Charles Tankersley
Charles W. Tankersley, 75, DeSoto, died Thursday, May 18, 2000, at Overland Park Regional Hospital. He was born May 5, 1925, in Concordia, Kan., to Charles and Nola Tankersley. He graduated from Clay Center High School. He also attended the University of Kansas, before enlisting in the U.S. Army and serving in the Pacific, as a dental hygienist. He subsequently graduated from KU with a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Kansas. While at KU, he was in the ROTC, later joining the U.S. Air Force, from which he retired as a major. He was an operator at KPL for 35 years, retiring in 1987. He was a member of the DeSoto Rotary, the DeSoto Baptist Church, the Retired Officers Association, the Reserve Officers Association of the U.S., the Kansas State Historical Society, and the Kansas Alumni Association. He married Bennie Ravanes, Alicia Rodriquez and Ouita Childers. He was preceded in death by his second wife, Alicia Tankersley; and two grandsons, Jody Lee Besser and Richard Paul Besser III. Survivors include his wife, Ouita, of the home; three daughters, Nola E. Toms, Oskaloosa, Maria E. Hopson, Houston, Texas, and Roxann L. Besser, Columbia, Mo.; a son, Charles W. Tankersley III; a sister, Iris W. Nichols, Denver, Colo.; two grandchildren; and six step-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at Cedar Crest Memorial Chapel, DeSoto. The funeral will be 10 a.m. Monday, May 22, at the DeSoto Baptist Church, DeSoto. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Monday, May 22, at the Greenwood Cemetery, Clay Center. Memorial contributions may be made to the DeSoto Baptist Church, P.O. Box E, DeSoto, KS 66018.

James Tanner Jr.
James William Tanner, 42, of Creston, Iowa, died Friday, Feb. 23, 2001, at his home. He was born Jan. 4, 1959, In Los Angeles, and moved to Olathe in 1985. He worked as a tattoo artist in the Kansas City area for 23 years and later moved to Creston, Iowa, to retire. Survivors include his parents, James William Tanner Sr. and Joan L. Tanner of Bakersfield, Calif.; a sister, Belenda Miles, Memphis, Tenn.; three daughters, Amie Pence, Olathe, Sherri Moore, Los Angeles, and Destiny Harold, Independence, Mo.; two sons, Todd Tanner, Des Moines, Iowa, and James. L. Tanner, Los Angeles; and six grandchildren. Funeral services were Tuesday, Feb. 27, in Creston, Iowa. A private service will be 4 p.m. today in Los Angeles. Burial will be at First Hope Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Vern Taylor
Vern I. Taylor, 94, of Westmoreland, died Sunday, Feb. 20, at Wamego City Hospital. He was born April 26, 1905, in rural Westmoreland, the son of Ira and Gertrude Scritchfield Taylor. He lived in Westmoreland all his life. He graduated from Westmoreland High School. He farmed the Westy area for seven years and worked for the Reno Construction Company, the Kansas State Park Department and the Green Thumb of Tuttle Creek State Park, and the Pottawatomie County Road Department, from which he retired in 1981. He was a member of the Westmoreland Christian Church since 1929, and a member of the Masonic Lodge of Westmoreland. Vern married Alice "Opal" Gillett on Nov. 5, 1927, in Oskaloosa; she survives the home. Survivors include a daughter, Kathryn Walters, Gresham Oregon; two sons, Galen Taylor, Gardner and Darrell Dean Taylor, Gresham, Oregon; a sister, Gertrude Shehi, Everett, Washington; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. at the Westmoreland Christian Church, Westmoreland. Burial with Masonic Rites will follow in the Westmoreland City Cemetery. He will lie in state on Tuesday 11 a.m. at the Stewart Funeral Chapel, Westmoreland, where family will greet friends at the visitation from 6-8 p.m. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Center for Basic Cancer Research at Kansas State University, and they may be sent in care of the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego or Westmoreland.

Paul Tebbe
Paul L. Tebbe, 67, of Overland Park died Saturday, Sept. 16, 2000, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. He was born Sept. 18, 1932, in St. Jacobs, Ill. He was a professor of astronomy at Johnson County Community College for 28 years. He served on the Blue Valley School Board for four years and was involved in numerous community services. He was preceded in death by his mother, Clara J. Tebbe; a brother, Clarence A. Tebbe; and a sister, Angela M. Schulte. Survivors include his wife, Anita, of the home; a daughter, Joanie, Brooklyn, N.Y.; a son Michael, Overland Park; his father, Louis, of the home; and a sister. Delores Tebbe Ossowski, Kodiak, Alaska. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. today at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Olathe. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the American Heart Association or JCCC. Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Olathe is in charge of arrangements.

