Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Ethel May Mowry
Ethel May Mowry, age 83, of Junction City, died July 22, 2004, at her residence.
She was born July 29, 1920, in Paola, Kansas.
Mrs. Mowry was a home health worker and a cook.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church and Eagles Auxiliary in Junction City.
In 1941 she was married to Alfred M. Mowry, Sr. in Junction City. He preceded her in death on June 29, 1983. She was also preceded in death by her infant son Robert D. Mowry in 1951, and her son Richard E. Mowry in 1980; and by her two sisters.
Survivors include two sons: George E. Mowry of Stone Lake, Wisconsin, and Alfred M. Mowry, Jr. of Ottawa, KS; one grandson, seven great granddaughters and one great grandson.
Graveside services will be held at 3:30 P.M. Thursday at the Milford Cemetery with Reverend G. Edmond Thomas officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 2:45 P.M. Thursday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home at which time a procession will be formed to the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Donald Raymond Wilkerson
Donald Raymond Wilkerson, age 85, of Manhattan, died July 28, 2004 at his residence.
He was born on May 27, 1919 in Mt. Victory, OH, the son of Jacob and Carrie (Kelly) Wilkerson. He graduated from Mt. Victory High School in 1936.
On May 17, 1936 in Hepburn, OH, he married Thelma Berry. She survives of the home.
Donald served in the U.S. Army for 25 years before retiring in 1969. While in the military, he served in the European Theatre during World War II and was one of the first American soldiers to liberate the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany. He then worked in the Biology Department at Kansas State University for 16 years.
He was a member of the First Methodist Church in Kenton, OH, Riley County Fish and Game Association, lifetime member of the American Legion, Retired Sergeant Major Association and Association of United States Army.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children, Judith Dinger of Wamego, KS, Raymond Wilkerson and his wife Janet of Arlington, TX and Larry Wilkerson and his wife Nola of Westmoreland, KS; two sisters, Eloise Parker of Grove City, OH and Joan Wilkie of Belle Center, OH; 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and two step-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Rose Mary Wilkerson; two brothers, Robert and Dallas Wilkerson; one grandchild and one great-grandchild.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday, August 2, 2004 at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Pastor Joel Kline officiating. Interment will follow in the Fort Riley Cemetery with full military honors.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:00 P.M. Sunday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.
A memorial has been established for Homecare and Hospice, Inc. of Manhattan. Memorial contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Charles A. "Charlie" LaMaster
Charles A. "Charlie" LaMaster, age 70, of Manhattan, died August 3, 2004, at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan.
He was born September 25, 1933,in Lawrence, Kansas, the son of Maurice C. and Ruth Ellen (Sneegas) LaMaster, and had been a Manhattan resident since 1956.
Charlie taught automotive technology at Manhattan High School. The class later moved to the Manhattan Area Vocational Technical School, a facility he was able to play an instrumental part in developing. He was an instructor at the Manhattan Area VoTech until his retirement in 1994, after 37 years of teaching.
He owned and operated the Tuttle Creek Trap Park for 38 years, and taught many trapshooting classes through Kansas State University, introducing hundreds of men and women to the sport.
Charlie was a long-time member of the First Christian Church in Manhattan, Kansas. He was a life member of the Kansas Trapshooters Association, and also served as the president of the organization in the 1980’s. He also was a member, and one-time president, of the Kansas Wildlife Federation. He was inducted to the Trap Shooting Hall of Fame in 1982.
On June 14, 1958, in Kansas City, Missouri, he was married to the former Lou Wills. Mrs. LaMaster survives of the home. Charlie is also survived by his daughter, Lynne LaMaster of Wichita; one brother, Dan LaMaster of Garfield, AR; and three sisters: Elsie Keller of LaCygne, KS, Dorothy Beck of Groveland, CA, and Sue Johns of Dallas, OR.
Charlie was preceded in death by his son, Chris E. LaMaster on April 20, 1994, and by his parents.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, August 7th, at the First Christian Church in Manhattan with Ned Keller, Charlie’s nephew, officiating. Interment will follow in Sunrise Cemetery in Manhattan.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 9:00 P.M. Friday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to either the First Christian Church in Manhattan, or the Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research at Kansas State University, and may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Allan L. Coon
Allan L. Coon, age 62, of Manhattan passed away at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan on August 7, 2003, of an extended illness.
