Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Juanita Westerfield
Juanita Jeanette Stone Westerfield, 76, of Valley Center, died May 10, 2004. She was a homemaker. Service is at 10 a.m. today (Thursday) at Valley Center Christian Church. Burial will be at Hillside cemetery, Sedgwick.
She was born March 29, 1928, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Robert Russell Stone and Vera Augusta Fawcett. She married
James Leo Westerfield on July 26, 1947, in Sedgwick.
Survivors include her husband, James, of the home; sons, Dwaine of Valley Center, Brian of Park City, Russell of Andover, James Scott of Owasso; daughter, Kelly Schmidt of Cheney; 15 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with Valley Center Christian Church. Baker Funeral Home has charge.
Louella Kelley
Louella Kelley, 72, of Wichita, mother of Ben Steven Kelley of Valley Center, died May 8, 2004. Service was May 12 at Smith Mortuary.
She was preceded in death by her father, Johnnie Moore.
Other survivors include her husband, ben; son, Danny L. Kelley of Wichita; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Allen Wise of Derby; mother, Clara Moore of Haysville; and grandchildren, Tracy, Breauna and Stacia Kelley, Lindsay, Clay and Sara Wise.
A memorial has been established with Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice.
Rial Howell
Rial I. Howell, 87, of Derby, father and father-in-law of Gregg and Cristi Howell of Valley Center, died May 5, 2004. He was a retired Beechcraft supervisor and farmer. Service was May 7 at Udall United Methodist Church, Udall.
He was born Feb. 27, 1917, on a farm near Waco, the son of Harry Howell and Viola Miller. He married
Isal Jane Sawin on May 5, 1940, in Wellington. She survives. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Lourine Murphy, Louise Pletcher and Freida Howell.
Other survivors include his daughter, Jan Horner of Winfield; sister, Betty O’Connell of Belle Plaine; grandchildren, Chris and Stacy Howell, Kyla Howell, Brian and Andrea Horner, Brad Horner, Kirk Royse; and great-grandsons, Colton and Braden Howell.
A memorial has been established with the church. Smith Mortuary, Derby, had charge.
Stephen Sanborn
Stephen W. “Steve” Sanborn, 47, of Wichita, father and father-in-law of James and Patti Sanborn and grandfather of Gracyn and Christian Sanborn, all of Valley Center, died May 8, 2004. Service is at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at Pine Valley Christian Church.
Other survivors include his sons, Michael of Wichita, Robert of Greensboro, N.C., and mother, Bettie E Sanborn of Wichita.
Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, Parsons, has charge.
Shelley Wilmore
Shelley Ann Burton Wilmore, 42, of Whitewater, sister and sister-in-law of Don and Debbi Burton of Valley Center, died May 8, 2004, as the result of a motorcycle accident while enroute to speak to a Narcotics Anonymous group in Omaha, Neb. She was a homemaker. Service was May 14 at Federated Church, Whitewater, with Pastor Scott Martin officiating.
She was born May 20, 1961, in Wichita, the daughter of Donald Burton and Deloris Warren. She grew up in Halstead. She was an active member of Federated Church, Whitewater, and was active in Narcotics Anonymous. She enjoyed crocheting, gardening, boating, water skiing, camping, music concerts, riding her motorcycle and helping people recover from addictions. She married
Sam Wilmore on Sept. 9, 1993, at Emporia. He survives of the home. She was preceded in death by her father and a brother, Steven Burton.
Other survivors include her son, Sean Walters of Newton; daughters and son-in-law, Nicole Walters of Halstead, Haley Walters of the home, Amanda and Dave Powell of Gardner; sister and brother-in-law, Kim and Russ Black of Halstead; mother, Deloris; granddaughter, Isabella Powell of Gardner; three nieces; four nephews; a grandniece; and aunts and uncles.
Memorials have been established with the church and with Mid America Regional Service Conference of Narcotics Anonymous, in care of Lamb Mortuary, Whitewater.
Bobby Clark
Bobby Gene Clark, 71, of Wichita, father of Carrie O’Donnell and Michelle Gillenwater, both of Park City, died May 24, 2004. He was plant engineer at Cudahy Meat Packing. Service is at 10 a.m. today (Thursday) at Baker Funeral Home.
