Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Thelda Mae Juarez
1926 - 2004
IRRIGON, Ore. - Thelda Mae Juarez was born on March 30, 1926, in Stockton, Kan., to parents Roy and Grace Hulse Watkins. She died on Aug. 18, 2004, at her home in Irrigon, Ore., at the age of 78 years. She was raised in the Stockton, Plainville and Great Bend, Kan., areas. She graduated from Great Bend High School in 1942. Thelda continued to live in Great Bend, where she owned and operated The Parker House Restaurant for a time before moving to Phoenix, Ariz., in 1968. She lived in Phoenix until 1973 when she moved to Irrigon, where she lived until her death. Thelda was united in marriage to Ramon C. Juarez in April of 1981 in Lewiston, Idaho. She worked as a waitress at various establishments and owned and operated Lone Pine Pilot Service for a time. She enjoyed crocheting, crossword puzzles, flowers and spending time with her family. She is survived by her husband Ramon Juarez of Irrigon; sons Vernon and Larry Suchy, both of Irrigon; daughters Vivian Cameron of Keizer, Ore., and Karen Plueard and Rita Irwin, both of Irrigon, Janet Johnson of Benton City, Wash., June Frederickson of Umatilla, Ore., and Kimberly Jones of Kingston, Wash.; four brothers Chester Watkins of Great Bend, Lloyd Watkins of Newkirk, Okla., Cleo Watkins of Great Bend and Jesse Watkins of Jacksonville, Fla.; 21 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Thelda was preceded in death by her parents and infant brother, Leo. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Funeral arrangements provided by Burns Mortuary 685 W. Hermiston Ave.; P.O. Box 289 Hermiston, OR 97838
Margaret Ann Pedigo
1943 - 2004
HOISINGTON - Margaret Ann Pedigo, 60, died Aug. 16 at Hays Medical Center in Hays. She was born Nov. 8, 1943, at Hoisington, the daughter of Grover and Katherine Jacoby Clift. A lifetime Hoisington resident, she worked in cable repair at Essex Group Inc., Hoisington. Survivors include a son, Mike Pedigo, Hoisington; a daughter, Lori Grimes, Dodge City; a brother, Bob Conrad, Hoisington; a sister, Barbara Friedel, Beaver, Okla.; and two grandchildren. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Nichoson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Burial will be at Hoisington cemetery. Friends may call from noon to 5 p.m. today, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. until service time Friday all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Margaret Ann Pedigo Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home 415 North Main, P.O. Box 146 Hoisington, KS 67544
Sandra Kay 'Sandy' Norvell
1940-2004
Sandra Kay 'Sandy' Norvell, 64, of Great Bend, died Aug. 14 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center's St. Francis campus in Wichita. She was born May 31, 1940, at Council Grove, the daughter of Kenneth Russell and Gladys Stuckey Russell Davis. She married
James A. Norvell on Aug. 12, 1960, at Great Bend. A resident of Great Bend most of her life, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Norvell was a member of First Assembly of God church, where she was a greeter and was involved with other ministries including the Care Ministry. Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Jim Norvell and Brian Norvell, both of Great Bend; daughter Kathi Norvell Zecha, Great Bend; two brothers, Melvin Davis, of Texas, and William 'Bill' Davis, Oxnard, Calif.; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by an infant brother, Brian Russell, a sister, Shirley Russell and a grandson, Michael Norvell. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the church in Great Bend with the Rev. Dwight D. Dozier officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, with family receiving friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday, all at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the church or American Diabetes Association. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Richard John Weber
1914-2004
