Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Michael Lovett
CHAPMAN -- Michael P. Lovett, 36, Chapman, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, at a Junction City hospital.
Mr. Lovett was a carpet layer.
He was born Nov. 28, 1966, in Fort Campbell, Ky., to Jerry Lovett and Mary Jackson Lovett. He moved to Chapman in 2001.
Survivors include his mother, Mary Lovett, Chapman; his father, Jerry Lovett, Junction City; a son, James Lovett, Independence, Mo.; a daughter, Rebecca Lovett, Independence, Mo.; a brother, Mark Lovett, Chapman; a sister, Valerie Wyant, Gardner; and grandparents, Eugene and Anna Mae Lovett, Bucklin, Mo.
Mr. Lovett was cremated. No services are scheduled.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association and sent in care of Mass-Hinitt Funeral Chapel, 805 Caroline Ave., Junction City, 66441.
Bill Newman
LAWRENCE -- Bill Newman, 79, Lawrence, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, at a Topeka hospital.
Mr. Newman worked for Lawrence Paper Co. for many years and then in maintenance for Quaker Oats until retiring.
He was born Dec. 29, 1923, in Tyrone, Okla., to Noah R. and Annie E. Carson Newman.
Mr. Newman was a member of the Eagles Aerie No. 309 in Lawrence.
He married Virginia Kretsinger, who preceded him in death. He married Luejutta Bush on March 14, 1980, in Lawrence. She survives.
Other survivors include a daughter, Janet Barrick, Lawrence; a stepdaughter, Tira Link, Lawrence; a stepson, Charles Beer, West Palm, Fla.; two brothers, Lee Newman, Baldwin City, and John Newman, Lawrence; three sisters, Vera Ulrich, Iola, Doris Norwood, Lawrence, and Mary Hutcherson, Overland Park; three grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Park Cemetery. Mr. Newman will lie in state at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence from 5 to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to noon Thursday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association and sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, 66044.
Velma Sweet
MARYSVILLE -- Velma Sweet, 83, Marysville, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, at a Marysville care center.
She was born Sept. 10, 1919, in America City, to Oren and Lottie McKee McClain. She had lived in Marysville since 1958.
Mrs. Sweet was a member of the United Methodist Church in Marysville, the American Legion auxiliary and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.
She married Hiram Sweet on June 4, 1944. He died in March 1982.
Survivors include two daughters, Linda Weber, Home, and Deb Engelken, Seneca; two sisters, Mildred Sweet and Darlene Becker, both of Seneca; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; and four stepgreat-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church in Marysville. Burial will be at America City Cemetery in Corning. Mrs. Sweet will lie in state from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Kinsley Mortuary in Marysville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Meadowlark Hospice and sent in care of the mortuary.
Peggy Ditch
Peggy J. Ditch, 73, Topeka, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, at a Topeka hospital.
Mrs. Ditch owned and operated Ditch Trash Service.
She was born July 22, 1929, in Topeka, to Raymond John and Virginia Martha Douglas Taylor.
Mrs. Ditch was a member of Northland Christian Church.
She married Warren Bert Ditch Sr. on Jan. 12, 1947, in Lyndon. He died May 25, 1996. Mrs. Ditch also was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Michelle Stephanie Ditch, on June 2, 1988.
Survivors include four daughters, Sharon Kay McKinney, Panama City, Fla., Camellia A. Crosby, Kauai, Hawaii, Lisa L. Jenkins, Topeka, and Kimberly A. Hocking, Linn; seven sons, Warren B. Ditch Jr., Honolulu, Steven R. Ditch Sr., Gregory W. Ditch, Michael D. Ditch Sr. and Rocky W. Ditch and Scott W. Ditch, all of Topeka, and Quintin R. Ditch, Eskridge; 26 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Northland Christian Church. Burial will be at Topeka Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the church.
Contributions may be made to the Peggy Ditch Memorial Fund and sent in care of Lisa Jenkins, 3443 N.W. Cherry Creek Drive, Topeka, 66618.
Margaret Eye
Margaret B. Eye, 70, Topeka, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2003, at a Topeka hospital.
Mrs. Eye was an Avon sales representative in Topeka for more than 20 years.
She was born Feb. 18, 1932, in Clyde, the daughter of Nicholas and Blanche Otott Schumock.
Mrs. Eye was a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church.
She married Donald D. Eye on June 1, 1953, in Concordia. He died April 17, 2000.
Survivors include two sons, Michael Eye, Carbondale, and David Eye, Topeka; two daughters, Brenda Lawton and Carol Eye, both of Topeka; a sister, Jean Butts, Topeka; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Mrs. Eye will lie in state after 2 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Matthew Catholic Church, 2700 S.E. Virginia, Topeka, 66605.
Paul Mlynek
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Central Church of Christ in Topeka for Paul Joseph Mlynek, 63, formerly of Topeka. He died Jan. 1, 2003, at a Boston hospital.
