Charlene Kay Gehrig was born July 17, 1947 at her great-grandparents home, lovingly called the Big Gehrig House, in Harlan County, Nebraska, to Charles and Dorothy (Petitjean) Gehrig. She passed away at her rural home in Long Island, Kansas, on January 31, 2022 at the age of 74. Charlene grew up on a farm with her sisters Donna and Libby and was constantly surrounded by her beloved extended family, Bud and Ruth Gehrig, Mary Lou and Roger and the neighbors the Poysers. She suffered great loss at the age of 7 when her 2 year old baby brother Bobby died of polio. This tragedy at a young age had a profound effect on the rest of her life. Charlene attended and graduated from Long Island High School in 1965. While in school, she enjoyed being a cheerleader, a member of Y-Teens, band and vocal. When she was a sophomore in high school her vocal teacher (and cousin) Betty Watt  arranged for her to sing a duet at the FFA banquet with senior Keith Ross, and the match worked. Keith and Charlene, high school sweethearts, were married on October 3, 1965, and celebrated 56 years together. This union was blessed with their two sets of kids, Monica Rachelle, Staci Charlene, Melissa Diane and Douglas Keith. Because of the age spread (they had kids in 3 different decades), they spent many years attending school programs, music contests, sporting events, and other community activities. They didn't have a break before they started going to the same events for their grandchildren. Charlene was an incredibly social person and loved to go to every possible activity held in the local communities. When Keith and Charlene were first married, she was a stay at home mom and farm wife. She loved clubs and was a member of Athena, Homemaker's Club, Prayer and Share Group, and she and Patricia Hammond spent hours making ceramics with the Golden Nuggets.  She volunteered at the Long Island Library and was often in charge of music at the Long Island United Methodist Church Sunday School and VBS. When her kids were older, she got jobs outside of the home and enjoyed working at Russ' Jewelry, Ideal Truck Lines, the Norton Chamber of Commerce and especially being a paraeducator at Northern Valley Elementary School. She left a lasting impression on many of the students. Charlene enjoyed going with Keith to his Prairie Land meetings around the United States and formed many life-long friendships with the people in those groups. In true Charlene form, she loved clothing, make-up, hair and especially jewelry. She was always dressed to the 'nines' and had a purse and shoes to match. She loved eating out with the UMW ladies and they had a wonderful time. On April 1, 2016, Charlene was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Through an anonymous donation, she was gifted a second life when she received a stem cell transplant on July 26. From that time on she showed her grit and grace though many health struggles, but had almost six years of life to enjoy weddings, births, and other memorable moments with her family and friends.   She is survived by her husband Keith Ross, sisters Donna Blum and Libby and Jeff Miller. Charlene was incredibly proud of her four kids and spouses, Monica and Jim Cole, Staci and Monte Montgomery, Melissa and Josh McClain and Doug Ross, her 10 grandchildren and their spouses, Kelli and Dustin Balmer, Megan and Logan Kats, Alison and Travis Rempe, Tyler and Sarah Montgomery, Carson Montgomery, Clint Cole, Ross Cole, Kassidy McClain, Brogan McClain, and Sheridan McClain, and her 5 great-grandchildren, Kyndall Kats, Tatum Balmer, Karter Kats, Jett Balmer, and Amelia Montgomery. She has a large number of nieces and nephews who adored their Aunt Charlene, and numerous loving friends and neighbors. Meeting her in heaven are her parents Charles and Dorothy Gehrig, her much loved baby brother Charles Robert (Bobby), her brother-in-law Stanley Blum, her in-laws Arvid and Florence Ross, and her great-granddaughter Sloane Grace Kats.

Funeral services will be held Friday, Feb. 4 at 2:00 p.m. in the Long Island United Methodist Church with Pastor Ted Stapleton & Jeff Miller officiating.  The service will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel Facebook page.  Burial will follow in the Long Island Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 12:00 to 9:00 Wed. & 9:00 to 4:00 Thursday at the funeral home.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at the Long Island United Methodist Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Long Island Library or to Phillips County Home Health.