Corky Godsey

Wilafred “Corky” Godsey, age 95 of Waterville, passed away on July 2, 2025 at the Blue Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center in Blue Rapids.

Corky was born November 28, 1929, at Norton, to Fred M and Gussie D. (Barham) Funk. She graduated with the class of 1947 from Portis High School in Portis, she then received her Teacher’s Certificate from Kansas Wesleyan. Corky was married to Milford H. Godsey on August 15, 1948 in Portis.

In 1969, she earned her LPN at the Manhattan Vocational Technical School in Manhattan and went to work for the Blue Rapids Medical Center.

Corky met Milford when he began having meals in her parent’s restaurant in Portis. Family lore recalls that Corky’s Mother, Gussie, once encountered Milford exiting another restaurant across the street. Gussie told Milford “You need to eat at our restaurant.” He did and the love that developed between Corky and Milford lasted, on earth, until his death. Corky once penned to Milford “One day to say I love you and how much you mean to me, One Day? That’s not enough, I need eternity.”

Her three children remember paper routes; raking leaves for hot dog roasts; raising chickens for food until “Henrietta”, the chicken, showed up on the table and we couldn’t eat her; Arnold the pet pig; Romeo, the poodle along with a continuous string of other pets; and the HORSES. But their most precious memory is the love each received from their Mother.

Corky will be remembered for her kindness, integrity, faith, and the lasting legacy she leaves behind. She had a lifelong love of dogs, horses, and really enjoyed the Barnyard Boogie at the County Fair. Many may recall seeing her at the Blue Rapids Medical Clinic, her sharing of her relationship with dogs in the community and her morning walks with her dogs around Waterville. Corky enjoyed sharing her love of horses too. And all her family will never forget running with her in the Barnyard Boogie

Survivors include her three children Bruce (Janice) Godsey of Olathe, Linda (Mike) Campbell of The Woodlands, Texas, and Julie Campbell of Waterville, eight grandchildren: Neal (Amanda) Godsey of Olathe, Brian (Kristen) Godsey of Lenexa, Megan (AJ) Kondash of Durham, North Carolina, Michelle Campbell of The Woodlands, Texas, Anthony Campbell of Spring, Texas, Brent (Kyleen Kelly) Campbell of Superior, Colorado, Lesli (Robert) Wood of Olathe, and Scott Campbell of Waterville and by ten great grandchildren.

Preceding Corky in death are her husband Milford Godsey, her parents, Fred and Gussie Funk, a brother Larry Funk and an infant sister, Beverly.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday July 19, at the Waterville United Methodist Church with Pastor Derek Slack officiating. Beverly Hedke is the musician. Congregational hymns will include “Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus”, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and “How Firm A Foundation”. Inurnment will be at Riverside Cemetery, in Waterville.

Memorials are suggested to Waterville United Methodist Church and may be sent in care of Christie-Anderes Funeral Home at PO Box 61, Waterville, Kansas 66548.

Christie-Anderes Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.