Mr. Mlynek was a journeyman electrician and a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 226.
He was born Dec. 3, 1939, in Topeka, the son of Ernest and Francis Sender Mlynek. He graduated from Highland Park High School. He had lived in Massachusetts for the past 15 years.
Mr. Mlynek was a member of the Braintree, Mass., Rifle and Pistol Club and the Hyde Park, Mass., Lions Club.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Mlynek, in Massachusetts; two daughters, Mary L. Pierce, Topeka, and Paula R. Liles, Berryton; a son, Brad J. Mlynek, Tecumseh; stepdaughters, Debra Kelly, Stella Coote and Susan Conlon, all in Massachusetts; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1315 S.W. Arrowhead Road, Topeka, 66604.
Leon Peterson
Leona D. Peterson, 94, Topeka, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, at a Topeka care facility.
Mr. Peterson had worked on a variety of occupations between 1933 and retiring in 1978 as executive director of Downtown Topeka Inc. He had been an agent for Aetna Life Insurance, a commercial lighting representative for Kansas Electric Power Co., and he managed the Cottonwood Falls, Madison and Emporia Divisions of the Kansas Electric Power Co., and later the Topeka division of the Kansas Power and Light Co. He became regional manager of the Topeka region in 1960 and retired from KPL in 1973.
He was born March 25, 1908, in Topeka, to Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. Peterson. He moved with his family to Emporia in 1917 and graduated form Emporia High School in 1926. He attended Emporia State University and The University of Kansas.
Mr. Peterson had been past president of Rotary Clubs in Cottonwood Falls, Emporia and Topeka; the Madison Lions Club; the Emporia Chamber of Commerce; the Topeka Club; the Fortnightly Club; Shawnee County Litter Control; and the Topeka Beautification Association.
He was a past member of the board of directors of the Topeka United Way, Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Brewster Place, Mid-America Fair Association and Topeka Savings and Loan.
He was past district governor of Rotary International District No. 571. He received the Silver Beaver Award for the Boy Scouts of American in 1952, made an honorary fellow by the Rotary Foundation in 1970 and named a Paul Harris Fellow in 1975.
He was a member of First Congregational Church and the board of trustees of Emporia State University Endowment Association.
He married Helen S. Stowe on July 6, 1934, in Emporia. She died in 1993.
Survivors include two sons, Dr. Robert L. Peterson, Topeka, and Donald S. Peterson, Phoenix; and five grandchildren.
Cremation is planned. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Jan. 15 at First Congregational Church. Inurnment at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Emporia will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Congregational Church, 1701 S.W. Collins Ave., Topeka, 66604; or to the Jayhawk Area Council Boy Scouts of America, 1020 S.E. Monroe, Topeka, 66612.
JaQuise Smith
JaQuise Shenea Smith, 11, died Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2003, at a Topeka hospital. The cause of death hasn't been determined.
She was born May 19, 1991, in Monterey, Calif., to Theodore Redmond Jr. and Latonia M. Smith-Redmond. She moved with her family to Topeka four years ago, and she attended Jardine Middle School.
JaQuise was a member of El Shaddai Church of God in Christ, the Sunshine Band at the church and Sunday school.
Survivors include her parents; a brother, GaQuan M.A.T. Smith, Topeka; and a grandmother, Loretta L. Smith, Junction City.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at El Shaddai Church of God in Christ. Burial will be in Mount Auburn Cemetery. JaQuise will lie in state at Bowser-Johnson Funeral Chapel after 4 p.m. Friday, where visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m.
Charles Whitmarsh Sr.
Charles E. "Whit" Whitmarsh Sr., 79, Topeka, died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2003, in Springfield, Mo.
Mr. Whitmarsh owned and operated Mike's Used Cars for more than 20 years, and he had worked for several automobile dealers in Topeka. He served in the Navy as a Seaman second class during World War II. He was decorated with the World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign medal and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal.
He was born Jan. 19, 1923, in Oberlin, to Jewell and Eulela Sprigg Whitmarsh. He lived most his life in Topeka.
Mr. Whitmarsh was a member of the Moose Lodge and a life member of Philip Billard Post NO. 1650 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He married Virginia L. Dustin in 1947 in Topeka. She died Oct. 24, 1975. Mr. Whitmarsh also was preceded in death by a daughter, Bonnie Whitmarsh, in 1948.
Survivors include a daughter, Gloria Sackrider, Topeka; a stepdaughter, Billie Sue Barrington, Lakeland, Fla.; two sons, Charles E. Whitmarsh Jr., Topeka, and Michael D. Whitmarsh Sr., Wakarusa; his fiance, Alice Garlinger, Topeka; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Parker-Price Mortuary Chapel. Burial with graveside military honors conducted by Post No. 1650 of the VFW will be in Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Whitmarsh will lie in state after 3 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary, where visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 1653, Topeka, 66601-1653.
