Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Ann Lee
Ann Lee, age 76, a longtime resident of Cuba, New York, died March 5, 2007, at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan, KS.
She was born on January 15, 1931, in Braymer, Missouri, the daughter of Willie Jay and Mary (Cox) Simkins. She had been a Manhattan resident for the past 2 ½ years.
While living in New York she worked in home health care in private homes and also co-owned and operated the Corner Kitchen and Variety Store for many years.
Mrs. Lee was a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary both in Cuba, NY. She enjoyed bingo, crocheting and helping people. She also was a babysitter and was known as “Grandma Ann” to many in Cuba.
In 1967 she was united in marriage to Doug Lee in Cuba, New York. He preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by two sisters: Helen North and Genevieve Costigan and by three brothers: Gene, Donald and Ivan Simkins.
Mrs. Lee is survived by six children: John Richard Pounds and his wife Lorraine of Olean, NY, Joe McDermott and his wife Carolyn of Gastonia, NC, Reta McDermott and her husband Dave Manning of Manhattan, KS, Scott McDermott and his wife Betty of Rock Hill, SC, Georgi Payne and her husband Denny of Murfreesboro, TN and Terri McGee and her husband Rick of Spring Hill, FL. Four sisters: Carol Blenn of Westmoreland, KS, Peggy Kuehl of Topeka, KS, June Richmond of Fort Worth, TX, Patsy Calhoun of Silver Lake, KS and one brother: Charles Simkins of Bonner Springs, KS. 16 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren also survive.
Funeral services will be held 12:00 (noon) Thursday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Pastor Denny Payne officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. Thursday until the service time at the funeral home.
Additional services will be held at the McIntosh Funeral Home in Cuba, New York with intermenty in the Hardy’s Corner Cemetery.
On-line condolences for the family may be left by clicking on "Send Condolences" on this page.
Memorials have been established for Sunflower CASA and for the American Diabetes Association. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Ralph Lloyd Sooby
Ralph Lloyd Sooby, age 78 of Manhattan, died Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at the St. Joseph Village.
He was born on April 25, 1928 in Larned, KS, the son of Thomas William and Mariam Maefield (Webb) Sooby.
On June 4, 1952 in Marktredwitz, Germany, he was united in marriage to Lieselotte Meyer. She survives of the home.
After retiring from the U.S. Army, Ralph was a maintenance worker for the local Dillons stores.
He was a member of Manhattan Masonic Lodge #16, the Scottish Rite of Columbus, GA and Consistary of Salina.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Kathy Jean Sooby Kells of Conway, AR and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers and five sisters.
A Masonic graveside service with military honors will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 9, 2007 at the Fort Riley Cemetery. A procession to the cemetery will leave at 1:30 p.m. Friday from the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.
A memorial has been established for the Shriners Children Hospital. Memorial contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Opal V. Madill
Opal V. Madill, age 85, of Manhattan, died March 12, 2007, at the St. Joseph Village in Manhattan.
She was born October 8, 1921, in Chanute, Kansas, the daughter of Scott Sanford and Ethel Aola (Dannelley) Bartlett.
On October 26, 1941, at the First Baptist Church in Chanute, KS, she was married to George W. Madill. He preceded her in death on March 3, 2003.
Mrs. Madill worked for the H & H Real Estate Agency in Chanute. She was an active member of the Colfax Baptist Church west of Chanute and a leader in the Neosho Valley Busy Bees 4-H Club.
She and Mr. Madill farmed northwest of Chanute before moving into Chanute in 1960. In 1973 they moved to Topeka when Mr. Madill was transferred to the Santa Fe General Offices where he retired in 1980 after 38 years of service. After George’s retirement they stayed in Topeka, and were active members of the First Baptist Church. With the move to Topeka, Opal “retired” from real estate sales and began woodcarving. She taught deep relief wood carving in her home and at seminars and workshops in Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas and Missouri. She was a member of the Kaw Valley Woodcarvers Association. In January of 1999, they moved to Manhattan for health reasons and were members of College Heights Baptist Church.
In addition to being preceded in death by her husband George, she was preceded in death by two brothers: Kenneth and Paul Everett Bartlett; and three sisters: Ella Jepsen, Stella Howell and Mildred Steinert.
