Joanne Lorene (Gebhart) Pridey

Joanne Lorene (Gebhart) Pridey, 73, passed away October 9, 2021, in Salina, Kansas with her family by her side.

She was born July 17, 1948 to James Robeson and Florence Lucille (Leister) Gebhart in Salina, KS.  She married Roger Elwyn Pridey on July 10, 1982.

She graduated from Salina High School in 1966 and went on to receive her B.S. in Home Economics from Kansas State University in 1970.  She also earned her M.S. from K-State in 1978.  She took great pride in being an educator and she taught FACS at several districts including Wakefield, Abilene, Chapman, Wichita North and most recently Salina.  In 1990, she switched to science and taught at Roosevelt-Lincoln / Lakewood middle schools until her retirement in 2009.  She attended many enrichment opportunities including being selected as a science teacher for two NASA training programs in Texas and Alabama.  Her love of the classroom continued post-retirement as she immensely enjoyed her time as a substitute teacher in the Minneapolis school district up until 2021.  

She was a loyal supporter of KSU sports and held season football tickets for more than 30 years.  In addition, she was always an avid fan of her daughters’ activities and traveled many, many miles to cheer on Cowley CC and West Texas A&M basketball games as well as Colby CC and KSU Equestrian shows.

She served the community and beyond via various groups including as a longtime volunteer for Friends of the Salina Animal Shelter, Rolling Hills Zoo, KWU athletics, Kansas Equifest, and the NJCAA Women’s Basketball tournament.  She served on board positions for the Kansas Foundation for Ag in the Classroom, Salina Animal Control Advisory Board, and for 10 years as secretary of the Salina Food Bank.  She was also a proud member of the P.E.O. sisterhood.

She was a longtime member of Salina First Covenant Church, attending Women of the Word and Life Group events, volunteering with Vacation Bible School and Newcomer Activities, and serving as a Deacon.  

Her love for animals and agriculture stretched beyond the classroom as she especially cherished spending time with her dogs and horses and loved to attend trail rides in the area as well as on her family farm.  In her “spare time” she liked reading mystery novels, pulling weeds and working on her flower beds, traveling, attending dance classes, and live music events.

She was preceded in death by her parents Jim and Florence, and sister Jeanne Pohlman.

She is survived by her husband Roger of Salina, daughters Megan (Herb) Bindseil of Floresville, TX and Kara Pridey (Jay Hunnicutt) of Carrollton, TX, granddaughters Reese and Bristol Bindseil, uncle Verlyn Richards of Manhattan, KS, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family will receive friends at from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 17 at Salina First Covenant Church on Sunday. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 18, at  Salina First Covenant Church.

Memorials can be made to “FRIENDS of Salina Animal Shelter” or Walnut Grove Cemetery.

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