Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Earl Wayne Barnes 1931-2003
LARNED - Earl Wayne Barnes, 72, died May 28 at Hutchinson Hospital. He was born May 11, 1931, at Longview, Texas, the son of Louise Smith Barnes. He married
Marjorie Louise Bird Nov. 24, 1950, at Larned. A lifetime Pawnee County resident, he was former manager of Garfield Co-op. Barnes was a member and an elder of The Father's House Church of Larned, and was a member of Garfield Lions Club. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Kim Alan Barnes of Larned; two daughters, Marsha Kaye Hinds of Salina and Cheryl Diann Lawrence of Great Bend; and six grandchildren. Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, formerly New Covenant Church, with the Revs. Brett Hill and Tim Oglesby officiating. Burial will be at Garfield cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned. Memorials are suggested to the church or Central Kansas Medical Center Cancer Research Center, both in care of the mortuary.
Obed Vazquez Juarez 2003-2003
Obed Vazquez Juarez, 46 days old, of Great Bend, died May 28 in Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. He was born April 12, 2003 at Great Bend, the son of Samuel Juarez and Nohemi Vazquez. Survivors include his parents of the home; two brothers, Ever Juarez of Mexico and Aaron Juarez of Great Bend; one sister, Abigail Juarez of Great Bend; and grandparents, Pascual and Enedina Villa de Vazquez of Mexico. Prayer service will be at 7 tonight at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Iglesia De La Cosecha with the Rev. Hector Alonso Castro officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from noon until 9 today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Obed Vazquez Juarez expense fund, in care of the funeral home.
Retha Fern Dougherty 1921-2003
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Retha Fern Dougherty, 82, died May 26 in St. Louis. She was the daughter of Warren and Esther O'Brien of Ness City. She married
Gerald Dougherty. He preceded her in death. A resident of St. Louis, coming from Midland, Texas, Houston, Texas, and Great Bend, she was a production accountant for Union Texas Petroleum for 15 years, retiring in 1986. Survivors include two sons, Gerald M. Dougherty of Houston and Thomas W. Dougherty of Columbia, Mo.; two daughters, Diane O'Brien and Pat Dougherty, both of St. Louis; one sister, Lorraine Holmes of El Dorado; 10 grandchildren. Rosary will be at 7 tonight at Ellis Funeral Home in Midland. Funeral Mass will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Stephen's Catholic Church of Midland. Burial will be at Resthaven Memorial Park in Midland. Memorials are suggested to the church building fund, in care of the funeral home.
Mervin L. Fisher 1915-2003
LARNED - Mervin L. Fisher, 88, died May 27 at Hospice of the Valley in Mesa, Ariz. She was born Jan. 4, 1915, at Atchison, the daughter of John Thomas and Margaret Elizabeth Kohn Flynn. She married
Chester Lee Fisher Aug. 9, 1939, at Atchison. He died Aug. 13, 1998. A resident of Phoenix, Ariz., coming from Larned, she was a registered nurse at Larned State Hospital and a homemaker. Fisher was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a charter member of Altar Society, both of Larned. Survivors include three sons, Dr. Robert Lee Fisher of Normal, Ill., John Emery Fisher of Aspen, Colo., and Thomas Wayne Fisher of Larned; one daughter, Patricia Ann DiSomma of Phoenix; one sister, Alice M. Smith of Topeka; 18 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, three sisters, and one grandson, Ken Armstrong. Parish vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church with the Rev. Dennis Reed officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery. Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart School, in care of the funeral home.
Joyce Colleen Plaugher 1957-2003
LARNED - Joyce Colleen Plaugher, 45, died May 23 at Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita. She was born Nov. 21, 1957, at Cheyenne Wells, Colo., the daughter of Floyd and Arzola Houston. She married
Michael C. Plaugher Sept. 25, 1999, at Custer Addition, W.Va. A resident of Pawnee Rock, coming from Larned, she was an accountant and nurses aide. Plaugher was a member of Second Baptist Church in Larned. Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Daniel Moon Jr. and Clifford Moon; two step-sons, Jason Plaugher and Jeremy Plaugher; her parents; one brother, Mark Houston of Baltimore, Md.; and one sister, Dorla Houston of Fort Lauderaill, Fla. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned with the Rev. McArthur Thomas officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Friday, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society in care of the mortuary chapel.
