Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Zola M. Dusher
WICHITA - Zola Mae Dusher, 86, of Wichita, formerly of Altamont, died Wednesday, May 26, 2004, at Via Christi Regional Medical Center in Wichita.
She was born March 10, 1918, in Center Ridge, Ark., to John and Charity (Howard) Williams.
She married Marvin Williams in 1936. They had a daughter, Sue West of Wichita.
She married Bernard Dusher of Lewis on July 3, 1944. They had a son, Don Dusher of Altamont, and a daughter, Debbie Criminger of Killeen, Texas.
She was a member of the Greenwich Road Church of Christ in Wichita. She had lived in Baltimore; Belton, Texas; Little Rock, Ark.; and Austria during her husband's time in service.
She lived a number of years in Wellington, Ark. After her husband's death she lived in Altamont; Copperas Cove, Texas; and Wichita.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Bernard Dusher, and one brother, Conover Lee Williams.
Other survivors include six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Gladys McCoy of Wellington.
The service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Bath Funeral Home Chapel in Altamont with Grant Goodvin officiating. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Altamont. Friends may call after 10:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to American Heart Association may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, Box 325, Altamont, 67330.
Conrad M. Downing
WICHITA - Conrad M. Downing, 68, of Wichita died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004. He was born in Parsons.
Survivors include his wife, Karen (Oard) Downing of the home; a son, Scott Downing of Topeka; a daughter, Nancy Tuuling of Guyton, Ga.; a stepson, Todd Murphy of Wichita; a stepdaughter, Melissa Murphy of Wichita; seven grandchildren; and a sister, V. June Downing of Parsons.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church in Wichita.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church Ministries, 330 N. Broadway, Wichita, 67202.
Downing & Lahey Mortuary East of Wichita is in charge of arrangements.
Lois E. Diediker
Lois E. Diediker, 81, of rural Parsons died at her home at 5:32 p.m. Saturday, May 29, 2004. She had been in failing health for several months.
She was born Jan. 21, 1923, in Parsons to Sherman G. and Blanche E. (Ellis) Milks. She grew up in Parsons and graduated from Parsons High School.
She married Cliff Diediker on Oct. 10, 1941, in Parsons. They moved to rural Parsons, where they farmed and raised livestock. He survives of the home.
She enjoyed bowling and had been a member of Parsons Women's Bowling Association for many years. She also enjoyed playing golf and had been active in the Ladies Golf Association at the Katy Golf Course for many years. She enjoyed fishing and being outdoors.
She was a member of the Church of the Brethren in Parsons.
Other survivors include one son, John Diediker of rural Parsons; one daughter, Judy Vitt and her husband, Jim, of rural Parsons; one daughter-in-law, Carla Diediker of Joplin; 10 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; one brother, Bob and his wife, Lou, of Greenleaf; and one sister, Nola Carter of Topeka.
She was preceded in death by a son, Donald, in 1986; one sister; and one great-great-granddaughter.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home with the Rev. Tom Smith officiating. Burial will be in Valley Cemetery near Parsons Lake. Friends may call after 9 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Memorials may be made to Church of the Brethren or to American Cancer Society.
Tim Dorris
GALESBURG - Tim Dorris, 34, of rural Galesburg died at 5:40 p.m. Sunday, June 6, 2004, in the emergency room at the Labette County Medical Center at Parsons. His death was unexpected.
He was born on Feb. 24, 1970, in Chanute to Albert Priest and Wilma Earlene (Wigton) Dorris. He grew up in the Galesburg area and attended grade school at Galesburg. He graduated from Erie High School in 1988.
He attended Neosho County Community College, where he took courses in automotive technology. He worked at the Sinclair gas station in Chanute and he was currently employed by Pizza Hut in Chanute.
He enjoyed hunting, helping his neighbors with yard work and participating in antique tractor pulls. He was a member of the Galesburg Christian Church. In his earlier years he was a member of Erie Future Farmers of America.
Survivors include his parents, Albert and Wilma Dorris of the home; one brother, Steven Dorris; one sister, Deborah Dorris; and one niece, Brianna Dorris, all of rural Galesburg; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Marion and Lena Belle Dorris, and his maternal grandparents, Wilson and Beulah Wigton.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Galesburg Christian Church with the Rev. Chris Burke officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery at Galesburg. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
Memorials to Galesburg Christian Church fellowship hall or to American Diabetes Association may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons.
Ruth Davidson
AMARILLO, Texas - Ruth Davidson, 82, of Amarillo died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003.
She was born Dec. 27, 1920, in Parsons to John Perry and Myrtle (Hollar) Heatherly. She graduated from Parsons High School in 1938 and from Parsons Junior College in 1940, where she received a teaching credential. She attended Kansas State Teachers College (now Pittsburg State University) in Pittsburg.
She married David Davidson on June 1, 1941, in Parsons. They were married for 60 years. He preceded her in death in 2002.
She taught school in Columbus and then worked on their farm after marriage. In 1959 they moved to New Mexico, where she taught kindergarten, was a substitute teacher and then became a bookkeeper for the family business. They retired in 1999 and moved to Amarillo.
She was a member and past president of Chapter X, PEO in Albuquerque, First United Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque and the Order of Eastern Star in Parsons.
Survivors include one daughter, Heather Soper of Amarillo; two grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Wayne Heatherly in 1920 and Raymond Heatherly in 1991.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Schooler Funeral Home in Amarillo with the Rev. Kurt Oheim of the Pinnacle Community Church officiating. Burial will be in Columbus Cemetery in Columbus.