Allan was born in Wamego on May 7, 1941 and lived his life in Zeandale and Manhattan. Allan served in the US Air Force as a security police officer from 1959 to 1963. Following his military service, Allan worked as a Manhattan Police Officer and a Riley County Police Department Officer following consolidation. In 1976 Allan left police work to pursue a career as an electrician, with Keating Electric of St. Marys, Kansas as his last place of employment until his medical retirement in 2002. In 2003 Allan served as a volunteer employee for the Riley County Police Department as an assistant to the Investigations Division’s Evidence Technician.
Allan served young people of Manhattan as an Assistant Scout Master, B.S.A and as a Kansas Hunter Safety Instructor.
Allan was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Gertrude Coon and his grandson, Ryan Royal Springer on April 14, 1996.
Allan is survived by his wife Beth (Brunkow) Coon; two sisters: Laura Gayle Coon of Caracas, Venezuela, and Mary Ann Littrell of Manhattan; three children: Sandy Springer and her husband Russell of Manhattan, Paul Coon and his wife Denise of Manhattan, and Sonia Gregoire and her husband Steve of Manhattan; three grandchildren: Stephanie Springer, Trevor Gregoire and Brianna Simkins; and the extended family of Jason, Megan, Taylor and Hannah McGraw.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in Pleasant Valley Cemetery southeast of Manhattan with full military honors.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 4:00 P.M. Sunday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Dorothy Margaret Johnstone
Dorothy Margaret Johnstone, age 83, a longtime Manhattan resident, died August 5, 2004, at Cambridge Place Nursing Home in Marysville.
She was born April 3, 1921, in Lincoln, Kansas, the daughter of Robert C. and Henrietta (Kobbeman) Rankin.
Mrs. Johnstone was a homemaker.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Manhattan.
On January 13, 1942, in Lincoln, Kansas, she was married to Sidney G. Johnstone. He preceded her in death on September 17, 1999. She was also preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.
Survivors include one son, Robert Johnstone and his wife Linda, of Phoenix, Arizona; two daughters: Louetta Petit and her husband Mark, Sr., of Prineville, Oregon, and Nancy Lindeen of Marysville, KS; eight grandchildren: Robin Butler, Gary Craig and Scott Johnstone, Mark Petit, Jr., Gary, Jason and Cindy Lindeen, and Melinda Argo; and 17 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home with Reverend R. Cam McConnell officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Cemetery in Manhattan.
The family of Mrs. Johnstone will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Gregory’s Catholic Church through Sister Eulalia Kloeker for St. Gregory’s School. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
ROY WAYNE TAYLOR
Roy Wayne Taylor, age 64, of Manhattan, died August 8, 2004, at the Skagg Community Health Center in Branson, Missouri.
He was born on May 22, 1940, the son of Roy and June L. (Mangus) Taylor in Palisade, Colorado.
Roy served the United States Army and was in the Special Forces in the Vietnam War. In 1980 he retired with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He had also worked as a bus driver for the Manhattan and Riley School Districts for many years. He was a member of the Eagles, American Legion and VFW.
On August 3, 1992, in Manitou Springs, Colorado he was married to Faye L. Weber, she survives of the home.
Additional survivors include a daughter Dianna Kessler South Carolina, four sons: Randy Taylor of Manhattan, Kansas, Ken Taylor of Indiana, Robert Taylor of Texas and Marc Taylor of Texas, two sisters: Beverly Neal of California and Vickie Parsons of California, a brother, Robert Taylor of Leonardville, Kansas, four stepchildren, Brent, Christine, Toby and Wendy, and 10 grandchildren.
Cremation is planned with a memorial service to be held at 10:00 A. M. Monday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. Inurnment will at 2:00 P.M. Monday in the Burns Cemetery, Burns, Kansas.
A memorial fund has been established to the Roy W. Taylor Memorial Fund. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Dale W. Murphy
Dale W. Murphy, age 58, of Manhattan, died early Sunday morning, August 15, 2004, at the Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan.
He was born on October 17, 1945, in Manhattan, Kansas, the son of Merle A. and Elanor (Thomas) Murphy.
Mr. Murphy was raised in Manhattan. He lived in Topeka, Kansas for 20 years where he was employed with the Federal Civil Service and active with the National Guard 714th Maintenance Company. He returned to Manhattan in the early 1980’s and went to work for the Federal Civil Service M.A.T.E.S. at Ft. Riley, retiring in 1996. For the past 5 1/2 years he has been employed by CarQuest Auto Parts in Manhattan.
During the Vietnam War, Mr. Murphy served with the United States Navy.
