Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Mary Ann Mantz
BUSHTON - Mary Ann Mantz, 78, died Dec. 9 at Clara Barton Hospital, Hoisington. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Hoisington.
Sammy Rae McComb
1940 - 2006
ALVA, Okla. - Funeral services for Sammy Rae McComb, 66, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the First United Methodist Church, Alva, with Pastor Terry Martindale and the Rev. William S. Kalfas officiating. Interment will be in the Capron cemetery under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home of Alva. Mr. McComb was born on Feb. 19, 1940, to Herbert Max and Cleta Evelyn (Herrell) McComb and passed away Dec. 6, 2006, surrounded by his family at his home in Alva at the age of 66 years. Sam fought a lengthy, courageous battle with cancer. Sam grew up in the community of Stafford, Kan. He was baptized in the Church of Christ. He graduated from Stafford High School with the Class of 1958. He enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. After graduation Sam went to work for J. K. Fields Oil Field Construction, Pratt. He went to Arizona and became number-one welder in the strip mines, later working for White Shield Company in West Virginia. He came to Oklahoma, working in the oil field for Litzenberger Construction, Waynoka, Okla. After moving to Alva, Sam went to work for Woods County District #1 until his retirement on Jan. 1, 2006. On Aug. 9, 1959, Sam married
Carol Sue Reneau in Hudson, Kan. To their marriage, three children were born; Ly Anna Lynn, La Tanna Sue and Lo Rita Rae. On June 25, 2004, he married
Lois Brown in Eureka Springs, Ark. Sam was preceded in death by his dad, Max McComb, on July 29, 1995, a granddaughter, Tabita McComb-Crawford, on Dec. 15, 1988, and Dennis Kimery, on May 30, 2000. Survivors include his wife, Lois of the home; his mother, Cleta McComb of Stafford; three daughters, Ly Anna McComb of Greensburg, La Tanna McComb-Beaumont and her husband, Steve, of Great Bend, and Lo Rita McComb-Heinson and her husband, DeWayne, of Greensburg. Also surviving are his extended family, Amie and Joe Turner of Blanchard, Okla., and Debbie Van Hooser and Clifton Cornish of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren. Also surviving are two sisters, Nancy Girard and her husband, Ray, of Augusta, and Marilyn Stallings and her husband, James, of Alva, Okla.; one brother, Charles McComb of San Antonio, Texas; other relatives and many friends. He was past president and secretary of Oklahoma Sooner Riders, past president of the Waynoka Saddle Club, treasurer of the Woods County Fair Board and Past Mason of Masonic Lodge #105. Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Share Hospice. Funeral arrangements provided by Marshall Funeral Home 230 Flynn St. Alva, OK 73717
Floyd R. Ballinger
1965 - 2006
CHATFIELD, Minn. - Floyd R. Ballinger, 41, died Dec. 6 in Chatfield, Minn. He was born Jan. 23, 1965, at Rocky Ford, Colo., the son of John and Martha Tompkins Ballinger. He had been married
to Patty Shaw. A cook, he lived most of his life in Kansas, living for the last year in Minnesota. Survivors include the former Patty Ballinger, of Wilson; a son, Garrett Ballinger of Chatfield; a daughter, Amanda Ballinger of Chatfield; his father, John Ballinger of Paradise; his mother, Martha Weeks of La Crosse; and three sisters, Debra Dolechek of Wilson, Debby Poppelreiter of Ellinwood and Donna Barta of Ellsworth. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Wilson City cemetery. Friends may call from 8 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Monday at Foster Mortuary in Wilson. Memorial donations are suggested to the Floyd R. Ballinger Memorial Fund, to benefit the Ballinger children. Funeral arrangements provided by Foster Mortuary, Inc. 610 24th St. Wilson, KS 67490
Garrett Bradley Blase
1988 - 2006
Garrett Bradley Blase, 18, of Great Bend, died Dec. 5 at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. He was born Aug. 23, 1988, at Great Bend, the son of Robert and Shari Ann Le Roy Blase. He was a server for Perkins Restaurant and a lifetime resident of Great Bend. He was a senior at Hoisington High School. He was a member of Leo's Club, Debate and Forensics. Survivors include his parents, of the home; two brothers, Jacob David Blase of Lawrence and Douglas Ross Blase of Great Bend; a sister, Shannon Meredith Blase of Lawrence; a grandmother, Mary Le Roy of Great Bend; and grandparents Raymond and Thelma Blase of Sylvan Grove. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Louis Le Roy. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Hoisington High School Auditorium, Hoisington, with the Rev. Hal Staats officiating. Inurnment will occur at a later date. There will be no visitation, since cremation has taken place. A memorial fund in Mr. Blase's name has been established for Kans for Kids. Donations may be made in care of Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Pamela A. (Bailly) Brannan
