Oscar Kirk Dahlberg, age 92 of Lawrence, died December 31, 2025. No Services are planned at this time. Arrangements are with Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home of Lawrence.
Author: RumseyYost
Leslie Allen French
Services for Leslie Allen French, 63, will be at 10:00 am Monday, January 5, 2026, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial will take place in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. French died Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at home.
Mr. French was born June 4, 1962, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Delbert Ray French and Carolyn Mae French. He graduated in 1980. He moved to Lawrence, Kansas in 1968.
Mr. French was employed as a drywaller and did asphalt and seal coating for businesses around Lawrence, Kansas. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and being on his boat. Mr. French enjoyed collecting coins and bragging about ones that were graded that he had.
He married Jane Ford on September 22, 1981, in Oskaloosa, Kansas. They divorced. His significant other Samantha Spencer Lawrence, Kansas survives of the home.
Other survivors include his mother Carolyn Mae French Lawrence, Kansas; sisters, Thelma French-Gomez Lawrence, Kansas, sister Tina Rae French (Trino) Lawrence, Kansas, brother Delbert Ray French II Lawrence, Kansas and many nephews and nieces.
Daughter Jessica French (Decker) (Matt) Downers Grove, Illinois
Daughter Jennifer French (Decker) Bolingbrook, Illinois and five grandchildren.
His father Delbert Ray French died earlier, his niece died August 3, 2024.
Visitation and viewing will take place from 10:00 am – 11:00 am on Monday, January 5, 2026, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. The family will proceed to Memorial Park Cemetery, 1517 East 15th Street Lawrence, Kansas 66044 at 11:00 am for graveside services.
The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home for funeral expenses, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.
Dr. Richard E. Nelson
Dr. Richard Elliott Nelson, 89, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away Sunday, December 28, 2025, at the University of Kansas Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family.
Richard was born November 4, 1936, in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Roy and Blanche (Silver) Nelson. He graduated from Lindsborg High School in 1954 and went on to attend Emporia State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in education in 1958 and his master’s degree in 1961.
He began his career in education at Tonovay High School and later served as a guidance counselor at Towanda High School. Richard then worked as a guidance counselor and principal at Hutchinson Junior High School before moving to Hutchinson High School as a counselor. He later accepted a position with the Kansas State Department of Education in Topeka. In 1975, he earned his Ph.D. from University of Missouri in Columbia, and shortly thereafter the family moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where Richard joined the University of Kansas School of Education. He retired in 2007 after a long and distinguished career dedicated to students and educators.
Richard was a longtime member of Central United Methodist Church.
On September 1, 1957, he married Barbara Ann Johnson in Salina, Kansas. She survives. Additional survivors include their children, Jeff Nelson, J.D. Nelson, and Jody Miller (Scott); grandchildren, Taite Nelson, Kelsey Gotsche (Adam), Logan Miller, Kinsey Nelson, Kaylin Nelson, Kaleb Nelson, and Caitlin Matthews; and great-grandchildren, Lilah Nelson, Collins Gotsche, Kyler Gotsche, and Elliott Nelson.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings JoAnne Nelson, Edward Nelson, Eula Johnson, Robert Nelson, and Muriel Strange; grandson Tyler Miller; and daughter-in-law Mary Beth Nelson.
Richard was very proud of his Swedish heritage and held a deep love for Lindsborg, Kansas. He enjoyed fishing and camping, golf, photography, and cheering on KU basketball. Most of all, he cherished time spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A memorial service honoring Richard’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 2, 2026, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial of the urn will take place at Pioneer Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum, 120 E. Mill Street, Lindsborg, KS 67456, or online at www.oldmillmuseum.org/donations/.
Gene Harold Humburg
Gene Harold Humburg, 94, of Lawrence, passed away on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at his home.
No services are planned at this time.
Gene will be lovingly remembered by family, friends, and all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Cheryl Kay Taylor
Cheryl Kay Taylor, 80, of Lawrence, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025 of complications from dementia.
