Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
MARCELL J. VEST
IOLA -- Marcell J. Vest, 69, Salina, died Sunday, Sept. 30, 2007, at the Osage Nursing Center, Osage City.
The funeral will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola.
She was born Aug. 29, 1938, to Bert and Leota J. (Schoonover) Bell in Ottawa. She graduated from Appanoose High School.
She married
William H. "Bill" Vest Jan. 19, 1954. He died Jan. 1, 2006.
They lived in several different communities and were involved in several business ventures, including managing Dairy Queens in Paola and Chanute, the 7-11 Convenience Store in Pittsburg and the Drive Away Service, Salina.
She was a member of the Salina Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Deborah J. Vest, Osage City; two sons, Gary W. Vest, Lake Dallas, Texas, and Jerry A. "Jay" Vest, Wilson; two brothers, Joseph P. Bell, Paola, and George Bell, Pomona; a sister, Carrie Smith, Broken Arrow, Okla.; and four grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Luella, and a brother, Sonny.
Burial will be at the Highland Cemetery, Iola.
Memorials has been established with either the Salina Seventh-Day Adventist Church or the American Heart Association in care of Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, 16 N. Buckeye St., Iola, KS 66749.
RICHARD A. "CHUCK" CURTIS
Richard A. "Chuck" Curtis, 42, Baldwin City, died Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, at the University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kan. Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa.
He was born Aug. 12, 1965, at Ottawa to Mary A. (Callahan) Curtis.
He was a lifelong Franklin County resident.
He graduated from Pomona High School in 1984.
He worked as an automobile mechanic at Whites Automobile, Inc., Louisburg, the last 12 years.
He married
Crystal Sleichter Jan. 7, 1990, at Ottawa. She survives.
Survivors also include a daughter, Chelsey Curtis, Baldwin City; a sister, Elizabeth Bell, and her husband, Jim, Chapman; and brothers, Tony Curtis, and his wife, Shawna, Bowie, Texas, and Danny Curtis, and his wife, Jamie, LaCygne.
He was preceded in death by his mother.
Burial will be at Oak Lawn Cemetery, LaCygne.
Friends may pay their respects from noon today to the service hour at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa. Family will meet with friends from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the Richard Curtis Memorial Fund in care of Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory St., Ottawa KS 66067.
LARRY D. BISHOP
PRINCETON -- Larry D. Bishop, 62, Princeton, died Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, at Ransom Memorial Hospital, Ottawa.
The funeral will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa.
He was born Aug. 28, 1945, to Allen and Beulah Mae (Coombes) Bishop in Ottawa. He graduated from Ottawa High School and Kansas City Vocational School.
He married
Edna Mae Sutton Nov. 12, 1966, at Garnett. She survives.
He was a lifelong Franklin County resident and moved from Ottawa to Princeton in 1984.
He worked for Ottawa Truck for the last seven years. Previously, he worked at Stokley-Van Kamp in Lawrence for 19 years.
As a youth, he was a member of the Ottawa Boys Club. He was a former member of the Princeton Volunteer Fire Department.
Survivors also include a daughter, Angie Bishop, Ottawa; son and wife, Randy and Tammy Bishop, Ottawa; two sisters, Mary Demeny, Abrams, Wisc. and twin sister Lois Jean Bishop-Randel, Kansas City, Kan.; four brothers, Roy Bishop, Ottawa, James Bishop, Homewood, Charles Bishop, Pomona, and Robert Bishop, Ottawa; five grandchildren, Jon Foster, of the home, Donnie Foster Jr., Felicia Bishop, Randy Bishop Jr. and Kylee Bishop, all of Ottawa; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a grandfather, Perry Franks; and a son, Rick Bishop.
Visitors may pay their respects after 5 p.m. today at the funeral home, where the family will meet visitors from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be at Princeton Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Franklin County Cancer Foundation or the American Heart Association in care of Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory St., Ottawa, KS 66067.
ARTHUR G. "ART" MILLER JR.
Arthur G. "Art" Miller Jr., 73, Ottawa, died Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007, at Village Manor Nursing Home, Ottawa. Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church, Ottawa.
He was born Feb. 3, 1934, at Cherryvale, to Arthur Glen and Ruby (Rolland) Miller.
He grew up at Independence. He also lived at Wichita and moved to Ottawa in 1959.
He graduated from Independence High School in 1952. He also attended Independence Community College and graduated from Wichita Business School.
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1956. He attained the rank of IC3 as a communications operative aboard the USS Coral Sea. He received the National Defense Service Medal.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church where he served on the finance committee as treasurer and head usher. He also was a member of the Oxford Service Forum Sunday School Class; Ottawa Lodge No. 803, Benevolent Protective Order Elks; Ottawa Promenaders; Warren Black Post No. 60, American Legion; Power of the Past; a former Jaycee; Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce and a lifetime member of Sertoma Club. He was formerly a member of Pride Committee and REACT. He volunteered with the American Association of Retired Persons and instructed the driving classes.
