Lynne E. McIver

Lynne E. McIver, known as “Mrs. Mac” to the thousands of students to whom she taught high school English, died peacefully at home on January 15, 2025. She was born July 11, 1945, to Elizabeth and Bill Hinshaw, of Plevna; the youngest of their three children.

After graduating from Fairfield High School in 1963, Lynne earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English education from Kansas State University. She married Walter McIver on July 18, 1964, and they shared over fifty years of marriage - most of them spent on their beloved farm outside Abbyville after Walter finished his service with the United States Army.

Lynne directed stage productions for the Little Abby Theater, a community effort to raise funds to preserve and maintain the Abbyville Community Center. For over three decades, Lynne and other committed neighbors would gather each spring to rehearse and stage and show each May, providing a ham and “Abbyville potatoes” dinner theater experience for attendees.  She delighted in this work, and she took real pride in going to senior lunch gatherings at the “Abbyville building” later in life, knowing that she had contributed to making sure it remained a resource for the community for years to come.

As a teacher, Lynne taught at schools on the post at Fort Riley and in the communities of Augusta, GA, and Pretty Prairie. She ended her career with over two decades at Fairfield High School, where in addition to teaching English she directed the school play, coached forensics, served as the senior class sponsor, and served on various other faculty and district committees over the years.

Lynne was a faithful United Methodist, baptized at the Plevna Methodist Church in her youth and attending First United Methodist Church of Hutchinson in her retirement. She adored her children and grandchildren - and she was loved deeply by them in return. In her later years, Lynne was grateful for a wonderful group of friends with whom to go walking, to share book club picks, and to go out to lunch.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Dean and Dale.

Lynne is survived by: her two children, Andrew McIver of Abbyville, Rachel McIver Morey (Jerad) of New Brighton, MN; grandsons, William McIver of Abbyville, AJ and Heron McIver Morey, of New Brighton, MN; sisters-in-law, Ruth Hinshaw of Benton, Lona Hinshaw of Hutchinson; brother and sister-in-law, Ernie and Judy Spore, of Abbyville; nieces, Beth Hinshaw and Dana Hinshaw of Hutchinson, Jaime Burney (Doug) of northern Virginia; nephews, Kevin Hinshaw of Benton, and Dustin Spore (Alicia) of Great Bend.

Cremation has taken place. Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, February 1, 2025, at First United Methodist Church, 101 E 1st Ave., Hutchinson. The family will greet friends beginning at 10 a.m. at the church.

Inurnment will follow in Abbyville Cemetery. All are invited to a meal at Abbyville Community Church beginning at 1 p.m.

Friends may sign her memorial book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday at Elliott Mortuary. The family will also receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday, January 31, 2025, at Elliott Mortuary.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church or Abbyville Community Center, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.