Blanche Elizabeth McLaren

Blanche Elizabeth "Beth" McLaren, 95, passed away on Thursday, November 29, 2012, at St. Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. Beth was born on November 10, 1917, in Humboldt, Kansas, the daughter of Blanche Fowler Webb and Dr. Herbert Melville Webb. She graduated from Allen County, Kansas Community College (formerly Iola Junior College) in 1937. Beth was selected to represent the state of Kan. as Miss Kansas of 1938 at the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City. Following the Miss America pageant, Beth lived and worked in Joplin, Jefferson City and Kansas City. Beth was employed in Jefferson City as a teacher in the adult night school and as secretary to Judge Fred Henley of the Missouri Supreme Court. In Kansas City, she was secretary for 11 years to now retired, Judge Charles Shangler in the Missouri Court of Appeals in Kansas City, Mo. Beth was a longtime member of Central United Methodist Church, its Crusader's Sunday School Class, and Joanna Guild; and Shepherd's Center of Kansas City, Central. She married Jack Richard Jeffries of Joplin and had three daughters: Jane Jeffries Silver of Kansas City; Sally Jeffries Etchepare (husband Raymond) of Carlsbad, Calif., and Anne Jeffries Wold (husband Richard) of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. In 1950, Beth married the late Joseph Paul McLaren, and later divorced. Their children are Susan McLaren Gifford, Janet Bridget McLaren and Teresa McLaren Hickam (husband Robert) all of Kansas City, and James P. McLaren (wife Elizabeth) of Lexington, N.C. She has 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Beth was preceded in death by one sister, Jeanette Webb Pendarvis in 1993, and one brother, Herbert M. Webb, Jr., in 1977. A Memorial Service will be held this Sunday, December 2, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the church, 5144 Oak Street, Kansas City, MO 64112; Shepherd's Center of Kansas City Central, 5200 Oak, Kansas City, MO 64112; or, to Newhouse for Abused Women and Children, in care of Central United Methodist Church. Arrangements provided by Cremation Society of Kansas & Missouri, 8837 Roe, Prairie Village, KS 66207; 913-383-9888)