Other survivors include his sons, Robert Ryan Clark of Sedgwick, Donald Clark of Wichita; daughter, Starla Goldman of Long Island, N.Y.; brother, Edward Clark of Oswego; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the American Heart Association.
David Safarik
David A. Safarik, 48, of Wichita, brother of Allan G. Safarik of Valley Center, died May 21, 2004. He was vice president and co-owner of Safarik Tool Company. Service was May 24 at St. Jude Catholic Church.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Larry G. Safarik.
Other survivors include his brothers, Leslie J. Safarik of Hutchinson, Gene V. Safarik of Wichita; sisters, Elaine M. Safarik of Dallas, Texas, Linda M. Ueeck of Houston, Texas; parents, Jerry and Edna Safarik of Wichita; four nephews; and two nieces.
A memorial has been established with US TOO International Inc. Wichita Chapter, Prostate Cancer Educatioin and Support, Box 28, Wichita 67208.
DeVorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary had charge.
Noella Graham
Noella K. Graham, 60, of Wichita, sister of Kathy Logan of Valley Center, died May 23, 2004. Service was at Lakeview Memorial Gardens.
Other survivors include her sister, Nancy Farha of Wichita; brother, Terry Baker of Paradise, Calif.; two nieces; three nephews; a grand-nephew and three grand-nieces.
Mildred Ellington
Mildred J. “Shug” Ellington, 79, of Wichita, great-grandmother of Katherine and Andrew Ellington of Valley Center, died June 15, 2004. She was a retired Edo-Aire stockroom lead. Service was June 18 at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, Wichita.
Other survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Marvin and Marsha Ellington of Augusta; sister, Wilda Smith of Wichita; grandchildren, Melanie Budda of Augusta, Marlin Ellington of St. Joseph, Mo.; and a great-grandchild, Zachary Budda of Augusta.
Esther Musick
Esther May Musick, 88, of Monticello, Ill., grandmother of Carole Bowman of Valley Center, died June 18, 2004. She was a homemaker. Service was June 21 at Mackey-Wright Funeral Home, Monticello, with Rev. Dalene Kuebler officiating. Burial was in Mansfield cemetery.
She was born May 5, 1916, in Mansfield, the daughter of Orvle Carmichael and Mattie Jenny Vogel. She graduated from Mansfield High School and was a member of the alumni association. She married
Darwin Musick on Feb. 6, 1938, in Mansfield. He died Nov. 16, 1991. She also was preceded in death by a son. She was a member of White Heath United Methodist Church and the Ladies’ Encampment Auxiliary. She was a 69-year member of Bethel Rebeckah Lodge 253, a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, chaplain of the Illinois Ladies’ Encampment Auxiliary, past grand matriarch of the Ladies’ Auxiliary and past state president of the Ladies’ Auxiliary Patriarch Militant.
Other survivors include her son, Orvle Musick of Wapella, Ill.; daughter, Marlyn Musick Cox of DeLand; brother, Earl Carmichael of Albany, Ga.; three grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and 10 stepgreat-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the church roof fund.
Ralph Hoagland
Ralph Stanley Hoagland, 84, of Wichita, retired teacher, died June 23, 2004. Service was June 26 at First Baptist Church, Valley Center. Burial was at Sunnyside cemetery, Sun City.
He was born Nov. 8, 1920, the son of Homer Hoagland and Lenora Coles. They preceded him in death, as did his wife of 63 years, Gladys Maudine Riepe Hoagland; a son, Richard Ralph Hoagland; and a brother, Lon Hoagland. He served in World War II in the Army Air Corps as navigator in the 345th Bombardment Group with the famed Air Apaches, 501 Bomb Squadron in the Pacific. He later served in the 38th Bombardment Group during the occupation of Japan. He attained the rank of captain. He was a farmer-rancher early in life. He became a math teacher in the Valley Center schools, then was head of the math department of Wichita Heights High School until his retirement in 1984. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Valley Center.
Survivors include his daughter, Connie Elaine and husband Vernon L. Gilliland of Liberal; brother, Fred Hoagland of Wichita; and a grandson, Erin Gilliland of Kokomo, Ind.