He enjoyed collecting coins, Dale Earnhart, Sr. memorabilia, comic books, belt buckles and knives. He also enjoyed coloring and art doodling.
He was married to Sheral Thomas, they later were divorced. She survives in Topeka.
On October 29, 1986, in Manhattan, Kansas, he was united in marriage to Pamela F. Quick. She survives of the home. Also surviving are his two sons: Miles Quinton Murphy and Curtis Wayne Murphy of Topeka, Kansas, three step-children: Robert Quick and his wife Chrystal and James Britt of Manhattan, and Kristina Pixley of Oswego, New York. His mother: Elanor Murphy of Coffeyville, Kansas, one brother: Stan Murphy and his wife Terrie of Topeka, Kansas and one sister: Linda Kay Hood of Coffeyville, Kansas. Nine grandchildren: George Quick, Ashley Quick, Tyler Quick, Jonathan Quick, Dylan Quick, Alexander James Southworth and Susie Jimenez all of Manhattan, Charade Nichole Britt of Salina, Kansas and Robert Southworth of Oswego, New York.
Mr. Murphy was preceded in death by his father and by one grandson: Austin Michael Quick.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Reverend Neil Engle officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in the Valley View Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.
A memorial has been established for Homecare and Hospice, Inc. of Manhattan. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Florence Irene Stanley
Florence Irene Stanley, age 86, of Manhattan, died August 16, 2004, at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community in Manhattan.
Florence was born December 26, 1917, at River View Farm near Little River, Kansas, to Edward H. and Erzella V. (Somers) Hodgson.
She attended rural schools and graduated from Little River High School in 1935, and attended Kansas State College, McPherson College and Fort Hays State.
Florence taught eight grades at Crawford Country School, and also worked as substitute teacher, nurses aide, homemaker and farmed for many years.
In 1937 Florence married Albert B. Smith and had six children. They later divorced and she married John Beeson Stanley in 1974 and lived the next twenty years in the mountains of Oregon. In 1996 Florence and John moved to Manhattan to be near her children.
Florence was a member of Little River Congregational Church and Larned United Methodist Church. She was a 4-H leader and member of EHU in Kansas and Oregon. She loved cooking and food preservation, gardening, and enjoyed her many friends and family.
Survivors include her husband John Stanley, daughters Garalyn Avery Tout and husband Dr. Robert Tout of Manhattan, Jilinda Johnson and husband Roger of Manhattan, Stephana Manwarren and husband Dan of Iuka, KS, son, Craig Smith and wife Rosalie of Manhattan, 17 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Other survivors include sisters, Lucy Alice Cheney of Kingwood, TX, Eva Mae McMahan of Fort Wayne, IN, and Lois Cross of Boulder, CO, and brother Howard Hodgson and wife Hazel of Little River, KS.
Mrs. Stanley was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Art and Bob Hodgson, sister Mabel Ross, daughter Jana Johnston and infant son Robert Richard Smith.
Memorial services will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday, August 19th, at Meadowlark Hills Community Room with Reverend Anne Scheiber officiating. Inurnment will be in Bean Cemetery in Little River, KS, at 11:00 AM Friday, August 20th.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Good Samaritan Fund at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Lawrence Evan “Larry” Lindgren
Lawrence Evan “Larry” Lindgren, age 86, of Manhattan, died Saturday, August 28, 2004 at the Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community.
Larry was born on February 20, 1918, the oldest of three children and the son of John Evan and Ada Marie (Hagberg) Lindgren. His grandparents immigrated from Sweden in the 1890’s. He grew up on a farm south of Dwight, Kansas.
He graduated from the Dwight High School in May 1936. He then worked for the Agriculture Adjustment Administration (AAA) as a field supervisor. It was his experience with surveying equipment that would put him in the Army Engineers during the war.
Larry was with the first group of Military Selectees to leave Morris County. He left for his military training on July 2, 1941. He was stationed in Hawaii with the 47th Engineers constructing roads and airports. In 1944, he was transferred to the 1181 Engineers, a part of the joint Army-Navy construction group, which was the Headquarters for the Okinawa Campaign. He was in on the secret planning and the landing on Okinawa.
Larry enrolled at Kansas State University in September 1946 and graduated in the spring of 1949 with a degree in Agronomy. He was a member of Gamma Sigma Delta, Honor Society of Agriculture and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
He worked for the Soil Conservation Service and in 1954 transferred to Federal Crop Insurance. He retired in 1976 as Field Underwriting Director.
