Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Jerie Davis 1954-2003
Jerie Davis, 49, of Great Bend, died Dec. 10 at her residence in Great Bend. She was born Jan. 11, 1954, in San Diego, Calif., the daughter of Jerrell and Jean Mathews Stallo. She married
Dave Davis May 24, 1997, at Great Bend. A Great Bend resident since 1968, she was a sales agent for Coldwell Banker Sell Real Estate of Great Bend. Mrs. Davis was a member of Fellowship of Faith, a Chamber Ambassador, active in adult and youth leadership in Great Bend, former president of Soroptimist Club, Coldwell Banker's Diamond Society, Coldwell Banker's President Circle, Great Bend Board of Realtors, National Association of Realtors and Kansas Association of Realtors. Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Josh Wilkens and Jacob Wilkens, both of Manhattan; her father of Lorraine; one brother, Joel Stallo of Nashville, Tenn.; one sister, Jana Norwood of Kansas City; and one granddaughter. Funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Grace Community Church in Great Bend, with the Rev. Arlyn Thielenhaus officiating. Burial will be at Hoisington cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Memorials are suggested to Natalie Deutsch Benefit Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Willias 'Pete' White 1919-2003
CHASE - Willias 'Pete' White, 84, died Dec. 11 at Infinia at Hutchinson. He was born Aug. 23, 1919, at Muskogee, Okla., the son of Ben and Myrtle White. He married
Frances May Hass Nov. 3, 1939, in Ellsworth. She died Sept. 24, 1990. He married
Mildred Kirsch Easley March 7, 1991, in Chase. A longtime resident of Chase, having lived the past six months in Hutchinson, he was a retired engineer for Kaw Pipeline/Chevron Texico Oil Company. White was a member of Baptist Church of Pauls Valley, Okla., and Veterans of Foreign Wars and Liars Fishing Club, both of Lyons. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving in World War II. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Larry White of Ellinwood; two daughters, Kay Brady of Chase and Karen Almanza of Hutchinson; three stepdaughters, Carol Mitchell of Hutchinson, Sharon Hoverter of Frankfort, Mich., and Janet Gray of McCook, Neb.; two sisters, Minnie Korpi of Richmond, Wash., and Nadine Popp of Kingsdown; 10 grandchildren; and 21 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sons, Charles White and an infant; two brothers, Dewey White and Dott White; one sister, Ann Sullivan; and two grandchildren, Michael Brady and Stacy White. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Lyons Municipal cemetery, with the Rev. Larry Weatherman officiating. Full military service will be conducted by Fort Riley Military. Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, both at Sillin Funeral Home in Lyons. Memorials are suggested to American Diabetes Association, in care of the funeral home.
Judith Marie Thomas 1943-2003
SPARKS, Nev. - Judith Marie Thomas, 60, passed away Dec. 7 at Washoe Medical Center. She is survived by her husband, Leo Thomas; two sons, Jimmy Sargent and Jason Sargent, both of Reno, Nev.; two stepdaughters, Tricia Thomas and Sara Sullivan, both of North Carolina; one brother, Gary Fradd of Reno; mother-in-law Mary Hedrick Thomas of North Carolina; and five grandchildren. Judy M. Thomas Sargent, beloved wife and devoted mother, was the longtime city manager of Russell. She was loved by everyone who worked for her, those who worked with her, and all of those who were fortunate enough to have known her. Judy loved gardening, flowers, plants and especially being a wife and a mother. She will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to American Heart Association. A private family service will be held at her request.
John W. Poos 1920-2003
WICHITA - John W. Poos, 82, died Dec. 10 at Wichita. He was born Oct. 2, 1920, at Nortonville. He was a 1942 graduate of the University of Kansas School of Business. A resident of Wichita, coming from Salina, he was employed by Kennedy and Coe as a certified public accountant and senior partner until 1985, and later as a partner with Corporate Finance Associates. Poos was a member of Kansas Society of CPAs, president of Kansas Society of CPAs, president of Salina United Fund, president of Salina Chamber of Commerce, a member of Board of Advisors for KU School of Business and chairman from 1975 to 1990, a life member of KU Alumni Association and a member of its Development Steering Committee and Williams Education Fund. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving as a captain during World War II. Survivors include his wife, Martha, of the home; one son, Thomas William Poos of Wichita; one daughter, Carol Sue Maloney of Wichita; three sisters, Harriet Nass of Atchinson, Gretchen Westphal of Leawood and Dolly Lyon of Osprey, Fla.; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Salina, with the Revs. Jeffrey Crane and Robert Schadel officiating. Burial will be at Roselawn cemetery in Salina. The casket will be closed at the church. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at Ryan Mortuary in Salina. Memorials are suggested to Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Wichita, Trinity Lutheran Church in Salina or Williams Education Fund at the University of Kansas, in care of the mortuary.