Betty Terry
Betty R. Terry, 74, Overland Park, died Tuesday, March 6, 2001 at Shawnee Mission Medical Center. She was born Sept. 1, 1926, in Butler, Mo., living in Overland Park most of her life. She had worked for the Downtown Kansas City Post Office and the Kansas City Life Insurance Company in Kansas City, Mo. She also worked for Shortman Dodge Motors, AMC Jeep Motors, and Polo Motors, all in Overland Park. She was preceded in death by her husband: James R. Terry in 1972. She is survived by two sons: Michael J. Terry, Shawnee, and Patrick H. Terry, Georgia; a daughter: Amy T. Bird, Olathe; and six grandchildren. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at the Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 143rd and Black Bob Road where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Cremation. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Betty R. Terry Memorial Fund, c/o United Missouri Bank, 81st and Metcalf, Overland Park, KS.

Kathleen Terry
Kathleen Isabel Terry, 82, Spring Hill, died Thursday, Oct. 12, 2000, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. She had been an area resident 35 years. She was born March 4, 1918, in Van Wert, Ohio, the daughter of Louis C. and Mayme (Roberts) Strother. She was a member of the St. Mark's Methodist Church, Overland Park. She also was a member of the WSCS-Harmony Group. Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Frank Terry, of the home; three sons, Charles Terry, Prairie Village, James Terry, Seattle, Wash., and Richard Terry, Overland Park; a daughter, Judith Strand, Denver, Colo.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at St. Mark's Methodist Church, Overland Park. The funeral will be 11 a.m. Monday at the church. Burial will be at a later date at the Fort Scott National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the St. Mark's Methodist Church of Overland Park. Arrangements are by the W.L. Frye and Son Mortuary, Olathe.

Brandon Thomas
Brandon Scott Thomas, 4, Gardner, died Friday, March 24, 2000, at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Olathe Wesleyan Church. Burial will be in Gardner Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Bruce Funeral Home in Gardner. Memorial contributions may be made to the Children's Mercy Hospital, in care of the funeral home. Brandon attended Kids R Kids Day Care and preschool. Survivors include his parents, Mitch E. Thomas and Glenda L. Scott Thomas; paternal grandparents, John and Karen Thomas, Bella Vista, Ark.; maternal grandparents, Noel and Betty Scott, Lowery, Mo.; and a brother, Kenny Rummerfield of the home.

Margaret Thompson
Margaret C. Dunn Thompson, 82, of Edgerton, died Monday, March 26, 2001, at Olathe Medical Center. She was born April 11, 1918, in Olpe, Kan. She had lived in Edgerton for 60 years. She also had lived in Lyons, Kan. She was a homemaker. She married Earl Wilson Thompson on Sept. 14, 1937, in Olpe, Kan. He preceded her in death on May 7, 1998. She was preceded in death by four sisters, Jenny Carlson, Juanita Peach, Elsie Davis, and Dorothy Dunn, and one son, Thomas L. Thompson. She is survived by two sons, Earl S. Thompson and wife Jane of Olathe; and Richard R. Thompson and wife, Angela, of Wichita, Kan.; two daughters, Patsy K. Staley and husband, Paul, of Paola; and Aletha McDaniel and husband, Larry, of Blue Springs, Mo.; one brother, Warren Dunn of Admire, Kan.; nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Edgerton, Kan. A private family graveside service will be held at Clearfield Cemetery, Eudora, Kan. Local arrangements made by Bruce Funeral Home, Gardner.

Marjorie Thompson
Marjorie E. Thompson, 69, Olathe, died May 11, 2001, at the Olathe Medical Center. She was born June 11, 1931, in Bigelow, Kan., the daughter of Dixon and Dorothy Carpenter Cullimore. She graduated from Frankfort High in 1949. She married Howard Thompson on March 17, 1952 in Frankfort. They moved to Olathe in the early 70s. She worked for the State of Kansas in the Job Service Department. Survivors include her mother, Dorothy Cullimore, Holton, Kan.; two sons, Stan Thompson, Olathe, and Shane Thompson, Gardner; a daughter, Stacy Thompson, Gardner; a sister, "Gail" Johnson, Holton, Kan.; and three grandchildren. The visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday. The family will be receiving friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Padden Funeral Chapel, Frankfort, Kan. Burial will be in the Frankfort Cemetery.

Muriel Thompson
Muriel Geoia Thompson, 74, Olathe, died Sunday, Aug. 13, 2000, at the Olathe Medical Center. She was born June 5, 1926, in Olathe and was a lifelong resident. She was a member of the Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Olathe. She was a volunteer at the Olathe Medical Center gift shop for several years. She was preceded in death by a son, Frank Thompson, in 1998; and a sister, Arlene Shipman. Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Charles Thompson, of the home; three sons, Fred Thompson, Clinton, Mo., Ralph Thompson, Olathe, and Bill Thompson, Spring Hill; three daughters, Mary Haas, Broomfield, Colo., Jean Richardson, Shawnee, and Liz Scalora, Overland Park; and 14 grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., with the rosary at 7 p.m., Wednesday at the Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, Olathe. The funeral mass will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Olathe. Burial will be at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Stanley. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Prince of Peace Catholic Church, the American Cancer Society, or a charity of the donor's choice.

