Ellen Susan (McVey) Hess, 87, of Lawrence died February 1, 2026 at home.
Susie was born October 3, 1938 in Iola, the daughter of Kenneth Barlett and Velma Lee (Manbeck) McVey. She grew up in Moran and graduated from Humboldt High School in 1957. On October 5, 1957 she married Robert “Bob” Henry Hess at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Humboldt. They were married for 68 years.
They initially lived in Fort Scott and moved to Lawrence in 1958. She and Bob opened Bob’s Bernina Sewing and Vacuum Center in Holiday Plaza in December 1980. They sold the business in 2010 and retired at that time.
She is survived by sons Michael (Kathleen) and Mark (Ty Fuller) of Lawrence; granddaughter Gretchen Hess; three grandsons Scott Fuller, Seth Fuller and Spencer Fuller; sister Renae Lewis (Robert) of Orlando, FL; and brother Paul McVey (Corinne) of New Smyrna Beach, FL.
Susie was preceded in death by her husband Bob, who died on January 4, 2026; her parents; her stepmother Evelyn Lamar (Muldoon) McVey; her brother David McVey and her sister Lora Lee Cyphers; and infant sons Timothy and Patrick.
On Thursday, February 5th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, there will be a visitation and rosary at Rumsey-Yost funeral home. Burial will be in St. Joseph cemetery in Humboldt on Friday February 6th at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to the Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association. Susie’s family is very appreciative of the excellent care she received from the VNA during her illness.