Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Gary V. Williamson
Gary V. Williamson, age 56, of Memphis, Michigan, died Saturday, January 27, 2007, in the Mercy Hospital in Port Huron, Michigan following a short illness.
He was born on December 20, 1950, in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of Vernon and Margaret (Watkins) Williamson.
Gary was a graduate of Kansas State University, and worked for 31 years as a Civilian Employee of the United States Army Tank Automotive and Armament Command in Warren. He was interested in the outdoors, agriculture and history.
On October 20, 1973, in Manhattan, Kansas he was united in marriage to the former Rosalie A. Robinson. She survives of their home in Memphis. He is also survived by his mother, Margaret Williamson of San Diego, CA. his mother-in-law: Catherine E. Robinson of Manhattan, KS, brother-in-law, Ron Robinson and his wife Verna of Manhattan, KS and his sister-in-law: Rose Marie Ellington and her husband D.L. “Duke” of Denver, Colorado.
Gary was preceded in death by his father in 1965.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 1, 2007, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Reverend Larry Fry officiating. Interment will follow in the Sunrise Cemetery.
Friends may call anytime Wednesday evening and Thursday morning at the funeral home. The family will receive friends Thursday morning from 10:00 a.m.until service time at the funeral home.
A memorial has been established for the Blue Water Hospice. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502
T.J. “Butch” Berber
T.J. “Butch” Berber, age 82, of Manhattan, died January 30, 2007, at Rio Grande Regional Hospital, in McAllen, Texas.
He was born July 16, 1924, in Beeler, Kansas, the son of Antonio and Gregoria (Galvan) Berber, and had been a Manhattan resident for 47 years.
T.J. received his bachelors and masters from Kansas State University and worked on his PhD at Kansas University.
He served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II as a Captain.
He was Superintendent of Schools in Delphos, Kansas. He taught and coached at other high schools. He later became an Insurance Adjuster for Farmers Alliance for more than 30 years. He was also the Commissioner for the Blue Valley League for many years. T.J. is well known for officiating high school football, basketball and volleyball games. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to him from the Northeast Kansas Officials Association in 2004.
T.J. was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and had served as an Elder and Deacon. He was also a member of Stagg Hill Golf Course, American Legion Post # 17 and the Kansas Claims Association. He was a former member of the Manhattan Lions Club.
On August 5, 1951, at the Danforth Chapel at Kansas State University he was married to the former Naomi J. Algott. Mrs. Berber survives of the home. Additional survivors include two daughters: Mary Jo Nelson and her husband David of Manhattan, and Treva S. Berber and her husband Scott A. Carmitchel, Sr. of Overland Park, KS; three grandchildren: Kinzie Jo Zimmerman, Joshua Nelson and Kelli Trecek; and three sisters: Cleo Cervantez and Rovina Cervantez both of Tremonton, Utah, and Carmen Sombrano of Garden City, KS.
T.J. was preceded in death by one son, T.J. Berber, Jr, and two sisters: Andra Strong and Georgina Rios.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church with Reverend R. Cam McConnell officiating. Interment will follow in Sunrise Cemetery.
The family of Mr. Berber will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:30 P.M. Friday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research or the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Anna B. Petty
Anna B. Petty, age 86, of Manhattan, died Thursday, February 1, 2007, at the Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan.
She was born on July 4, 1920, in Emden, Missouri, the daughter of William S. and Dixie L. (Smith) Hockaday. She had been a Manhattan resident since 1962, where she was a homemaker.
Mrs. Petty was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Manhattan. She especially enjoyed spending time with children and operated a childcare in her home for many years. She also enjoyed fishing, gardening, flowers and reading.
On June 29, 1957, in Shelbyville, Missouri, she was united in marriage to Samuel T. Petty. He survives of the home. Also surviving is one daughter: Sharon Jensen of Manhattan and five grandchildren: James Roger McKenzie, Lorie Ann Miller and her husband Douglas, Angela Perez and her husband John, Paula Davis and her husband Jeff and Mary Greco and her husband Angelo. Twelve great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild also survive.
Mrs. Petty was preceded in death by her parents, one son, James P. Wood, two brothers, Fred and Henry Hockaday and one sister, Evelyn Hockaday.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 5, 2007, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Reverend Jim Reed officiating. Interment will follow in the Sunrise Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.
A memorial has been established for the Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Ruth Evelyn (Schriber) Milbourn
Ruth Evelyn (Schriber) Milbourn, 89, Manhattan, died Feb. 2 at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community Ptacek House from complications of diabetes. Her two sons and daughters-in-law were at her bedside. She had lived in Manhattan 58 years.
