Thelia Belle Moore Brack, 91, died Aug. 11 at Sterling House of Great Bend. Born Dec. 13, 1921, on a farm southeast of Dundee, she was the daughter of Robert Warren and Hellena Unruh Moore. She attended Barton County rural school, graduated from Pawnee Rock High School. She attended Fort Hays Teachers College, and taught in rural schools in Barton County for five years. On July 25, 1945, she was united in marriage to Vernell F. (Shorty) Brack of Otis at the Pawnee Rock New Jerusalem Church. He passed away on Nov. 12, 1996. To this union three children were born, Brian Jay and his wife Linda Brack of Otis, Charlotte Ann Hett of Boston, Ma., and Cherie Rae Bahr of Great Bend.
Mrs. Brack was a homemaker until 1958 when she became a bookkeeper at Fred Brack Motor Co. until it closed in 1966. Thelia was instrumental in starting a public library in Otis and supported it until 2007 when she left Otis. She was a 4-H Project Leader, Community Leader of Rush County 4-H and served on the Rush County Fair Board. She was active in the Otis United Methodist Church for 62 years, teaching Sunday School, serving on various church boards and circles, and participating many years in the area district Methodist meetings and retreats and UMW. She was a 60 year old member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars,a  life member of Georlitz-Schlegel VFW, Ladies Auxiliary until its disbandment, a life member of Ex-POW Chapter of Western, KS, and life member of DAV in Great Bend. She served on South West Kansas Area on Aging board, Sub-district and County council of Aging, served two terms on CKLS Board and various other community activities in the Otis and Rush County area. She was also a member of the Senior Center of Otis. She took it upon herself to be the “unofficial’ welcome wagon to any new people of Otis, greeting them with a smile, handshake and some homemade goodies. She always seemed to be the go to person whenever something happened in town, whether it be someone having a medical emergency, no electricity in town from a blizzard and opening her home for meals to the townspeople because she had a gas heat and stove, or having the quilting bee or Auxiliary Rag Tearing group. She was a caretaker to many and a friend to all. All while running a family of five and maintaining a large garden and canning every season. She was also a successful Avon saleslady for over 27 years.
After moving to Great Bend in September 2007, she became a member of the First Methodist Church, Knipe-Pitts Circle UMW, Silver Cougar Booster Club and active reader of as many books as she could before her eyesight gave out.
She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Kimberly and Ki Gamble, of Greensburg, Kelly and Wendy Brack, of Great Bend, KS, Ben Hett of Topeka, Melanie and Barry Brant, of Andover, J.J. and April Brack, of Plainville, Joey and Anita Bahr, of Great Bend, KS, and Camie and Kevin Hlavaty, of Olmitz; 11 great-grandchildren, Kasey and Katelynn Gamble, of Greensburg, Jayce and Koy Brack, of Great Bend, Aubrie and Blaine Brant, of Andover, Ava, Vincent and Ruby Brack, of Plainville, and Jenna Hlavaty of Olmitz; a sister, Arvella and John Gutman, of Brandon, Vt., sister-in-law, Mary Louise and Tom Shook, of Liberal; sister-in-law Lois Brack of Lakewood, Colo.; brother-in-law Al Kroeker of Great Bend; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernell F. (Shorty); son-in-law, Ron Bahr; great-grandson Tanner Hlavaty; sister, Eldean Kroeker; and brothers-in-law, Elman Brack and Gary Brack.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Lennie Maxwell officiating. Burial will be held at 2 p.m. at the Otis Methodist Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Wednesday, with the family receiving friends from 6 until 8 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Tanner J. Hlavaty Scholarship Fund in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home**
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, Ks. 67530
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Aug. 13, 2013