Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Helen June Sears 1917-2003
HOISINGTON - Helen June Sears, 86, died Dec. 22 at Hays Medical Center in Hays. She was born June 6, 1917, at Formosa, the daughter of Charles and Ona Stickleman Alderson. She married
Oliver M. Sears Aug. 14, 1938, at Independence. He died April 5, 1997. A resident of Hoisington since 1942, she was retired from Sears Firestone in Hoisington. Mrs. Sears was a member of First United Methodist Church and Order of Eastern Star UNA Chapter No. 119, both of Hoisington. Survivors include two sons, Jerry Sears of Liberty, Mo., and Mike Sears of St. Charles, Iowa; one sister, Betty Bangerter of Great Bend; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Ross Alderson; and three sisters, Opal Plummer, Merrill Looney and Neva Heusner. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. Wayne Flanders officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington and from 9:30 a.m. to service time Wednesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church, in care of the funeral home.
Mamie Marie Farmer 1919-2003
HARRISON, Ark. - Mamie Marie Farmer, 84, died Dec. 16 at Great Bend. She was born Dec. 2, 1919, at Springdale, Ark., the daughter of William Emett and Bertha Mae Myers Butler. She married
Clyde Farmer. He died in 1990. A resident of Kansas, coming from Newton and Boone County, Ark., she was a homemaker. She attended Grace Christian Center. Survivors include two sons, James W. Farmer of Hoisington and Charles Robert Farmer of Marble Falls, Ark.; three daughters, Eula Dean Kautz of Waltonville, Ill., Wilma Jean Maus of Tulsa, Okla., and Rita Nuss of Broken Arrow, Okla.; one brother, Arvel Butler of Fayetteville, Ark.; 15 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren. Funeral was Saturday at Coffman Chapel in Harrison with the Rev. Hubert Kidder officiating. Burial was at Whit Church cemetery in Harrison. Memorials are suggested to Grace Christian Center in Harrison or Clara Barton Hospital Foundation in Hoisington, both in care of Coffman Funeral Home, 501 Old Bellefonte Road, Harrison, AR 72602.
Steven Ray Jones 1951-2003
Steven Ray Jones, 52, of Great Bend, died Dec. 20 at Hutchinson Hospital. He was born Jan. 22, 1951, the son of Jesse H. and Evelyn Louise Satterfield Jones. A lifetime resident of Great Bend, he was self-employed as an interior decorator. Jones was a member of the Christian faith and the Muzzle Loaders Association. Survivors include his mother of Great Bend; a brother, Harold Lee Jones, Manchester, Mass.; and two sisters, Janice L. Hauck of Great Bend and Jessica R. Jones of McPherson. He was preceded in death by one brother, William M. Jones. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend with the Rev. Dwight Dozier officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. until service time Tuesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice or First Assembly of God in care of the funeral home.
Glenda Elaine Davis 1940-2003
DELPHOS - Glenda Elaine Davis, 63, died Dec. 18 at Salina Regional Health Center. She was born Dec. 7, 1940, at Beloit, the daughter of Alfred Glen and Eunice Mae Sporleder Plymire. She married
Lowell Davis. He died in 1998. A resident of Delphos, she and her late husband operated DK's in Delphos for nine years and later farmed. Survivors include one son, Glen Davis of Delphos; four daughters, Karen Kiser of Delphos, Diane Plunkett of Cottonwood Falls, Tammie Yeakley of Hoisington and Konnie Smith of Salina; one sister, Fonda Puckett of Kipp; and 14 grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Shields Funeral Home in Minneapolis. Burial will be at Fairview cemetery in Ada. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Jeremy Kiser Fund, in care of State Bank of Delphos.
Frank A. Neff 1923-2003
Frank A. Neff, 80, of Great Bend, died Dec. 20 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born Jan. 6, 1923, the son of William Allen and Edith Mae Tucker Neff. He married
Loeva P. Brittain July 6, 1946, at Bristow, Okla. She died July 30, 2002. A resident of Great Bend since 1945, coming from Lyons, he was a production superintendent of Nadel and Gussman Oil Producers. Neff was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3111 and the former Grace United Church. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army in the 7th Armor Division. Survivors include two daughters, Marlene Harrison, Buckhannon, W.V., and Sonja Phillips, Tulsa, Okla.; two sisters, Louise Twitty, Merced, Calif., and Phyllis Garrett, Sun City, Ariz.; five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Alvin Ray Neff, a brother, Ernest Neff, and by two sisters, Olive Neff and Ethel Mae Neff. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend with the Rev. Brian Norvell officiating. Burial will be at the Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Lung Association, in care of the funeral home.