Richard John Weber, 90, of Great Bend, died Aug. 15 at Ellinwood District Hospital in Ellinwood. He was born Jan. 11, 1914, at Wilson, the son of Henry W. and Anna V. Klepper Weber. He was a shift foreman at Standard Oil/AMOCO for 34 years, retiring in 1979. He had been a resident of Great Bend since 1979, coming from Ulysses. Weber served as a Master Sergeant in the army during World War II, serving in the South Pacific. He was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus in Great Bend. Survivors include a sister, DeSales 'Sally' Marmie, Great Bend; five nephews and six nieces. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Henry W. Weber Jr., Dr. Darrell Weber and Marland Weber; and two sisters, Marie Weber and Bernadean Soukup. Vigil will be at 7 tonight, followed by Knights of Columbus Rosary at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church in Great Bend, with the Rev. Reginald Urban officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Catholic Community Fund of Great Bend or Holy Family School Endowment. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Nila Jean Matkin
1936-2004
STAFFORD - Nila Jean Matkin, 67, died Aug. 14 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center's St. Francis campus in Wichita. born Aug. 15, 1936, at Paris, Ill., she was the daughter of Harvey Gerald and Lois Herrington Martin. She was a 1954 graduate of Plains High School. She was a longtime resident of Plains and had been a bookkeeper for several different businesses. Mrs. Matkin was a past president for the JayCee Janes in Plains and enjoyed quilting, working with crafts and sewing. She married
Duane Graham in Liberal, Kan., in September 1954. They later divorced. She then married
Don Matkin in November 1981 at Miami, Okla. He died in January 1983. She is survived by two sons, Bland Graham, Hutchinson, and Devin Graham, Fayetteville, Ark.; two daughters, Venissa McMillian of Stafford and Abby Carpenter of Parsons; two brothers, Wesley Martin of Plano, Texas, and Sam Bittle of Lawton, Okla.; four sisters, Judy Shamblin of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Linda Miller, Rosemary Jones and Sherri Hamra, all of Lawton, Okla.; eight grandchildren and one great-grandson. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Minnis Chapel in Stafford. Burial will be at the Stafford cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. today at Minnis Chapel. Memorials may be sent to the Stafford District Hospital in care of the chapel. Funeral arrangements provided by Minnis Chapel 125 N. Main Stafford, KS 67578
Charles Edward Naugle
1952-2004
LARNED - Charles Edward Naugle, 52, died Aug. 14 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center's St. Francis campus in Wichita. He was born Jan. 19, 1952, at Great Bend, the son of Edward Andy and Viola May Baines Naugle. He married
LaRayne F. Reed on Sept. 14, 1982, at Larned. A longtime resident of Pawnee and Barton counties, he was a laborer. Naugle was of the Christian faith. Survivors include his wife of the home; son Charles Naugle Jr., Larned; two daughters, Crystal Naugle, Great Bend, and April Naugle, Larned; two brothers, Michael Naugle, Garfield, and Joseph Naugle, Hutchinson; five sisters, Alice Marie Robinson and Wanda Gay McKenna, both of Hutchinson, Shirley Ann Owens, Greenleaf, Brenda Louise Farmer and Teresa Lynn Humphries, both of Larned; and one step-daughter, Yvonne Derbyshire. Graveside service will be at 2 p.m.Wednesday at the Larned cemetery, with the Rev. Leroy Lyon officiating. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned. Memorials are suggested to the Charles E. Naugle Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Morell Funeral Home P.O. Box 124 Larned, KS 67550-0124
Nadine Marie Schloemer
1931 - 2004
Nadine Marie Schloemer, 73, died Aug. 14, 2004, at her Great Bend home. She was born June 18, 1931, at Great Bend, the daughter of Henry and Minnie Fischer Kottwitz. She married
Donald Schloemer August 19, 1949, at Linn Creek, Mo. A resident of Great Bend most of her life, she was a homemaker. Schloemer was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Great Bend, she was a volunteer artist for the church and was a midweek Bible School volunteer. She was a past member of the Apache Chapter of the Kansas Anthropological Association and Cub Scout Den Mother. Survivors include her husband of the home; three sons, Darwin and his wife Marty Schloemer, and Darren and his wife Annette Schloemer, all of Great Bend, and Denton and his wife Becky Schloemer of Ulysses; one daughter, Karen and her husband Dale Shaner of Salina; one sister, Retha and her husband Ronnie Ashworth of Larned; five grandchildren, Tec Sgt. Damon Schloemer and his wife Donna of Guam, Devin Schloemer and his wife Robin of Great Bend, Brandon Schloemer and his wife Brandi of Salem, Mo., Megan Schloemer of Ulysses, and Courtney Bortz and Tanner Schloemer, both of Great Bend; and three great-grandchildren, Deborah Schloemer of Guam, and Darian Schloemer and Breanne Schloemer, both of Great Bend. She was also the grandmother to several foster children. Nieces and nephews also survive. She was preceded in death by her parents; two daughters, Debra and DeLila; one son, Douglas; and one grandson, Cody Schloemer. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Jim Strasen officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Great Bend. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Relay for Life of Barton County, Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice or Trinity Lutheran Church. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
Clarence Dinkel
1917-2004
HAYS '“ Clarence Dinkel, 86, died Aug. 13, 2004, at St. John's of Hays. He was born Aug. 30, 1917, at Victoria, the son of Frank M. and Rosa Hertel Dinkel. He married
Alice Ruder Oct. 23, 1939, at Victoria. She died Feb. 14, 1991. He was a 1936 graduate of Victoria High School. He was a farmer and a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hays and the Knights of Columbus Council # 6984. Survivors include; two sons, Kenneth of Hays and Allen of Hoisington; three daughters, Louise Chaffin of Hacienda Heights, Calif., Brenda Schmeidler of Catherine and Elaine Lofgreen of Norton; two brothers, George Dinkel and the Rev. Harvey Dinkel, both of Victoria; 10 sisters, Julitta Dechant of Salina, Bertha Prewo of Oakley, Viola Richmeier of Grinnell, Regina Dechant, Melinda Griebel and Mary Younker, all of Hays, Sister Francis Rose Dinkel of St. Michaels, Ariz., Sister Paul Ann Dinkel of Hays, Irene Scruggs of Vassar and Rita Rohr of Wichita; 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Hilarius Dinkel and Edward Dinkel. Sisters of St. Agnes and Associates memorial service will be at 4:30 p.m. Monday, a Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, and a parish vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Monday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Hays. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hays. Burial will be at St. Joseph cemetery in Hays. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. today, and from 3-8 p.m. Monday and from 9-9:45 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the church or Thomas Moore Prep-Marian High School in Hays. Funeral arrangements provided by Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 20th and Pine Hays, KS 67601
Glenda Gaye Houdyshell
1909 - 2004
LARNED - Glenda Gaye Houdyshell, 95, died Aug. 3, 2004, at Tucson, Ariz. She was born March 21, 1909, at Pawnee Rock, the daughter of Albert and Eunice Brewer Lile. On Oct. 17, 1926, she married
Vin Houdyshell. He died April 5, 1988. They operated a drug store in Pawnee Rock for several years before establishing their own drug store, Vin's Pharmacy, in Larned. They successfully operated the store until their retirement in 1963. After retirement they did substitute work in drug stores in Kansas, Colorado and Arizona before leaving their longtime Larned residence and retiring to Tucson in 1983. Mrs. Houdyshell was a member of the Casas Adobes Congregational Church in Tucson. Survivors include: a daughter, Jacqueline and husband Arlyn G. Smith, Tucson; two granddaughters, Dana Hines, Tucson, and Denise Smith, Dallas, Texas; grandson Arlyn Smith II, Wichita; five great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Sarah, Tyler Smith, all of Wichita, Joseph Vrechek, Dallas, and Spence Hines, Tucson; and one step-great-grandson, Justin Smith, Wichita; and four great-great-grandchildren. Graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Pawnee Rock cemetery in Pawnee Rock. The family will receive friends from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned. Memorials are suggested to the Casas Adobes Congregational Church or Alzheimer's Association, or to the donor's choice, all in care of Beckwith Mortuary. Funeral arrangements provided by Beckwith Mortuary Inc. P.O. Box 477 Larned, KS 6755
Ralph Emerson Weller
1916 - 2004