The daughter of Geraldine Frances (Petersen) Robinson and Joel A. Robinson, she was born May 12, 1945 in Topeka. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1963 and married George William Taylor June 30, 1963.
They lived in Kansas City, Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Plainfield, N.J., before divorcing in 1975.
Ms. Taylor returned to Lawrence to raise three children while working a variety of jobs before joining the team at Hallmark’s Lawrence Production Center where she worked for about three decades before retiring.
She was an active member of the congregation at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lawrence where she was a member of the Altar Care Team, a member of a call committee to find a new pastor, and she served a term as the Trinity Lutheran Council President. Perhaps the most rewarding job of her service to the church was as a member of Trinity’s Women of the ELCA (WELCA) where she met many, many people she considered close friends for the rest of her life.
Out of deference to the holiday commitments of those who knew and loved Ms. Taylor, her children have decided to proceed with cremation with a celebration of life to follow at a later date. The family suggests memorial contributions to the World Wildlife Fund.
She is survived by a son, Wm. Paul Taylor, Woodbridge, Va.; a daughter Pamela Suzanne (Taylor) Kaercher, Shiloh, Ill.; a son, Christopher Scott Taylor, Lawrence; a brother, David Arthur Robinson, Wichita, Kan. and seven grandchildren: Cameron Seeley Taylor, Woodbridge, Va.; Nicholas Graham Taylor, Woodbridge, Va.; Peyton Elizabeth Kaercher, Monroe, Mich.; Hannah Grace Taylor, who preceded her in death in 1998; Olivia Renee Taylor, Lawrence; Joseph Christopher Taylor, Lawrence; Lannie Catherin Kaercher, Shiloh, Ill.; and Mae Grace Taylor, Lawrence.
Ernest Kent Hayes
Ernest Kent Hayes, age 88, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away peacefully at home on December 18, 2025. Kent was born in Bronson, Kansas, to Clare and Lois (nee Osborne) Hayes, who were longtime residents of Topeka. He spent his youth in Holyoke and Alamosa, Colorado, and Baldwin and Topeka, Kansas. He attended Baker University and was a proud graduate of Washburn University.
At Baker University he met Betty Carolan of Kansas City, Missouri. They married and had three children: Michael Hayes of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Mark Hayes (Brenda) of Burlingame, Kansas; and Lisa Greene (Jack) of Carolina Beach, North Carolina. The marriage ended after 25 years. Kent then fell in love with Virginia (Ginger) Lyman, who had a son, Scott Lundemo, now in Anchorage, Alaska. Kent and Ginger were then proud to welcome a son, Nicholas Hayes (Brandy), who lives in Lawrence.
Straight out of college Kent spent his career advocating for children. He ultimately became a nationally recognized authority in concepts of care for abandoned, abused, and neglected children. He first served as chief probation officer of the Shawnee County Juvenile Court and then became superintendent of the Boys’ Training School in Kearney, Nebraska. Along the way he partnered with Dr. Karl Menninger to develop a new concept for the care of delinquent, abandoned, and neglected children (The Villages). Thereafter, he became codirector of the Menninger Youth Program, known as the CHARLEE (Children Have All Rights: Legal, Educational, and Emotional) program, which developed and administered a nationwide network of community-based alternative child care systems in eight states and the District of Columbia.
His experiences with children in the direst of straits resulted in the publication of numerous articles and two fictionalized accounts of their situation, which he cowrote with his program codirector, Dr. Alex Lazzarino: Broken Promise (Putnam, 1978) and Find a Safe Place (McGraw-Hill, 1984). Both books became made-for-television movies. In 1989, he published a third book, Why Good Parents Have Bad Kids (Doubleday). These publications earned him appearances on numerous national television and radio shows, like The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Phil Donahue Show, Larry King, CNN, and NBC’s Today Show.
He was proud that his life’s work, his books, and the attention that they drew produced meaningful progress in the care of abandoned, abused, and neglected children throughout the United States.
