Enola Gish Obituary

Enola (McClaren) Gish, 95, of Baldwin City, KS passed away with family at her side on Dec.15, 2021, at Wellsville Retirement Community, Wellsville, KS. Enola was a beloved quilt teacher, journalist, designer and historian.

She was born Nov. 7, 1926 in Centerview, KS, the daughter of Charles O. McClaren and Bernice (Harp) McClaren. In 1944 Enola graduated from Centerview HS. In 1948 she received her BA from Southwestern College in Winfield, KS. Enola later earned her master's degree at Emporia State. On August 14, 1948, Enola married Lowell Gish at Lewis, KS. They were married for 52 years. Enola became a high school teacher in 1948 and taught home economics for over 20 years.

In the 1970s, Enola emerged as a leader in the quilting world. She founded the Maple Leaf Quilt Show in Baldwin City and directed it for 25 years. Her long-running newspaper column, "The Quilt Lady," was another means to showcase quilters and their quilts. Enola was one of the founders of the Kaw Valley Quilters Guild and logged nearly 9,000 miles to find quilts for the 1978 Kansas Quilt Symposium. Enola taught numerous quilt classes throughout Kansas. She helped found the Kansas Quilters Organization and served as its first president, later becoming a Master Quilter in the Kansas Folk Art Apprenticeship Program.

Family was important to Enola. She loved attending her children's and grandchildren's school events, sports, plays, and concerts. She will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother. She is survived by her four children, David Gish (Phyllis), Topeka, KS, Juanita Gish Reiter, Hillsboro, OR, Stephen Gish (Paula), Tonganoxie, KS, and Diana Gish, Baldwin City, KS; 10 grandchildren, Marty Gish (Anna), Dustin Gish, Derek Gish (Tamara), Garrett Reiter, Shannon Reiter, Cooper Gish, Carter Gish, Samuel Tuckfield (Alex), Owen Tuckfield, and Max Tuckfield; and five great grandchildren.

Enola was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Lowell Gish; her parents; and a brother, Charles George McClaren.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Maple Leaf Quilt Show Committee, Baldwin First United Methodist Church, or Douglas County Meals on Wheels and sent c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.