Ralph Emerson Weller passed away on Aug. 12, 2004, surrounded by his family, at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend, Kan. Ralph was born at home in Graham County near Palco, Kan., on Feb. 25, 1916. His mother was Iza Ilma Noah and his father was Ora Webster Weller. His mother and father and his brother, Bob Weller, preceded him in death. Ralph married
Ruth Platt on May 23, 1950, in Laclede, Kan. Ruth and Ralph traveled and lived all over Kansas and Texas during their married
life while Ralph pursued his dreams. He started as a Cat operator and worked on and supervised construction crews for many years. Finally, armed with a few color brochures, a quick wit, an immense amount of confidence and the soul of a gambler, Ralph started what would become one of the largest John Deere Industrial dealerships in the United States. He started in Great Bend, where he and Ruth settled in 1961 to raise their family. By the time he sold the business in 1979, he covered the state of Kansas with dealerships in Great Bend, Colby, Dodge City, Salina, Topeka and Wichita. After the sale, he continued to work as the head of Weller Tractor Salvage. Ralph attended the First United Methodist Church and was a member of Great Bend Masonic Lodge No. 15 AF&AM, Sunflower Shrine Club, Isis Shrine, Order of the Eastern Star and a former member of the Santa Fe Trail Association Wet-Dry Routes Chapter. Ralph is survived by his dear wife, Ruth, and his children: David and his wife Lori of Great Bend; and Rebecca and her husband Michael Whelan of Great Bend. He is also survived by his sister Eva Strecker of Osborne, Kan.; his brother Dale Weller of Great Bend; his brother Randall Weller of Hill City, Kan.; his stepmother Margaret Maupin of Paradise, Kan.; and his close friends Lawrence and Sherri Debes of Larned, Kan. Ralph was a proud and doting grandfather to his three grandchildren, Machaela Whelan, Kinnat Whelan and Jeremy Weller. Ralph was a smart, determined man who made his dreams come true and, along the way, provided beautifully for his family, was a good boss to hundreds of employees, and left his mark on many lives and communities. His family and his friends will miss him every day. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Gary Brooks officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. at Mt. Herman cemetery in Paradise, Kan., with Masonic Graveside Rites by Great Bend Masonic Lodge No. 15 AF&AM. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to Masonic Lodge Food Basket or Sunflower Shrine Club Travel Fund or First United Methodist Church, all in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
David Clair Brewer
1965 - 2004
VALLEY CENTER - David Clair Brewer, 38, died Aug. 9 at his home in Valley Center. He was born Dec. 28, 1965, at Ellsworth, the son of David M. Brewer and Betty Ann Polsfut Brewer Root. He graduated Cum Laude from Newman University, where he was on the National Dean's List, a Board of Regents Scholarship recipient and listed in Who's Who Among College Students. A resident of Valley Center for one year, coming from Great Bend, he was a learning disability instructor and emotional disturbed consultant for Barton County Cooperative of Special Services - USD 428 of Great Bend and the Mental Health Department of Salina. Brewer was a member of Kansas-National Education Association, CEC and the Great Bend Community Theater Board of Directors. Survivors include his mother, Betty Root and step-father Wilbur Root of Great Bend; brother Dan Brewer of Bainbridge Island, Wash.; sister Candace Juarez and husband Tim of Lakewood, Colo.; maternal grandmother Gerda Polsfut of Minot, N.D.; four nephews, Christopher Juarez, Shawn Juarez, Zach Brewer and Ely Brewer; niece Anyssa Juarez; and many aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his father, David M. Brewer; maternal grandfather, Leo Polsfut; and paternal grandparents, the Rev. E.W.M. Brewer and Martha Brewer. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with the Rev. David Loeschen officiating. Private family burial will be at Ellsworth cemetery in Ellsworth. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. until service time Friday, both at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Barton County Special Education or Barton County Community College Drama Department, both in care of the funeral home. Funeral arrangements provided by Bryant Funeral Home 1425 Patton Road Great Bend, KS 67530