On February 20, 1946, he married Pauline Adelle Brown in the First Christian Church in El Dorado, KS. They have three daughters and eight grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Keppel of Huntsville, TX; David, Allie and John Keppel of Seattle, WA; Mr. and Mrs. Mark Pendergrass, Brian and Shane Apple of Wilmington, NC; and Mr. and Mrs. Tim Wigger, Sydney, T.C., and Tyler Wigger of Shawnee, KS.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Louise Miller of Dwight, KS. His brother, Les Lindgren lives in Federal Heights, CO.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, September 1, 2004 at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Rev. R.C. McConnell officiating. Interment will follow in the Sunrise Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:00 P.M., Tuesday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for the Meadowlark Hills Foundation for the Sculpture Fund. Memorial contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Orpha Wannett (Hoch) Wesche
Orpha Wannett (Hoch) Wesche, age 95 of Manhattan, died Thursday, September 2, 2004 at the Stoneybrook Retirement Community.
She was born on April 2, 1909 in El Dorado, KS, the daughter of Reverend August and Hulda (Rux) Hoch. Mrs. Wesche lived in Dennis and Osborne, KS, prior to moving to Leonardville, KS in 1917. She attended Fairview Grade School and was a 1927 graduate of Leonardville High School. Following her high school graduation she attended Emporia Teachers College in Emporia, KS, and Platt Secretarial School in Manhattan.
Mrs. Wesche taught grade school in Riley County, KS for six years and was a bookkeeper and sales person for the Singer Sewing Machine Company for four years. She moved to Manhattan in 1934, and in 1939, went to work for the City of Manhattan as a secretary to the City Clerk for 15 years. She was the Manhattan City Clerk for 18 years. She retired in 1971.
Her memberships include the First Presbyterian Church of Manhattan, Business and Professional Women’s Association, charter member and first president of the Hartford Bell Chapter of the National Secretaries Association, honorary member of the City clerk’s and Minicipal Finance Officers Associations of Kansas, American Legion Auxiliary Post #17, Manhattan Landlord’s Association, Manhattan Organ Club and the Manhattan Country Club. In addition to these memberships she was actively involved in volunteer organ and piano playing throughout the community.
On May 27, 1920, she was married to Glen Stewart. They had one daughter, Jacqueline Sue. She later was married to D.C. Wesche on January 21, 1963 in Pittsburg, PA. He preceded her in death on May 27, 1981. Mrs. Wesche was also preceded in death by her daughter, Jacqueline Sue Fatzer on August 21, 1998, by one sister, Lucille Manning on March 25, 1987, and by one grandson, Marc Fatzer.
Survivors include one brother, Homer Hoch of Shawnee Mission, KS; two step daughters: Pam Warner of Landum SC, and Linda Hanna of Topeka, KS; three grandchildren: Brian Fatzer, Karen Humble and Cheryl Fatzer; and numerous other family and friends.
Cremation is planned with graveside services to be held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday at Sunset Cemetery with Reverend Kevin Larson officiating. Family and friends are invited to meet at 9:30 A.M. Tuesday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home to form a procession to the cemetery.
A memorial has been established for the Riley County Seniors' Service Center or Homecare and Hospice, Inc. of Manhattan. Memorial contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Dorothy M. Keen
Dorothy M. Keen, 88, of Manhattan, died Sunday, August 8 at Mercy Regional Health Center.
She was born November 8, 1915 in Topeka, KS, the daughter of Knute Evar and Alice (Rhodes) Ericsson.
She was educated in Topeka public schools and graduated from Washburn College, 1938 with the A. B. degree. After earning the M. A. degree from George Peabody College for Teachers, Nashville, TN in 1939, she taught Art & Humanities at Georgia State College for Women, Milledgeville, GA, for two years and Fine Arts for one year at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College, Kirksville, MO. She was married in 1943 in Topeka, KS to Ensign Ray A. Keen, USNR. After World War II, the Keen family settled in Manhattan, KS where she lived for the past fifty-seven years.
A life-long member of the Church of Christ, she co-authored and published a 50-year history of the Church of Christ of Manhattan, KS in 1994. She also researched and authored six family histories that are available in major genealogical libraries.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray A. Keen, in 2003. Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law: Dr. Robert E. and Karen Keen of Chassell, MI; and Kenneth A. and Rhonda Keen of Derby, KS; and two daughters and sons-in-law: Margaret K. and Tad Carlisle of Waubaunsee, KS; and Catharine I. and Dr. Clifton L. Willms of Sioux City, IA. Nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren also survive.
