Sylvia Laird
Sylvia Ann Laird, 58, Olathe, died Wednesday, Jan. 24, at the home of her sister Gara Wolff, Olathe. She was born Sept. 9, 1942, in Gadsden, Ala., living in Oxford, Ga., before coming to Olathe, five years ago. She was a grader for the USDA in Georgia. She was a den mother for the Boy Scouts for 15 years. She was preceded in death by her father, Ivalee Laird and one brother, Bruce H. Laird. She is survived by five sons, Steven Cowling of Polo, Ill., Alan Cowling of Rainbow City, Ala., David Moore of Crystal Lake, Ill., Matthew Cowling of Elmhurst, Ill., and John Cowling of Eugene, Ore.; her mother, Lillian Jupp of Olathe; a brother, John Laird of Bartlett, Ill.; two sisters, Gara Wolff of the home and Debra Wright of Montgomery, Ill.; and eight grandchildren. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at the Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Olathe. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today. Burial will be at the Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens. The family suggests contributions to the American Cancer Society, 5960 Dearborne, Suite 100, Mission, KS, 66202.

Fred Laming
Fred W. Laming, 68, Olathe, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2000, at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. He was born Feb. 27, 1931, in Williamsburg, Mich., the son of Gordon William and Doris Edith (Copeland) Laming, both of whom have preceded him in death. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955, moving to Olathe in 1955. He married Mildred Cress in 1953. He worked for Cowley's Lumber in Olathe for 25 years, and also worked for Michael's Body Shop in Olathe for five years. He attended the First Assembly of God Church in Olathe. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred, in 1994. Survivors include two sons, Lawrence Laming, Paola, and Robert Laming, Dardanelle, Ark.; two daughters, Linda D. Altis, Overland Park, and Vickie Laming, Olathe; a stepson, Leroy McMahon, Kansas City, Mo.; a brother, Robert Laming, Carleton, Mich.; a sister, Betty Hawley, Traverse City, Mich.; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. today at W.L. Frye and Son Funeral Home, Olathe. The funeral will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Olathe Memorial Cemetery.

Jeffrey Landes
Jeffery J. Landes, 24, Wellsville, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2000, at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan., from complications of brain cancer. He was born Dec. 4, 1975, in Kansas City, Kan., to Joe Landes and Linda Neagel Frisbey. He attended Wellsville High School and was presently attending the Vo-Tech School of Kansas City, Kan. He was employed for the past three years at the Mid-American Plastic Company in Gardner. He was a member of the Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by an infant brother, Daniel Landes. Survivors include his father and stepmother, Joe and Mary Landes, Overland Park; his mother and stepfather, Linda and Jess Frisbey, Edgerton; a former stepfather, Jerry Sykes, Paola; two brothers, Michael and Ryan Landes, both of Overland Park; four sisters, Christine Mosher and Carolynn Mosher, both of Wellsville, Stephanie Bishop, Ottawa, and Amy Sykes, Fort Gordon, Ga.; two grandmothers, Leona Thurnau, Lebanon, Ind., and Eileen Landes, Prairie Village; and a nephew, Ethan Mosher, Wellsville. Prayer service will be 6:30 p.m., with visitation from 7 to 9 p.m., today at the Wilson and Son Chapel, Wellsville. The funeral will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Assumption Catholic Church, Edgerton. Burial will follow at the Wellsville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jeff Landes Memorial Fund, in care of Wilson and Son Funeral Home, P.O. Box 486, Wellsville, KS 66092; or to Cancer Action, 1831 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS 66102.

Jonathan Langdon
Jonathan David Langdon, 21, Overland Park, died Friday, Sept. 29, 2000. He was born in Bridgewater, N.J., the son of David B. Langdon and Sylvia (Babcoke) Williams. He was a junior at the University of Kansas, majoring in art. He graduated from Blue Valley High School in 1998. Survivors include his parents, David B. and Julia A. Langdon, of the home, and Sylvia and Harlan Williams, Elbert, Colo.; three brothers, Brad Walker, of the home, David Williams, Thornton Colo., and Casey Williams, Gardner; five sisters, Kathy Mencel, Olathe, Vicki Wood, Sedro-Wooley, Wash., Katie Walker, Overland Park, Lori Cordova, Lakewood, Colo., and Julie Darr, Topeka; his paternal grandmother, Rose Langdon, Lee's Summit, Mo.; and his maternal grandmother, Gertrude Babcoke of Colorado, Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3, at the W.L. Frye and Son Funeral Home, Olathe. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens, Olathe.