Ruth was born Jan. 24, 1918 in Chattanooga, Tenn., to Richard Thomas and Gertrude Florence Young Schriber. The following year the family moved to El Dorado, Kan., and eventually to Wichita where Ruth graduated from Wichita North High School in 1936. In 1937 as a student at Wichita University she was named “Belle of the Ball”. She was a member of Alpha Tau Sigma and Lambda Tau Delta sororities. In 1939, she graduated from the Wichita Business Preparatory School. After graduation, she worked for Continental Air Lines and Braniff Airways in their Wichita ticket offices.
On May 10, 1945, Ruth married Max Wesley Milbourn at First Presbyterian Church, Wichita. They lived in Wichita until 1949 when Max became assistant to the president at Kansas State University, and they moved to Manhattan. She was a member of the K-State Social Club and First Presbyterian Church.
Max preceded her in death in 2003. She is survived by her son Tom and his wife Carolyn of Green Bay, Wis., and by son Wes and his wife Sandy of Oklahoma City. Also surviving are seven grandchildren: Tamara of Boulder, Colo.; Tonya and her husband Ken DoRosario of Newton, Mass., Todd of Sacramento, Calif., Tad of San Francisco, Calif., Jennifer Schreiner and her husband Adam of Jenks, Okla, Elisa of Stillwater, Okla. and Grant of Stillwater, Okla. who all miss their Grandmom Ruth very much.
The family is particularly grateful for the loving, compassionate and professional care Ruth received over the past three years from the Ptacek House and Miller Place nursing staffs.
The family will receive friends 6:30-8 p.m., Monday, Feb. 5 at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel, Manhattan. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6 at First Presbyterian Church, Manhattan, with the Reverend R. Cam McConnell officiating. A graveside service will be at White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Wichita, at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, with The Reverend Dr. Cathy Northrup officiating.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Mercy Regional Health Center Diabetes Education Center or the Riley County Seniors’ Service Center. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan.
Dr. Ernest L. Mader
Dr. Ernest L. Mader, age 95, of Manhattan, died Monday morning, February 5, 2007, at the Mercy Regional Health Center.
He was born on January 20, 1912, in Peaster, Texas, the son of John C. and Cora (Pate) Mader.
Dr. Mader received both his BS and MS degrees from Oklahoma State University and his PhD degree from the University of Nebraska. He was a Professor of Agronomy at Kansas State University from 1948 until his retirement in 1982. Prior to his employment at Kansas State, Ernest taught for three years at Panhandle State University and for seven years at Texas Tech in Lubbock. He spent two years teaching at Sri Venkatiswara Agricultural College located in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh Province, India and an additional two years at Central Luzon University in the Philippines where he also developed farming systems for farmers there. In addition to his teaching and research, he served as a consultant to Indonesia in Java, Sumatra, Celebes, Sulawesi and in Africa in Cameroon and Uganda on short term assignments.
Dr. Mader held numerous professional memberships. They included Gamma Sigma Delta, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, American Society of Range Management, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Soybean Association, and the Phi Sigma Biological Society. In 1977, he was honored by being named Honorary Farmer of the Year, by the F.F.A.
Dr. Mader was a longtime and very active member of the First United Methodist Church. He also was a longtime member of the Manhattan Kiwanis Club where he served as Club President in 1980-81. He held numerous offices within Kiwanis and served on various committees.
On May 17, 1937, in Goodwell, Oklahoma, he was united in marriage to the former Betty V. Nelson. She preceded him in death on February 10, 2003. He was also preceded in death by one daughter Reva Lee Mader in infancy, by three brothers, Claude, Delbert, and John Mader, and by one sister, Imogene Anderson.
He is survived by two daughters, Billie Jean Michaud of Aloha, Oregon and Barbara Lea Conner of Kokomo, Indiana. Six grandchildren, two step grandchildren, six great grandchildren and one step great grandchild.
Dr. Mader bequeathed his body to the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Memorial services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church with Reverend Jim Reed officiating.
A memorial has been established with the Kansas State University Foundation for the Mader Scholarship Fund. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Sam Fattaey
An angel has taken flight but he will never be forgotten, he shall remain forever in our hearts. Sam Fattaey, was born August 10, 1988 in Manhattan, and became a dear son, brother, and friend to all. On February 6, 2007 Sam received his wings and took off for heaven.
Sam was preparing to graduate from Manhattan High School in May and move on to college. While at MHS, he was a past member of the Thespians and an honorary member of Heritage Panel. Sam enjoyed life and several things in particular: history, cooking, anything electronic including computers, as well as music, singing and dancing. He also enjoyed playing basketball and soccer. Sam was known by all to always have a smile on his face and a positive attitude that will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his loving family: his parents Abe and Fay Fattaey, and his sister Sara Fattaey, all of Manhattan.
The Fattaey family will receive friends Sunday, February 11, 2007 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.
The funeral service will be Monday, February 12, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Ben Duerfeldt officiating at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. Following the service, intermenty will take place at Sunrise Cemetery.
