Alene Kaye Meskimen, 58, died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at Hays Medical Center.

She was born Sept. 15, 1953, in Garden City to Allan D. and Mollie E. (Sewell) Meskimen. She was a graduate of Hays High School and received a master's degree in English at Fort Hays State University.

She and her mother owned House of Color Gifts Boutique in Hays until the mid-1970s. She was a school teacher for a few years in St. Francis. She was a corporate secretary for Big Cheese Pizza for a year and worked in the last Census Bureau Office, both in Hays.

Survivors include her significant other, Charles S. Riedell, of the home; three foster daughters, Doreen Kinderknecht, Maggie Conant and Shanon Owens, all of Hays; a cousin, Connie Meskimen, Little Rock, Ark.; and a foster granddaughter, Savannah Desbin, Damar.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Cline's Mortuary of Hays, 1919 E. 22nd, Hays, KS; inurnment in Mount Allen Cemetery.

Family will receive friends from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary.

Memorials are suggested to the Alene Meskimen family in care of the mortuary.

Condolences can be sent via email to clinesmortuary@eaglecom.net.