He worked as a bookkeeper at Minnick Motors, White Motors and Johnson Auto Parts. He also worked as a bus driver at USD 290, Charter Coaches and Jefferson Bus Line. He owned and operated Art Miller Tours from 1995 to 1998 and Art's Tax Service for more than 20 years. He later worked as a desk clerk at Comfort Inn, Ottawa.
He married
Peggy McKain July 21, 1957, at Independence. She survives.
Survivors also include a daughter Glenda Guge, and her husband, Scott, Pomona; brothers, Dale Miller, and his wife, Pat, Birmingham, Ala., Frank Miller, and his wife, Sue, Bellevue, Wash., Fred Miller, and his wife, Jennie, Paola, and Gary Miller, Sacramento, Calif.; a niece, Tayler A. Guge; grandchildren, Sarah R. Guge, Holly K. Guge, Emma L. Guge and Parker J. Guge, all of Ottawa; and several nieces and nephews.
Burial will be 2:30 p.m. Friday at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Independence.
Friends may pay their respects after noon today to the service hour at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa. Family will meet with friends from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. today.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the First United Methodist Church, Ottawa, in care of Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory St., Ottawa KS 66067.
MADGE MARIE CALLIHAM
Madge Marie Calliham, 90, Ottawa, died Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007, at St. Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church, Ottawa.
She was born Aug. 9, 1917, at Franklin, Neb., to Marcus D. and Cressie J. (Aikin) Young.
She lived at Conway, Texas, and Lexington, Neb. She moved to Kansas City, Mo., in 1960 and to Ottawa in 1975.
She graduated from Cozad High School, Cozad, Neb., in 1934. She graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan College in 1939.
She enjoyed flower gardening, reading, teaching, traveling, baking pies and serving others.
She was a member of the Willard Sorority.
She also was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Ottawa, where she taught Sunday school, a member of United Methodist Women, Dorcas Circle, and part of the Sunshine Sunday School Class. She also was a member of Chapter GL of the PEO Sisterhood; Rotary Anns; Sequel Club; Daughters of the American Revolution; and served on the Board for Meals on Wheels.
She worked as a high school teacher of English, physical education and Latin. She also was a homemaker, farmed and raised and showed registered Hereford cattle.
She married
Marvin O. Calliham Jan. 17, 1946, at Cozad, Neb. They shared more than 54 years of marriage. He preceded her in death Oct. 26, 2000.
Survivors include daughters, Carol Ann Schutte, and her husband, Phil, Tucson, Ariz., Julia Cristine Soth, and her husband, Mark, Fairfield, Iowa, and Mary Jane Brooksher, and her husband, Tom, Littleton, Colo.; a sister-in-law, Bonnie Young, Cozad, Neb.; grandchildren, Melissa Montanye, and her husband, Marcus, Chicago, Ill., Beth Schutte, Scottsdale, Ariz., David Soth and Eric Soth, both of Fairfield, Iowa, Andy Brooksher, Seattle, Wash., and Kyle Brooksher, Littleton, Colo.; and a great-granddaughter, Kaitlyn Montanye.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Neil Young; a sister, Maxine Young; and a granddaughter, Abby Brooksher.
Private family burial will be at Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, after services.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the First United Methodist Church or Special Olympics in care of the Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, P.O. Box 14, 325 S. Hickory, Ottawa KS 66067.
DON F. LEE JR.
Don F. Lee, Jr., 88, Council Bluffs, Iowa, died Sunday Sept. 30, 2007, at Risen Son Christian Village. Services were Oct. 3 at the Neola First Presbyterian Church.
He was born Nov. 18, 1918, at Fargo, N.D.
He graduated from Louisburg High School in 1937.
He served in the U.S. Army.
He worked as a veterinarian.
He married
Mildred Cramer Sept. 30, 1944, at Paola. She survives.
Survivors also a daughter, Kayleen Fink, Fair Oaks, Calif.; sons, Richard Lee, Omaha, Neb., and Marc Lee, Fairbanks, Alaska; a sister, Dorrene Bristow, Ottawa; and nine grandchildren and two step-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by brothers Cliff Lee and Joe Lee; and a sister, Delyla Brown.
Burial was at Neola Township Cemetery, Neola, Iowa.
Memorials contributions may be sent to the Neola First Presbyterian Church in care of the Cutler-O'Neill-Meyer-Woodring Funeral Home, 545 Willow Ave., Council Bluffs IA 51503.
