Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
BENNY V. GREEN
Benny Green, 84, of Shawnee, KS passed away March 25th, 2005 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center. Services will be held Tuesday March 29th, at 10:00 a.m. at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Friends may call Monday March 28th from 7-8:00 p.m. at the chapel. The family suggests donation to Kansas City Hospice.
Benny was born November 15th, 1920 in Oklahoma City. He served in the Army Air Corps in the Asiatic Theatre during World War II earning two Bronze Stars and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He married Nadine Klempnauer July 17th, 1949. Benny continued working at Green’s Florist in Kansas City, KS until his retirement in 1987. Benny is survived by his wife Nadine; his sons Ken Green (Cyndi) of Shawnee, Gary Green (Sue) of Holden, MO, Steve Green (Carol) of Merriam, and Fred Green (Cheri) of Kansas City, MO. He also leaves 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
JOHN D. MAYS
John Mays, 47, of Mission, KS passed away March, 23rd, 2005 at St. Luke’s Plaza Medical Center. Memorial services will be held Saturday March 26th, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee.
John was born June 21st, 1957 in Cleveland, OH to William and Olive Mays now of Douglasville, GA. John was active in little league sports in Johnson County, coaching basketball and football and being recognized as coach of the year. He touched many people’s lives in his short time with us. He will be remembered by his family and friends as a wonderful man with a kind spirit who worked hard and lived his life with integrity.
He is survived by his sons Chris Mays of Mission, KS and Anthony Mays of Lenexa; his daughter Andria Mays of Mission, KS and their mother Cathy Mays of Mission; as well as his brothers Edward Mays of Osawatomie, KS and William Mays of Marrietta, GA and his sister Lydia Traider of Douglasville, GA.
CORA MAE ASHFORD
Cora Mae Ashford, 89, Overland Park, KS passed away Saturday, March 26, 2005, at her home. Graveside Services will be 2:00 PM, Wednesday, March 30, 2005, at Ozark Memorial Cemetery, Joplin, MO. Visitation 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Tuesday at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee.
Mrs. Ashford was born in Granby, MO. She retired with 35 years service at Southwestern Bell as a telephone operator.
Survivors include a daughter, Corina and her husband Everett Vaughn of Shawnee, KS; two grandchildren Michelle and Susanne, two great grandchildren, Jamie and Jeremy and three great-great grandchildren Zachary, Danielle and Taylor.
RALPH L. BARKSDALE
Ralph L. Barksdale, 79, Shawnee, KS passed away Monday, March 28, 2005 at his home. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM, Thursday, March 31 at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee; burial in Maple Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 6-8 PM, Wednesday at the Chapel.
Ralph was born Nov. 7, 1925 in Kansas City, MO to Forest and Lola (Hall) Barksdale. He was a veteran of the US Army during WWII and was a prisoner of war following the Battle of the Bulge. Ralph was employed with General Motors for 33 ˝ years until his retirement. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy (Raley) Barksdale; daughter, Jacqueline Malay and her husband, Robert,; son, Joseph Leroy Barksdale and his wife, Opal, all of Kansas City, KS; four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
VITO ANTHONY CRABTREE
Vito A. Crabtree, also known as, Vic Jolley, 68, Merriam, KS passed away Tuesday, March 29th at St. Joseph Health Care Center. Memorial services will be held at 6:00 PM, Friday, April 1st at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee.
Vito was born on May 1, 1936 to Robert and Mary Catalano Crabtree Beil. He graduated from the Cleveland Chiropractic College and was a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine for over 30 years. As Vic Jolley he was a national spokesman for Bumper to Bumper and was a radio and television personality. He started in the entertainment business when he was 9 years old doing stand up comedy and continued to his death.
He is survived by his wife Patricia Crabtree of the home; daughters Cindi Crabtree, Gladstone, MO and Christi (Jack) Hook, Kansas City, MO; son John (Kristi) Crabtree, Merriam, KS; mother, Mary Beil, Shawnee, KS; and three grandchildren: Dominic Hook and Ian and Colin Crabtree.
GORDON EUGENE SEAGO
Gordon E. Seago, 79, of Kansas City KS. passed away peacefully after receiving the last rites of the Church surrounded by family at his home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10AM. Saturday April 2nd at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Kansas City, KS. A visitation will be held from 8:30-10AM at the church. Gordon was born August 30, 1925 to Elmer and Frances Seago in Slater, MO. He was an active member of Sacred Heart Parish, and was a member of the Friends of Pomona State Park. He enjoyed spending his time wood working, fishing and camping. Gordon was preceded in death by his sister; Winifred Seago. He is survived by his wife Rita of the home, three sons; Chuck and wife Karen of Kansas City, MO Chris and wife Julia of Topeka, and Cdr. Mark Seago USNR (ret.) and wife Carol of Kansas City, MO. Two daughters; Paula Jean Adair and husband Randy of Topeka, Sister Diana Seago, O.S.B of Atchison, KS. 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The family suggests memorials be sent to Benedictine Sisters Mount St. Scholastica. 801 S. 8th St. Atchison, KS 66002.
LUCILLE M. “RUSTY” GELPI
Lucille M. “Rusty” Gelpi, 84, Lenexa, KS passed away Thursday, March 31, 2005. Funeral Mass will be 1:30 p.m., Saturday at the Resurrection Mausoleum, Lenexa, KS. Visitation 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Saturday at the Mausoleum. The family requests no flowers and suggests contributions to Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 13520 W. 92nd St., Lenexa, KS 66215.
Mrs. Gelpi was born in Hays, KS. She worked for the Army Surgeon at the Pentagon’s War Department during WWII. Lucille was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Patrick Gelpi. Survivors include a son, Philip and his wife Toni Gelpi of Overland Park, KS; three daughters, Christine and her husband Roy Baker of Bella Vista, AR, Patti Michaels of Shawnee, KS and Tina Gelpi of Ft Myers, FL; two sisters, Marietta Riedel of Hays, KS and Estelle Schroller of Hays, KS; one brother, Elmer and his wife Lenore Goetz of Hays, KS; four grandchildren, Jon and Justin Michaels and Michael and Elizabeth Gelpi.
