OBITUARIES

Nov 7, 2020

Randy Bruce Perkins, 72, passed away Saturday, November 7, 2020 at his home in New Strawn. He was born June 17, 1948 in Beloit, Kansas the son of Delbert M. and Margaret A Utt Perkins. Randy’s family spent his earlier years living in Downs, Atwood and later Colby. Randy enlisted in the United States Army on June 12, 1967. He...

Nov 3, 2020

Martha Elane Allen Tatman, 58, passed away early Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at her home in Emporia. She was born May 26, 1962 in Neodesha, Kansas the daughter of Virgil O’Leary and Rachel Sarringer. Martha was adopted at birth by Floyd and Wilma Dannels Allen. Martha attended Hartford High School and graduated with the Class of 1980. Following high school,...

Oct 30, 2020

Donald Foster Perry, 89, passed away early Friday, October 30, 2020 at his home in Emporia, surrounded by his family. He was born March 28, 1931 in Spickard, Missouri the son of Foster J. and Mary Sommerville Perry. Don was baptized as a youth in the Thompson Branch of the Grand River at Spickard, Missouri. Don attended Lebo High School...

Oct 28, 2020

Sharon Sue DeWitt, 64, of Burlington, passed away Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at Midland Hospice Care in Topeka. She was born April 6,1956 in St. Louis, Missouri the daughter of Michael W. and Bonnie J. Miller Riley. Her family would remain in St. Louis before moving to Kentucky when Sharon was 12 years old. As a young lady, she attended...

Oct 22, 2020

Joseph P. (Jody) Getsinger, Jr., 77, passed away Thursday, October 22, 2020 at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. Jody Getsinger, was born July 28, 1943 in Ashville, North Carolina, the son of Joseph P. and Lola Mae (Brazil) Getsinger, Sr. He graduated from Osage City High School in 1961. He was joined in marriage to Linda K. O’Brien on April...

Oct 21, 2020

Oct 21, 2020

Donald L. Marriott, 77, died Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at Legend Healthcare in Tonganoxie. Donnie was born August 19, 1943 in Osage City, Kansas, the son of Russell E. and Vivian K. (Martin) Marriott. He graduated from Osage City High School in 1961. He attended Washburn University where he played basketball and was a member of the track team. He...

Oct 21, 2020

Mahlin Charles Gillespie, 40 passed away Tuesday, October 21, 2020 at his home in Lebo. He was born September 10, 1980 in Emporia, Kansas the son of Dana Gillespie and Carolyn Fox. Mahlin attended Lebo High School and graduated with the Class of 1999. During high school Mahlin excelled at athletics and academics. He went on to attend Emporia State...

Oct 18, 2020

Dennis D. Hodges, 76, passed away Sunday, October 18, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born January 23, 1944 on the family farm south of Reading, the son of Leo Eugene and Cletis Marie Miller Hodges. Dennis attended Lebo High School and graduated with the Class of 1962. He went on to Kansas State University and...

Oct 15, 2020

Virginia “Ginny” Graham, 79, passed away Thursday, October 15, 2020 at Chase County Care and Rehabilitation Center in Cottonwood Falls. Virginia Van Fleet was born June 5, 1941 in El Dorado, Kansas, the daughter of Glenn Roy and Doris Louise (Rollings) Van Fleet. She graduated from Blackwell High School in Blackwell, Oklahoma. She was joined in marriage to Ellis “John”...

Oct 12, 2020

Florence Ila Ferdinand, 98, passed away Monday, October 12, 2020 at Vintage Park in Osage City. Florence Ila McCreight was born September 8, 1922 on the family farm, southwest of Lyndon, Kansas, the daughter of Clarence Edgar and Florence Augsta (Umdenstock) McCreight. She graduated from Lyndon High School in 1941. She was joined in marriage to Harold L. “Jack” Ferdinand...

Oct 11, 2020

LaVeda Mae Benton, 78 of Olpe, Kansas passed away Sunday evening at her home surrounded by her family. She was born October 23, 1941 in Emporia, Kansas the daughter of James O. and Ruth I. (McNett) Mackey. LaVeda attended Madison High School. LaVeda was joined in marriage to Charles M. Benton on March 2, 1958 in Madison, Kansas. They made...

Sep 30, 2020

Leonard M. Harper, 90, passed away peacefully during the early morning hours of  Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at the Sunset Manor in Waverly, Kansas.  He was born on August 18, 1930 in Neosho Rapids, Kansas the son of Harry H. and Ada M. Horton Harper.  Leonard attended Neosho Rapids High School and graduated with the Class of 1948. Leonard served...

Sep 30, 2020

Olin D. Hilbish, 79, passed away Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at Valley Vista Good Samaritan Society in Wamego, Kansas. Olin Dale Hilbish was born January 13, 1941 in Bushong, Kansas, the son of Ralph Delbert and Alice Viola McDiffett. He graduated from Northern Heights High School in 1958. He served as a cook in the US Army. He was a...

Sep 28, 2020

Norma Jean Failing, 86, formerly of Reading, Kansas passed away Monday September 28, 2020 at the Holiday Resort Care Center in Emporia. She was born October 16, 1933 in Osage County, East of Reading, the daughter of Dan and Elva Jackson Griffith. Norma attended a one room school (Ireland #76) through the 3rd grade. She attended Reading Grade School and...

Sep 25, 2020

Cynthia Jane Roller, 73, passed away Friday, September 25, 2020 at Stormont–Vail Hospital in Topeka. She was born on August 8, 1947 in Topeka, Kansas the daughter of David C. and Kathryn Smith Chesler. Cynthia’s father served in the military which caused her family to move throughout Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri during her childhood. Cynthia attended Bible College in Missouri...

Sep 24, 2020

Robert K Hitt, 72, formerly of Topeka KS, passed away Thursday, Sept 24, 2020 Liberty Hospital, Liberty Missouri. Robert Kenneth Hitt was born October 10, 1947 in Providence, Rhode Island, the son of Reagan and Marie Jeanette (Smith) Hitt. He lived his early years in Dallas Texas. He attended Bryan Adams High School, and was active in the R.O.T.C. all...

Sep 23, 2020

Kathleen May “Blondie” Botkin, 71, passed away Wednesday, September 23, 2020 at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka. She was born August 18, 1949 in Osage City the daughter of Fred and Lillian Wyrick Criqui. She spent the first years of childhood in Melvern before her family moved to Lebo during her early teen years. Kathleen was joined in marriage to David...

Sep 15, 2020

Lucille L. Hoover, 94, passed away Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at Star Living Assisted Living in Lawrence, Kansas. Lucille was born December 27, 1925 in Galesburg, Kansas, the daughter of Hugh B. and Flossie V. (Clark) Lowe. She was joined in marriage to Ivan V. Hoover on September 25, 1942 in Garnett, Kansas.  He preceded her in death on October...

Sep 4, 2020

Betty Ruth (Norman) Melgren was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 26, 1931 to Justin and Elsie Norman. She was the second of three girls and grew up close to her sisters, Janet and Arlene. After high school, Betty attended North Park College graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Christian education. There she met her husband, Homer Melgren. They were...