, and a daughter-in-law, Nancy Henderson.

Survivors include a son, Dan Florence, Onaga, three daughters, Diane Mayhew, Onaga, Linda Henneberg (Woody), Wheaton and Lori Florence (Kerry Patton), Topeka, grandchildren, James Mayhew (Amanda), St. Marys, Janell Griggs, Topeka, Will Henneberg (Anna), Wheaton, Martin Henneberg (Victiana), Manhattan, Jerod Henneberg, Onaga, and Tyree Florence-Patton, Topeka, great grandchildren, McKenna, Abbigael and Mason Mayhew, Kenyon and Madison Griggs, Trenton, Kameron, Colby, Christian, Elsie, and Michael Henneberg, a great-great granddaughter, Ella Ridgway and two step-grandchildren, Matthew Tiptop-Patton and Racheal Hairston.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 6th at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Onaga.  Burial will follow in the Onaga Cemetery.  A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the church.  Florence will lie in state from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Onaga.    Memorials are suggested to the Onaga Senior Center, the Onaga Historical Society or the Onaga Weightlifting Club, and may be sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 312, Onaga, KS  66521.