Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Donald Eugene 'Dee' Dailey 1922-2001
Donald Eugene "Dee" Dailey, 78, of Great Bend died Feb. 13 at his residence in Great Bend. He was born Aug. 6, 1922, in Great Bend, the son of John W. and Edith A. Kummer Dailey. He married
Betty Jo Curray June 15, 1958, in Vandalia, Ill. She died Jan. 8, 2001. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, he was a manger for the American Legion Lodge. Dailey was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3111, Eagles Lodge, Elks Lodge and a past commander of American Legion Post 180. He was a U.S. Coast Guard veteran serving in World War II. Survivors include three brothers, Richard "Dick" Dailey of Great Bend, James F. Dailey of Sandy, Utah, and Jerry M. Dailey of Tulsa, Okla.; four sisters, Eleanor Dailey and Dottie Hershey, both of Great Bend, Janiece Burke of Denver, Colo., and Gwen E. Bible of Tulsa, Okla. He was preceded in death by two brothers, William D. Dailey and Jack Dailey Jr.; and two sisters, Peggy L. Dailey and Patricia J. Dillard. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Bryant-Christians Funeral Home in Great Bend with the Rev. William F. Johnson officiating. Private family inurnment will be at the Great Bend cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church or American Legion Post 180, both in care of the funeral home.
Stephen G. Mai 1949-2001
RUSSELL - Stephen G. Mai, 51, died Feb. 13 at Salina Regional Medical Center in Salina. He was born June 18, 1949, in Russell, the son of Elmer David and Lorraine E. Bender Mai. He was a graduate of Russell High School. He attended Hutchinson Junior College for 2 1/2 years and Fort Hays State University for 1 1/2 years. A resident of Russell, he worked as a cashier at the Home State Bank and worked for King of the Road. Mai was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Russell and the Elks Lodge. Survivors include his parents of Russell; and one brother, Gordon Mai of Wilson. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church with the Rev. Henry Hartman officiating. Burial will be at St. John Lutheran cemetery in Russell. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at Pohlman's Mortuary in Russell and from 9:30 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church. Memorials are suggested to St. John Altar Guild or St. John Lutheran cemetery Fund, both in care of the funeral home.
Helen M. Mullenix 1913-2001
LAWRENCE - Helen M. Mullenix, 88, died Feb. 14 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She was born Jan. 20, 1913, in Claflin, the daughter of Joe and Amelia Galliart Blazek. She graduated from State Center Grade School. She married
Marvin Mullenix July 26, 1931. He preceded her in death. A resident of Lawrence, coming from Great Bend, she was a homemaker and worked for food service at the University of Kansas in Lawrence for nine years. Mrs. Mullenix was a member of Claflin United Methodist Church for 60 years and of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8668, both in Claflin. Survivors include one son, Douglas K. Mullenix of McLouth; one daughter, Marlene Ebeling of Lawrence; one brother, Harold Blazek of Claflin; six granchildren; three step grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and four step great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one sister, Clara Mullenix. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at WarrenMcElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Burial will be at Memorial Park cemetery in Lawrence. The family will receive friends from noon until service time Friday at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the church or to donor's choice, both in care of the mortuary.
Phyllis Elaine Suiter 1934-2001
MACKSVILLE - Phyllis Elaine Suiter, 67, died Feb. 14 at Stafford District Hospital. She was born Feb. 8, 1934, in Trousdale, the daughter of Frank and Laura Eula Lamb. She was a 1952 graduate of Trousdale High School. A resident of Macksville, coming from Hutchinson, she was owner and operator of Phyllee's Shoppe Inc., worked for Eriksens Crafts Inc. and was an office secretary for Minnis Chapel. Mrs. Suiter was a member of Macksville Christian Church, Macksville Chamber of Commerce and Macksville Ladies Card Club. She was VIP treasurer, secretary and treasurer of Farmington cemetery Board and a Macksville City Council member, all of Macksville. Survivors inlude one son, Kenny Smith of Wichita; one daughter, Darlene Kuester of Sioux City, Iowa; and eight grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Harold Dean Lamb; and one sister, Barbara J. Lamb. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the church in Macksville with the Rev. Carey Haner officiating. Burial will be at Haviland cemetery. Friends may call from 1-8 p.m. Friday at Minnis Chapel in Macksville. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association, in care of the chapel.