Nicole Thompson
Nicole R. Thompson, 18, Ottawa, died Sunday, June 3, 2001, in Ottawa. She was born Feb. 25, 1983, in Ottawa, the daughter of Tommy L. Thompson and Oma 'Sissy' Thompson. She was a lifelong Franklin County resident. She was a senior at Kansas State School for the Deaf in Olathe. She was employed at McDonald's Restaurant, Ottawa. She was actively involved in her school, serving as class president for two years. She was a volleyball player and letterman, and also helped with the school newspaper. She was a member of teen council and teen court in Olathe. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Robert "Bob" Thompson. She is survived by her mother and father, both of the home; a brother, Tyler Thompson, of the home; her maternal grandmother, Dottie Bethell, Ottawa; her grandfather, Steven Signaigo, Ottawa; her maternal great-grandmother, Mary Louise Lawson, Maryville, Tenn.; her paternal grandmother, Waneta Peg Thompson, Osage City, Kan.; and her paternal great-grandmother, Ruby Huss, Princeton, Kan. Cremation. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Dengel and Son Mortuary. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through www.dengelmortuary.com. The family suggests memorials be made to the Nicole R. Thompson Memorial Fund or Kansas State School for the Deaf.

John Tillman
John Tillman, 75, Topeka, died Monday, May 1, 2000, at his home. He was born Feb. 4, 1925, in Topeka, the son of Austin and Josephine (Ollison) Tillman. He attended Topeka High School and entered the U.S. Army July 9, 1943. He served in the 28th Division, 112th Infantry, Company C, in the European theater, where he received three battle stars, including the star for the Battle of the Bulge. He married Leona Yoning April 30, 1947, in Topeka. Following the war, he worked for Nehi Bottling Co. eight years and then worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., retiring after 35 years. He was a member of Local 307 of the United Rubber Workers Union. He was a member of the Elmont United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Melven and Bob Tillman. Survivors include his wife, Leona Tillman, Topeka; two sons, Terry and Don Tillman, both of Topeka; a daughter, Sharon Stice, Olathe; a brother, Albert Tillman, Topeka; two sisters, Barbara Butts, Wamego, and Delores Kennedy, Topeka; and four grandchildren. He will lie in state at Parker-Price Mortuary, Topeka, after 2 p.m. Thursday, May 4, and the visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. The funeral will be 11 a.m. Friday, May 5, at the mortuary's chapel. Burial will be at the Prairie Home Cemetery, with military honors by the Fort Riley Honor Guard. Memorial contributions may be made to Midland Hospice Care, Inc., 200 S.W. Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606, or to Elmont United Methodist Church, 6547 N.W. Church Lane, Topeka, KS 66618.

Dustin Timm
Dustin Wayne Timm, 19, Olathe, died Thursday, Aug. 24, 2000, in a motorcycle accident in Lenexa. He was a lifelong resident of Olathe, and graduated from Olathe East High School in 1999 where he served as senior class vice president. He enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve in the 82nd Airborne Division. Survivors include his mother, Kimberly Sue Morgan, LaCygne; his father Dennis Timm, Olathe; his stepfather, Mo Morgan, Olathe; a brother, Corey Lee Timm; a sister, Leslie Timm; maternal grandmother, Irma Malonek, LaCygne; and paternal grandparents, Dorothy and Harry Timm, Olathe. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the W.L. Frye & Son Funeral Home, Olathe. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

John Tinsley
John L. Tinsley, 75, formerly of Olathe, died Tuesday, May 22, 2001, at his home in Parker, Kan. He was born July 4, 1926, in Lenexa, the son of Robert and Myrtle (Venable) Tinsley. He lived in Parker for 12 years coming from Olathe where he had lived for 14 years. He married Bertha Kitchell on June 21, 1950. He worked for Reno Construction for 40 years, retiring in 1988. He was a member of the Local Union No. 101 since 1954. After moving to Parker in 1989, he worked for the city for five years as a water and street superintendent. He received the outstanding citizen award of Parker in 1996. He was preceded in death by his parents; two daughters, Connie Tinsley and Teresa Tinsley; four brothers; and two sisters. Survivors include his wife Bertha, of the home; five daughters, Ida Shue, Beverly Freeman, Myrtle Douglas, Kathrine Bresee and Donna Tinsley, all of Parker; two sisters, Barbara Stevinin, Platte City, Mo., and Roberta Kitchell, LaCygne, Kan.; 12 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at W.L. Frye and Son Funeral Home, Olathe. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens.