Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Archie Wayne Vernon
1925 - 2006
HAYS - Archie Wayne Vernon, 81, of Hays, died Oct. 19, at St. John's of Victoria Nursing Home. Archie Wayne Vernon was born Oct. 9, 1925, in Decatur County, the son of Charles and Grace Vernon. Archie was raised on a farm in Decatur County near Oberlin. Shortly after his graduation from Oberlin High School, he enlisted in the US Army, where he served during World War II. On Aug. 25, 1946, he was united in marriage to Ivagean (Jean) Richard and from this union four children were born: Diana, Tom, Patty and Penny. Jean and Archie shared 52 years of marriage prior to her death in 1998. After their marriage, they resided in Manhattan, where Archie attended Kansas State University. Upon his graduation, he accepted a teaching position at Beeler. The following school year, he moved to Oakley, where he taught and began the high school wrestling program. During the summer months at Oakley, he completed his master's degree at Kansas State University in school administration. In the fall of 1958, Archie and his family moved to Russell, where he taught and coached at Russell High School. During his stay at Russell, Archie filled the position of high school principal and assistant superintendent, prior to assuming the superintendent's position at Hoxie. After his retirement, he and Jean moved to Hays, where he actively pursued his favorite past time '“ golf. He was a member, and active in, the First United Methodist Church of Hays. Survivors are a son Tom of Great Bend; two daughters, Diana Kennedy and her husband Jim of Rocky Ford, Colo., and Penny Roberts of Topeka; a brother Hap of Bellingham, Wash.; a sister Joy Rhoades and her husband Bob of Springfield, Mo.; grandchildren Jamie, Heather, Mike, John, Andy, Matt and Haley; and five great-grandchildren. His parents, his stepmother Ethyl, his daughter Patty and his wife Jean preceded him in death. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church. Inurnment will be in Oberlin City cemetery in Oberlin. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service on Tuesday at the church. A memorial has been established with the church in his name and memory. Funeral arrangements provided by: Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 20th and Pine Hays, KS 67601
Cecil Cummings
1924 - 2006
Cecil Cummings, 81, of Great Bend, died Oct. 15 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Dec. 13, 1924, at Albert, the son of Howard Oscar and Mildred Kathleen Saurbaugh Cummings. A lifetime resident of Barton County, he was a meter reader for West Plains Energy. Mr. Cummings was a veteran of World War II, serving with the United States Army. Survivors include one brother, Artis Cummings of Jenison, Mich.; and three sisters, Louise Bird of rural Great Bend, LouIsla Unruh of Hesston and Shirley Keim of Yakima, Wash. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Chester and Ardean Cummings, and one sister, Lucille Cummings. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Albert Community cemetery with Pastor Scott Tempero officiating. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Salvation Army in care of Bryant Funeral Home. Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Lucille Marie Keating Nickell
1920 - 2006
Lucille Marie Keating Nickell, 86, of Great Bend, died Oct. 15 at Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood. She was born Aug. 5, 1920, at Clayton, the daughter of Arba J. and Orbie D. Wonderlich Heany. She married
Emerson E. Keating on Oct. 20, 1942, at Corvallis, Ore. He died May 20, 1983. She married
Floyd Nickell on Nov. 2, 1985, in Great Bend. He died Oct. 24, 1986.. She was a homemaker and former co-owner of Oilfield Specialty Warehouse. She had lived in Great Bend since 1946, coming from Clayton. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Women's Association, American Legion Auxiliary and the Eastern Star, all of Great Bend. Survivors include one son, Michael Keating, Inman; two stepsons, Dean Nickell, LeVeta, Colo., and Don Nickell, Salisbury, N.C.; and one daughter, Jan Marie Westfall, Huntington, W.Va., along with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Warren James Keating; one brother, Wayne Heany; and one sister, Vera Moore. Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the church in Great Bend, with the Rev. Hal Staats officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Great Bend. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home# 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Cecil Cummings
1924 - 2006