Survivors include two children: Don Madill and his wife Mary-Theresa of Leavenworth, KS, and Virginia Mixer and her husband John of Manhattan; three granddaughters: Miriam Madill, Jennifer (Mixer) Benno, and Angela Madill; one great-grandson, Joseph Allan Benno; and one brother, Harold Bartlett of San Diego, CA.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday at the Colfax Baptist Church west of Chanute, Kansas, with Pastors Tim Gotchey and Roy Varner officiating. Interment will follow in Neosho County Memorial Park in Chanute.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 until service time Friday at the Colfax Baptist Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Colfax Baptist Church. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Elizabeth (Cummings) Scott
Elizabeth (Cummings) Scott, age 89, a Manhattan resident for the past 10 years, died March 24, 2007, at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan.
She was born January 9, 1918, in High Point, North Carolina, the daughter of Bayard Scales and Annie (Walker) Cummings. She graduated from UNC-Greensboro with a Masters Degree in business education.
Mrs. Scott was an accountant and worked for Building Supply and Tile Company.
She was a charter member of Starmount Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, and taught the Women’s Bible Study.
She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed crocheting.
On May 13, 1944, in High Point, North Carolina, she was married to Samuel Davies Scott, Jr. They lived their whole life in Greensboro, N.C., until moving to Manhattan in 1997. He preceded her in death on October 15, 1997. She was also preceded in death by one daughter, Betty Toomes; a daughter-in-law, Linda Scott; a sister, Dorothy Walker Cummings; and her parents.
Survivors include two children: Nancy and her husband Gary Young of Manhattan, and Samuel Davies Scott III and his wife Carolyn of Louisville, Kentucky; six grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and two step great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at a later date in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace Baptist Church, Manhattan, KS. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Gevene “Jeri” K. Clinton
Gevene “Jeri” K. Clinton, 84, formerly of West Los Angeles, California passed away March 20th at the St. Joseph Village in Manhattan, Kansas. She was born on April 21, 1922 in Greenleaf, Kansas, the daughter of Henry “Dutch” and Alwena Lena Hoerman Kappelman. She graduated from Greenleaf High School in 1940 and moved to Hutchinson where she graduated from business school.
She met her Husband William “Bill” Clinton while he was stationed in Hutchinson serving in the United States Navy. They were married in Marysville, Kansas on November 19th, 1946. After marrying, the couple moved to West Los Angeles where they owned and operated several businesses. Gevene was a secretary at Howard Hughes Aircraft and later worked as a department manager for McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company. After retiring from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company in 1974, she continued to live in West Los Angeles enjoying gardening, walking her dog by the ocean, needlework, quilting, shopping and having coffee with friends at the Brentwood Country Mart. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica.
Gevene was a caregiver for family members for most of her retired years. In 1980’s Gevene moved to Pahrump, Nevada to care for her husband until he passed away in 1995. She then spent her time living between Salina, KS with her sister, Naomi Kretz and her home in West Los Angeles. In 2004, Gevene moved to St. Joseph Village where she enjoyed playing Bingo and spending time with her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, twin brothers who died at childbirth, and her husband Bill Clinton. Survivors include her niece, Gayle Winter and husband, TJ Winter of Manhattan, KS; her nephew Gary Kretz of Dallas, TX; great nieces and nephews, Michelle Oetting-Sokolov of Davis, CA, Sierra Winter of Manhattan, KS, John-Michael Kretz of Dallas, TX, Kasey, Gary and Jack Kretz of Houston, TX, and two great- great nephews.
A memorial Service will be held on Monday, March 26th at 2:30 p.m. in the chapel at the St. Joseph Village in Manhattan, KS.
Memorials have been established for the Community Health Ministry in Wamego, Shepherds Crossing in Manhattan, and Home Care and Hospice of Manhattan. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Faye Maxine (Travis) Gish
Faye Maxine (Travis) Gish passed away on March 21, 2007, while residing with her daughter, Linda Frazier, in Columbia, Missouri.BornMay 4, 1914 in Sharon, Oklahoma, Faye was the daughter of Novella (Johnston) Travis and Luther Frank Travis. She met her husband, Clarence L. Gish, of Abilene, Kansas while she was attending Marymount Women’s College in Salina, Kansas and they were married on Sept. 9, 1933. Clarence and Faye were long time residents of the Manhattan, Kansas area while he managed the KSU poultry farm, taught at KSU and operated their family poultry farm east of Manhattan. After retiring in Manhattan, they traveled extensively including Russia, Israel, New Zealand, Italy, Scotland, England, Finland and Alaska.
