Author: RumseyYost

Lily Louise (McCracken) Davis

Posted on by RumseyYost

Graveside services for Lily Louise (McCracken) Davis, 84, of Lawrence, Kansas will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, September 17, 2026, at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence. Visitation will be held prior to the graveside service on Thursday from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Lily passed away peacefully at her home on September 10, 2026.

She was born on October 23, 1941, in Coffeyville, Kansas, to Mack and Plumer Leealla (Childress) McCracken. On December 24, 1959, she married Ralph Leonard Davis Jr. in Lawrence. He preceded her in death on September 25, 2016.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; a son, David Davis; and two grandchildren, Tiffany Miller and Steven Miller.
She is survived by her children, Vicky Rousselo and her husband, Jim, of Lawrence, Ronnie Davis and his wife, Bonnie, of Ozawkie, and Brenda Miller and her husband, Mike, of Lawrence; eight grandchildren, DJ Davis, Linda Rousselo, Christopher Rousselo, Christina Rousselo, April Davis, Ryan Davis, and Crystal Miller; and 23 great-grandchildren.

Richard James Wright

Posted on by RumseyYost

Richard James Wright, 78, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away at his home on September 6, 2026. He was born on October 13, 1947, in Osage City, Kansas, to Alfred Wright Sr. and Sylvia Jane Worley Wright. He was affectionately known as “Butch” to his family and friends. Richard married Sherryl on April 29, 1967, in Topeka, Kansas. Together, they built a life and family that included their two daughters, Teresa and Tammy.

Richard was a hardworking and dedicated man who spent much of his life building a career and serving the Lawrence community. From 1967 to 1982, he worked as the Automotive Manager for Montgomery Ward in Lawrence. He also earned his real estate license and worked for Mitchell Real Estate from 1980 to 1982. In 1982, Wright’s Wallcovering was established by Sherryl. Two months later, Richard began Richard Wright Realtors, beginning a long career in real estate and becoming a familiar and trusted name in the Lawrence community.

Richard’s greatest pride was his family. He is survived by Sherryl, his daughters, Teresa (Michael) of Lawrence, Kansas, and Tammy of Lawrence, Kansas; and his five grandchildren, Brandon, Jacob, Connor, Ragan, and Keegan. He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Overholt of Shawnee, Kansas; his brother, David (Connie) Wright of Osage City, Kansas; and several nieces and nephews; and his lifelong friend, Ray Davis.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred Wright Sr. and Sylvia Worley Wright Coe; his sisters, Pat(Leroy), Wanda(Max), and Judy (Charlie); his brother, Alfred “Al” Wright Jr.(Arlene); and his brother-in-law, Floyd Overholt. He was also preceded in death by two nieces and four nephews.

Richard was a man of faith. In 1967, Richard accepted Christ as his Savior, and he kept the Salvation Prayer in his wallet from that day forward—a small but meaningful reminder of the faith that remained an important part of his life. Richard will be remembered by his family and friends as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He was a lifelong KU Jayhawk basketball fan and could often be found with a cup of coffee in one hand and a smile on his face. Those who knew him will remember not only the life he built and the people he loved, but also the warmth, faith, and joy he brought to those around him. The memories he created throughout his 78 years will remain a cherished part of the lives of all who knew and loved him. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Lawrence Union Pacific Depot, 402 N. 2nd St., Lawrence, KS. Reverend Richie Thomas will be officiating. Refreshments will be served. A private graveside service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to help his daughter, Teresa Foster’s fight against cancer at https://ffnd.co/vZxNom.

Grace Mae Meuffels

Posted on by RumseyYost

Graveside Services for Grace Mae Meuffels, 100, of Lawrence, Kansas, will be 11:00 am Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at Memorial Park Cemetery. A visitation will take place at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.

Grace passed the afternoon of September 09, 2026, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital with friends and family in attendance. Grace was born September 20, 1925, in Van Buren, Arkansas, daughter of James and Lula Wise. She attended high school in Okay, Oklahoma. The family later moved to Texarkana, Arkansas.

In her 100 years she had several careers. Every one an adventure, from a chicken meat packing plant in Parsons, Kansas to a lengthy career in food service. She worked at the original Sirloin Steak House in North Lawrence (18yrs), Silver Slipper located in the Eldridge Hotel and 18yrs at Don’s Steak House. She retired from Cottonwood in Lawrence as a client care giver.