Cecil Cummings, 81, of Great Bend, died Oct. 15 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Dec. 13, 1924, at Albert, the son of Howard Oscar and Mildred Kathleen Saurbaugh Cummings. A lifetime resident of Barton County, he was a meter reader for West Plains Energy. Mr. Cummings was a veteran of World War II, serving with the United States Army. Survivors include one brother, Artis Cummings of Jenison, Mich.; and three sisters, Louise Bird of rural Great Bend, LouIsla Unruh of Hesston and Shirley Keim of Yakima, Wash. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Chester and Ardean Cummings, and one sister, Lucille Cummings. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Albert Community Center with Pastor Scott Tempero officiating. Burial will be at the Albert Community cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Memorials are suggested to the Salvation Army in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home# 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Ella Dirks
1904 - 2006
Ella Dirks, 102, of Great Bend, died Oct. 18 at Cherry Village Nursing Home, Great Bend. She was born June 14, 1904, in Barton County, the daughter of Samuel C. and Elizabeth Unruh Schultz. She married
Harvey Dirks on Aug. 18, 1926, at Bergthal Mennonite Church, Pawnee Rock. He died Feb. 16, 2001. She was a homemaker and a lifetime resident of Barton and Pawnee counties. She was a member of Bergthal Mennonite Church and Ladies Mission Workers of the church, a Sunday school teacher and a Gold Star Mother. Survivors include a daughter, Beverly Ann Prescott, and her husband, Keith, of Larned; a daughter-in-law, Pat Dirks, of Pawnee Rock; seven grandchildren: Darla Clarke and husband Clint, Great Bend; Dale Dirks and wife Bonnie, Pawnee Rock; Danine Smith and husband Chipper, Big Spring, Texas; Sabra Dupuis and husband Brian, Larned; Brian Prescott and wife Susan, Hudson; Michael Prescott and wife Pam, Meridan; and Faron Prescott and wife Sunshine, Hays; 18 great grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by two sons, Leon Dean Dirks and Homer Ray Dirks, two brothers, Edward Schultz and Lincoln Schultz, and three sisters, Lena Unruh, Clara Schultz and an infant sister, Anna. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend, with Pastors Todd and Lynn Schlosser officiants. Interment will be in the Mennonite Memorial cemetery at Pawnee Rock. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. and the family to receive friends from 7:30 to 9 p.m., at Bryant Funeral Home. A memorial fund has been established for Southwind Hospice, and donations may be made in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Betty Mae Fuller Skinner
1927 - 2006
Betty Mae Fuller Skinner, 78, of Great Bend, died Sept. 12 at Hutchinson Hospital, Hutchinson. She was born Dec. 2, 1927, in Salina, the daughter of Walter and Catherine Bednard Fuller. She was raised in Salina and moved to Great Bend in 1946. She married
T.C. 'Carl' Skinner on Sept. 20, 1946, in Abilene. He died in 1998. She was a Realtor in Great Bend for 35 years. Survivors include one brother, Walter P. Fuller of Derby; six nieces and one nephew; and many grand-nieces and grandnephews. Funeral service will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the First United Presbyterian Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Hal Staats officiating. Burial was held at an earlier date in the Great Bend cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Great Bend Humane Society, the American Cancer Society or the donor's choice. Funeral arrangements provided by Elliott Mortuary 1219 North Main Hutchinson, KS 67501
Mabel Christine Stickney
1918 - 2006
ELLINWOOD - Mabel Christine Stickney, 88, died Oct. 17 at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita. She was born June 29, 1918, at Chase, the daughter of Frank M. and Joanna M. Loesch Scott. She married
Thomas Leroy Stickney at Chase on Oct. 6, 1950. He died June 27, 2000. A longtime Ellinwood resident, she was the owner of the Ellinwood Dairy Queen, she was a schoolteacher and bookkeeper. Mrs. Stickney was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ, Grove Park Golf Club and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, all of Ellinwood, and of the Chase Golf Club. Survivors include three sons, Leroy Stickney and wife Debra of Chase, Larry Stickney and wife Lorrie of Great Bend and Lyle Stickney of Ellinwood; three daughters, Lois Thompson of Hays, Lila Schartz and husband Curtis of Ellinwood and Luella Zorn and husband David of Augusta; 18 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by 11 brothers and sisters. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Immanuel United Church of Christ, Ellinwood, with the Rev. Larry Young officiating. Burial will be at Lakin-Comanche District cemetery, Ellinwood. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Kimple Funeral Home in Ellinwood. Memorial donations for Immanuel United Church of Christ may be made in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Kimple Funeral Home 113 North Main Ellinwood, KS 67526
Rudy A. Fernetti
1925 - 2006
Rudy A. Fernetti, 81, of Great Bend, formerly of Frontenac, died Oct. 16 at Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend. He was born May 27, 1925, in Frontenac, the son of Jacob and Mary Corpolongo Fernetti. He married