Michelle Lynn Lumpkins 1975-2003
ABILENE - Michelle Lynn Lumpkins, 28, died May 24 at Abilene. She was born May 15, 1975, at Kansas City, the daughter of Albert and Jeanette Whitmer Schendel. A resident of Abilene, coming from Wilson, she was a cosmetologist at The Cedars in Abilene. Lumpkins was a member of Wilson United Methodist Church in Wilson. Survivors include one son, Gage Lumpkins of Abilene; and her parents of Wilson. She was preceded in death by one sister, Valerie. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the church with the Rev. Elaine Lord officiating. Burial will be at Wilson City cemetery. Friends may call from 8 a.m. to 8 tonight at Foster Mortuary in Wilson and from 10 a.m. to service time Thursday at the church.
John B. Hann 1911-2003
HANSTON - John B. Hann, 91, died May 25 at Hodgeman County Health Center in Jetmore. He was born June 4, 1911, at Hanston, the son of John C. and Mayme L. Seaman Hann. He married
Opal Salmans July 18, 1931, at Lyons. A lifetime resident of Hanston, he was a farmer. Hann was a member of First Baptist Church and Lions Club, both of Hanston. Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Lelah Mae Webster of Tucson, Ariz., and Terlyn Jon Shaw of Broomfield, Colo.; 17 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Duane 'Sandy' Hann; and one daughter, Patrica Ann Smith; and three brothers, Bill Hann, Shirley Hann and Merlin Hann. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. this morning at United Methodist Church in Hanston with the Rev. Mitch Reece officiating. Burial will be at Hanston cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Hospice of St. Catherine's of Garden City or Hearts Ministries, both in care of Beckwith Funeral Home of Jetmore.
Beverly J. Asher 1918-2003
STAFFORD - Beverly A. Asher, 84, died May 23 at Pratt Regional Medical Center. He was born Aug. 27, 1918, at Stafford, the son of Chester and Minnie Fortner Asher. He married
Alma Ella Conwell June 22, 1940. A lifetime Stafford resident, he was a farmer. Asher was a member of the Township Board and Calvary Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife of the home; three sons, Larry C. Asher of Kathmandu, Nepal, James C. Asher of Flower Mound, Texas, and Donald D. Asher of Ellinwood; one daughter, Barbara S. Hildebrand of Pratt; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, James Randall Asher; and two sisters, Doris McNickle and Madeline Sanford. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church with the Rev. David Vetter officiating. Burial will be at Stafford cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. today at Minnis Chapel in Stafford. Memorials are suggested to the church or the United Mission to Nepal, both in care of the chapel.
Roy R. Smith 1913-2003
LARNED - Roy R. Smith, 90, died May 25 at St. Joseph Long Term Care in Larned. He was born March 31, 1913, at Pawnee Rock, the son of George and Susie Schultz Smith. He married
Lenora Smith June 12, 1938, at Pawnee Rock. She died March 9, 2003. A lifetime Pawnee County resident, he was a farmer and taught woodworking at Larned State Hospital for 10 years. Smith was a member of Bergthal Mennonite Church in Pawnee Rock. Survivors include one daughter, Betty Nicholson and her husband, Bill of Larned; two grandchildren, Tamara Beckwith and husband Kyle of Jetmore, and Kerry Nicholson and wife Kathy of Larned; one grandson-in-law, Ron Potter of Collinsville, Okla.; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Lamont Smith, Oliver Smith and Lester Smith; two sisters, Gladys Siebert and Ethel Polzin; and one granddaughter, Tanya Potter. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the church with the Revs. Todd and Lynn Schlosser officiating. Burial will be at Bergthal Mennonite Church cemetery in Pawnee Rock. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Wednesday, all at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned. Memorials are suggested to the church in care of the funeral home.