1951 - 2006
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. - Pamela A. (Bailly) Brannan, 55, died Dec. 3 in Littleton, Colo. She was born Sept. 3, 1951, in Webster, S.D., the daughter of John and Joan Bailly. She lived in Great Bend from 1958 to 1969, and in Hutchinson from 1974 to 1989. Survivors include her husband, Donald Brannan, of the home; three children, Ryan Brannan of Manhattan, Mason Brannan of Laramie, Wyo., and Tyler Brannan of Olathe; and one brother, John Bailly of Wichita. She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Cindy Kenton; and her grandparents, Bud and Edith Derosier. Vigil service is at 8:30 a.m. on Friday and Mass of Christian Burial is at 11 a.m. on Saturday, both at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Wichita. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Oak Ridge cemetery in Deadwood, S.D.. Memorial Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 19 at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Littleton, Colo. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Heifer Project International, 1015 Louisiana St., Little Rock, AR 72202. Funeral arrangements provided by Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary 12801 W. 44th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Hulda Ruth Haberman
1916 - 2006
LARNED - Hulda Ruth Haberman, 89, died Dec. 5 at St. Joseph Long Term Care, Larned. She was born Dec. 30, 1916, at Alexander, the daughter of John A. and Lizzie Bott Boese. She married
Emil A. Haberman on Dec. 3, 1933, at Pratt. He died June 19, 2002. A resident of Larned since 1934, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Haberman was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Altar Society, both of Larned. Survivors include three sons, Roger Haberman of Salina, Robert Haberman and wife Elsie of Meade, and Donald Haberman of Lacey, Wash.; one daughter, Betty Hulsey and husband Gary of Larned; one sister, Margaret Van Eaton and husband Gerald, Oakley; 18 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and 28 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy Boese. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned, with Father Bernard Felix presiding. Burial will be in the Larned cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Morell Funeral Home, Larned. Memorials may be sent to the Welcome Inn Seniors or the Pawnee County Humane Society in care of Morell Funeral Home. Funeral arrangements provided by Morell Funeral Home P.O. Box 124 1021 Broadway Larned, KS 67550
Gregory (Greg) B. Abbot
1952 - 2006
ATLANTA, Ga. - Gregory (Greg) B. Abbot, 54, died suddenly Dec. 1 in Atlanta. He was born Sept. 9, 1952, in Phillipsburg, the son of Leslie L. and Eulalia E. (Miller) Abbot. He grew up on the family farm north of Agra. He attended school in Agra and graduated from Eastern Heights High School in 1970. Greg majored in speech and English at Fort Hays State University, where he graduated in 1974. In 1976 he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Georgia. From 1976 to 1980 he was director of the community theater in Albany, Ga., before moving to Atlanta. His first year in Atlanta, he traveled to Columbus, Ga., to direct at the Springer Theatre Company community theater. Greg served as artistic director of Onstage Atlanta before becoming the artistic director of Drama Tech in 1984. Greg and his family returned each summer to the family farm in Phillips County where he and his brother continued to manage and operate the family farm. When not directing, teaching theater, or farming in Kansas, Greg's love of sports led him into coaching his children's basketball teams. On Nov. 29, 1974, he married
June Miller of Claflin and to this union two children, Lauren and Michael, were born. Greg is survived by his wife June, daughter Lauren, a student at the University of Georgia, and Michael, a junior at St. Pius High School in Atlanta, Ga. Other survivors include his brother Kevin and wife Deborah of Hutchinson; his mother-in-law, Marie Miller of Hoisington; his brothers-in-law, Butch and wife Vicki Miller of Odin, John and wife Connie of Claflin and their families; and his many friends, co-workers and students. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. today at Christ the King Cathedral, 2699 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta. Gifts in Greg's memory may be made to Georgia Tech's Drama Tech Theater through the Georgia Tech Foundation Inc., 760 Spring Street, Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30308 or the Greg Abbot Memorial Scholarship Fund at St. Pius X Catholic High School, 2674 Johnson Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30345. Funeral arrangements provided by H.M. Patterson & Son 4550 Peachtree Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30319-2731
Clifford Lawrence Stephens
1929 - 2006
CLAFLIN - Clifford Lawrence Stephens, 77, died Dec. 1 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. He was born July 17, 1929, in Slick, Okla., the son of Henry and Clarissa (Franks) Stephens. He married
Ruth Stanbrough on Dec. 4, 1949, in Yuma, Ariz., and was a resident of the Claflin area since 1955. He was a pumper in the oilfield for several years and an employee of Northern Natural Gas in Bushton until retiring in 1991. Clifford loved the out of doors and was a Little League Baseball coach in Claflin for several years. He was a member of the Church of God in Bristow, Okla., and the Southern Baptist Church while in California and Claflin. Survivors include his wife, of the home; son Roger and wife Rita Stephens of Claflin; daughter Dawn and husband Randy Hinds of Meridan, Iowa; three grandchildren, Shawna Stephens of Springfield, Mo., and Eric and Elisha Stephens, both of Claflin. He was preceded in death by twin daughters, Bonnie Lee and Bobbie Rae Stephens; two brothers, V.M. Stephens and David Stephens; and one sister, Clarissa Stephens. Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. today at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at the Claflin cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to service time today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Claflin Ambulance Service in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Ruth E. (Kaps) Meharg
1926 - 2006
Ruth E. (Kaps) Meharg, 80, of Great Bend, died Nov. 30 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center's St. Francis Campus in Wichita. She was born June 1, 1926, at Bunker Hill, the daughter of Carol W. and Margaret T. (Mahoney) Kaps. She married
Walter L. Meharg on Sept. 23, 1944, at Russell. A resident of Hoisington for 42 years, moving to Great Bend in 2001, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Meharg was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the American Legion Auxiliary, both of Hoisington, and the Order of the Eastern Star, Bunker Hill. Survivors include her husband, of the home; son Randall Meharg and wife Deena, Keller, Texas; two daughters, Marsha Hendrix and husband John, Alva, Okla., and Connie Meharg, Denver, Colo.; brother Robert Kaps, Stillwell; five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and two step-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Don Kaps, Richard Kaps and Larry Kaps; and two sisters, Clara Kaps and Frances Hoffman. Funeral was at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial was at Hoisington cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home P.O. Box 146, 415 North Main Hoisington, KS 67544
Dolores E. Crawford
1929 - 2006
HOISINGTON - Dolores E. Crawford, 77, died Dec. 3 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. She was born on Sept. 2, 1929, in Great Bend, the daughter of Willie and Aurice (Parrish) Estes. She graduated from Radium High School in 1947. She married
John A. Crawford on Feb. 3, 1962, in Great Bend. He died June 23, 2005. A resident of Hoisington for 43 years, she worked for the Fuller Brush Company in Great Bend for seven years and for Essex in Hoisington for four years. Survivors include three sons, Randy Piland, Kenny Piland and Mark Crawford, all of Hoisington; one brother, Glen Estes of Sherwood, Ark.; one sister, Jean Ohler of Florida; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Carol Moore and Marilyn Kellogg; two half sisters, Opal Halstead and Hazel Barstow; and two half brothers, Boots Estes and Ray Estes. A private graveside service will be held at a later date in the Hoisington cemetery. Cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to Radium Community Center or Kans for Kids in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 N. Main P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Mary Evelyn Dobbs
1962 - 2006
MANHATTAN - Mary Evelyn Dobbs, 44, died Dec. 1 at her residence. She was born Sept. 5, 1962, in Great Bend, the daughter of Roy T. and Louise I. Cummings Bird. A resident of Manhattan since 1998, coming from Great Bend, she was a teacher at Kansas State University and Emporia State University. Survivors include her mother, Louise Bird of Great Bend; three sons, Donovan A. Master of South Korea, and Thomas Dobbs and Zach Dobbs, both of the home; one daughter, Erica Dobbs of the home; two brothers, Paul Bird of Topeka and Jack Bird of Tokyo, Japan; and four sisters, Sandra Gaskins of Lenoir, N.C., Rita Sampson of Pasadena, Calif., Bonnie Fairchild of Herndon, Va., and Phyllis Schindeldecker of Clearwater, Minn. She was preceded in death by one brother, John Bird. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend with the Rev. Scott Tempero officiating. Burial will be in the Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to service time Wednesday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Red Cross in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Esther C. Jost
1911 - 2006
LARNED - Esther C. Jost, 95, of Larned, died Wednesday, Nov. 29, at Larned Healthcare Center. She was a homemaker and had lived in Larned since 1962. She was born Sept. 27, 1911, in Marquette, to Ben and Anna Floer. She married
Eben Berg in Marquette on March 25, 1933. He died in 1950. On Jan. 6, 1963, she married
William Jost at Raton, N.M. He died Aug. 3, 1996. Mrs. Jost was a longtime member of the Elim Lutheran Church in Marquette, St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary in Larned, Ash Valley Sunflower Club and other organizations. Survivors include one daughter, Carloyn and husband John Haas of Larned; grandchildren Eric Berg, wife Ann and daughters Kalyie, Lily and Emily of Lincoln, Neb., Kristina Berg and son Dustin of Loveland, Colo., Charles Haas, wife Tammy and children Macy and Ethan of Larned, Kista Holt, husband Kevin and children Kathryn and Abigail of Olathe; one sister, Annabelle Lindstedt of Marquette; sister-in-law Wilma Floer of Marquette; and two step-sons, Dale Jost of Garden City and Gary Jost of Pawnee Rock, and one step-daughter, Marlene 'Boots' Hedberg of Marquette. She was preceded in death by a son, Jay Dee Berg, and daughter-in-law Bonnie Berg; a great-grandson, Brandon Jay; five sisters and one brother. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Elim Lutheran Church in Marquette with the Rev. David Beece officiating. Burial will be in the Marquette Lutheran cemetery. Friends may call from noon until 8 p.m. today, with family receiving friends from 2 to 4 p.m. at Morell Funeral Home in Larned. Memorials are suggested to the Elim Lutheran Church of Marquette or the Larned Healthcare Center in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Morell Funeral Home P.O. Box 124 Larned, KS 67550-0124
Ruth E. (Kaps) Mehard
1926 - 2006
Ruth E. (Kaps) Mehard, 80, of Great Bend, died Nov. 30 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center's St. Francis campus in Wichita. She was born June 1, 1926, at Bunker Hill, the daughter of Carol W. and Margaret T. (Mahoney) Kaps. She married
Walter L. Mehard on Sept. 23, 1944, at Russell. A resident of Hoisington for 42 years, moving to Great Bend in 2001, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Mehard was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the American Legion Auxiliary, both of Hoisington, and the Order of the Eastern Star, Bunker Hill. Survivors include her husband, of the home; son Randall Mehard and wife Deena, Keller, Texas; two daughters, Marsha Hendrix and husband John, Alva, Okla., and Connie Mehard, Denver, Colo.; brother Robert Kaps, Stillwell; five grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, six great grandchildren and two step-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Don Kaps, Richard Kaps and Larry Kaps; and two sisters, Clara Kaps and Frances Hoffman. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until service time on Monday at the funeral home, with family to receive friends from 4 to 5 p.m. today. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society, in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home P.O. Box 146, 415 North Main Hoisington, KS 67544
