Cover photo for Zelia Houston's Obituary
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1926 Zelia 2015

Zelia Houston

March 27, 1926 — June 12, 2015

Zelia Marcella (Cargill) Houston

Zelia (89), of Shawnee, KS, passed away Friday, June 12, 2015, at Liberty Terrace Healthcare, Liberty, MO after having a stroke and many years of suffering with Alzheimer’s disease

She was born March 27, 1926 (89) to Harry (#17 of 21 kids) and Vera (Pankey) Cargill (#1 of 7 kids).

She grew up on a farm near Stockton, MO, where she met the love of her life, Clyde (Bill) Houston. She married him after knowing him only 13 days.  Married September 5, 1945, and had a son, Kenneth Lee, December 13, 1946.  No other children.  Clyde had a heart attack January 2, 2002, and died (13 years ago).

She came from a large family (11 kids).  Family of 13.

Preceded in death by:  husband of 56 years, Clyde; parents Harry and Vera (Pankey) Cargill.  Brothers - Finis and Coy Cargill.  Sisters – Winoma Brown, Fay Julian, and Melva Wallen.
Survived by son - Kenneth (Diana) of St Paul, MN; grandchildren - Angela (Keith) Sjostrom of Lino Lakes, MN and Christopher (Catherine) Houston of Hopkins, MN; great grandchildren – Hannah, Lillian (and one ? on the way) Sjostrom, and Paxton Houston; Brothers – Valice, Ivan, Mervin, Irvin, and Arlin Cargill; Sister’s in Law – Freda (Houston) Baum, Geneva (Houston) Land; and Brother in Law – Robert Houston; and 38 nieces and nephews.

She was a loving and dedicated wife and mother.

She and Clyde loved to square dance.  Clyde was a square dance caller and teacher.  He taught hundreds of people in the KC area how to square dance, and called for many clubs in the Kansas City area.

She and Clyde also loved to travel.  They went on several trips to Hawaii, the Bahamas, and on many cruises; and annual vacations to a time share in Florida.

She loved to ‘piece’ quilts and has made many many and given most of them away to relatives and friends.


She got her first job 13 years after getting married.  She sold Avon for over 50 years (1958-2008) and won many sales awards (Mrs. Albee).

Visitation will be at Overland Park Funeral Chapel, 8201 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66204 at 10:00 am Wednesday, June 17th, with Funeral at 11:00 am, and burial to follow at Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens, 23445 West 75th, Shawnee, KS 66227.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be made to KU Alzheimer’s Disease Center, KU Endowment, C/O Ted Kimble, Mail Stop 3012, 3901 Rainbow BLVD, Kansas City, KS 66160

There will be a huge square dance up in heaven tonight.


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