Mike Lumpkins 1974-2003
ABILENE - Mike Lumpkins, 28, died May 24 at Abilene. He was born Aug. 6, 1974, at Great Bend, the son of Loren and Ann Hannaberry Lumpkins. He was a graduate of Quivira Heights High School. A resident of Abilene since 1999, coming from Salina, he was a sales manager for Green Ford in Abilene. Survivors include one son, Kanyon Lumpkins of Abilene; two daughters, Kristen Lumpkins and Kandyce Lumpkins, both of Wichita; his father of El Campo, Texas; his mother and stepfather, Ann and Jim Thompson of Holyrood; one brother, Tom Lumpkins of Wichita; one stepbrother, Kristopher Thompson with the U.S. Army in Iraq; one stepsister, Brooke Thompson of Ellsworth; two half-brothers, Dalton Lumpkins and Brady Lumpkins, both of Scott City; grandparents, Mildred Hannaberry of Holyrood, Delwin and Ramona Lumpkins of Liberty, Texas; and stepgrandparents, Lex and Florence Thompson of Russell. Funeral will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Holyrood, with the Rev. Mary Lou Klein officiating. Burial will be at St. Paul's United Church of Christ cemetery. Friends may call from 1-8 p.m. Wednesday, from 8 a.m. until noon Thursday, both at Parson Funeral Home of Ellsworth, and from 3-4 p.m. Thursday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Mike Lumpkins Athletic Scholarship Fund at Quivira Heights High School, in care of the funeral home.
Malcolm William McKibbin 1926-2003
DODGE CITY - Malcolm William McKibbin, 76, died May 25 at his residence in Dodge City. He was born Sept. 30, 1926, in Hodgeman County, the son of Malcolm John and Ida Mae Gasgill McKibbin. He married
Joanne Lee Fagen Nov. 30, 1952, at Jetmore. A resident of Dodge City, he was a self-employed contractor. McKibbin was a member of First United Methodist Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Moose Lodge, all of Dodge City. He was a petty officer in the U.S. Navy Seabees, serving from 1943 until 1945. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Scot Ty McKibbin of Dodge City; two daughters, Kim Denise Gibbs of Dodge City and Shari Rae McKibbin of Greensburg; one sister, Maxine Salmans of Hanston; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Willard McKibbin, Ramond McKibbin and Franklin McKibbin; and three sisters, Veda Humphrey, Vera Shiew and Irene Newsome. Memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at United Methodist Church of Jetmore, with the Rev. Dick Robbins officiating. Inurnment will be at Fairmount cemetery in Jetmore. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until 8 tonight and from 9 a.m. until noon Wednesday, all at Beckwith Funeral Home in Jetmore. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the Prairie or Parkinsons Disease Foundation, both in care of funeral home.
Richard Dean Tudor 1933-2003
HOLTON - Richard Dean Tudor, 70, died May 22 at Colmery-O'Neill V.A. Medical Center in Topeka. He was born April 21, 1933, on a farm east of Holton, the son of Walter E. and Carrie Todd Tudor. He was a 1951 graduate of Holton High School. He married
Donna Lee Mathewson Nov. 17, 1957, at Sabetha. A lifetime Holton area resident, he was a farmer and stockman and after retirement had a commercial lawn mowing business in Holton. Tudor was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Holton and a past member of Elk Valley Grange. He was a U.S. Army veteran. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Jerry Tudor of Holton; two daughters, Linda Reschke of Great Bend and Lorraine Jensby of Beatrice, Neb.; one brother, Edward Tudor of Shreveport, La.; three sisters, Doris Shoff and Phyllis Zibell, both of Holton, and Helen Hunter of Topeka; and five grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Burial will be at Holton cemetery. Friends may call from 7 - 8 p.m. Monday at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Memorials are suggested to the church or Jackson County Emergency Medical Service, all in care of the funeral home.
