Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Maurine Collins
LENEXA -- Maurine Naill Collins, 85, Lenexa, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, at a Lenexa hospital.
Mrs. Collins had been a bookkeeper and later a receptionist for Kansas City Presbyterian Manor.
She was born July 31, 1915, in Topeka, the daughter of Harry and Charlotte Naill. She graduated from Topeka High School and later from Clark's Business College. She also attended Kansas State University. She moved to Kansas City, Kan., in 1942, and to Lenexa after she retired.
Mrs. Collins was a former member of Trinity United Methodist Church and the church administrative board. She was an officer of Kansas City District and Conference United Methodist Women, and she worked with Methodist Youth. She was a former Campfire Girls leader, a member of the Sarah Ann Richart Study Club, the PEO Sisterhood, Wyandotte Campers and Golden Wheel Retirees. She was inducted into the Lenexa Volunteer Hall of Fame on Nov. 21, 2000.
She married Eugene F. Collins in 1936. He preceded her in death in 1995.
Survivors include a son, Harold Collins, St. Louis; two daughters, Dorothy Housh, Prairie Village, and Carolyn May, Colby; a brother, Harold Naill, Topeka; 10 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Lenexa United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Wellsville Cemetery in Wellsville. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to service time Friday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lakeview Village or to the Lenexa United Methodist Church, sent in care of Porter Funeral Home in Lenexa.
Ruby Gibson
HIGHLAND -- Ruby Gibson, 88, Highland, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, at a Hiawatha hospital.
She was born in Troy, the daughter of Benjamen and Mary Ophelia Herring Huber. She graduated from Troy High School and worked in many part-time jobs throughout her life, including at the Highland Vidette.
Mrs. Gibson was a member of the Methodist Church in Highland.
She married Thomas Albert Gibson on Jan. 2, 1932. He preceded her in death.
Survivors include two daughters, Doris Louise Clark, Clay Center, and Shirley Darlene Blanton, Quenemo; a son, Gerald Thomas Gibson, Highland; a brother, Robert Huber, St. Joseph, Mo.; six sisters, Edna Howland, Topeka, Ida Mae Stewart, Auburn, Neb., Helen Louise Holstein, Maudie Jones and Maxine Clark, all of St. Joseph, Mo., and Mary Clark, Easton, Mo.; 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Highland Mortuary. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery. Mrs. Gibson will lie in state after 9 a.m. Thursday at the mortuary, where visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m.
Ray Good
MELVERN -- Ray F. Good, 82, Melvern, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001, in Liberty.
Mr. Good was a machinist for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad.
He was born Aug. 16, 1918, in Topeka, the son of Joseph and Lula Allen Good. He had lived in Parsons, and moved to Kansas City, Kan., in 1961. He had lived in Melvern since 1979.
Mr. Good was a member of Melvern United Methodist Church and the Railroad Machinist Union.
He married Viola Scobey on June 8, 1940, in Enid, Okla. She survives.
Other survivors include three daughters, Margaret Holland and Donna Brooks, both of Kansas City, Kan., and De Bull, Omaha, Neb.; five grandchildren; and a great-grandson.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Melvern United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Melvern Cemetery. Mr. Good will lie in state after 2 p.m. today at Feltner Funeral Chapel in Lyndon, where visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Melvern United Methodist Church, sent in care of the funeral chapel.
Vivian Harris
LAWRENCE -- Vivian Rosalie Harris, 87, Lawrence, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, at a Lawrence hospital.
Mrs. Harris worked many years as a secretary in her husband's insurance office in California.
She was born Sept. 18, 1913, in Nortonville, the daughter of Jason R. and Lucy Randolph Wells. She moved to Lawrence from Santa Ynez, Calif., in 1991. She had written a manuscript titled, "God's Law -- His Love," which was in the process of being published at the time of her death.
She married Fred Harris on Aug. 23, 1947, in Los Angeles. He preceded her in death about 25 years ago.
Survivors include three nephews in Lawrence, Robert Wells, Jim Wells and Randy Wells.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Nortonville Cemetery in Nortonville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Nortonville Seventh Day Baptist Church, sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
Mary Mitchell
LAWRENCE -- Mary A. Mitchell, 73, Lawrence, died Monday, Jan. 8, 2001, at a Lawrence hospital.
Mrs. Mitchell had been a secretary for Swift and Co. in Salina, Watkins Student Hospital at The University of Kansas and Mitchell Real Estate offices in Lawrence. She retired in 1990.
She was born Feb. 19, 1927, in Springfield, Mo., the daughter of Carl Lester and Lola A. Nimmo Letterman. She moved to Lawrence from Salina in 1947.
She married Warren "Mitch" Mitchell on June 15, 1947, in Salina. He survives.
Other survivors include three sons, Richard Warren "Rick" Mitchell, Lawrence, Stephen Mark Mitchell, Fullerton, Calif., and Jay Alan Mitchell, Menlo Park, Calif.; two sisters, Carlene Hindman, Salina, and Margaret Wilder, Winfield; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at First Christian Church in Lawrence. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence. Visitation will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Friday at the First Christian Church in Lawrence.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church in Lawrence or to the American Cancer Society, sent in care of the mortuary.
Leo Reed Sr.
CLIFTON -- Leo Ernest Reed Sr., 80, Clifton, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001, at a Clay Center hospital.
Mr. Reed was a lifelong Clifton area farmer.
He was born Sept. 21, 1920, in Clay County, the son of Jess and May Price Reed.