Kent loved to play golf and became quite good, winning several local tournaments. Even more, Kent loved to be with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He liked to travel to the Rocky Mountains as often as possible and always had a book by his side. He was particularly fond of murder mysteries both in books and on television.
Kent is survived by his loving wife, Ginger; his five children, 10 grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren; and his brother, Kenneth Hayes.
At this time, no service is planned. Details regarding any future service to honor Kent’s memory will be shared when it becomes available.
Virgie Mae Farmer
A Celebration of Life gathering for Virgie Mae Farmer, 85, of Eudora, will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Family and friends are warmly invited to come together to honor, remember, and celebrate Virgie’s life and the many memories she leaves behind.
Virgie passed away at her home on Friday, December 19, 2025.
She will be fondly remembered for her deep love for her family and the unwavering care, kindness, and devotion she showed throughout her life. Her gentle presence and giving heart touched all who knew her, and she will be dearly missed.
Rex Eugene Sterrett
Rex Eugene Sterrett, age 82 of Baldwin, passed away December 19, 2025. Arrangements are pending with Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home of Lawrence.
Sharon Arlene Eaton Hime Yeahquo
Sharon Arlene Eaton Hime Yeahquo, age 88 of Linwood, Passed away December 20, 2025. Arrangements are pending with Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home of Lawrence.
Scot Joseph Schwartz
Scot Joseph Schwartz was born August 11, 1968, in Lawrence, KS. Being the youngest son of Don and Jane Schwartz, he grew up on the family farm west of Baldwin, with his brother Greg and sister Carrie. He went to Baldwin schools and graduated from Baldwin High School in 1986. He then attended Baker University, totally enjoying his college experience, graduating with his Bachelor’s degree in music education in 1991. He later earned a Masters of Education at Mid America Nazarene University and an endorsement for English Language Learners from Emporia State.
Scot learned the science of teaching but was a natural with the art of teaching. Beginning his career in Highland and then Douglas, he spent the majority of his time at Rising Star Elementary and then Shawnee Mission Northwest. He was known for the musicals he wrote for his sixth graders, his engaging teaching style, taking his high school choirs all over the U.S. and his multiple awards for being an outstanding educator. He was also an adored and beloved colleague.
Vacation Bible School was a summer highlight. He shared his talents leading the music and was the reason some kids may have been told to go on Monday but then chose to go back the rest of the week. It was a revival for all who participated.
Scot finished his professional life in real estate, finding great joy in helping families find just the right home. He also shared his talents by singing with the KC Symphony Chorus and volunteering with the Silverlink Ministry, providing music for worship services at nursing homes.
He is survived by his parents, brother Greg, (Kelly) sister Carrie Enick, and faithful life friend Stephanie Hill, nieces and nephews, Charley Jo Pittenger (Brett), Camdon Schwartz (Madison), Hayley Schwartz, Jacob Enick (Jamie), Major Rachael Borrero, (Ericko), and Callie McDaniel, (Kyle). As well as 11 great nieces and nephews, and his constant four-legged companion, Lacy. He is preceded in death by his brother-in-law Dale Enick.
Many others were on the receiving end of Scot’s compassionate and caring nature. He was a giant beacon of light and life, filled with unwavering faith. His laughter and wisdom were a gift to those around him. Cancer took his body, but his legacy lives on in the thousands of students that will think of him when they sing, the friends and neighbors who will continue to gather on the patio for food and fellowship, the COR Delivery Saints who will now be delivering backpacks without him, and the family dinners where he always exclaimed, “oh, this is delicious!”
Two services will be held: Monday December 29, 10:30 AM at Worden Cornerstone Church, 294 E. 900th Rd, Baldwin City, KS. Livestream available on the church Facebook page; https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064794128261
Tuesday December 30, 4:00 PM at Church of the Resurrection, Leawood – Wesley Chapel 13720, Roe Ave., Leawood, KS. Livestream available at cor.org/memorialsonline
The family suggests memorial contributions to A Cure in Sight (acureinsight.org), supporting research, patient services and raising awareness of Ocular Melanoma and Baker University, music education scholarship.
