Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Pamela J. Melia Bailey 1949-2003
MULVANE - Pamela J. Melia Bailey, 54, died Dec. 25 at her home in Mulvane. She was born April 2, 1949, at Dodge City, the daughter of Clyde O. and Cynthia B. Miller Melia. She graduated from Ford High School in 1967. She married
Ronald R. Bailey Dec. 19, 1966, at Wilroads Gardens Christian Church of Dodge City. A resident of Mulvane, coming from Satanta and Dodge City, she was co-owner of Bailey's Venture Foods in Satanta and a part-time employee in cafeterias in Dodge City public schools and for Trinity Retirement Center, also of Dodge City. She was a member of New Covenant Fellowship Church of Sublette. Survivors include her husband of the home; one son, Troy Bailey of Claflin; one daughter, Stephanie Bogner of Mulvane; two brothers, Clyde Melia of Rozel and Tim Melia of Lakin; one sister, Cynthia Hurley of Burrton; and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by an infant son in 1967. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Swaim Funeral Home in Dodge City with the Rev. Joe Dunlap officiating. Burial will be at Ford cemetery in Ford. Memorials are suggested to the church in care of the funeral home, 1901, 6th Ave., Dodge City KS 67801.
Ralph E. O'Connor 1927-2003
WICHITA - Ralph E. O'Conner, 76, died Dec. 26. He was married
to Rita. She preceded him in death. A former resident of Kansas City and Lawrence, he was a retired geologist from State of Kansas Department of Health and Environment and a volunteer at Via Christi RMC St. Joseph Campus. Survivors include one son, Matt O'Connor of Great Bend; two daughters, Adele Dunn of Larned and Annette O'Connor of Albuquerque, N.M.; and one brother, Howard O'Connor of Lawrence. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. today at All Saints Catholic Church in Wichita. Memorials are suggested to American Cancer Society or Via Christi St. Joseph Hospital Auxiliary in care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary, 6555 E. Central, Wichita KS 67206.
Alice M. Hill 1918-2003
WILSON - Alice M. Hill, 85, died Dec. 28 at Wilson Nursing Center. She was born Oct. 28, 1918, at Lincoln County the daughter of Martin and Anna Jenik Kral. She married
Harvey Hill Aug. 2, 1938, at Ellsworth. A lifetime resident of the Wilson and Dorrance area, she was a homemaker. Survivors include two sons, Roger Hill and Mark Hill, both of Wilson; four daughters, Patricia Schnur of Butler, Pa., Bonnita Buehler of Russell, Virginia Mitchell of Ellinwood and Terry Soukup of Wilson; 14 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by an infant son, Harvey Hill Jr.; three brothers; and four sisters. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Foster Mortuary in Wilson with the Rev. Jerome Morgan officiating. Burial will be at Dorrance City cemetery. Friends may call from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and from 8 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to Wilson Nursing Center or Kansas State Center for Cancer Research, both in care of the funeral home.
Richard L. Stevenson Sr. 1934 - 2003
HOISINGTON - Richard L. Stevenson Sr., 69, died Dec. 28 at Veterans Administration Hospital, Wichita. He was born April 17, 1934, at Hoisington, the son of Harold and Alice Pearl Crawford Stevenson. He married
Donna L. Keeslar, May 10, 1952, at Mound Valley. A resident of Hoisington, he was a retired driller in the oilfield. He was army veteran of the Korean war. Stevenson was a member of the House of Faith and a former Lions Club member, both in Hoisington. Survivors include his wife of the home; two sons, Richard L. Stevenson and Robert L. Stevenson, both of Hoisington; two daughters, Barbara L. Taylor, Hoisington, and Dorothy L. Stevenson, Tucson, Ariz.; five brothers, Harold Steveson, Hoisington, Edward Steveson, Greely, Colo., Mike Stevenson, Wilson, Pat Stevenson and Larry Stevenson, both of Great Bend; four sisters, Gladys Marcum, Plainville, Barbara Harlis, Custana, Iowa, Jude Schuh, Valley, Neb., Louna Preciado, Ault, Colo.; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, Hoisington, with Albert Hatten and Wesley Belton officiating. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Hoisington cemetery with military flag presentation by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7428 and American Legion Post 286. Memorials are suggested to Kans for Kids, care of the funeral home.
Vernon J. Skolaut 1925 - 2003
HOISINGTON - Vernon J. Skolaut, 78, died Dec. 28 at his home in Hoisington. He was born May 14, 1925, at Hoisington, the son of Walter and Mary B. Hickel Skolaut. He married
Anna L. Click, Nov. 20, 1951, at Hoisington. He was the retired co-owner of Skolaut 66 Service in Hoisington. A veteran of the Army Air Corps in WW II, he received the WW II Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon, AP Theater Ribbon and four Bronze Service Stars, Air Medal 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. A former mayor, council member and fire chief of Hoisington, he was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 331 AF and AM, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7428 and American Legion Post No. 286, all of Hoisington, and the Lake Barton Golf Club. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, William J. Skolaut, Odessa, Mo.; three daughters, Elaine King, Kansas City, Mo., Lisa Skolaut, Great Bend, Susan Leiker, Sabetha; three brothers, Paul Skolaut and Kim Skolaut, both of Wichita, and Earl Skolaut, Independence, Mo.; two sisters, Irene Polson and Gladys Roller, both of Wichita; and four grandchildren, Greta Leiker and Hillary Leiker, and Sarah Skolaut and Jacob Skolaut. He was preceded in death by one brother, Herman Skolaut. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. today, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington, with the Rev. Ultan Murphy officiating. Private burial will be held at Hoisington cemetery at a later date. Cremation has taken place. Friends may sign the register book from 9 a.m. until service time today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association in care of the funeral home.
