Lorraine A. Quinlan

Lorraine Adelaide Quinlan, 92, of Shawnee, passed away Saturday, September 8, 2012.

Lorraine, fondly called "Pel", was a loving mother and grandmother. She was born and raised in Oakland, California and came from a family of three brothers and one sister. She was the oldest of five children and took on added responsibility in helping her mother raise five children after her father passed in 1939.

At the outbreak of World War Two, Lorraine felt it was her civic and patriotic responsibilty to serve and protect her country. She enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a United States Marine. She was a PBY radio operator and an M.P. (Military Police). She was stationed in the Hawaii Islands throughout the war, and later met and married 1st Sergeant U.S.M.C. Emmett J. Quinlan from Kansas City, Kansas.

In 1951, after the great flood in Kansas City, the Quinlan's moved to Shawnee, Kansas and their permanent address on Charles Street for the next 60 years. Lorraine and Emmett raised three children and both worked full-time in order to make "ends meet" . Emmett worked for 40 years at the ATSF the Santa Fe Railroad as its Chief Clerk and Lorraine worked as a receptionst for the Colgate Palmolive Company.

Emmett and Lorraine were members of St. Joseph Catholic Church and sent their children to St. Joseph grade and high school. Lorraine was a life-long member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Shawnee, Kansas; and a member of the VFW and the American Legion.

Lorraine was an outstanding athlete in high school and college. She was an avid sports enthusiast and brought her children into this world with a love for all sports and a burning desire for competition. Growing up in San Leando, California, a suburb of Oakland, gave her the perfect opportunity to root for her "Home Team" the Oakland Raiders. She never relinquished her position in rooting for her home team and her favorite team the "Kansas Jayhawks basketball program." Lorraine will be buried in "Crimson and Blue", and draped with an Oakland Raider blanket.

She is survived by her two sons, Casey Quinlan and wife Linda; Michael Quinlan; a daughter, Kathleen Lebrecht and husband Jack; two brothers, Ray and Don Pellaton; a sister, Evelyn Pellaton; Four grandchildren, Carrie, Chris, Alison, Kelli and one great grandson, Kellen.

Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, September 11, 2012, at the Amos Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, September 12, 2012, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shawnee. Burial will follow at Resurrection Mausoleum.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Susan G. Komen for a Cure, Attn: Donor Services, Dallas, Texas 75265 or Great Plains SPCA, 9800 W. 67th Street, Merriam, Kansas 66203.