Sherry Houser on Jan. 8, 1966, in Miami, Okla. Rudy was employed at Gulf Oil Company and owned and operated a liquor store in Pittsburg. He worked for Walt Panneck's clothing store. After moving to Colorado Springs, Colo., he was employed with Perkins-Shearer clothing and was manager of Dempubco. While living in Frontenac, Rudy was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a member of the BPOE (Elks Lodge) for 58 years. Survivors include his wife, Sherry, of the home; a son, Richard Fernetti of Corpus Christi, Texas; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Tony and Romeo Fernetti, and five sisters, Ida Jumet, Julia Hromak, Mary Barbieri, Erma Fernetti and Josephine Barbieri. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Frontenac, with the Rev. Robert McElwee officiating. Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice, in care of the Friskel Funeral Home in Frontenac. Funeral arrangements provided by Friskel Funeral Home 230 E. McKay Frontenac, KS 66763
Nancy Ella Goetting Bertram
1934 - 2006
Nancy Ella Goetting Bertram, 72, died Oct. 12 at her Great Bend home. She was born March 18, 1934, in Great Bend, the daughter of August and Ruby Gunn Goetting. She married
Carl A. Bertram on Jan. 1, 1954, in Great Bend. He died March 23, 1999. She was an inspiration to her husband Carl as he and his partner took over ownership of Sherman Machine Works. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, she was a homemaker and secretary for Marlette Homes Inc. and O'Neill Tank Company. Mrs. Bertram was a member of First United Methodist Church, the Petroleum Club, Ladies Golf Association, Zeta Gamma Chapter of ESA and Job's Daughters, all of Great Bend. Survivors include three daughters, Rebecca Anderson, Great Bend, Melissa 'Missy' Esfeld and her husband Bert of Great Bend and Sarah Richley and her husband Craig of Kansas City, Mo.; two stepsons, Jerry Bertram of Haviland and Ted Bertram of Kansas City, Mo.; one sister, Janice German of Ponca City, Okla.; four grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; three great-grandchildren and 11 stepgreat-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, James August Goetting; and one sister, Vivian Alice Hurite. Funeral service was Monday at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Gary Brooks officiating. Burial was at the Great Bend cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church or Central Kansas Medical Center Foundation for the benefit of Heartland Cancer Center, in care of Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Betty Mae Fuller Skinner
1927 - 2006
Betty Mae Fuller Skinner, 78, of Great Bend, died Sept. 12 at Hutchinson Hospital, Hutchinson. She was born on Dec. 2, 1927, in Salina, the daughter of Walter and Catherine Bednard Fuller. She was raised in Salina and moved to Great Bend in 1946. She married
T.C. 'Carl' Skinner on Sept. 20, 1946, in Abilene. He died in 1998. She was a Realtor in Great Bend for 35 years. Survivors include one brother, Walter P. Fuller of Derby; six nieces and one nephew; and many grand-nieces and grandnephews. Funeral service will be at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at the First United Presbyterian Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Hal Staats officiating. Inurnment was held at an earlier date in the Great Bend cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Great Bend Humane Society, the American Cancer Society or the donor's choice. Funeral arrangements provided by Elliott Mortuary 1219 North Main Hutchinson, KS 67501 663-3327
Allan Maurice Roach
1937 - 2006
Allan Maurice Roach, 69, of Great Bend, died Oct. 15 at his home. He was born Jan. 17, 1937, in Great Bend, the son of Maurice Walter and Clara Virginia Weathers Roach. He married
Sharon Foos on Nov. 18, 1957, in Lyons. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, he was a farmer and stockman and roughneck. Roach was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, all of Great Bend. Survivors include his wife, of the home; two sons, Sam Roach and Brad Roach, both of Great Bend; one daughter, Cheryl Keener of Great Bend; mother, Clara Virginia Roach of Great Bend; one brother, Kenneth Roach of Great Bend; three sisters, Marie Stanley, Teresa Murray and Clara Ellis, all of Great Bend; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father and one brother, Bill Roach. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home, followed by the Knights of Columbus Rosary. Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Reginald A. Urban officiating. Burial will be in the Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Kans for Kids in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Inez B. Guthrie
1915 - 2006
HOISINGTON - Inez B. Guthrie, 91, died Oct. 14 at Sandrock Ridge Nursing Home in Craig, Colo. She was born on May 15, 1915, in Utica, the daughter of Will A. Smith and Grace E. Smith Smith. She married
