Anita Z. Boatright

Anita Z. Boatright, age 63, passed on May 10th 2017 at her Topeka residence. Anita was the 4th daughter of Joe Zeller, Jr. and Bonnie M. Ryan of Brownell, Kansas. Anita was born on June 21, 1953, on Father's Day that year. Anita is survived by her husband, Bill Boatright, Topeka, KS; 2 sons Morgan Hannings (Kate) of Lawrence, KS and Harrison Boatright (Jamie) of Salina, KS; 2 beautiful granddaughters, Chloe Hannings and Zoe Boatright. Anita had three "spare" sons that she treated as her own, Matthew Bahre, Brady Houghtaling and Steven Head all of Topeka, KS. Two sisters, Paula Corte, Gladstone, MO, and Mary Higgins, Lenexa, KS. Anita was preceded in death by her sister Victoria Rhys, Salem, OR.

Anita was a native Kansan who lived in Topeka for over 30 years. She graduated from Dighton High School and attended Dodge City Community College and St. Mary's of the Plains College. Throughout the years Anita worked for the Douglas County Extension Office, Brookwood Florist, & Sargent Wanamaker Insurance before staying home to raise her two boys. Anita turned her love of the textile arts into a thriving business when she opened "The Sunflower Seed" cross-stitch and needlework shop on October 1, 1999. Anita was also a prolific designer of cross-stitch patterns creating designs that were distributed globally by Hoffman Distributing and Norden Crafts Ltd. Anita dearly loved traveling back to Brownell, KS to the farmhouse that she spent hours upon hours restoring and redecorating. She loved visiting with her cousins who still live in the small town where her parents grew up. Anita was an animal lover and cherished her two beagles, Daisy and Ivy.

Anita will be greatly missed by her family and a multitude of great friends.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to your favorite charity in the name of Anita Z. Boatright.