Evelyn Agnes Simmons 1912-2001
LARNED - Evelyn Agnes Simmons, 89, died Feb. 15 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Jospeh Campus in Larned. She was born Jan. 15, 1912, in Seward, the daughter of Matthew Franklin and Anna Gertrude Keenan Rickert. She married
James William "Bill" Simmons May 20, 1931, in Seward. He died Aug. 8, 1992. A lifetime resident of Larned, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Simmons was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Altar Society, Golden Age Club and DOC Camping Club, all of Larned. Survivors include two daughters, Sonya Chapin of Oberlin and Tanya Terry of Larned; one sister, Edna Schartz of Topeka; five grandchildren; and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sons, James Simmons and John Simmons; four brothers, John Rickert, Robert Rickert, Walter Rickert and Emmett Rickert; and two sisters, Vina Guesnier and Ellen Tubb. Rosary will be at 7 tonight at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned. Funeral Mass will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the church in Larned with the Rev. Dennis Reed officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery. Friends may call until 8 tonight at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the Larned Emergency Medical Service, in care of the mortuary.
Lucille 'Lucy' Barnett 1910-2001
Lucille "Lucy" Barnett, 90, died Feb. 14 at her home in Great Bend. She was born March 18, 1910, in Erath County, Texas, the daughter of Ulmer and Mary Lowry Golightly. She married
W.M. Barnett Feb. 23, 1933, in Stephenville, Texas. He died Oct. 28, 1977. A resident of Great Bend since 1949, coming from Chickasha, Okla., she was a homemaker. Survivors include one son, William R. Barnett of Alameda, Calif.; one daughter, Pat McClary of Great Bend; two grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, four sisters and one grandson. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Great Bend cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Interfaith Caregivers of Great Bend, in care of Hays-Christian Funeral Home in Lindsborg.
Wayne B. Blackburn 1919-2001
ROZEL - Wayne B. Blackburn, 81, died Feb. 15 at Halsey Hall in Fort Dodge. He was born April 12, 1919, in Parsons, the son of Preston S. and Lora Hazel Pate Blackburn. He married
Frances D. Bell Dec. 23, 1962, in Larned. A lifetime resident of Rozel, he was a retired postmaster. Blackburn was of the Christian faith. He was a charter member of Rozel Lions Club. Survivors include his wife of the home; and one sister, Elva Jean Latas of Larned. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Raymond Blackburn, Joe Blackburn and Keith Blackburn. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned with the Rev. Rob Schmutz officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery. Friends may call until 8 tonight at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Lions Club International Foundation, in care of the funeral home.
Herman R. Kayartz 1921-2001
Herman R. Kayartz, 79, died Feb. 17 at Central Kansas Medical Center, St. Rose Campus in Great Bend. He was born Feb. 21, 1921, in Stendal, Germany, the son of Herman and Emma Zotzmann Kayartz. A resident of Great Bend for 50 years, coming from Portage, Wis., he was a retired pressman at the Great Bend Tribune. Kayartz was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and the American Legion, both in Great Bend. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving as a sergeant in World War II. Survivors include two daughters, Judie Sexson and Carol Rankin, both of Wichita; one brother, William Kayartz of Portage, Wis.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Gunther Kayartz, Werner Kayartz and John Kayartz; and two sisters, Erna Kleist and Gertrude Strong. There will be no service. Memorials are suggested to American Heart Association, in care of Bryant-Christians Funeral Home in Great Bend.
Harvey Dirks 1902-2001
PAWNEE ROCK - Harvey Dirks, 98, died Feb. 16 at Cherry Village Nursing Home in Great Bend. He was born Oct. 17, 1902, in rural Barton County, the son of Jacob A. and Caroline Ratzlaff Dirks. He married
Ella Schultz Aug. 18, 1926, in Pawnee Rock. A resident of Great Bend, coming from rural Pawnee Rock, he was a retired farmer. Dirks was a member of Bergthal Mennonite Church of Pawnee Rock. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Homer R. Dirks of Pawnee Rock; one daughter, Beverly Ann Prescott of Larned; one brother, Roy R. Dirks of Great Bend; two sisters, Mattie Smith of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Evelyn Dirks of Newton; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one step great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by one son, Leon D. Dirks; two brothers, Chester Dirks and Dan Dirks; and two sisters, Mae Anderson and Fern Smith. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Bryant-Christians Chapel in Great Bend with the Rev. Muriel T. Stackley officiating. Burial will be at Mennonite Memorial cemetery in Pawnee Rock. Friends may call until 9 tonight and from 9 a.m. to service time Monday at the funeral chapel. Family will receive friends from 7-9 tonight at the chapel. Memorials are suggested to Mennonite Central Committee Relief, in care of the chapel.
Jack Dean Brown 1940-2001
Jack Dean Brown, 60, died Feb. 12 at his home in Great Bend. He was born May 8, 1940, in Harlan, the son of Willard and Deloris Correll Brown. He married
Karen Eileen Hewitt Sept. 17, 1971, in Salina. She died June 27, 1995. A resident of Great Bend since 1976, coming from Salina, he worked in Marmie's of Great Bend detail shop. Brown was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend. Survivors include three sons, Terry Brown of Smith Center, Rick Brown of Beloit and Jeff Brown of Great Bend; four daughters, Vickie Larson Long of Smith Center, Billie Clinesmith of Hugoton, Lisa Brown of Halstead and Eva Brown of Great Bend; three sisters, Charlene Machen of Concordia; Carol Farmer of Indianapolis, Ind., and Sharon Brown of Denver; and nine grandchildren. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Minnis Chapel in Stafford. Inurnment will be at a later date at Harlan cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Jack Brown Memorial Fund, in care of the chapel.
