Jacquelyn Ann Converse, 87, of Whitewater, Kansas, passed away Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado, Kansas.

Jackie was born July 17, 1928, in Butler County, Kansas, the daughter of Ed and Fern (Ullum) Strasser. She attended school in the Whitewater and Potwin areas. Jackie was a cosmetologist, graduating from Vernon’s School of Cosmetology in Wichita, Kansas. She owned and operated salons in Wichita and Missouri. Jackie was an avid flower gardener, an animal lover and enjoyed shopping on the jewelry channel. Her grandchildren thought she was a fun grandmother and loved her big hair. Jackie and Jim Converse were married on Nov. 29, 1971, in St. Louis. They lived most of their married life in the Houston, Texas, area. Upon retirement they moved to Whitewater, to be closer to family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Chip Ellis; brothers Floyd “Buddy” and Blake Strasser; sisters Lorene Watts and Sandra Matzenbacher; and a great-granddaughter, Faith Johnston.

She is survived by her husband, Jim; a daughter, Julie Johnston, and husband, Joe, of Albert Lea; grandsons Alex Johnston and wife, Angie, of Albert Lea, Blair Johnston and wife, Emily, of St. Paul and Chad Ellis of Cambridge, Wisconsin; daughter-in-law, Robin Ellis, of Chicago; and great-grandchildren Hayden, Adler, Bryant, Maeve, Jameson and Nolan Johnston. She is also survived by sisters Vicki Cook and husband, Dick, of Hutchinson, Kansas, Sherry Edwards of Whitewater and Candy Elting and husband, Jim, of Whitewater; brothers Dennis Strasser of Peabody and Larry Strasser of Potwin; and her beloved Yorkie, “Alfie.”

Cremation has taken place. In celebration of Jackie’s life, the family will receive friends and neighbors from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Lamb Funeral Home in Whitewater. A memorial fund has been established for Wheat State Manor in care of Lamb Funeral Home, 120 S. Main, Whitewater, KS 67154. Online condolences may be left at www.zeinerfuneralhomes.com.