Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Bill Clark
Bill Clark, 78, of Wichita, brother of Carol Jean Hunsinger of Valley Center, died Sept. 21, 2002. He was a Trees Unlimited lumber wholesale dealer. Service was Sept. 25 at Roxbury, Kan., United Parish.
Other survivors include his wife, Maxine; sons, Randy of Salina, Barry of Dallas; brother, Larry of Roxbury; sister, Maxine Magnuson of Bridgeport, and two grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association, Trinity United Methodist Church of Lindsborg or Roxbury United Parish. Hays-Christens Funeral Home, Lindsborg, had charge.
Caroline Richards
Caroline Rose Richards, 69, of Wichita, mother and mother-in-law of Susan and Chuck Thompson of Valley Center, died Sept. 17, 2002. She was a homemaker. Graveside service was Sept. 20 at Maize Park cemetery, Maize.
She was born Feb. 25, 1933, in Milwaukee, Wis., the daughter of John Doffek and Edna Seifert. She was preceded in death by a son, Charles.
Other survivors include her husband, Arnold; son, Ron of Wichita; daughters and sons-in-law, Pam and Larry Allen of Tulsa, Okla., Denise and Rick Stone of Wichita; brothers, Donald Doffek, Johnnie Doffek, Wallace Doffek, all of Milwaukee; sisters, LaVerne Mays of Houston, Evelyn Stade of Milwaukee, and grandchildren, Casey Hatfield, Caitlyn Thompson, Charlene Thompson and Chas Thompson, Sidney and Dylan Stone, Jennifer Padden, Charli and Calli Richards.
Downing and Lahey Mortuary West, Wichita, had charge.
Kathryn Stewart
Kathryn Adelle Stewart, 93, of Galveston, Texas, mother of Robert Stewart of Valley Center, died Sept. 8, 2002. Visitation with family is at 3 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Chapel of the Flint Hills, Council Grove. Graveside service is at 3:45 p.m. Saturday at Greenwood cemetery.
She was a former Council Grove and Salina resident.
Other survivors include her son, Larry Stewart of Galveston; daughter, LeAnn Suderman of Newton; five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Kimberly Armstrong
Kimberly K. Armstrong, 28, of Valley Center, Personal Touch Day Spa cosmetologist, died Sept. 19, 2002. Service was Sept. 23 at Calvary Baptist Church. Burial was at Elsmore, Kan., cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Ty, son, Jordon David, daughter, Jaimee Renee, all of the home; parents, David and Mary Daniels of Owasso, Okla.; sister, Amy Daniels of Owasso; grandfather, Orval Daniels of Wichita, and grandmother, Patsy McCune of Derby.
A memorial has been established with the Jaimee and Jordon Armstrong Fund, in care of Intrust Bank, 142 N. Ash, Valley Center. Cochran Mortuary had charge.
Robert Alexander
Robert “Bob” Alexander, 79, of Newton, brother of Willa Smith of Valley Center, died Sept. 18, 2002. He was a retired apartment maintenance man. Service was Sept. 23 at Petersen Funeral Home, Newton.
Other survivors include his wife, L. Evelyn; son, Mike Gordon of Wichita; daughter, Debra White of Charleston, S.C.; brother, Wayne of Wellington; sisters, Eunice Schmidt, Barbara Chard, both of Newton, Betty Fowler of Pueblo, Colo; 10 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
Ethel Pettegrew-Beheler
Ethel Marie Gabbert Pettegrew-Beheler, 83, of Maize, mother of Charles David and Michelle Pettegrew of Valley Center, died Aug. 7, 2002. She was a retired American Electric shipping clerk. Service was Aug. 10 at Maize United Methodist Church with Pastor Burr Crickard officiating.
She was born Nov. 27, 1919, in Wichita, the daughter of William Gabbert and Ethel May Comstock. They preceded her in death, as did her sons, Gerald and Leonard; a sister, Mary Henry; brothers, Charles, Wilbur, Jim, Harold, Jack and Ralph Gabbert, and her husband, Richard N. Beheler, who died in 1966.
Other survivors include her sons and daughters, Richard and Michelle Pettegrew of Maize; brother, Jim Gabbert, sister, Geneva Hewlett, both of Phoenix; grandchildren, Lynette Turney, Sonia Fuller Todd, Gary, Robert and David Pettegrew, and stepgrandchildren, Joe Periera, Justin and Jason Carlson.