J.D. Hager Sr. 1905-2001
ST. JOHN - J.D. Hager Sr., 96, died Feb. 17 at Leisure Homestead in Stafford. He was born Feb. 7, 1905, in Cleo Springs, Okla., the son of Chancey and Candace Hare Hager. He married
Mary F. Helker Aug. 13, 1927, in St. John. She died July 27, 1996. A resident of St. John, he was a farmer and stockman. Hager was a member of First United Methodist Church, Odd Fellows Lodge, Rebekah Lodge, all of St. John, and the Eagles Lodge of Great Bend. Survivors include two sons, C. William Hager of Dayton, Ohio, and J.D. Hager Jr. of St. John; two daughters, Dorothy Jordan of El Dorado Springs, Mo., and Donna Heter of Hutchinson; 19 grandchildren; and 31 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Johnny Hager; and one grandson. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Minnis Chapel in St. John with the Rev. W. Harlan Rittgers officiating. Burial will be at Fairview Park cemetery in St. John. Friends may call until 8 tonight at the chapel. Memorials are suggested to the church or Leisure Homestead, both in care of the chapel.
Agnes M. Montgomery 1912-2001
KINSLEY - Agnes M. Montgomery, 88, died Feb. 17 at Medicalodge in Kinsley. She was born July 20, 1912, in Rozel, the daughter of George W. and Jessie M. "Tew" Bartlett. She married
John W. Montgomery March 19, 1932, in Kinlsey. He died Sept. 4, 1995. A resident of Kinsley, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Montgomery was a member of The Kinsley Church of the Nazarene and the Farm Bureau Unit, both of Kinsley. Survivors include two daughters, Jo Ann Lawrence of Albert and Norma Lee Kelley of Auburn; 13 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, one daughter, one brother and one sister. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at McKillip Memorial Chapel in Kinlsey with the Rev. Joyce Daniels officiating. Burial will be at Hillside cemetery in Kinsley. Friends may call until 8 tonight, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday, all at the chapel. Memorials are suggested to Medicalodge or to the South Wind Hospice, both in care of the funeral home.
Mildred M. Hendrich 1905-2001
WICHITA - Mildred M. Hendrich, 95, died Feb. 17 at Homestead Health Center in Wichita. She was born Sept. 9, 1905, in Czechoslovakia, Europe, the daughter of Vaclav R. and Dorothea Randall Hendrich. A resident of Wichita, coming from Wilson, she was a public school teacher. Ms. Hendrich was a member of First Baptist Church in Wilson, Alumni Association at Fort Hays State University and National Retired Teachers Association. Survivors include one nephew, Leo Hendrich; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Louis Hendrich, Winslow Hendrich and Joseph Hendrich; and five sisters, Anna Hendrich, Emilie Hendrich, Julie Hendrich, Marie Hendrich and Martha Hendrich. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Harlan Palser officiating. Burial will be at Wilson City cemetery. Friends may call until 8 tonight at Foster Mortuary in Wilson and from 8 a.m. until service time Tuesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Prairie Homestead Retirement Center in Wichita, in care of the mortuary.
Beverly Joann Cochran Byerly 1935-2001
Beverly Joann Cochran Byerly, 65, of Great Bend died Feb. 16 in Kinlsey. She was born July 13, 1935, in Butler County, the daughter of Leonard T. and Cecil Lou Tallman Cochran. She was a graduate of the Wichita schools. She married
Virgil Lewis Byerly Oct. 1, 1976, in Great Bend. A resident of Great Bend, coming from Wichita, she worked for Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice for 18 years and for two years with the ElderCare. Mrs. Byerly was a member of Eastside Baptist Church, Rebekah Lodge, Sunday school secretary and church choir member, all in Great Bend. She served on numerous church committees. Survivors include her husband of the home; one son, Roger Leroy Byerly of Belpre; two daughters, Rosalie Arnette Fansler of Olathe and Vada Kay Davis of Italy, Texas; four brothers, Leonard Cochran Jr., Bobby Cochran of Chanute, Dale Cochran of Clearwater and Ray Cochran of Liberal; eight grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one sister, Inez Nurty. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Julius Ellis officiating. Private family inurnment will be at a later date at the Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call until 9 tonight at Fryberger Mortuary in Great Bend and from 10 a.m. until service time Tuesday at the church. The family will receive friends from 6-8 tonight at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the church building fund, in care of the mortuary.
