Patricia Marlene Absher

Patricia Marlene Absher, 77, of Newkirk, OK, passed away on Monday, September 14th, 2015 at her home.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, September 19th at the Shelley Family Funeral Home of Arkansas City, KS. Burial will be in the Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. Friday with the family greeting friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. A memorial has been established with the Newkirk Library. Contributions can be left with the funeral home.

Patricia Marlene Absher was born on May 24, 1938 in Arkansas City, KS the daughter Albert and Eva Rollins Christensen. She graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1956. She was united in marriage with Richard Gaylon Absher on August 31, 1958. She attended Cowley County Jr. College before earning her Bachelor of Science in Biology. Marlene later earned her PhD in Biology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Marlene worked for the University of Vermont, Department of Medicine as a research scientist doing clinical studies in cardiology and pulmonary from 1968 to 2001. She was a pioneer in her field, specifically cell aging and biology. Marlene loved art, poetry, literature and classical music. She enjoyed volunteering at the Newkirk Library and dearly loved her grandchildren.

Surviving to honor her memory are her children Cynthia La Riviere-Cushing and her husband Richard of Essex Junction, VT and Christopher Absher of Newkirk, OK, grandchildren, Joseph La Riviere, Nicole Dashnow and husband Travis, Zachary Scanlon and Christian Scanlon, great grandchildren, Chloe Lynch and Jalen Ramos-LaRiviere and brother Rick Christensen of Tulsa, OK.

Preceding her in death are her parents, husband Richard on December 22, 2013, 2 sisters, Dolores Meek and Phyllis Sybal and 2 brothers, Paul Christensen and Roland Christensen.