Lydia Lanell Gessell

Lydia Lanell Gessell, 83, of Mission, KS, passed away Sunday, May 27, 2012. Lanell was born August 26, 1928 in Uvalde, TX to William and Nola Taylor Gallaway. She graduated as an RN in 1948 from the University of Texas School of Nursing at Galveston. While still only a senior in college, she and her twin sister Lynda along with the rest of their class were brought to the nearby hospitals to assist during the Texas City Disaster of 1947. After graduation, she worked as a registered nurse in Denver CO, Salt Lake City, UT and Manhattan, KS, retiring in 1971 to focus full time on raising her 5 children. As a nurse, her favorite areas to work in were surgery and in the nursery. After retirement, she enjoyed gardening, knitting, playing cards and travel.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Gessell and a twin sister Lynda Bisbey She is survived by her twin daughters, Sharon Gieber and Sheryl Brotbeck; sons Don Paustian, Bill Paustian, and Dan Paustian; a brother, Bob Gallaway and five grandchildren.

The family suggests contributions to Crossroads Hospice.