Robert Lange Jr.
Robert A. "Bob" Lange Jr., 83, of Kansas City, Mo., died Saturday, June 16, 2001, at St. Joseph Hospital. He was born Oct. 5, 1917, in Leavenworth, the son of Robert Lange Sr. and Gretchen (Wuest) Lange. He grew up in Leavenworth and graduated from Leavenworth High School in 1936. He graduated from Wentworth Military Junior College in 1938 and from Bake University in 1947. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in Cannon Company, 334th Infantry, 84th Railsplitters Regiment. He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 1000. He worked an an accountant for several different south Kansas City companies from 1954 to 1982. He then held a private practice as a tax accountant until March of 1997. He was a member of the National Accountants Association for 13 years and of the Insurance Auditors Association of Kansas City until 1973. He was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church where he was a Sunday school teacher, a member of the Methodist Men and an usher. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Doris, of the home; four children, Janice Rivera, Denver, Judy Colson, Olathe, Don Lange, Kansas City, Mo., and David Lange, Lee's Summit, Mo.; and six grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Mount Moriah/Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, Mo. Burial will be at Mt. Muncie Cemetery, Lansing, Kan. A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, at Asbury Methodist Church, Overland Park. The family suggests memorials to the Asbury United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society.

Linda Lankford
Linda Lowe Lankford died March 28, 2001, in Kansas. She is survived by her husband: Perry W. Lankford, Olathe; father and stepmother: Phi and Monique Lowe, Nashville, Tenn.; mother: Elizabeth Lowe, Nashville, Tenn.; brother: Phil Love, Jr., Nashville, Tenn.; sister: Ginger Gardella, Memphis, Tenn.; nephews and nieces. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Broadway Chapel. Funeral services will be conducted in the funeral home chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. Interment will be at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens. Memorials may be made to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Middle Tennessee Chapter, 4219 Hillsboro Road, Suite 306 Nashville, Tenn. 37215 Roesch Patton Austin Bracey and Charlton, 1715 Broadway, (615) 244-6480.

Beverly Laptad
Beverly Spano Laptad, 68, Olathe, died Saturday, July 29, 2000, in Wichita. She was born July 2, 1932, in Blue Earth, Minn., the daughter of Willard and Gladys Batchelor. She had been a resident of Olathe for 40 years and a lifelong member of Grace United Methodist Church, Olathe. She graduated from St. Mary's School of Nursing and attended Manketo State Teacher's College where she earned her master's degree. In 1960, she was employed by Delco Battery Plant as an executive secretary, retiring in 1994. She married Benedict Spano in1975. She was active in the community as a volunteer for the Parkinson Association, Seniors Serving Schools, and Olathe Hospital Cardiac Care pillow project. She was the adopted grandparent of the Olathe Bethel of the international order Job's Daughter's. She served on the Board of the Cedar House for more than 20 years. She was a member of the Anchor Chapter No. 3 O.E.S. for more than 34 years, serving her chapter in 1987 and 1997 as Worthy Matron. She served as district aide for district No. 6 in 1993 and held numerous community chairs for the Grand Chapter of Kansas, including special page, grand representative, and grand teller. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Benedict Spano, and a sister, Helen Batchelor. Survivors include her husband, Jack A. Laptad, of the home; one brother, Robert Batchelor; three daughters, Ila Meyer, Pam Holmes and Wendy Webb; one son, Jack Laptad II; and 12 grandchildren. Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, at W.L. Frye & Son Funeral Home, Olathe. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Olathe. The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Heart Association.

Jack Laptad
Jack A. Laptad, 68, of Olathe, died Tuesday, March 27, 2001. He was born the son of Robert P. and Melba (Hamm) Laptad on Dec. 26, 1932, in Lawrence. He married Marese A. Ball on June 5, 1952. They were married for 46 years until she preceded him in death as did his second wife Beverly Spano Laptad. He served on the Johnson County Sheriff's Department for many years. Upon retirement from the Sheriff's office, he kept busy with the Rocking Chair Cattle Co., golf, hunting, fishing, card playing, and friends. He is survived by a son, Jack A. Laptad, II, of Olathe; two daughters, Pam M. Holmes, Joplin, Mo.; and Wendy L. Webb, Stilwell; two brothers, Robert Laptad, Joplin, Mo.; Richard Laptad, Wichita; and sister, Irene Holmes, Fayetteville, Ark.; seven grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 143rd and Black Bob Road where the family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time. Cremation. The family suggests memorial contributions to MidAmerica Heart Institute, CHF Fund #13502, 4401 Wornall Road, KCMO 64111.