A memorial has been established with the Alzheimer’s Association. Wulf-Ast Mortuary, Colwich, had charge.
Juanita Jacobs
Juanita G. Jacobs, 84, of Hutchinson, mother of Wallace Jacobs of Valley Center, died Aug. 10, 2002. She was a former U.S.D. 308 cook and custodian and retired Cessna Aircraft Co. employee. Service was Aug. 14 at Fairlawn Burial Park.
Other survivors include her sons, Gary Jacobs, K. Clark Jacobs, daughter, Gaye Stach, all of Hutchinson; 11 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Pleasant View Home Pet Therapy Program. Johnson & Sons Funeral Home had charge.
Marguerite Holder
Marguerite M. Gosch Holder, 76, of Norwich, mother and mother-in-law of Connie and Terry Ishman of Valley Center, died Aug. 8, 2002. She was a retired Delta Electric Supply secretary and homemaker. Service was Aug. 10 at Norwich United Methodist Church.
Other survivors include her husband, Robert; sons and daughters-in-law, Brad and Stephanie, Dell and Denna, all of Norwich, Wayne and Beverly of Cheney; daughter, Gayle Asbury of Norwich; 12 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with Norwich High School Alumni Scholarship Fund and Trinity Hospice. Livingston Funeral Home, Kingman, had charge.
Debra "Debbie" Jones
Debra M. Jones, 40, of Valley Center, died July 24, 2002. She was an employee of Garten's Music.
Visitation with family is from 5 to 7 tonight (Thursday) at Baker Funeral Home, Valley Center. A memorial service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Faith Bible Baptist Church in Valley Center, and at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Covington, Okla.
Survivors include her husband, Lynn; sons, Jesse, Aaron, both of the home; parents, Melvin and Jodene Carter of Covington, Okla.; brother, Jon Carter of Dublin, Ohio.
A memorial has been established to help find a cure for breast cancer in Debbie's honor through the funeral home. Donations also may be sent to the Komen Foundation, Box 650309, Dallas, Texas 75265.
Helen Reffner
Helen L. Reffner, 84, of Junction City, Wis., formerly of Valley Center, died July 3, 2002. She was a grade school teacher. Memorial service was July 8 at the Moravian Church, Rudolph, Wis., with Rev. Ole Andersen officiating. Burial was at Forest Hill Mausoleum, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
She was born Sept. 6, 1917, in El Dorado, the daughter of Jess Harrington and Jessie Bruce Harrington. She married
Donald R. Reffner on Aug. 4, 1937, in Valley Center. They moved from Kansas to Peoria, Ill., living there until the fall of 1948 when they moved to Junction City, Wis. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband in November 1979; a son, James, and a brother, Harold.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Charles Tom and Delores; daughters and sons-in-law, Lucretia and Donald Ross of Michigan, Jessica and Nelson Carr of Alabama; seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her name with the church. Ritchay Funeral Home, Wisconsin Rapids, had charge.
Thomas Yocom
Thomas Arthur Yocom, 58, of Sedgwick, automotive industry technician and instructor, died July 23, 2002. Service is at 10 a.m. Saturday at Baker Funeral Home Chapel, Valley Center. Burial will be at Monday at Linwood cemetery, Logan, Iowa.
He was born March 13, 1944, in Elgin, Ill., the son of Arthur F. Yocom and Wilma Stirtz. They preceded him in death, as did a sister, Catherine Yocom. He married
Elaine J. Loewen on July 12, 1974 at Omaha, Neb. She survives.
Other survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Stacy Cianci, and grandson, Brock Michael Cianci, all of Morrison, Colo.
Charles Bourassa
Charles Patrick Bourassa, 67, of Wichita, formerly of Valley Center, died June 20, 2002. He was a mathematician. Private service.
Survivors include his sons, Timothy of Olathe, Charles of New Mexico, Star Hubbard of Wichita; daughter, Christina Myers of Wichita; sisters, JoAnn Roberts, Wanda Autry, both of Wichita, and one great-grandchild.
Old Mission Mortuary had charge.
Floyd Ramsey
Floyd T. Ramsey, 95, formerly of Wichita, father and father-in-law of Roger and Marge Ramsey of Valley Center, died June 24, 2002. He was a retired Local Union 83 boilermaker. Service is at 10 a.m. Saturday at Resthaven Mortuary, Wichita.