Clyde O. Burnside Jr. 1929-2003
Clyde O. Burnside Jr., 74, of Great Bend, retired Bank of America Executive Vice President and Trust Officer, died Dec. 27 after an extended illness. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Great Bend. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Visitation will be today from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Burnside was born Feb. 18, 1929, in Oklahoma City, Okla. He was a 1950 graduate of the University of Kansas and a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He served the Great Bend community as a USD 428 Board Member from 1964 to 1973 and as its president from 1969 to 1973. He was a member of Great Bend Recreation Commission for 28 years, a past board member of the Kansas Recreation and Parks Commission, Great Bend Library Board of Directors and was recognized with the Jaycees Distinguished Service Award. Burnside is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nancy Lee Davis Burnside of the home; one daughter, Carolyn and Nathan Lopez and their two sons, Adam and Evan, all of Gillette, Wyo.; and one son, Bradley Davis Burnside and his three sons, Bradley, Andrew and Grant, all of Wichita. Memorials are suggested to First Congregational United Church of Christ and Heartland Cancer Center, all in care of the funeral home.
David R. Quade 1912 - 2003
ELLSWORTH - David R. Quade, 91, died Dec. 29 at Lake Point at Rose Hill in Rose Hill. He was born Oct. 5, 1912, in Hunter, the son of Wilhelm and Bertha H. Reich Quade. He married
Leona Luck on Sept. 11, 1938, at Lincoln. A resident of Wichita since 2001 coming from Ellsworth where he had lived since 1945. He was a retired civil service engineer for Schilling Air Force Base in Salina and a retired register of deeds for Ellsworth County, Quade was a past barbershop quartet member, and member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6485, American Legion Post 174, Fellowship Club and Kiwanis, all of Ellsworth. He was also a member of Disabled Vets of Kansas and Immanuel Lutheran Church of Ellsworth. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Larry Quade, Derby; one daughter, Theora Wagner, Independence; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Smith Mortuary in Derby and 10 a.m. Friday at the church with the Rev. Clifford Winter officiating. Burial will be at Ellsworth Memorial cemetery with VFW graveside rites. Friends may call from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at the mortuary and 9 to 10 a.m. Friday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church or VFW Post 6485 in care of the funeral home.
Alma Michaelis 1913- 2003
RUSSELL- Alma Michaelis, 90, died Dec. 29 at Russell Regional Hospital. She was born Oct. 12, 1913, at Denver, Colo. the daughter of David J. and Anna Elizabeth Steinle Waymaster. She married
Leo L. Michaelis July 30, 1933, at Russell County. A resident of Russell, coming from Bunker Hill, she was a homemaker and farmwife. Mrs. Michaelis was member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Hoisington, St. John Lutheran Church of Russell, and the Crystal Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in Bunker Hill. Survivors include her husband of the home; four sons, Gerald D. Michaelis of Russell, Roger L. Michaelis of Hoisington, Larry D. Michaelis of Texarkana, Texas, and Gene A. Michaelis of Olathe; one daughter, Shirley A. Brown of Ulysses; one brother, W. Fritz Waymaster of Russell; one sister, Irene Satchell of Russell; 10 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one infant son, Marlin Michaelis; one brother, Leroy Waymaster; and four sisters, Pauline Ehrlich, Esther Propp, Lydia Steinle, and Elsie Cain. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. John Lutheran Church in Russell with the Revs. Henry J. Hartman and Jim Brown officiating. Burial will be at the Michaelis cemetery in Russell County. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. today at Pohlman-Heise Mortuary, with the family receiving friends from 7-9 tonight at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to St. John Lutheran Church Organ Fund or Russell Regional Hospital building fund, both in care of the mortuary.
Doska R. Smithson 1916-2003
LARNED - Doska R. Smithson, 87, died Dec. 23 at Medicalodge in Kinsley. She was born Feb. 21, 1916, at Sanford, the daughter of Albert and Emma Meckfessel Weber. She was a Lewis resident since 1957, moving from Larned to open Lewis Cleaners. Smithson was a member of the Episcopal Church of Saints Mary and Martha and of Eastern Star, both in Larned, and of the American Association of Retired Persons. On July 2, 1938, she married
William Smithson at Great Bend. He died in 1969. Survivors include: three granddaughters, Jody Delay, Schaumberg, Ill., Lori Robinson, Whidbey Island, Wash., and Pam Jaggers, Holt, Mo.; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, John Smithson, a daughter, Emma Jane Case; and a brother, Frank Weber. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Lewis Christian Church with the Revs. Don Pierce and Bill Stapelton officiating. Burial will be in the Wayne cemetery in Lewis. Friends may sign the register from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned. Memorials are suggested to the Lewis Emergency Medical Technicians, Lewis Fire Department, Meadowlark Library or Southwind Hospice, all in care of Beckwith Mortuary in Larned.
