Elin Colglazier Obituary (1936 - 2024)

Elin Kay Colglazier was born September 8, 1936, in Strong City, Kansas (in Chase County) to Arch and Grace Kittle McCandless. She died on December 27, 2024 in Granbury, Texas. Elin attended two country schools and Cottonwood Falls Grade School and graduated from Chase County Community High School in 1954. She graduated from Kansas State University at Manhattan, Kansas, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and Extension in 1958. Between her junior and senior years at K-State, she was an International Farm Youth Exchange student to France. Elin’s first job was in Gove and Logan Counties in Kansas, as Extension Home Economist. On May 11, 1960 Elin was united in marriage with Ron Colglazier. To this union were born two sons, John and Robert. The family lived in Oakley, then Hays (in Kansas), and in Manning, Iowa, before returning to Oakley in 1972. Elin loved her family dearly. She was immensely proud of and enjoyed so much being mother to their two sons, supporting them in their various activities, always with a great desire to help them be all they could be. She helped start the Annie Oakley 4-H Club and served as one of the community leaders for several years. When Ron started his own business in 1976, Elin helped first as bookkeeper, then ended up as his chief “wire puller” for a few years. Elin was active as a lay member of the Oakley Methodist Church and then in 1985 she heard the call to ministry. She attended the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, obtaining her master’s degree in theology in 1991. She was ordained elder in the United Methodist Church in 1993. Elin served the United Methodist Churches at Jennings and Dresden from 1991-1998 and then served the Quinter-Grinnell United Methodist Churches, retiring in June 2005. At that time, she and Ron moved to Russell, Kansas. She continued to serve as chair of the rural issues task force of the Kansas West Conference of the UMC, advocating for and supporting family farms and rural communities. Elin loved her family, loved to cook and to read and to travel—and to go fishing with Ron. She especially enjoyed going to visit her sons and their families and friends as well as having them “come home” for visits. Family time was always precious time and lots of good memories were made. Elin was a member of Chapter HD, PEO, of Russell, KS and of the Bunker Hill United Methodist Women. A service will be held in Oakley, Kansas on a spring date, yet to be determined. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Elin, please visit our floral store.