Margaret A. 'Marge' Haberman 1914-2003
Margaret A. 'Marge' Haberman, 89, of Great Bend, died Dec. 18 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. She was born Feb. 21, 1914, the daughter of W.M. and Katie Weber Polzin. She married
Carl F. Haberman Oct. 15, 1941, at Great Bend. He died July 21, 1997. She was co-owner of Haberman Implement Co. of Great Bend. Mrs. Haberman was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and St. Patrick Society. Survivors include one brother, Joe Polzin of Hoisington; and one sister, Lucille Weber of Wilson. She was preceded in death by five brothers, Jake Polzin, Rome Polzin, Wilford Polzin, Matt Polzin and John Polzin; and three sisters, Mary Robl, Clara Reif and Leonetta Tinkle. Altar Society rosary will be at 4 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church with the Revs. Ted Stoecklein, Warren Stecklein and Gerald Hammeke officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Holy Family School Endowment Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Frances J. Bieberle 1904-2003
Frances J. Bieberle, 98, of Great Bend died Dec. 18 at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington. She was born Dec. 19, 1904, at Dubuque, the daughter of Nicholas J. Jr. and Mary Dolechek Weber. She married
Joseph Charles Bieberle Oct. 10, 1928, at Dubuque. He died Sept. 1, 1996. She was a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Great Bend, St. Rose Altar Society and Daughters of Isabella. Survivors include one son, Clarence Bieberle of Hoisington; one daughter, Janet Chism of Great Bend; one sister, Anna Lee Habiger of Bushton; 14 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, Gilbert Bieberle; one brother, Nicholas Weber Jr.; and two sisters, Mary Schartz and Matilda Schartz. Altar Society Rosary will be at 4 p.m. today at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Vigil service will be at 7:30 p.m. today. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church with the Rev. Reginald A. 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 Holy Family School Endowment Fund in care of the funeral home.
Mark Edward Evans 1951-2003
HAYS - Mark Edward Evans, 52, died Dec. 17 at Hays Medical Center. He was born July 29, 1951, at Emporia, the son of Gerald Franklin and Marjorie Boatwright Evans. He married
Brenda Stout Jan. 1, 1972, at Larned. He was an over-the-road transportation engineer for BOC Gases. Evans was a member of Agape Southern Baptist Church of Hays, the Gideons and a charter member of Hays Humane Society. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Mark Christopher Evans of WaKeeney; one daughter, Tonia Michelle Harvey of Hays; two brothers, Gerald Jeffrey Evans of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Dale Franklin Evans of St. Charles, Ill.; his mother of Hays; and four grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the church with the Rev. Jimmy Pitson officiating. Burial will be at Ft. Hays Memorial Gardens in Hays. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Hays Memorial Chapel and from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church or Gideons, both in care of the funeral home.
Robert E. 'Bob' Huber 1933-2003
LA CROSSE - Robert E. 'Bob' Huber, 70, died Dec. 18 at his home in La Crosse. He was born Feb. 14, 1933, at La Crosse, the son of George Jake and Mary Elizabeth Hearting Huber. He was a 1951 graduate of La Crosse High School. He married
Jo Ann Seaman July 29, 1952, at La Crosse. A lifelong Rush County resident, he was a farmer and stockman. Huber was a member of Evangelical United Brethren Church and served on the La Crosse Coop Board. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Randy L. Huber of La Crosse; two daughters, Diana M. Huber of Topeka and Patricia L. Moran of McCracken; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Katherine Huber; two brothers, George Huber Jr. and Willard Huber; and one sister, Wilma Huber. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Janousek Funeral Home in La Crosse. Burial will be at La Crosse City cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Rush County Memorial Hospital in La Crosse or Central Rush County Emergency Medical Service of La Crosse, both in care of the funeral home.
Lillie Mae Coffey 1929-2003
ARKANSAS CITY - Lillie Mae Coffey, 74, died Dec. 17 at Presbyterian Manor Health Care Unit in Arkansas City. She was born Nov. 29, 1929, in Springer, Okla., the daughter of Morgan and Minnie Adams Tanner. She was a 1948 graduate of Fox High School in Fox, Okla. She married
Roy E. Coffey July 21, 1949, in Terral, Okla. He preceded her in death. A resident of Arkansas City since 1975, coming from Texas, Kansas and Iowa, she was a homemaker. Mrs. Coffey was a member of First United Methodist Church and Walnut Valley Quilter's Guild. Survivors include one son, Phil Coffey of Carmel, Ind.; one daughter, Cheryl Haimann of Des Moines, Iowa; one sister, Nelda True of St. Louis, Mo.; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Carl Tanner and Tom Tanner. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home in Arkansas City, with the Rev. Lance Carrithers officiating. Burial will be at Parker cemetery. Memorials are suggested to American Diabetes Foundation, in care of the funeral home.
