Elaine Marie Charbonneau

Elaine Marie Fraley-Hayse-Charbonneau
September 24, 1948 – July 28, 2025

Elaine Marie Charbonneau (née Fraley, formerly Hayse) of Wichita, Kansas, exited this world on July 28, 2025, at age 76. She went out the same way she lived-stubbornly, unexpectedly, and on her own terms. Born in Chester, Nebraska to Lloyd and Alta Fraley, Elaine attended Chester High School and later earned her GED before pursuing nursing. She launched her career at Kiowa County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg, Kansas while raising her two children, and went on to become a deeply respected RN. Her career spanned decades: she delivered babies at St. Joseph Maternity in Wichita and Salina Regional, helped launch Wesley BirthCare Center as one of its original nurses, and provided the kind of soulful, end-of-life care that only someone like Elaine could offer. She was also a founding member of "The Mermaids," a close-knit crew of nurses and mischief-makers who made beautiful chaos together.

Elaine didn't just live life-she flung herself into it like a thrift store haul she couldn't resist. She played a ruthless game of Pitch, could hold her own in Cards Against Humanity, and was known to show up with a crockpot of her famous baked beans or a jar of homemade salsa that could double as currency. She crocheted, canned, gardened, doted on her miniature schnauzers (all four of them), and had a borderline religious devotion to estate sales, garage clean-outs, and auction-day adrenaline.

She is survived by her husband, Tyrone Charbonneau of Wichita; daughter Connie Christopherson and husband Roth of Wichita; son William Hayse and wife Alicia of Haysville; her beloved grandchildren: Corinne Winkworth (Ted, Henry), Cory Barnes (Jennifer, Mia), Aaron Barnes (Melina), Rachel Barnes, Carly Peters (family friend turned family), Codey Christopherson, Kelsey, Benton, and Mary Hayse; her sister Barbara Ghan and husband Junior of Winfield; sister-in-law Lois Fraley of Superior, NE; and many cherished nieces, nephews, honorary family members, and auctioneers who will never forget her. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Alta; her sisters Claribel Mumm (Willis) and Alethea Greenfield (widow of Dave Newell and Glenn Greenfield); and her brother Duane Fraley.

Elaine leaves behind a legacy of humor, grit, sass, and a lifetime of deeply chaotic love. She made people laugh, brought life into the world, held hands as others left it, and lived unapologetically through every messy moment in between.

A graveside service will be held 10:00 a.m., September 20th, 2025, near Elaine's birthday at the Wilmot Cemetery, 151st Street Wilmot, Kansas 67156, immediately followed by a celebration of life at the Andover Senior Center.

Memorials may be made to the South-Central Kansas Foundation nursing scholarship they will ear mark the checks sent in memorial and apply to an existing nursing scholarship or create a scholarship in her memory if enough funds are raised. checks should be made out to SCCF with Elaine Charbonneau in the memo line. They can also contribute via their website, DONATE | South Central Community Foundation they will need to indicate it needs to go to Elaine Charbonneau fund or send to Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, PO Box 606, Concordia, KS 66901. Online condolences may be shared at www.chaputbuoy.com. Expect stories, laughter, sass-and a high-stakes game of Pitch. If you knew her, you've got a story. Bring it.

To send a flower arrangement in memory of Elaine Marie Charbonneau, please click here to visit our sympathy store.

To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Elaine Marie Charbonneau, please click here to visit our sympathy store.

Memorial Donation