Faye graduated from KSU with a BS in 1956 and an MA in 1963. Beginning in 1948, she taught grade school in St George, Kansas; Northview in Manhattan, Kansas and was Principal of Green Valley School in Pottawatomie County, Kansas. Faye served in many organizations including: Kansas Teachers Association Vice President; charter adult leader for the Bonfire 4-H Club; First Methodist Church Adult Sunday School leader and the San Gabriel’s Writers League. She and Clarence were instrumental in starting the Manhattan Meals-On-Wheels program and Faye successfully worked with Kansas legislature representatives to revise state laws concerning death benefits for spouses. Faye was skilled in her hobbies of quilting, artist, pianist and writer. She treasured and thoroughly enjoyed her many friends.
Faye and Clarence had three children, all-surviving: Kay Beatty of Tucson, Arizona; Don Gish of Round Rock, Texas; and Linda Frazier of Columbia, Missouri. Also surviving are: sister, Doris Stuteville, Kansas City, Missouri; sister, Marie Kohls, Woodland, California; 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Faye was pre-deceased by her husband, Clarence, 1988; her sister, Rosemary Fischer, 1982 and her brother, Clovis Travis, 2005.
Friends are invited to join the family for a service in her memory at the Blue Valley Memorial United Methodist Church, 835 Church Ave., Manhattan, KS at 1:00 pm on Saturday, March 31, 2007, with Reverend Wayne Castle officiating. Thereafter, a service for intermenty beside her husband will be held in the Abilene City Cemetery, Abilene, KS.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Faye’s memory to: Meals-On-Wheels, Riley County Senior Service Center, 412 Leavenworth Street, Manhattan, KS 66502. The Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502, is handling arrangements.
Jo Tranter
Because she disliked her given first name, she was known as “Jo” to most of the people who were acquainted with her (Bobbie to her childhood friends). She was a native of Manhattan, having been born to Walter Richmond and Ilene Kreiser Richmond on Aug 23, 1925 in a small house in the 600 block of Thurston Street. She was 81 years old.
She was reared by her maternal grandparents and was so well known for her dancing ability that she assisted Fran Schneider (a local dance instructor) with his classes while still in her teens. She graduated from Manhattan High School and attended Kansas State University.
In her late teens, at the beginning of World War II, she met Clifford A Tranter from New Jersey, who was stationed at nearby Fort Riley, Kansas where he was serving in the last horse mounted cavalry troop of the U S Armed Forces. Their mutual interest in horses was one of the factors that brought them together. Another thing that brought “Jo” and “Kip” together was their size. Jo was 4 ft. 8 in. and Kip was just barely 5 ft. They married just prior to her 20th birthday on July 14, 1944 in Trenton, New Jersey.
After the war, the Tranters settled in Manhattan and soon they were blessed with three children. Throughout her life, Jo participated in many different aspects of the Manhattan community. In her younger years, she assisted Frank Anneberg in presenting several musical plays to the community prior to the formation of the Manhattan Arts Council.
Both of the Tranters were active for a time as deacons in their chosen church, the First Presbyterian on Leavenworth. She was a member of the Lady Elk’s Club during its’ heyday when the club enjoyed a tremendous surge in membership that financed the building of the very large extension for the lodge at 5th and Houston (now known as the Houston Street Ballroom). She was also a member of the V F W Auxiliary and Retired Seniors Volunteer program as well as being a former member of Eastern Star (an arm of the regional chapter of Masonry).
Through the years Jo often supplemented the family finances by working outside the home. At various times she was an Avon Representative, a waitress, and most frequently a sales clerk at several different retail stores, including J C Penney, Skagg’s Drugs, The Added Touch, and Kitchen’s Plus. Her sales skills were legendary among her peers.