Bruce Burrows 1915-2003
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. - Bruce Burrows, 88, died Dec. 10 in Bay St. Louis. He was born Aug. 21, 1915, at Lexington County, Okla. He married
Viola. She preceded him in death. A resident of Bay St. Louis, he was employed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines for 31 years. Burrows was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in World War II. Survivors include three sons, Larry Burrows of Pealington, Miss., Adrian Burrows of Santa Clara, Calif., and Dale Burrows of Greeley, Colo.; one daughter, Sandra Lebsack of Kearney, Neb.; one brother, Duane Burrows of Amarillo, Texas; one sister, Lucille Harris of Albuquerque, N.M.; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Prayer service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Bay St. Louis. Burial will be at Garden of Memory cemetery in Bay St. Louis. Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the church building fund or Senior Citizen of Bay St. Louis, both in care of Edmond Fahey Funeral Home, P.O. Box 348, Bay St. Louis, MS 39520.
Betty J. Woydziak Thompson 1940-2003
OMAHA, Neb. - Betty J. Woydziak Thompson, 63, died Dec. 10 at Bishop Clarkson Tower, Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. She was born April 3, 1940, at Hitschmann, the daughter of Edwin and Elfrieda Lang Woydziak. She was a graduate of Sydney School of Cosmetology. She married
Tom Thompson Dec. 28, 1963, at Dubuque. A resident of Omaha, she was a retired sales representative for Applause and Enesco. Mrs. Thompson was a member of St. Leo Catholic Church of Omaha. Survivors include her husband of the home; two sons, Thomas Lee Thompson of Seattle, Wash., and Todd Eric Thompson of Omaha; one daughter, Tonia Hamblen of Omaha; her mother of Claflin; one brother, Alan Woydziak of Littleton, Colo.; one sister, Bonnie Burkhart of Boulder, Colo.; and six grandchildren. Wake service will be at 8 p.m. Friday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Catherine Catholic Church of Dubuque, with the Rev. John J. Maes officiating. Burial will be at St. Catherine cemetery in Dubuque. Friends may call from 1 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Catherine Heritage Association, in care of the funeral home.
Fred R. Cramer 1921-2003
GARDEN CITY - Fred R. Cramer, 82, died Dec. 7 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City. He was born Aug. 18, 1921, at Lebo, the son of Fred and Mary 'Edna' Johnson Cramer. He was a graduate of Neosho Rapids High School and attended Kansas State University. He married
Margaret 'Peggy' Trimble June 24, 1944, in Burlington. A resident of Hitschmann, coming from Garden City, he was a carpenter and worked in USD 457 Plant Maintenance Department until his retirement in 1987. Cramer was a member of American Legion of Garden City. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving as an ambulance driver and medical technician at Camp Stewart, Ga. Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Lee Cramer of Garden City; two daughters, Sunny Gail Cramer of Durango, Colo., and Penny Ashcraft of Corpus Christi, Texas; three sisters, Jeanne Molyneux of Belmont, Calif., Joyce Cramer Colglazier of Emporia and Kathleen 'Kay' Parry of El Dorado; seven grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Howard Arthur Cramer. Memorial service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Lebo Baptist Church of Lebo. A private family burial will take place at a later date. There will be no visitation. No memorials are suggested. Garnand Funeral Home of Garden City is in charge of arrangements.
Jewell Weatherford Courtney 1905-2003
PAMPA, Texas - Jewell 'Adams' Weatherford Courtney, 98, died Dec. 7 in Pampa. She was born Oct. 8, 1905, in New Mexico Territory, the daughter of William Perry and Carey Elizabeth Weatherford. She married
James Arthur Courtney June 1922, in Loveland, Colo. He preceded her in death. Survivors include two sons, Robert L. Courtney of Kansas City, Mo., and Glen W. Courtney of Branson, Mo.; one daughter, Donna Mae Johns of Leesburg, Fla.; two half-brothers, Carl Weatherford of Grand Junction, Colo., and Galen Smith of Fruita, Colo.; four half-sisters, Mary Travato of Simi Valley, Calif., Lorna Bryan of Carlsbad, Calif., Alice Fitzpatrick of Grand Junction and Willa Edling of Agoura Hills, Calif.; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one son, James Ira Courtney; 10 brothers and sisters; and five half-brothers and half-sisters. Funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at New Life Assembly of God of Pampa, with the Rev. Harold Eggert officiating. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Hoisington cemetery in Hoisington. Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Pampa is in charge of arrangements.
Wayne Kirtley 'Kirt' Ruble 1954-2003
MCCOOK, Neb., - Wayne Kirtley 'Kirt' Ruble, 49, died Dec. 4 in Frontier County, Neb., the result of an automobile accident. He was born Aug. 23, 1954, in Great Bend, the son of Dean and Natalie Noll Ruble. He was a 1972 graduate of Great Bend High School and Kansas State University in Manhattan. He married
Sheila Hahn, March 10, 1988, at Mobile, Ala. A resident of McCook since 1998, coming from Texas, he was employed by Texas A&M University and dean of students at Mid-Plains Community College in Nebraska. Survivors include his wife of McCook; three sons, Jeffrey Ruble of Kansas City, Spencer Ruble of McCook and Timothy Ruble of Great Bend; one daughter, Micaela Ruble of McCook; his mother, Natalie Sekavec of Brownell; and one sister, Kim Hekele of Odin. Memorial service was held Dec. 6 at Herrman Memorial Chapel in McCook with the Rev. Gary Brethour officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Ruble Children's Education Fund in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington.