He was born April 12, 1907, in Stillwater, Okla. He grew up on several ranches in the Stillwater-Yale areas. He attended welding school in Joplin, Mo., and worked at Darby Boatyards in Leavenworth during World War II. He was a member of Boilermakers Local 83 in Kansas City, Mo., building electric plants and refineries in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Tennessee. He moved to Valley Center in 1956, where he lived until he moved to Bushton in 1998. He was preceded in death by his wife, Agnes, on May 10, 1988.
Other survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Stan and Shirley Ramsey of Bushton; three grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and numerous great-great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces.
James Moore
James Moore, 69, of Wichita, father of Lora Roberts of Valley Center, died June 18, 2002. He was the owner of Moore’s Automotive. Service was June 22 at Westside Freewill Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by a son, Tony Moore; granddaughter, Emily Roberts; brother, Hugh Moore, and sister, Amy Fulks.
Other survivors include his wife, Fanny; sons, Randall James Moore, Daniel Charles Moore, both of Wichita; daughter, Sonya Busby of Wichita; brother, Claude Moore of Wichita; sister, Vada Parks, Laura Taylor, Imarose Halpain, Shelby Jean Osborn, Lela Branscum, all of Mountain View, Ark., and grandchildren, Dustan Roberts, Zach Moore, Jacob Busby, Eli Moore, Claire Busby, all of Wichita.
A memorial has been established with Victory in the Valley, 917 N. Market, Wichita 67214. Resthaven Mortuary had charge.
Kathy Rothe
Kathy Rothe, 57, of Wichita, mother and mother-in-law of Tim and Yolanda Thomas of Valley Center, died June 20, 2002. She was a Maize Public School special education teacher. Service was June 24 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
Other survivors include her husband, Jerry; daughters and son-in-law, Haley and B.J. Majernik of Shawnee, Jeanette Thomas of Overland Park; parents, Jef and Kay Farmer of Wichita; stepdaughters and spouses, Teresa and Bruce Ott, Rene and Darren Dysart, all of Maize; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jeffrey and Ramona Farmer of Clive, Iowa, Daniel and Lynne Farmer of Bangor, Mich., and grandchildren, Katie and B.J. Ott, Meg and Allie Dysart, all of Maize.
A memorial has been established with the Kathleen Rothe Teacher Education Scholarship Fund in care of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 7901 W. 21st North, Wichita 67205. Downing & Lahey Mortuary West had charge.
Melvin Haley
Melvin E. Haley, 95, of Wichita, brother of Arlene Girk of Valley Center, died June 21, 2002. He was a retired barber. Service was June 25 at White Chapel cemetery.
Other survivors include his son, James of Colorado Springs; five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 1321 E. Seventh, Winfield 67156. Broadway Mortuary had charge.
Paul Cox
Paul Marvin Cox, 73, of Park City, retired Cessna Aircraft Co. employee of 39 years, died June 20, 2002. Service was June 25 at Evangel Assembly of God.
He was born March 8, 1929, in Wichita, the son of Zeb and Ethel Cox. They preceded him in death. He married
Cecile Mae Thomison on July 1, 1947, in Wichita. She survives of the home. He was a member of the church, Chisholm Trail Seniors Inc. of Park City and the Park City Pride committee. He served in the Army Air Force from 1948 to 1949. He was a member of the Evangels Choir and worked for the American Red Cross Good Neighbor meal program after his retirement. He served two and a half years on the Park City City Council and was president of Chisholm Trail Seniors in 2001.
Other survivors include his sons, Marvin of Riverside, Calif., Eldon of Myakka City, Fla., Mark of Wichita; daughters, Elaine Gaskill of Wichita, Paula Shuler, Connie Chaple, both of Park City; 16 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Memorials have been established with the church and Chisholm Trail Seniors. Hillside Funeral Home West had charge.
W. Cecil Armstrong
W. Cecil Armstrong, 84, of Andover, grandmother of Amy and Paul Galyon of Kechi, died Aug. 6, 2004. He was a retired automotive instructor. Service was Aug. 10 at Countryside Christian Church, Wichita.
Other survivors include his wife, Wanda; son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Elizabeth Armstrong of Wichita; brother and sister-in-law, Douglas and Verda Wallen of Carthage, Mo.; grandchildren and spouses, Allison and Mike Simon of Clearwater, Seth Armstrong of Wichita; great-grandchildren, Cody Galyon, Grace Simon.
A memorial has been established with the church vision building fund, 1919 S. Rock Road, Wichita 67207. Webb-Shinkle Mortuary, Clearwater, had charge.
