Neva Merle Gruver, age 96, died Friday, March 8, 2013 at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas. She was born November 14, 1916 in Washington, Kansas the daughter of Roy E. and Anna L. Stolzer Gassert. A resident of Scott City since 1941, Neva had been a homemaker, a teacher and a bank bookkeeper & teller.


Neva first attended Kansas Wesleyan Business College and then Kansas Wesleyan University to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Business and Education in 1939.


Neva taught Junior High Math and English, Typing, Bookkeeping, and Shorthand at Formoso, KS two years. She helped with the school’s first newspaper and sponsored the cheerleaders. Neva taught K-4 grades at Missouri Flats Elementary in Gove County from 1954 to 1957. Beginning in 1966, she worked 13 years at First State Bank in Healy, KS.


At age 93, Neva wrote her first book, A Kansas Diamond, followed by her second book, Patrick’s Dream. Her third book, I Grew up in Overalls: 96 Years of Memories, was published this month.


She was a member of the United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women both of Scott City, Kansas and the Kansas Wesleyan University Alumni Association.


On August 3, 1941 she married Thomas A. Gruver in Washington, Kansas. He died July 19, 2002 in Scott City, Kansas.


Survivors Include:
Three Sons, Gene (& Marcia) Gruver of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
Royce (& Sue) Gruver of Scott City, Kansas and
Norval (& Elaine) Gruver of Independence, Kansas;
One Daughter, Arlita (& Charles) Hummelke of Tishomingo, Oklahoma;
Eight Grandchildren, Candice Kail, John Gruver, Geoff Hummelke, Ginelle Gordon,
Brad Gruver, Jill Hendershot, Jana Rombeck & Lisa Reddout;
Ten Great-Grandchildren & One Great-Great-Grandchild.

She was preceded in death by sisters Eva Chartier and Anna Stewart and a brother, Lester Gassert.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am, Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at the United Methodist Church in Scott City, Kansas.


Friends may call from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Tuesday with family members being in attendance from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm to receive friends at the Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.


Interment will be held in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas.


Memorials may be given to the Scott City United Methodist Women or to Kansas Wesleyan University both in care of Price & Sons Funeral Home of Scott City, Kansas.