Emelia E. Elsen 1909-2003
Emelia E. Elsen, 93, of Great Bend, died May 22, at Woodhaven Care Center in Ellinwood. She was born July 29, 1909, at St. Leo, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Geiger Schwartz. She married
Nicholas Raymond 'Nick' Elsen April 28, 1932, at Colwich. He died June 27, 1978. A resident of Great Bend since 1948, coming from Colwich, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Elsen was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and St. Patrick Altar Society, both of Great Bend. Survivors include five sons, Nick Elsen and Jerome Elsen, both of Great Bend, Richard Elsen of Ellinwood, Ralph Elsen of Parsons and Stan Elsen of Timken; three daughters, Elvira Henning and Connie Watts, both of Great Bend, and Betty Staudinger of Beaver; 42 grandchildren; 71 great-grandchildren; and six step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Julitta Dyer; three brothers, William Schwartz, Charles Schwartz and Raymond Schwartz; four sisters, Frances Hauser, Minnie Bock, Ida Theis and Rose Theis; two grandchildren, Mike Elsen and Kevin Henning; and one great-grandchild, Joshua Gaunt. Altar Society rosary will be at 4 p.m. Monday followed by vigil service at 7 p.m., both at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church with the Revs. Warren Stecklein and Angel Dy officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Emelia Elsen Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home.
Marvin Dean Johnson 1947-2003
LARNED - Marvin Dean Johnson, 55, died May 21 at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. He was born Oct. 9, 1947, at Nashville, the son of Carl August and Florence Evelyn Stillwell Johnson. A longtime resident of San Antonio, he was a truck driver for J.B. Hunt Trucking. Johnson was of the Christian faith and was a U. S. Army veteran, having served in the Vietnam War. Survivors include one son, Joe Johnson of Larned; one daughter, Kay Keller of Larned; two step-sons, Tony Chandler and Rocky Chandler, both of Wichita; mother of Pawnee Rock; three brothers, Frank Johnson of Wichita, John Johnson of Turpin, Okla., and Howard Johnson of Claflin; five sisters, Carla Nutting of Port Lavoca, Texas, Sharla Woods of Larned, and Darla Belt, Marla Johnson and Monica Brackbill, all of Pawnee Rock; and 15 grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Morell Funeral Home in Larned. Burial will be at Garfield cemetery. Friends may call from noon until 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday and from 9 a.m. until service time, all at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society in care of the funeral home.
Kenneth Samuel Rudeen 1929-2003
NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Kenneth Samuel Rudeen, a four-decade veteran of Sports Illustrated magazine, died on May 21 in New Port Richey, Fla. He was 73. The cause was complications of cancer. Mr. Rudeen was born on Aug. 21, 1929, in Kansas City, Mo. His career in journalism began at age 14 when he went to work for The Kansas City Star and Times, folding papers for delivery. He became obituary editor and later the top general assignment reporter for the Times. He was the Star's own correspondent while attending the University of Kansas, where he graduated in 1952. After serving in the Army during the Korean War, he joined the staff of Sports Illustrated in September 1954, three months after the magazine was founded. Starting out as a reporter, then writer, he became senior editor in charge of baseball, college football, hockey, motor racing and sailing. Noted for being an excellent headline writer, he posed Joe Namath in Times Square for the cover of the magazine, creating 'Broadway Joe.' Mr. Rudeen was executive editor of Sports Illustrated when he retired in 1991. He wrote Men at Speed, The Swiftest and an enduring series of books for children about minority sports heroes: Wilt Chamberlain, Roberto Clemente, Jackie Robinson and Muhammed Ali. His interests were long-distance bicycling, ballroom dancing and bridge. He is survived by his wife, Anne of South Salem, N.Y., and New Port Richey; his sister, Joan Bleich of Kansas City; his daughter, Louisa Rudeen Beckett of Norwalk, Conn., editor in chief of Motor Boating magazine; and Gary Beckett and Kaitlyn Beckett. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society. Preferred Funeral Alternatives in Holiday, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