A memorial has been established in his name, the Sam Fattaey Memorial Fund to provide a scholarship fund and Manhattan High School. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Our thoughts and memories of Sam remind us that his amazing spirit remains with us always, because we know he was an angel on Earth.
Giovanna T. Cook
Giovanna T. Cook, 73, passed away on Thursday February 8, 2007 at the Mercy Regional Health Center, Manhattan, Kansas.
She was born on July 31, 1933 in Rome, Italy, the daughter of Francesco and Teresa (Florio) Pironti.
On April 1, 1955 in St. Peters Cathedral in Rome she was united in marriage to Robert R. Cook. He survives of the home.
As a serviceman’s wife, she accompanied him on numerous assignments throughout Europe and the United States. Giovanna was an Italian teacher at Kansas State University and a member of Seven Dolors Catholic Church. She received her Bachelors and Masters in French and her Masters degree in English at Kansas State University and in Greek and Latin at the University of Kansas. Giovanna loved to travel, gardening and especially spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by one daughter, Marika F. Thurman of Topeka, KS; three sons, Robert R. Cook of Dallas, TX, Roland D. Cook of Manhattan, KS and Randolph E. Cook of Manhattan, KS; one sister: Franca Lally of New York City, NY; one brother, Francesco Pironti, Italy; 4 grandchildren, Trenton Robert Cook, Darcie Ann Cook, Camille S. Lopez and Vanessa A. Eichorn and many nieces nephews and friends.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday February 13, 2007 at the Seven Dolors Catholic Church with Father Joseph S. Popelka. Inurnment will be at a later date in the Ionia Cemetery, Ionia, Kansas with Rev. Dan Daniels officiating.
There will be no visitation, the body was cremated.
Memorial contributions may be made to Achalasia Research in care of Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home 1616 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Paul Eugene McCarthy
Paul Eugene McCarthy, Ph.D., age 85, of Manhattan, died Friday, February 9, 2007 at the Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka.
He was born on April 18, 1921 in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Frank Eugene and Vera Glee (Newell) McCarthy.
Mr. McCarthy served in the United States Army Signal Corps during World War II as a Second Lieutenant. He was stationed in the Philippines and South Pacific.
Mr. McCarthy graduated from North High School in Des Moines and received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa and his Ph.D. in American Literature from the University of Texas. He was an American Literature Professor/Melville scholar and had taught at Iowa State University, University of Texas, University of Idaho, University of North Dakota, and University of Alabama, prior to joining the faculty at Kansas State University in 1967. He retired from Kansas State in 1991.
Mr. McCarthy held professional memberships in the Publication of Modern Language Association, American Association of University Professors, and The Melville Society. He was the author of two books: John Steinbeck and The Twisted Mind: Madness in Herman Melville’s Fiction and a contributor of numerous articles to academic journals, including the Emerson Society Quarterly. He was currently working on an autobiography titled Let Bygones, Be Bygones.
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Retired Officers Association, the NAACP, the ACLU, and Common Cause.
Mr. McCarthy enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading, book collecting, photography, keeping fit, music, politics, archeology, anthropology, study of the mind, animals, and sports -- especially K-State Wildcats and Iowa Hawkeyes, and had a wonderful sense of humor.
He married Phyllis E. Niemann on August 29, 1948, at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Nortonville, Kansas. Mrs. McCarthy survives of the home. Additional survivors include five children: Patricia Ann McCarthy Metzler and her husband Steven of Lawrence, Kansas; Susan Elaine McCarthy and her husband Bill James of Boston, Massachusetts, formerly of Lawrence, Kansas; James Michael McCarthy and his wife Darla of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Thomas Eugene McCarthy and his wife Laurel of Dundee, Iowa; and Marybeth McCarthy Cwycyshyn and her husband David of Lake Orion, Michigan; four siblings: Molly Claire McCarthy of Kapolei, Hawaii; Michael McCarthy of Las Vegas, Nevada; Virginia Hildreth of Cumming, Iowa; and Jack Daily of Des Moines, Iowa; two sisters-in-law Marjorie Carver and her husband Jerry of Topeka, Kansas and Ruth Niemann of Rushville, Missouri; and 14 grandchildren: Christopher,Scott, Paul, and Peter Metzler; Rachel McCarthy James, Isaac, and Reuben James; Natalie and John McCarthy, Adele, and Nathaniel McCarthy; and Anne, Nicholas, and Bryan Cwycyshyn.
He was preceded in death by his parents, step-parents, and four brothers and sisters: Terrance McCarthy, Max Fogel, Norma Damiani, and Patrick McCarthy.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, February 14, 2007, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Reverend Michael Ide officiating. Interment will follow in Sunrise Cemetery with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hale Library at Kansas State University, the Des Moines (Iowa) Public Library, or the local library of your choice. The Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502, is handling arrangements.