Mr. Reed was a member of Faith United Church Presbyterian, Masonic Lodge and the American Polled Hereford Association. He was a former member of the Clifton Co-op Board.
He married Madonna Thorman on Sept. 15, 1944. She survives.
Other survivors include a son, Leo Reed Jr., Clifton; a daughter, Sharon Kay Reed, Clifton; a brother, Lyman Reed, Maryville, Tenn.; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Mr. Reed was preceded in death by a son, Donald Reed, in 1984.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Faith United Church Presbyterian in Clifton. Burial will be in Riverdale Cemetery in Clay County. Mr. Reed will lie in state from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Turner Funeral Home in Clifton.
Memorial contributions may be made to Faith United Church Presbyterian or to Meadowlark Hospice, sent in care of the funeral home.
Irene Rohloff
HERINGTON -- Irene Emma Rohloff, 86, Herington, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001, at a Herington nursing home.
Mrs. Rohloff and her husband farmed in Morris County for many years.
She was born Sept. 25, 1914, in Lincolnville, the daughter of John and Emile Behn Rindt.
Mrs. Rohloff was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Herington and the Tabatha Society at the church.
She married Herbert Rohloff on Sept. 9, 1936, in Lincolnville. He died Dec. 19, 1989.
Survivors include a son, Lowell Rohloff, Andover; a daughter, Lorraine Roberts, Herington; three sisters, Frieda Vahsholtz, Washougal, Wash., and Florence White and Velma Denver, both of Herington; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and one stepgreat-great-grandchild.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery in Herington. Mrs. Rohloff will lie in state from 2 to 7 p.m. Friday at Brockmeier Funeral Chapel in Herington.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Dickinson County Hospice, sent in care of the funeral chapel.
Edward Sheair
HANOVER -- Edward C. Sheair, 88, formerly of Lincoln, Neb., died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001, at a Hanover nursing home.
Mr. Sheair was a plant manager for the City Water Department in Nebraska City, Neb., and he later did custodial work for the state of Nebraska in the Capitol in Lincoln.
He was born Feb. 25, 1912, in Kingfisher, Okla., the son of Daniel J. and Lena Jaeger Sheair. He moved to Hanover in 1999.
Mr. Sheair was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Hanover.
He married Louise Kathe on May 4, 1957, in Nebraska City, Neb. She survives.
Other survivors include a brother, Elmer Sheair, Nebraska City, Neb.; and a sister, Marie Biere, Lincoln, Neb.
Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. John's Catholic Church in Hanover. Burial will be at the church cemetery. A wake service will be at 7 p.m. today at the church.
Hanover Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Doris Burgess
Doris Irene Burgess, 78, Topeka, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001, at a Topeka hospital.
Mrs. Burgess was a practical nurse and had been a private nurse. She had worked at Kansas Neurological Institute and St. Francis Hospital. She and her husband also owned and operated Green Acres Care Home in Fredonia for 16 years.
She was born July 23, 1922, in Vassar, the daughter of John and Pricilla Jobe Dennison. She moved to Topeka 40 years ago.
She married Ralph Burgess on June 30, 1941, in Topeka. He survives.
Other survivors include two daughters, Connie Christy, Topeka, and Kathy Johnston, Parsons; two sons, Ed Burgess, Topeka, and Larry Burgess, Fredonia; a sister, Emma Morstorf, Topeka; three brothers, Charles Dennison, Burlingame, and Alvin Dennison and Lloyd Dennison, both of Garnett; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at West Lawn Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Burgess will lie in state after 1 p.m. Thursday at Parker-Price Mortuary, where visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1315 S.W. Arrowhead Road, Topeka, 66604.
Wilma Cox
Wilma V. Cox, 87, Topeka, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001, at her home.
Mrs. Cox had worked for Ripley Laundry, the Duckwalls Store in North Topeka, the cafeteria at Seaman High School and The Pad Restaurant.
She was born Feb. 11, 1913, in Menoken Township, the daughter of George Clark Ward and Mary Grace Fiederling Ward. She attended the Golden Rule School. She moved to Topeka in 1941. She also did volunteer work at the voting polls.
Mrs. Cox was a member of the North Topeka Saddle Club and she attended Elmont United Methodist Church.
She married Terrance Hurst Cox on Feb. 17, 1932, in Topeka. He died June 18, 1975. Mrs. Cox also was preceded in death by two grandchildren.
Survivors include four sons, Robert Cox, Westmoreland, Ray Dean Cox and Terrance Cox, both of Topeka, and Charles Cox, Fairview; a daughter, Maxine Byler, Meriden; 17 grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Davidson Funeral Home. Burial will be in Rochester Cemetery. Mrs. Cox will lie in state from noon to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home, where visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m.
Roberta Gibbs
Roberta Lee Gibbs, 77, Topeka, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001, at her home.
Mrs. Gibbs had worked for Fleming Co. for 25 years, and she later was site director of the League of United Latin American Citizens in Oakland for seven years.
She was born Jan. 14, 1923, in Topeka, the daughter of Robert and Amanda Lang Ruth. She was raised in the Shorey area of North Topeka.
Mrs. Gibbs had been a member of the Salvation Army Women's Home League.
She married Charles Gibbs on May 3, 1941, in Topeka. He preceded her in death May 10, 1989. Mrs. Cox also was preceded in death by a son, Charles Gibbs Jr., April 5, 2000.
Survivors include a son, Billy J. Gibbs, Hoyt; a daughter, Colleen "Susie" Horn, Hoyt; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Davidson Funeral Home. Burial will be at Rochester Cemetery. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army and sent in care of the funeral home.