Jo lost Kip to heart disease after 37 years of marriage on March 15, 1981. She never found another who could capture her heart the way he had and she remained unmarried until her death.
She left to join the love of her life on March 24, 2007, leaving behind her elder sister, Joy Jeanne Garth and her husband D. T. of Muleshoe, TX; her three children, Jeanne K Elliott of Manhattan, KS; Gerald A (Jerry) Tranter of River Ridge, LA; Jolene M Scofield of McHenry, MD; her four grandchildren, Michael Paph and his wife Sonya of Manhattan, KS; Christina (Tina) Brown and her husband Kevin of Mansfield, TX; Edward (E J ) Scofield of Columbia, MD; William (Bill) Scofield and his wife Maria of Westhampton Beach, NY; and four great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 30, 2007 at the Yougensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Reverend Ben Duerfeldt officiating. Cremation will follow the services with inturnment at a later date in Sunset Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p. m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Manhattan Public Library for large print books. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Ian Arthur Atchison
Ian Arthur Atchison, age 12, of Manhattan, died March 18, 2007, at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.
He was born November 10, 1994, in Manhattan, the son of David T. Atchison and Martha A. Stevens.
Ian was an honor roll student in the sixth grade at Theodore-Roosevelt Elementary School.
Ian loved life. He was a member of the Flint Hills Soccer Club and played on the AC Perugia team, where he was named MVP forward in 2005 and 2006, and also played on several Parks & Rec. soccer, basketball, and baseball teams, including the 2006 City Champion Red Sox. He loved movies and reading and had wide and varied interests. He understood politics, and had an understanding of how the world works that was far beyond his age. Above all, he loved fishing, especially at Rocky Ford; fireworks, and soccer. He was looking forward to hunting, morel mushroom season, and the annual family trip to New Hampshire, where he hunted for crabs in the Atlantic and fished for brook trout. His plans for his life included Bike Across Kansas, playing professional soccer, going to Italy, and attending college. He had a special feel for the downtrodden and those with special needs, and often railed against prejudice and injustice. It was Ian’s desire to be an organ donor, and in this his family takes comfort and finds joy. He will be sadly missed.
Survivors include his parents of Manhattan; one sister, Meg Atchison of the home; grandparents: Betty Stevens of Lyndeboro, NH, and Fred and Rita Atchison of Keats; six aunts and uncles: Betsy Perry, Brad Atchison and his wife Nicole, Bob Atchison and his wife Melissa, Mark Atchison and his wife Kirsten, Phoebe Rinkel and her husband Steve, and Fred Atchison and his wife Sue; and eleven cousins: Amanda, Emily, Hannah, Tara, Cher, Paul, Dora, Max, Garth, Nate and Wyeth.
Funeral services will be held at 9:30 A.M. Saturday, March 31st, at the First United Methodist Church with Reverend Ben Duerfeldt officiating. The casket will be closed. Interment will follow in Ashland Cemetery.
The family of Ian will receive friends from 7:00 until 9:00 P.M. Friday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home. The casket will be open.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ian Atchison Memorial Fund established at the K-State Federal Credit Union, 2600 Anderson Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502. The Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502, is handling arrangements.
Thomas D. Stone
Thomas D. Stone of Yarmouthport, Mass., died on March 21, 2007 at the age of 69 years.
He was born in Boston, Mass., on September 11, 1937. Mr. Stone was a Security Guard and a veteran of the United States Navy.
Mr. Stone is survived by his wife Sharon A. (Cody) Stone, Yarmouthport, MA.; daughter: Darla Aileen Stone, Bucksport, ME; two sisters: Barbara Alessi, Nahant, MA and Aileen Sorensen, Grants Pass, OR; sister-in-law Rada Elegant and her daughter Haley, New York; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Local Funeral Services will be at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday March 29, 2007 at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home 1616 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan, Kansas 66502 with Rev. Larry Fry officiating. Burial will be in the Ashland Cemetery.
There will be no formal visitation.
Memorial contributions may be made to the South Yarmouth United Methodist Church, 322 Old Main St., South Yarmouth, MA 02664 or to the donor’s choice in care of the funeral home.
Wava Wanda Knisley
Wava Wanda Knisley, age 80 of Manhattan, died Sunday, March 25, 2007 at the St. Joseph Village in Manhattan.