Manty Harris
BURR OAK -- Iva Samantha "Manty" Harris, 97, Wichita, formerly of Burr Oak, died Jan. 5, 2001, at a Wichita care center. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Burr Oak Cemetery.
She was born May 8, 1903, in Burr Oak, to Nelson S. and Margaret Wishart Harris. She graduated from Burr Oak High School in 1921. She attended The University of Kansas and received teaching degrees from Wichita State University and Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia. She began a teaching career in Cunningham in Kingman County in 1925. She taught in Hawaii and Wichita before she retired in 1968.
Miss Harris was a member of First United Methodist Church in Wichita and United Methodist Women, the United Methodist Church in Burr Oak and a 75-year member of Eureka Chapter No. 69 of Order of Eastern Star in Burr Oak.
Nieces and nephews survive.
Miss Harris will lie in state until 1 p.m. Wednesday at Melby Mortuary in Mankato. Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church in Burr Oak or First United Methodist Church in Wichita.
E.A. Allerheiligen
HANOVER -- Ernest A. Allerheiligen, 92, Hanover, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, at a Marysville care home.
He was born June 17, 1908, south of Hanover, to Herman H. and Lottie Thiele Allerheiligen. He attended Silver Creek rural school near Hollenberg. He was a farmer and lived south of Hanover for many years. He retired in 1959 and moved into Hanover.
He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Hanover and served on the church council. He had served on the Cedar Creek rural school board.
He married Marjorie Craik on May 27, 1934. She died Jan. 26, 2000. Two children died in infancy.
Survivors include a son, Keith Allerheiligen, Hanover; two brothers, Elmer Allerheiligen, in Arizona, and Raymond Allerheiligen, in Wyoming; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Zion Lutheran Church in Hanover. Burial will be in Hanover City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Hanover Mortuary in Hanover.
Pamela S. Crable
GARNETT -- Pamela S. Crable, 46, Garnett, died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, in Garnett at a brother's home, where she had been staying since early November during her illness. She had cancer.
She was born June 8, 1954, in Kansas City, Mo., to William C. and Mary Halphin Triplet. She attended schools in Sweet Springs, Mo. She lived in South Carolina and Texas before she moved to Ottawa, where she lived for about two years before she moved to Garnett last year. She had won several trophies in fishing tournaments.
She was active in the auxiliaries to Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Eagles Lodge.
She married Larry Reiners. They divorced. A daughter, Christina Michelle Reiners, died in infancy. She married Lee McKittrick. He died about five years ago. She married Charles "Curly" Crable. They divorced and he died Nov. 21, 2000.
Survivors include her parents, William C. and Mary Triplet, Ottawa; three brothers, James Triplet, at home, John Triplet, Odessa, Mo., and Robert Triplet, Richmond, Mo.; two sisters, Sandra Riley and Mary Lively, both in Garnett; and a grandmother, Alice Gladden, Sweet Springs, Mo.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel funeral home in Garnett. Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Mount Zion Christian Cemetery in the Dunksburg community southwest of Sweet Springs, Mo. Visitation will be after 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Contributions may be made to the Pamela Crable Memorial Fund yet to be designated and sent in care of the funeral home.
Madge Crandall
EMPORIA -- Madge L. Crandall, 99, Emporia, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, at an Emporia care center.
She was born May 8, 1901, in Little River, to Ira and Laura D. Perry Smith. She spent her early life in Little River, where she was a teacher. She moved to Emporia in 1941. She attended Kansas State Normal School in Emporia.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Miriam Chapter No. 14 of Order of Eastern Star, and Entre Nous Study Club, all in Emporia, and the auxiliaries to the United Transportation Union Local No. 391 and the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees.
She married Heber K. Crandall on Nov. 30, 1924, in Little River. He died Oct. 31, 1966. A daughter, JaNelda Greenlee, died March 30, 1998.
Survivors include a granddaughter, Cheryl Lynn Ball, Gardner; and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home in Emporia. Graveside services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Bean Cemetery near Little River.
Memorial contributions may be made to Emporia Friends of the Zoo, 66801.
Ruth L. Decker
LAWRENCE -- Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Friday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence for Ruth Lorena Decker, 78, Fort Worth, Texas, formerly of Eudora, who died Jan. 4, 2001, at home.
She was born Aug. 14, 1922, in Lecompton, to Leonard and Edna Mae Gardner Slaughter. She was a licensed practical nurse and worked at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and Lawrence area nursing homes. She moved from Eudora to Fort Worth in 2000.
She was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Flower Club, both in Eudora.
She married Howard M. Decker on April 11, 1948, in Perry. He died Jan. 4, 1995.
Survivors include two sons, Donald Decker, Oskaloosa, and Gary Decker, Fort Worth; a brother, Ray Slaughter, address unavailable; a sister, Dorothea Kline, address unavailable; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Decker was cremated. Inurnment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Topeka.
Memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice of Texas and sent in care of the mortuary.
