Sarah "Sally" Holliman

Affectionately known as “Sally” Sarah Edwards (Wentworth) Holliman, a longtime resident of Emporia, Kansas, passed away on October 29, 2026, in Overland Park. She was 98.

Born in Winchester, Kentucky, on November 11, 1927, she was the daughter of Harold E. and Nora (Brooks) Wentworth. She was preceded in death by her parents and beloved sister, Marjorie Rich Baker of DeMossville, Kentucky. She is survived by her brother, Harold Wentworth of Powell, Tennessee, her sons: Bryan Holliman (Debbie) of Logansport, Indiana, and Paul Holliman (Teresa) of Williamsburg, Virginia, and her daughters: Ann Holliman of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Lynn Holliman of Platte City, Missouri. She also leaves nine grandchildren: Andrew and Brook Hurst; Elisabeth Ahrens (Jason); Erika Krueger; Paige Allison (Blake); Kimberly Holliman; Alison Marlowe (Steve); Matthew Holliman (Madisyn); and Lincoln Holliman; and nine great-grandchildren: Adelaide, Philip, and Elijah Marlowe; Brielle and Theodore Holliman; Emma, Noah, and Grace Ahrens; and Logan Hurst.

Family and faith were at the heart of Sarah’s life. She was devoted to her children and grandchildren and took great pride in supporting their interests and accomplishments. Her deep Christian faith remained a source of strength and comfort. Sarah completed chaplain training and served Grace United Methodist Church in Emporia as a parish visitor.

Sarah spent her childhood in rural Kentucky during the economic hardships of the early 1930s. Still, she spoke fondly of her cherished childhood and loving mother. Her family lived near Cumberland Falls State Park, where her father worked as an engineer for the Civilian Conservation Corps as park superintendent. Family camping trips there nurtured Sarah’s lasting love of nature and the outdoors. During World War II, her father accepted a position in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the “Secret City” built to develop the atomic bomb. Sarah recalled that “every student was the new kid” as the city sprang up nearly overnight. In later life, she shared Oak Ridge’s history and its role in the Manhattan Project with public groups.

Sarah graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a B.S. in Home Economics, where she met Walter Holliman, Jr. They married in 1952 and raised their family in Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas. Sarah’s love of the Colorado mountains took root during the family’s years in Evergreen, Co. She passed her deep respect for nature along to her children. After moving to the plains of Nebraska and Kansas, she grew to love the prairie grass and rolling hills.

In 1972, Sarah moved to Emporia with her second husband, Charles (Dick) Humphreys. She taught Home Economics and Biology at Reading High School, worked as a journalist and reporter for the Farm and Ranch Reporter, and served as a bookkeeper for Wells College Studio Photography. Sarah had long dreamed of pursuing nursing. At age 50, she returned to school as a single mother, determined to make her longtime dream a reality. After becoming an LPN and then a registered nurse, she worked as a post-operative nurse at Newman Hospital, a job she loved. Following her nursing career, she became an employment counselor for the Kansas Council on Aging and continued part-time until retiring at the tender age of 85. Sarah once explained that she continued working because she enjoyed “helping old people” (her peers over 65) find work.

Sarah’s generous spirit and curiosity shaped a life rich in relationships, learning, and service. Her irreverent sense of humor generated many stories and helped carry her through tough times. Sarah was never one to be idle. She enjoyed being with people and filled her days with activity: caring for patients, taking or teaching courses, serving as a Den Mother, volunteering for her political party, and inviting international students to family holiday meals. A devoted football fan, she cheered on the Tennessee Vols and local Emporia State Hornets each autumn. Cherished “dates” with her granddaughters might include playing penny poker on her front porch or exploring treasures in the attic. Reading and journaling were among her favorite pastimes. Her granddaughters recall her as a lifelong learner who continued to explore new interests. They lovingly remember her Depression-era knack for creative problem-solving and healthy habits she modeled through good nutrition and exercise.

Sally will be remembered for her abiding faith, curiosity and loving, generous spirit. Memorial services and interment will be held Saturday, March 20, 2027, at 2:00 p.m. at Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home and Pine Hill Cemetery in Corbin, Kentucky.

In Sarah’s memory, a scholarship fund supporting nursing students is being established and is expected to be finalized in the early months of 2027. Information about how to contribute will be shared here once arrangements are finalized. Friends and family are warmly invited to contribute in her honor.