Roger F. Shields
Roger F. Shields, age 85, of Manhattan, died February 9, 2007, at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan.
He was born February 1, 1922, in Ralston, Oklahoma, the son of Roger Francis and Bernice (Eichhorn) Shields. He grew up in Osage County, Oklahoma, and had been a longtime Arkansas City and Newton resident prior to moving to Manhattan in 1995.
Mr. Shields attended Oklahoma A&M in the ROTC program for two years prior to enlisting in the United States Army Air Corp. He served as a Staff Sergeant during World War II from June 9, 1942 to his Honorable Discharge on November 2, 1945. He had received the American Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the Victory Medal.
He worked for the Santa Fe Railroad as the Assistant Chief Dispatcher in Kansas and Oklahoma.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Arkansas City. He had served in the executive board of the Chisholm Trail Credit Union, school board member of the St. Mary Catholic School in Newton, and the National Barbershop Quartet Association. He was a hospice volunteer for many years and enjoyed bicycling and playing racquetball.
In 1946, in Winfield, Kansas, he was married to the former Marge Lee Colvin. She preceded him in death on June 9, 1999. He was also preceded in death by one son, Christopher Kelly Shields; one sister, Gladys Welker, and by one son-in-law, Joe Blatchford.
Survivors include four children: Mike Shields and his wife Aurora of Tecumseh, KS, Steve Shields and his wife Sally of Manhattan, Marsha Blatchford of Arkansas City, KS, and Sally Boone and her husband Bill of Houston, TX; seven grandchildren: Debbie Masterson, Diana Holtke, Darci Crow, Denise White, Hannah Shields, Ben shields and Elisa Shields; and 8 great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, Feb. 17th, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Arkansas City, KS, with Father Charles Seiwert as celebrant. Graveside services with military honors will be held at 3:30 P.M. Saturday at the Riverside Cemetery in Ralston, Oklahoma.
A Rosary Service will be held at 7:00 P.M. Friday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Arkansas City.
Online condolences may be left for the family through the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home website by clicking on "Send Condolences" on this page.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Meadowlark Hills Good Samaritan Fund. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
David Eli Grover
David Eli Grover, age 90, a longtime Manhattan resident, died February 13, 2007, at the Holmesdale Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
He was born February 20, 1916, in Sharon Springs, Kansas, the son of Eli David and Edith (Scott) Grover.
Mr. Grover served in the United States Army for 25 years as an E-5, retiring in 1965. He then worked Federal Civil Service as a meat cutter at Fort Riley.
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1786 and the American Federation of Government Employees.
David loved football, baseball, dancing, and listening to music.
Survivors include his daughter R. Rachel Grover of Kansas City, Missouri.
Graveside services with military honors will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday at the Fort Riley Cemetery with Chaplain (MAJ) David K. Shurtleff officiating. Family and friends are invited to meet at 1:20 P.M. Friday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home to form a procession to the cemetery.
The Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502, is handling arrangements.
Robert E. Payne
Robert E. Payne, age 80, of Manhattan, died February 14, 2007, at his residence.
He was born June 5, 1926, in Jackson County, Kansas, the son of William and Cecelia M. (Bottom) Payne. He graduated from Manhattan High School with the class of 1944.
Mr. Payne served in the United States Navy during World War II.
He worked for the US Postal Service for 37 years, retiring in 1981.
Mr. Payne was a member of Seven Dolors Catholic Church, Elks Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1786, and the American Legion Post 17.
He enjoyed traveling, reading, genealogy and spending time with his family.
On September 5, 1953, in Marysville, Kansas, he was married to the former Kathleen Cawley. Mrs. Payne survives of the home. Additional survivors include six children: Robert Payne and his wife Amy of Corpus Christi, TX, Lisa Frey and her husband Russell of Garden City, KS, Janet Payne-Brown and her husband Donald of Bethlehem, PA, Kevin Payne and his wife Sheila of Cheney, WA, Valerie Wickstrum and her husband Garen of Harrisonville, MO, and Mary Womiche and her husband Cliff of Kansas City, MO; 16 grandchildren: Linnzie, Erin, Joseph and Katie Payne, Amber, Macie, and Walker Frey, Catie Brown, Sarah Blum, Shayla and Anna Payne, Sarah and Matthew Wickstrum, Connor, Brandon and Rachel Womiche; and one great-grandson, Braxton Frey.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by two brothers: Jerry Bryan and William Junior Payne.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday, February 19th, at Seven Dolors Catholic Church with Father Joseph S. Popelka as celebrant. The family will receive friends following the service. Private family inurnment will be at a later date in Sunrise Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Homecare & Hospice, Inc, Manhattan Public Library or Seven Dolors Catholic Church. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