Ruth Laptad
Ruth A. Laptad, 89, Olathe, died Saturday, June 24, 2000, at her home. She was born Oct. 22, 1910, in Emporia, and had lived in Olathe since 1945. She was a graduate of the University of Kansas with degrees in home economics and history. She taught high school in Strong City. She was head dietitian and taught sewing at the Kansas School for the Deaf in Olathe where she retired after many years. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school for more than 20 years. She was also a member of the Ladies Reading Circle Federated Club, Culture Class Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary and was a former PTA president. She married J. Lee Laptad in 1937. He died in 1995. Survivors include a daughter, Donna M. Godfrey, Shawnee; a sister, Lucille Blough, Lajolla, Calif.; and two grandchildren, Elizabeth Godfrey Boldt and Nicholas Godfrey, both of Shawnee. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 28, at the Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, Olathe. Friends may call from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens. The family requests contributions to the St. Mark's United Methodist Youth Ministries.

Dale Largent
E. Dale Largent, 78, Overland Park, died Thursday, March 23, 2000, at Life Care Center of Overland Park. He was born April 13, 1921, in Shelton, Neb. He worked for various automobile dealerships from the 1960s, and was service manager at several. He also owned Marshland Game Call Company. He was active in the Johnson County 3+2 Little League baseball program. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Dorothy Largent, of the home; two sons, Larry Dale Largent, Pleasanton, Kan., and Rod Largent, Blue Springs, Mo.; a daughter, Patty Largent, Walnut Creek, Calif.; a brother, Carl Largent, Long Beach, Calif.; two sisters, Thelma Harris, Downey, Calif., and Mildred Juergens, Westminster, Colo.; and three grandchildren. Visitation will be from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 29, at Charter Funerals' Kansas Chapel, Merriam. The memorial service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Johnson County 3+2 Little League, c/o Charter Funerals' Kansas Chapel, 10250 W. 63rd St., Merriam, KS 66203.

Russell Larkin
Russell A. "Russ" Larkin, 47, of Topeka died Feb. 29, 2000, at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka. He had cancer, diagnosed in August 1999. He was born Oct. 9, 1952, at the Seneca Hospital, Seneca, Kan., to Francis and Elizabeth Lierz Larkin. He grew up on the family farm east of Baileyville, Kan., and graduated from B&B High School there in 1970. He attended Highland College and graduated from Bethel College, Newton, Kan., in 1974. He played football as a defensive tackle and received honorable mention in the small-college All-American honors. He moved to Seneca following college and was employed by the Seneca Elevator as manager. In 1979 he moved to Topeka and began work for Mycogen Seed Company as a sales manager and later became district manager. He was named the company's national Salesman of the Year several times. He married Lisa Beuttel on June 29, 1981, in Los Angeles. He was a member of the Assumption Church in Topeka. He coached his daughter's softball team and was active in Little League sports. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Brent Allen Larkin, Aug. 8, 1974; and two brothers, Bruce Albert Larkin, Sept. 24, 1945, and James Michael Larkin, Dec. 12, 1959. Survivors include his wife, Lisa, of the home; a daughter, Lindsay Larkin, of the home; a son, Brandon Larkin, Manhattan, Kan.; his mother, Elizabeth Larkin, Seneca; two brothers, Ronald Larkin, Axtell, Kan., and Bruce Larkin, Baileyville; and a sister, Mary Heiman, Olathe. The rosary will be at 2 and 7 p.m. today at the Lauer Funeral Home, Seneca. The mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. Friday, March 3, at Sacred Heart Church, Baileyville. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Russell Allen Larkin College Scholarship Fund, to be established at B&B High School, Baileyville, in care of the family.

Ray Larrick
Ray D. Larrick, 51, Wellsville, Kan., died Saturday, April 14, 2001, at his home. He was born April 4, 1950, in Gardner, the son of Arthur "Banty" Larrick and Nadine C. (Sawyer) Larrick. He was a lifelong resident of the Edgerton and Wellsville areas. He graduated from Wellsville High School in 1968, and later from Dodge City Community College. He farmed for 30 years near Edgerton and Wellsville. He was a receiving agent in charge of inventory at Lowe's in Olathe since 1999. He served in the U.S. Navy from July 1970 to July of 1972. He received the National Defense Service Medal and a Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal. He was a member of the Farmers' Co-op Association of Lawrence. He helped start the Square Delights square dance club in Lawrence and was a member of the Ottawa Promenaders square dance club. He married Catherine Louise "Kay" (Raiston) Schnoke in Ottawa on Nov. 21, 1986. He is survived by his wife; his parents; a stepdaughter, Brenda Fredricks, Williamsburg, Kan.; a stepson, Ryan Schnoke, San Antonio, Texas; a sister, Arleen Schuman, Wellsville; a brother, Rex Eugene Larrick, Olathe; and four stepgrandchildren. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Dengel and Son Mortuary, Ottawa. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church, Ottawa. Cremation. Memorial contributions may be made to the Midland Hospice or American Cancer Society.