She married Lewis Chris Meuffels in 1942 in Lawrence, Kansas. Lewis and Grace had two children, Susan (Meuffels) Hatfield, deceased and Robert (Mike) Meuffels.

Grace was proceeded in death by parents James and Lula Wise. Husband Lewis, brothers Sherman, Gene, Audrey, Herschell, and Dewey, sister Louzelle and her daughter Susan.

Survivors include her son Mike and wife Cindy Vervynck and grandson Jeremy.

The family suggests memorial contributions to LMH Foundation, as the last two weeks of her life she was cared for by LMH staff with love and compassion.

Marie Jennings

Posted on by RumseyYost

Floye Marie Jennings, 78, went into the loving arms of Jesus Christ on August 8, 2026, surrounded by her loving husband, Leon, and her beloved children, Darrell Jennings and Debbie Johnson.

Marie was born on December 1, 1947, in Parkdale, Arkansas, to Walter and Floye Robertson. She was one of 20 children and held the special honor of being the only one named after her mother. Although she carried her mother’s name, she preferred to be called Marie, the name by which her family and friends knew and loved her. The Robertson family was close-knit, and Marie often shared memories of growing up with so many brothers and sisters and the good times they had together.

Marie met Leon Jennings in Ash Fork, Arizona, in the early spring of 1963. The two quickly fell in love and were married on February 21, 1964, in Ash Fork. They welcomed their son, Darrell Leon, in 1965 and their daughter, Deborah Lynn, in 1969. Together, they built a life and family that took them to several places over the years, including Ash Fork, Arizona; Eudora and Lawrence, Kansas; Las Vegas, Nevada; and St. Louis, Missouri, before eventually returning to Lawrence in 1998.

She was a hard-working person, no matter the job. She worked at Van Camp’s, Packers Plastics, and Color Press in Lawrence for more than 10 years. She also spent several years working in the Maintenance Division at the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant. In 1982, Marie and Leon opened Leon’s Bug Barn, which they operated until 1990. Marie later worked at the Gold Coast Casino in Las Vegas and the Casino Queen in St. Louis. In 1998, Marie and Leon started their own commercial janitorial business, Clean Gene. The name was thought up by her son-in-law, Dan, because Marie had a “cleaning gene” in her body. Anyone who knew Marie would agree that it was the perfect name. She loved to clean and took great pride in keeping things nice and tidy. Clean Gene remained part of their lives until 2021.

Marie loved spending time with her family and friends and was happiest when she was around people. She truly never met a stranger and could strike up a conversation with just about anyone. She knew the workers at Walmart by name, and they knew her just as well. She looked forward to her summer visits from her best friend and sister, Jan Meoli and late husband Freddy. The two enjoyed going shopping and the occasional casino run, but most of all, spending quality time together.

She had a personality that was impossible to forget. She knew how to have a good time and could bring fun and laughter wherever she went. She had a loving heart for the people she cared about and was kind, courageous, and strong, with a stubborn streak that was just as much a part of who she was. Marie was also a jokester and had absolutely no filter. She would tell you exactly what she thought, whether you asked or not. And as hard as she might have tried, Marie could never keep a secret. If she knew something, there was a good chance everyone else would soon know it too.

Marie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who loved her family deeply and cherished every moment she could spend with them. Some of her favorite memories were the Friday night sleepovers with her grandchildren, no matter how much noise, laughter, or craziness came along with them. Those were the moments she treasured most. She also loved flying to California to visit her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, and she was fortunate enough to be there for many of their births. She was so proud of each and every one of her grandchildren and took great joy in watching them grow. Being a grandmother and great-grandmother was one of the greatest joys of her life, and she treasured the special bond she shared with each of them.

In August 2020, Marie was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. She reached remission in February 2021, but the cancer returned in 2025. Throughout her battle, Marie showed the same strength and determination that had defined her throughout her life. She fought a courageous battle and continued to be the strong, stubborn, and joyful woman her family knew and loved.

Throughout Marie’s life, and especially in the months before her passing, she expressed her faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her unwavering faith carried her through every season of her life and gave her strength until the very end. The peace that Marie and her loved ones felt after her passing was a peace that only Jesus Christ could bring. While her family will miss her deeply, they find comfort in knowing that she is no longer suffering and is now home with Jesus.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Leon Jennings; her son, Darrell (Lesa) Jennings, of Clovis, California; her grandchildren, Chase (Carly) Jennings, Mason (Jamie) Jennings, Justin Jennings, Cayden Jennings, and Ashlee Jennings. Her daughter, Debbie (Dan) Johnson, of Lawrence, Kansas; her grandchildren, Jadan (Kayleen) Johnson, Grayson (Kristin) Johnson, Karlyn (Tristen) Patterson; and her great-grandchildren, Kinsley and Olivia Johnson, and Claire Johnson. She is also survived by her brothers, James, Larry, Thomas, Michael; and her sisters, Carolyn, Jan, Peggy, and Marsha.