Arzola M. Davis 1937-2003
LARNED - Arzola M. Davis, 66, died Dec. 21 at St. Joseph Hospital in Larned. She was born Aug. 13, 1937, at Wallace, the daughter of William M. and Othello Smith Brooks. A resident of Larned since 1972, moving from Sharon Springs, she was a retired health care worker. She married
Floyd Houston in 1956. He died in 1991. She later married
Michael Davis. Survivors include: one son, Mark Houston of Baltimore, Md.; one daughter, Dorla Houston, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; three sisters, Wanda Hurd, Larned, Marie McPherson, Pueblo, Colo., and Billie Hammond, Morrilton, Ark.; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Ruby Lee Houston and Joyce Plaugher; and two brothers, Raymond Brooks and Aaron Brooks. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned with the Revs. McArthur Thomas and Johnny Augmon officiating. Burial will be at the Larned cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Monday at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the Second Baptist Church in care of mortuary.
Dale W. McCoy Jr. 1925-2003
CHANUTE - Dale W. McCoy Jr., 78, died Dec. 24. He married
Eleanor Rice. A resident of Chanute, formerly of Great Bend, he was a sales representative for KVGB in the 1950s and owner of Southeast Kansas Broadcasting Corp. in Chanute. Survivors include his wife of the home; four sons, Mike McCoy of Wichita, Marc McCoy of Houston, Texas, Tim McCoy of Austin, Texas, and Dale McCoy III of San Antonio, Texas; one daughter, Cathi Robillard of Wichita; 18 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial service was held Saturday at Downing and Lahey Mortuary East in Wichita. Memorials are suggested to Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center Endowment Fund of Chanute, 629 S. Plummer, Chanute, KS 66720.
Alberta Diane Patricia Boxberger 1949-2003
SALINA - Alberta Diane Patricia Boxberger, 52, died Dec. 24. She was born March 4, 1949, in Great Bend, the daughter of Albert and Adella Brenner. A resident of Salina, she was a homemaker. Survivors include one son, Tom Boxberger of Wilson; one daughter, Melissa Boxberger of Salina; three sisters, Karen Becker, Sheila Becker and Barbra Moeder; and four grandchildren. Graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Mt. Calvary cemetery. Private family visitation will be held prior to the service. Memorials are suggested to donor's choice, in care of Ryan Mortuary of Salina.
Florentine 'Tina' Bachand 1918-2003
Florentine 'Tina' Bachand, 85, of Great Bend, died Dec. 25 at St. Joseph Village in Manhattan. She was born Nov. 3, 1918, at Odin, the daughter of Alois F. and Hattie Habiger Debes. She married
Emery Bachand Oct. 26, 1937, at Ellinwood. He died Dec. 19, 1993. A resident of Manhattan for four years, coming from Great Bend and Lakin, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Bachand was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and Altar Society, both of Great Bend. Survivors include one son, Denis Bachand of Great Bend; three daughters, Jan Hattrup of Tempe, Ariz., Treva Bachand of Santa Fe, N.M., and Paula Cooper of Manhattan; one brother, Otto Debes of Ness City; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by six brothers, Albert Debes, the Rev. Leo Debes, Walter Debes, Joe Debes, Tony Debes and Lawrence Debes; and five sisters, Sister Emmanuel Debes, Sister Pia Debes, Aurelia Hitschman, Eleanor Debes and Laura Reif. Altar Society rosary will be at 4 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home of Great Bend. Vigil will be at 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Ted Stoecklein officiating. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park cemetery in Great Bend. Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, both at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Alzheimer's Association or Holy Family School Endowment Fund, both in care of the funeral home.
Rosaline L. Phillips 1918-2003
Rosaline L. Phillips, 85, of Great Bend, died Dec. 25 at Beaver. She was born Sept. 28, 1918, the daughter of John S. and Rosa Mary Koeber Cameron. She married
Glen W. Phillips June 19, 1938, at Brookfield, Mo. He died June 27, 1980. A resident of Great Bend since 1953, coming from Kahoka, Mo., she was a manager of the lunch counter at Woolworths. Mrs. Phillips was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ, member and past president of Silver & Gold Club and longtime volunteer reader at Riley School, all of Great Bend. Survivors include one son, Ralph Phillips of Great Bend; one daughter, Helen Schremmer of Beaver; three sisters, Dorothy Neville of Tremont, Ill., Luella Wampler of St. Louis, Mo., and Louise Armstrong of Kahoka, Mo.; four grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Ralph Cameron and Albert Cameron. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Church, with the Rev. Diana Coberly officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home.