A memorial has been established with the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 300 N. Ash, Valley Center. Baker Funeral Home had charge.
Robert Cox
Robert W. Cox, 40, brother and brother-in-law of Dale and Bridget Cox of Valley Center, died June 25, 2004. Service was June 29 at Affinity Mortuary.
Other survivors include his wife, Chris Cox, parents, Charles and Sally Cox, all of Wichita; stepsons, Gene Henke, Robert Henke, Steve Henke, Danny Henke; nephews, Jacob Cox, Robert Cox; nieces, Crystal Cox, Clarisa Cox, Bridget Cox; grandmother, Ida Bell Moore of West Virginia.
A memorial has been established with Victory in the Valley and Hospice Care of Kansas.
Luke Tiahrt
Luke B. Tiahrt, 16, of Fairfax, Va., student at W.T. Woodson High School, died July 24, 2004. Service was July 28 at Westlink Christian Church, Wichita. Private family burial in Driftwood, Okla.
He was born Nov. 13, 1987, in Wichita, the son of Todd and Vicki Tiahrt. They survive of the home. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Harley Holland. He attended St. Mark’s in Sedgwick County during first, second and third grades, and Virginia public schools for most of his schooling. As a youth, he pitched and played first base in baseball. He would have been a junior at W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, Va., this fall. He was a starting linebacker as a sophomore, and scored the first touchdown of the season for his team during his freshman year. He also played LaCross last year. He attended Valley Center and Bethel Life Assemblies of God churches from birth until 1994. He was a member of the Church of the Apostles, Fairfax. He enjoyed playing guitar.
Other survivors include his sister, Jessica Tiahrt; brother, John Tiahrt; grandparents, Audene Holland of Pratt, Wilbur and Marcine Tiahrt of Meckling, S.D.; and uncles, aunts and cousins.
A memorial has been established with The Luke Tiahrt Memorial Fund, Intrust Bank, in care of Janis Marean, 105 N. Main, Wichita 67202. Contributions are tax deductible. Broadway Mortuary, Wichita, had charge.
Berniece McPhaul
Berneice B. McPhaul, 80, of Wichita, mother of Jerry of Kechi, died Feb. 9, 2005. She was a retired Medicalodge health care provider. Service was Feb. 15 at St. Mark United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Sammie McPhaul Jr., in 1997.
Other survivors include her sons, Alfred of the home; Sammie and Carl (Lay) of Wichita, Rudy of Detroit, Mich.; daughters, Almetrice Dean, Marsha McPhaul, both of Wichita, Sandra (Tina) Haasis of Peoria, Ill.; brothers, Trusella McIntosh of San Antonio, Willie McIntosh of Wichita; sisters, Vinetter Casey of Wichita, Willa Mae Johnson of Kansas City, Mo.; 17 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established for a scholarship fund at the church. Culbertson-Smith Mortuary had charge.
Billy Schultz
Billy Gene Schulz, 85, of Wichita, father of Kevin Schulz of Bel Aire, died Feb. 15, 2005. He was a retired Boeing supervisor and president of the Boeing Retirees Association. Service is at 10 a.m. Friday at Downing & Lahey Mortuary East, Wichita, and at 2 p.m. Friday at Fairview cemetery, Greensburg.
Other survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Annette Schulz of Wichita; daughter and son-in-law, Jean and Terry Phillips of Chanute; brother, Dr. B.L. Schulz of Russell; grandchildren, Jadon and Kyle Schulz, Brian and Kellie Phillips, Bryan Schulz, Kevin Schulz Jr.; and one great-grandchild.
A memorial has been established with ALS-Lou Gehrig’s Disease, 8340 Mission Road, Suite B-4, Prairie Village 66206.
David Wiebe
David Dean Wiebe, 41, of Wichita, brother of Kenneth Wiebe of Park City, died Feb. 9, 2005. He was an employee of Custom Cupboards. Service was Feb. 12 at Affinity Mortuary.
Survivors include his parents, Violet and Bob Martinez of Haysville; wife, Michelle of Wichita; brother, Thomas of Haysville; and sisters, Vicoria Helms of McPherson, Bobbie Smith of Texas.