Harry L. Guthrie on Dec. 18, 1932, at WaKeeney. He died July 8, 1973. A resident of Hoisington since 1932, moving from Utica, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Guthrie was a member of the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Gold Star Mothers of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary of Hoisington and Eagles Lodge Auxiliary of Great Bend. Survivors include her daughter, Judy Mullis of Craig, Colo.; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, a brother, Harold Smith of Araphahoe, Neb. She was preceded in death by two sons, Donald L. Guthrie and Geary G. Guthrie; and two brothers, Ivan G. Smith and Alvin Smith. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. today at the First United Methodist Church in Hoisington with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at the Hoisington cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until noon today at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, and 1 p.m. until service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Clara Barton Foundation or First United Methodist Church, both in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main Hoisington, KS 67544
Alvin Leo Demel
1941 - 2006
HOISINGTON - Alvin Leo Demel, 65, died Oct. 14 at his farm. He was born July 29, 1941, in Great Bend, the son of William A. and Mary M. Korf Demel. He married
Patsy A. Roberts on Dec. 27, 1962, at Belpre. A lifetime resident of Barton County, he was a farmer/stockman. Demel was a member of the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council No. 1521, both of Hosington, and a former city council member in Susank. Survivors include his wife, of the home; one son, Brad Demel and his wife Shelly of Hoisington; one daughter, Teresa Hickel and her husband Alan of Hoisington; two brothers, Wayne Demel of Ogden and Rios (Roy) Demel of St. Louis, Mo.; three sisters, Eilleen Basye of Cassville, Mo., Mary Bowman of Agenda and Rita Seyfert of Great Bend; five grandchildren, Lexi Demel, Brady Demel, Abbi Demel, Kelsey Hickel and Adam Hickel. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, William F. Demel, and a sister, Roberta Basye. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. today followed by K of C Rosary at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Father Pascal Klein officiating. Burial will be at St. John cemetery in Hoisington. Friends may visit from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or Beaver Volunteer Fire Department in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main Hoisington, KS 67544
Lyle H. Libby
1939 - 2006
Lyle H. Libby, 67, died Oct. 14 at his Great Bend home. He was born Feb. 2, 1939, in Pratt, the son of Kenneth and Laurahelen Weigner Libby. He married
Elaine Kay Lovell on Dec. 19, 1961, in Preston. She died Nov. 12, 1998. He had lived in Great Bend since 1966, coming from Pratt County. He was the owner/operator of L&L Repair for 33 years. Libby was a U.S. Navy Veteran. He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Great Bend, Isis Shrine of Salina, a life member of the National Rifle Association and North American Hunting Club. Survivors include one son, Kenneth J. Libby of Great Bend; one brother, Ned Libby of Monte Vista, Colo.; one sister, Leta Hennigh of Center, Colo.; his companion, Cindy Tittel of the home; and three grandchildren, Grant Libby, Mason Libby and Michael Washmon. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Great Bend with Pastor Jim Martin officiating. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice in care of Bryant Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Lucille Marie Keating Nickell
1920 - 2006
Lucille Marie Keating Nickell, 86, of Great Bend, died Oct. 15 at Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood. She was born Aug. 5, 1920, at Clayton, the daughter of Arba J. and Orbie D. Wonderlich Heany. She married
Emerson E. Keating on Oct. 20, 1942, at Corvallis, Ore. He died May 20, 1983. She married
Floyd Nickell on Nov. 2, 1985, in Great Bend. He died Oct. 24, 1986.. She was a homemaker and former co-owner of Oilfield Specialty Warehouse. She had lived in Great Bend since 1946, coming from Clayton. She was a member of First Presbyterian church, Presbyterian Women's Association, American Legion Auxiliary and the Eastern Star, all of Great Bend. Survivors include one son, Michael Keating, Inman; two step-sons, Dean Nickell, LeVeta, Colo., and Don Nickell, Salisbury, N.C.; and one daughter, Jan Marie Westfall, Hutnington, W.Va. She was preceded in death by one son, Warren James Keating; one brother, Wayne Heany; and one sister, Vera Moore. Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the church in Great Bend, with the Rev. Hal Staats officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Great Bend. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and 9 to 11 a.m. Friday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