Mary Lathrop
OVERLAND PARK - Mary Lathrop, 86, of Olathe, died April 5, 2001, at the Overland Park Regional Hospital. She was born Sept. 23, 1914, in Noble, Okla., the daughter of Robert and Katie (Heindricks) Willis. She had lived in Olathe for the past 25 years, and was of the Nazarene faith. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, W. Claude Lathrop; and a son, Donald Marlar. Survivors include one son, Richard Marlar, Olathe; a sister, Martha Maybaum, California; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be at 7 p.m. tonight at the W.L. Frye and Son Mortuary and Crematory, Olathe. Cremation.

Margaret Lattimore
Margaret G. Lattimore, 81, Olathe, died Monday, Sept. 25, 2000, at the Olathe Medical Center. She was born Oct. 18, 1918, in Olathe, and had lived in Olathe all her life. She resided with her grandson, Mark A. Davis. During World War II, she worked at the Pratt & Whitney Bomber Plant in Fairfax. She was a member of the Overland Park Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marion Lattimore; a son, Allen Lattimore; three brothers; and a sister. Survivors include a son, John A. Lattimore, Kansas City, Mo.; a daughter, Margaret Waters, Parma, Mo.; three brothers, Earl Cartwright and Charles Cartwright, both of Olathe, and Clifford Cartwright, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; six sisters, Ethel Clay, Kansas City, Kan., Betty Wilkes, Wichita, Jean Miller, Kansas City, Mo., and Martha King, Evelyn Bates and Barbara Cartwright, all of Olathe; 11 grandchildren; and 44 great-grandchildren. The funeral will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the Overland Park Church of Christ, Overland Park. Burial will be at the Olathe Memorial Cemetery, Olathe. The family requests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, 5960 Dearborne, Mission, KS 66202. Arrangements are by the Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, Olathe.

Anna Lawrence
Anna Esther (Stuteville) Lawrence, 93, of Louisburg, (formerly of Bucyrus and Paola), died Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000, at the Louisburg Care Center. She was born Dec. 22, 1907, in Ocheltree, the daughter of Charley Edward and Alice Belle Chaney Stuteville. The family moved from the Ocheltree area when she was just a child and settled on the company farm outside of the Bucyrus. She attended Bucyrus High School, graduating in 1926. She married Harry Wolf on May 27, 1926. After their marriage, they lived in the Bucyrus area. Her husband's job as a salesman for the Sutherland Lumber Company took the couple to Kansas City; Custer, S.D., and St. Joseph, Mo. In 1954, they moved from the St. Joseph area to Wichita. He died while they were living in Wichita on Nov. 16, 1966. In 1967, she moved to Paola where she could be near her family. Shortly after she moved to Paola, she became an employee at Sutherlands Grocery Store. She married George Lawrence on Aug. 20, 1972, in Paola. He preceded her in death on Aug. 25, 1991. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women's Group and the Hospital Auxiliary, all in Paola; and the Osawatomie Chapter of Old Fidlers, Pickers and Singers Club. Her hobbies included crocheting, knitting, fishing, and traveling with her family and friends. Besides her parents and her husbands, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Norma Winchell, Ruby Wright and Marie Hook;and two brothers, William and Edward Stuteville. Survivors include two brothers, Harold Stuteville, Louisburg, and Robert Stuteville, Overland Park. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at the Wilson and Son Funeral Home, Paola. Burial will be in the Paola Cemetery. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Louisburg Care Center in care of Wilson and Son Funeral Home, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS 66071.

Russell Lawson
Russell Leon Lawson, 62, Nevada, Mo., formerly of DeSoto and Olathe, died Wednesday, May 17, 2000, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, Mo., following a short illness. He was born July 5, 1937, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to Russell R. Lawson and Minnie Mae Owen Lawson. He was a 1956 graduate of DeSoto High School. He first married Josephine Kiger June 9, 1956. He worked for the city of Olathe for 25 years, retiring in 1993, when he moved to Walker, Mo. He married Ellen May Sept. 11, 1996. They recently had moved to Nevada. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Olathe; the Cowboy Gun Club, Frontenac, Kan.; and the State Line Ridge Runners Club. He headed the Senior Citizens Dance Group at the Bar H Boys Ranch. Survivors include his wife, Ellen, of the home; two daughters, Debra Barnes, Gardner, and Pamela Plummer, DeSoto; two stepdaughters, Melody Neider, Walker, Mo., and Pamela Collins, Sedalia, Mo.; a sister, Shirley Lowe, Nowata, Okla.; seven grandchildren; three step-grandsons; and four step-great-grandchildren. He will lie in state until the funeral. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 19, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. The funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 20, at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Dederick, Mo. Memorial contributions may be made to the Vernon County Cancer Relief or the American Heart Association.