She was born on September 7, 1926 in Bellefontaine, OH. She was adopted by Miles and Cecile (Mowery) Hook.
On March 21, 1945 in La Jolla, CA, she was united in marriage to Roy E. Knisley. He preceded her in death on May 26, 1983.
Wava was a homemaker.
She is survived by a daughter, Peggie Linke and her husband Mike of Manhattan, KS; a son, Johnny Knisley and his wife Kathie of Sun City West, AZ; five grandchildren, Michael, Greg, Eric, Kristen and Kevin and four great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by a son, Lonnie Knisley.
Cremation is planned with burial to be in the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, AZ.
A memorial has been established for the American Cancer Society. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Lois M. Padgett
Lois M. Padgett, age 76, of Manhattan, died April 1, 2007, at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan.
She was born February 2, 1931, in Richmond, Michigan, the daughter of Clifford and Sadie Athey (Hicks) Gould.
Mrs. Padgett was a cook at several fraternities.
She was a member of the Eagles. Lois loved to cook, play games, travel and she especially loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.
On February 7, 1950, in Wamego, Kansas, she was married to Fred Padgett. He preceded her in death on March 29, 1999. She was also preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include four children: Cindy Bryan and her husband Daryold of Northglenn, CO, Sandy Enoch and her husband Steve of Kansas City, Kansas, Gay Weisbender and her husband Tim of Manhattan, and Penny Corbin and her husband John of Centennial, CO; one sister, Kathy Quinland of Michigan; three brothers: Dick Athey of Michigan, Wesley Athey of TX, and Alvin Athey of Florida; eight grandchildren: Christy Monson, Troy Bryan, Cody Robb, Tricia, Timothy and Tera Weisbender, and Derrick and Danielle Corbin; and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Thursday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Reverend Moon-Hee Chung officiating. Cremation will follow the services.
The family of Mrs. Padgett will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502.
Margaret Casey
Margaret Casey, age 70, of Manhattan, died Monday evening, April 2, 2007, at the Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan.
She was born on January 24, 1937, in Manhattan, Kansas, the daughter of Emmett G. and Gavina (Escobar) Silva. Mrs. Casey spent most of her lifetime in Manhattan where she was a 1955 graduate of Msgr. Luckey High School. She lived in Wamego, Kansas from 1979 until 1988 when she returned to Manhattan.
Mrs. Casey was a homemaker. She also was employed in custodial services at Kansas State University for nine years prior to her retirement in 2001.
Mrs. Casey was a member of Seven Dolors Catholic Church and was a volunteer for the Seven Dolors Food Pantry. She loved spending time with family and friends and especially enjoyed her grandchildren and going to their activities. She always put other people first and enjoyed helping others.
On April 7, 1956, at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Manhattan, Kansas, she was united in marriage to Kenneth K. “Ken” Casey and he survives of their home. Also surviving are five children: Bill Casey of Kansas City, KS, Sherri Helzer and her husband Jeffrey of Manhattan, Ron Casey and his companion Glenda Holmes of Manhattan, Sandy Steck of McFarland, KS and Nancy Burk and her husband Mike of Newburgh, IN. She is also survived by three sisters: Carmen “Mickey” Amaro of Manhattan, Emma Thompson of Naples, NY and Ruby Silva of Manhattan; five brothers: Ray Silva of Manhattan, Walden Silva of Denver, CO, David Silva of Orange, TX, Frank Silva of Alma, KS and Leonard Delgado of Manhattan; eight grandchildren: Brandy Sanders, Anthony Casey, Stephanie Steck, Kristi Steck, Dallas Helzer, Arron LaClair, Sarah Burk and Annie Burk and two great-grandchildren: Benjamin Casey and Raevyn Sanders.
Mrs. Casey was preceded in death by her parents and by one son, Kenneth K. Casey, Jr. who died at birth.
The rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. Thursday evening at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with a visitation to follow until 7:30 p.m.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel with Father Richard Weixelman and Father Joseph Popelka officiating. Cremation will follow with private inurnment at a later date in the Sunrise Cemetery.
A memorial has been established for the American Diabetes Association. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