Memorials may be made to Heritage Convalescent Center, 1009 Clyde, Amarillo, Texas, 79106.
Mary Jo Ferguson
ROMOLAND, Calif. - Mary Jo Ferguson, 70, of Romoland died Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, at her home.
She was born Nov. 26, 1933, in Parsons to Herman and Genevieve (Schoff) Larsen. She moved to California as a teenager.
She lived in Romoland for 22 years.
She was a homemaker.
Survivors include two sons, David of Indio, Calif., and John of Phoenix; one daughter, Mary Dorame of Hemet, Calif.; four grandchildren; two great-grandsons; two sisters, Maxine Gaiser and Betty Foreman, both of Kansas; and two brothers, Melvin Larsen of Kansas and Kenny Larsen of California.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at First Congregational Church in Riverside, Calif., with the Rev. Greg Simpson officiating. Burial will be in Riverside National Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the church, 100 North A Street, Perris, Calif., 92570.
Miller-Jones Mortuary of Sun City, Calif., is in charge of the arrangements.
Leona Ferguson
WALNUT HILL, Ill. - Leona (Hamsher) Ferguson, 91, of Walnut Hill, Ill., died at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22, 2003.
She was born Dec. 30, 1911, in Webb City, Mo., to Clarence and Ethel (Smith) Hamsher.
She was a care giver at Dixon State School.
She also had lived in Mount Vernon, Ill. and Dixon, Ill.
She married Harold Raymond Herron Sr. on Sept. 28, 1932. He preceded her in death in 1943.
She married Omer Ralph Ferguson on Jan. 22, 1945. He preceded her in death on June 8, 1976.
She was a member of I.S.C.A. and of First Baptist Church of Woodlawn, Ill.
Survivors include a son, Bobby Lee Ferguson of Peoria, Ill.; two daughters, Marlene Braddy of Walnut Hill, Ill., and Nancy Reglin of Boise, Idaho; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three sisters; and four brothers.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Harold Raymond Herron Jr. and Donald Glenn Herron; one grandson, Charlie Herron; one brother; and two sisters.
The service was today at the First Baptist Church of Woodlawn, Ill., with the Rev. Merle Fullerton and brother Roger Lipe officiating. Burial was in Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens in Mount Vernon, Ill.
Memorials may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Newell Funeral Home of Mount Vernon, Ill., was in charge of arrangements.
Lester Ferguson
DIGHTON - Lester Ferguson, 84, of Dighton died Friday, Dec. 5, 2003, at Park Lane nursing home in Scott City.
He was born March 13, 1919, in Lane County to John J. and Monta (West) Ferguson.
He married Dorothy F. Ward on Dec. 2, 1938, in Garden City. She survives at the nursing home.
He was a lifetime resident of Lane County and a graduate of Dighton High School. He was the first Farm Bureau Insurance agent in Lane County. After his retirement he owned and operated Les Ferguson Realty Agency and was a representative of Commercial Federal Bank.
He had served as mayor of Dighton for 20 years.
He enjoyed fishing.
He was a member of First Christian Church of Dighton, where he was a longtime treasurer. He was also a member of Barney Masonic Lodge No. 279 of Dighton, past campaign chairman of Santa Fe Council Boy Scouts and a member of Dighton Rotary Club.
Other survivors include three daughters, JoAnn Dirks and her husband, Maurice, of Scott City, Susan Smith and and her husband, Jim, of Parsons, and Sherry Smith and her husband, Dave, of Olathe; one son, Terry Ferguson and his wife, Elaine, of Salina; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a stepbrother, Wilbur Alexander of Peoria, Ariz.; and a stepsister, Wilma Mead of Garden City.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Mitchell Ferguson; an infant sister; and a half-brother, Ted Ferguson.
The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First Christian Church in Dighton with the Rev. Ben Friesen officiating. Burial will be in Dighton Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends until 8 p.m. today at Boomhower Funeral Home in Dighton.
Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, Park Lane nursing home or Santa Fe Council of Boy Scouts and may be left at the funeral home in Dighton.
Pearl H. Fisher
ERIE - Pearl H. Fisher, 92, of Erie died at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 4, 2004, at Labette County Medical Center. She had been in failing health.
She was born on Nov. 15, 1911, in Erie to Verle T. and Maude (Blaine) Heady. She graduated from high school in Erie. She attended Pittsburg State University and the University of Colorado, where she earned a bachelor of science degree. She taught at Erie Elementary School.
She married Buford E. Fisher on Feb. 2, 1940, at Erie. The couple moved to Chanute. In 1975 they moved to Erie. He preceded her in death on Oct. 16, 1993.
Mrs. Fisher was a member of Erie Federated Church and the Retired Teacher's Association. She enjoyed playing bridge and doing needlework.
Survivors include one sister, Helen Bell of Coffeyville; two nephews, John Heady of Caney and Doug Bell of Coffeyville; and three nieces, Linda Higgins of Lenexa, Sandra Flandermeyer of Albuquerque, N.M., and Lou Ann Lewis of Fair Hope, Ala.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Blaine H. Heady, on Jan. 23, 1992; and one nephew, Ed Bell.
The service was at 2 p.m. today at Erie Federated Church with the Rev. Ralph Jarboe officiating. Following cremation, burial will be at East Hill Cemetery. Memorials to Erie Federated Church may be left at Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