Phillip G. Hoefer
1938 - 2006
HUTCHINSON - Phillip G. Hoefer, 68, died Nov. 30 at Hutchinson Hospital. He was born Nov. 4, 1938, in Hutchinson, the son of Orval 'Hap' and Alma Jean Robison Hoefer. He was a longtime resident of Hutchinson, living in Great Bend from 1961 to 1972. He married
Ileine Day on Jan. 24, 1958, in Hutchinson. He worked at Dillon's Food Stores Transportation Division from 1972 to 1998. Hoefer was a member of Westside Baptist Church in Hutchinson. Survivors include his wife, of the home; two sons, Robbin D. Hoefer and wife Debbie and Scott L. Hoefer, both of Hutchinson; three brothers, Carroll D. Hoefer and wife Rose of Hutchinson, Mike Hoefer and wife Jill of McPherson, and Patrick Hoefer and wife Melva of Sulphur, La.; and five grandchildren, Jade R., Nathaniel D., Eric B., Brandon M. and Ryan S. Hoefer. He was preceded in death by his parents and one granddaughter, Elyse B. Hoefer. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Monday at Westside Baptist Church with Pastors Eldon Smith, Tim Adrian and Ralph Nevius officiating. Burial will be in Fairlawn cemetery in Hutchinson. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today with the family receiving friends from 2 to 4 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary in Hutchinson. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the mortuary. Funeral services provided by Elliott Mortuary 1219 North Main Hutchinson, KS 67501
Darold 'Candy Man' Rogers
1956 - 2006
Darold 'Candy Man' Rogers, 50, of Great Bend, died Nov. 29 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born April 13, 1956, at Pratt, the son of Herbert and Arlis Elliott Rogers. A resident of Great Bend since 1974, coming from Pratt, he was owner of Curbside Sales and American Merchandising, both of Great Bend. Rogers was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Claflin, Kansas Independent Automobile Dealers Association, and a past member of the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce. Survivors include his mother Arlis Rogers of Great Bend; companion LeeAnn Byers, Great Bend; and brother Harold Rogers, Pratt. He was preceded in death by his father. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend with the Rev. Don Paden officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery North in Great Bend. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today, with family to receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m., and from 9 a.m. to service time Monday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Golden Belt Humane Society in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Irene C. McPherson
1912 - 2006
CLAFLIN '“ Irene C. McPherson, 94, of Great Bend, died Dec. 1 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born April 5, 1912, at St. Clair, Calif., the daughter of Andrew and Leona (Johnson) Morris. She married
William T. McPherson on March 22, 1927, at Three Sands, Okla. He died on July 7, 1984. A resident of Claflin for 50 years, coming from Chase, she was a homemaker. Mrs. McPherson was a member of First Baptist Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary of Claflin, and a charter member of First Baptist Church in Chase. Survivors include one daughter, Colleen Taylor, Dumas, Texas; son Keith McPherson, Hutchinson; two grandchildren, two great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Roy Morris, Warren Morris and Chester Morris; and two sisters, Edna Cavett and Alma Beard. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with the Rev. Keith Bryant officiating. Burial will be at Claflin cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until service time Monday at the funeral home. Memorials of the donor's choice may be made in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home P.O. Box 146, 415 North Main Hoisington, KS 67544
Charles Leon Darr
1937 - 2006
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Charles Leon Darr, 69, died Nov. 15 in Las Vegas, Nev. He was born April 21, 1937, in Great Bend, the son of Charles Millard Darr and Mildred Irene Darr. Survivors include two daughters, Seema (Danny) Rose and Linda Penrat, both of Las Vegas, Nev.; two sisters, Nina L. (William) Scannell of Youngstown, Ohio, and Nancy L. Adams of Great Bend; and one brother, Paul L. Darr of Largo, Fla. He was preceded in death by his wife Karen and brother Ned L. Darr. Cremation has taken place.