Xandra Breon Ruiz 2003-2003
Xandra Breon Ruiz, 10 months, of Great Bend, died Dec. 4 at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus in Wichita. She was born Jan. 28, 2003, at Great Bend, the daughter of Christopher and Laurie Woolsey Ruiz. Survivors include her parents of Great Bend; one brother, Christopher Ruiz of the home; one sister, Alexia Woolsey of the home; and grandparents, Isabel and Casiano Ruiz of Great Bend. Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Charter Funerals Chapel in Great Bend with the Rev. Oscar Espinosa officiating. Private family burial will take place in Llano cemetery in Amarillo, Texas. Memorials are suggested to Xandra Breon Ruiz Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home.
Evelyn J. Cochrane 1921-2003
HOISINGTON - Evelyn J. Cochrane, 82, died Dec. 8 at Cheyenne Meadows Living Center in Hoisington. She was born Aug. 31, 1921, at Olmitz, the daughter of Claude Henry and Pearl Mae Maxey Rowley. A Hoisington and Barton County resident most of her life, she was a homemaker. She was a member of the Pentacostal affiliation. Survivors include four sons, Jim Cochrane of Great Bend, George Cochrane of Topeka, Dale Cochrane of Edgerton and Dan Cochrane of Hutchinson; four daughters, Earlene Jane Woods of Topeka, Florine Annette Doty of El Dorado, Beverly Fae Harriman of Hutchinson and Mary Viola Bennett of Yakima, Wash.; one brother, Claude H. Rowley of Gillette, Wyo.; one sister, Alice Jean Roth of Loveland, Colo.; 19 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by two sons, Durward Thomas Cochrane and Frederick Cochrane; one brother, Edward M. Rowley; one sister, Claudine P. Rowley; and one great-granddaughter, Cheyenne Annette Doty. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington with the Revs. Dwight Dozier and Wesley Beldon officiating. Burial will be at Olivet cemetery in Barton County. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and from 9 a.m until service Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Evelyn Cochrane Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home.
Joe Prodromides 1951-2003
WICHITA - Joe Prodromides, 52, died Dec. 4. He was a resident of Wichita. Survivors include one son, Justin Prodromides of Wichita; one daughter, Jessica Prodromides of Wichita; one brother, John Prodromides of Las Vegas, Nev.; and three grandchildren. Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Old Mission Mausoleum Chapel in Wichita. Cremation preceded the memorial service. Memorials are suggested to the family, in care of Advantage Funeral Service of Wichita.
Wayne 'Kirt' Ruble 1954-2003
McCOOK, Neb. - Wayne 'Kirt' Ruble, 49, died Dec. 4 in Frontier County, Neb. He was born Aug. 23, 1954, the son of Dean and Natalie Noll Ruble in Great Bend. He was a 1972 graduate of Great Bend High School and a graduate of Kansas State University in Manhattan. He married
Sheila Hahn March 10, 1988, in Mobile, Ala. A resident of McCook since 1998, coming from Kingsville, Texas, he was dean of students for Mid-Plains Community College. Survivors include his wife of McCook; three sons, Jeffrey Ruble of Kansas City, Spencer Ruble of McCook and Timothy Ruble of Great Bend; one daughter, Micaela Ruble of McCook; his mother and stepfather, Natalie and Marion Sekevec of Brownell; and one sister, Kim Hekele of Claflin. Services were Dec. 6 at Herrmann Memorial Chapel in McCook with the Rev. Gary Brethour officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date. Memorials are suggested to Ruble Children's Education fund, in care of Herrmann Funeral Home of McCook.
Ottelia 'Tillie' Wegele 1915-2003
OTIS - Ottelia 'Tillie' Wegele, 88, died Dec. 7 at Good Samaritan Center in Hays. She was born July 30, 1915, in Barton County, the daughter of Fred and Mollie Maier Maier. She married
Albert Wegele May 5, 1940, at Milberger. A resident of Otis and Rush County since 1945, coming from Barton County, she was a self-employed machine quilter and homemaker. Mrs. Wegele was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Otis. Survivors include her husband of Hays; one daughter, VirJean Scheuerman of Otis; one sister, Alice Maier of Russell; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, Alvin Maier. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the church, with Larry Frank and Deaconess Doreen Scheuerman officiating. Burial will be at Milberger cemetery in Milberger. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home in Hoisington and from 11:30 a.m. to service time Wednesday at the church. The family will receive friends from 7:30 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to 'Storm' Special Olympic Team, in care of the funeral home.