Merle Stroble-Traylor 1909-2003
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Merle Stroble-Traylor, formerly of Great Bend and Topeka, passed away Dec. 16 in Albuquerque, where she had resided since 1995. She was born Sept. 18, 1909, in Seward, to Ella Keenan-Stroble and John Stroble, who farmed in that area. She lived in Seward until May 4, 1940, when she married
Vernon Traylor of Great Bend. After her graduation from high school in St. John, she was employed as a school teacher in a one-room schoolhouse near Seward. After she married
, she resided in Great Bend with her husband. During World War II, while her husband was in the United States Army, she managed the Sinclair Refining Co. bulk plant in Great Bend, supplying petroleum products to area businesses and farmers. After the war, she devoted her time to her family, which by 1948 included three children, John, Nancy and Constance, as well as her mother who lived with the family. She also operated a seasonal wholesale fireworks business, and acquired two small farms. In 1966, she became a licensed real estate broker, and in 1968, she and her husband moved to Topeka, where they pursued careers in residential real estate. In 1975, she was named Outstanding Woman of the Year by the Topeka Council of Women Realtors, and she also served as the president of that organization. She had many skills and interests, including antique restoration, flower arranging, cooking and travel, as well as her considerable business skills. Her main interest was always her family, and wherever she lived she also had devoted friends who appreciated her great kindness, generosity and intelligence. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister Eleanor Stroble Harris, and many other relatives and friends. She is survived by her three children, daughter-in-law Ingrid Traylor, son-in-law Richard Miller, grandsons Grady Miller and Jess Miller, and nephew James Harris. She will be missed terribly by family members who cherish the memory of her unquestioning love and loyalty. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Seward, with the Father Rene Guesnier officiating. Interment will be at St. Francis Xavier cemetery in Seward. Arrangements by Charter Funerals, 2115 Washington, Great Bend, KS, 620-793-6161.
Patricia Pearl Blackburn 1939-2003
GARFIELD - Patricia Pearl Blackburn, 64, died Dec. 15 at St. Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned. She was born July 8, 1939, at Pawnee County, the daughter of Harold Lee and Iva Mae Vesper Grandy. She married
Charles William Blackburn April 9, 1959, at Garfield. He died Dec. 11, 1995. A lifetime Pawnee County resident, she was a homemaker. She was a member of United Methodist Church, Over 50 Club and United Methodist Women, all of Garfield. Survivors include one son, Chad Blackburn of Wichita; her mother of Garfield; three brothers, Charles Grandy of Appleton, Wis., James Grandy of Larned and Gene Grandy of Wichita; and two grandchildren. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned, with the Rev. Ken Walker officiating. A private family burial will follow. Memorials are suggested to American Diabetes Association, in care of the mortuary.
John Arthur Caro 1910-2003
LARNED - John Arthur Caro, 93, died Dec. 14 at Larned Healthcare Center in Larned. He was born April 20, 1910, at Larned, the son of John Thurston and Lizetta Belle Jones Caro Bradley. He married
Bernice Maxine Smith Jan. 2, 1934, at Larned. She died Oct. 13, 1998. A resident of Larned since 1998, coming from Denver, Colo., he was a public service employee. Caro was a member of Escue Chapel in Larned, Masonic Lodge and Old Timers Club, both of Denver. Survivors include two sons, Lowell of Las Vegas, Nev., and Nolan of Denver; two daughters, Johnetta Patterson and Donna Robinson, both of Larned; two brothers, Vincent Caro Sr. of Larned and Robert Caro of Phoenix, Ariz.; three sisters, Lucille Jackson of Larned, Irene Thomas of Hinesville, Ga., and Shiela Davis of Milwaukee, Wis.; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by six brothers, Harold, Ralph, Lyle, Roger Bradley, Cecil and William; and six sisters, Catherine, Leatha, Thelma Caro Shepard, LaVern Starr, Unice Lucas and Elizabeth. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel in Larned, with the Revs. Anthony Hill, John Augmon and William Harden officiating. Burial will be at Larned cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and until service time Friday at the chapel. Memorials are suggested to American Lung Association, in care of the mortuary.
M. Eugene Davis 1924-2003
M. Eugene Davis, 79, of Great Bend, died Dec. 14 at Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend. He was born May 14, 1924, at Greensburg, the son of Joseph and Maude Smith Davis. He married
Ruby Oller March 3, 1944, at Pratt. She died Dec. 6, 1977. A resident of Great Bend since 1948, coming from Greensburg, he was a truck driver for Bovaird Supply in Great Bend. Davis was a member of First United Methodist Church of Great Bend. Survivors include his companion, Dorothy Kennedy of Great Bend; one son, Benny J. Davis of Silsbee, Texas; one daughter, Jennifer Ramsey of Las Cruces, N.M.; three brothers, Vern Davis of Coldwater, Kenneth Davis of Denver, Colo., and Carlton Davis of Bucklin; two sisters, Lucille Smith of Coldwater and Frances Branstetter of Turpin, Okla.; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Clifford Davis and Donald Davis. Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with the Rev. Gary Brooks officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with the family receiving friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Barton County Relay for Life, in care of the funeral home.