Marie’s family carries on her name and memory in special ways. Her granddaughter Karlyn and great-granddaughters Olivia and Claire share the middle name Marie, a small but meaningful connection that will carry her name through generations to come.

Marie will be remembered for her strength, her humor, her stubborn streak, her love of people, her love of shopping, and most of all, the love she had for her family. She leaves behind a lifetime of memories, stories, laughter, and a family who will miss her more than words can say.

A visitation will be held on Friday, September 25th from 3-5 p.m. at Rumsey-Host Funeral Home. Private service for family will be held following.

Memorial contributions may be made to Elara Caring Home Hospice Care- Elara Donation

Jerry Lee Burgen

Posted on by RumseyYost

Services for Jerry Burgen, 91, Lawrence, will be held at 10 am on Monday, September 14, 2026 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 9:30 am until the service begins.

Jerry passed away on September 7, 2026.

He was born on December 28, 1934 in Topeka, Kansas the son of Kenneth and Hazel Burgen. He graduated from Topeka High School in 1953.

He married JoAnn Peek on June 4, 1955 in Topeka Kansas. They lived in Lawrence, Kansas starting in 1965 and shared 66 years of devotion and family.

Jerry served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1956 on active duty in Korea. After returning to Camp Irwin, California, he transferred to the Army Reserve in the Kansas Military District until he was honorably discharged in 1961.

At a young age, Jerry started working, including selling newspapers and helping his father with various jobs. He had a strong work ethic throughout his life. While at Farmland Industries, he started as a fitter foreman and rose to the Maintenance Superintendent at the fertilizer plant in Lawrence, Kansas. He retired from his career at Farmland Industries after 31 years in 1996.

He is survived by his children Ron Burgen (Linda), Don Burgen (Wendy), Kirk Burgen, and Michelle Countess (Keith), 16 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren.

Jerry was preceded in death by his wife JoAnn Burgen, his daughter JoDena Cron, his son Eric Burgen, grandchildren Zachary Countess and Cody Burgen, his parents Kenneth and Hazel Burgen, and his brothers Kenneth and Leon Burgen.

Carroll Dean Wingert

Posted on by RumseyYost

Services for Carroll Dean Wingert, 90, of Lawrence, Kansas, will be held at 10:00 am Friday, September 11, 2026, at Worden Cornerstone Church. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, 790 E. 1217 Rd., Lawrence. A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Thursday, September 10, 2026, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Carroll died peacefully at his home in Lawrence, surrounded by his family, on September 6, 2026.

He was born April 2, 1936, in Baldwin City, Kansas, the son of Jesse and Elsie (Peterson) Wingert. After completing school, he served for four years in the United States National Guard. Carroll later started his own small business, Wingert’s Heating & Air, which he owned and operated for 15 years before passing the business on to his sons. He then worked for several years grading and seeding for Lawrence Gas Company.

Carroll married Darlene J. Daniels on July 2, 1960, in Lawrence, Kansas. They were blessed with three children, Gregory D. Wingert, Kevin M. Wingert, and Lori A. Wingert. Darlene preceded him in death on June 12, 1994. On August 15, 1999, he married Donna M. Wade. She survives at their home.

Other survivors include a son, Kevin (Dana) Wingert, Lawrence; daughter, Lori Wingert, Lawrence; step-son, John (Jolene) Wade, Lawrence; step-daughter, Nadine (Patrick) Lavy, Troy, Ohio; sister, Katherine Koehler, Baldwin City; four grandchildren, Christie M. Wingert-Palmer, Grain Valley, Missouri, Jennifer Wingert-Branlund, Golden, Colorado, Ryan E. Wingert, Lawrence, and Kailey D. Luehrs, Olathe; seven great-grandchildren; 10 step-grandchildren; and 19 step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, Gregory D. Wingert, on March 3, 2020; and seven brothers, Leo, Merle, Gene, Lloyd, Clarence, Jim, and Alfred.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Worden Cornerstone Church, 294 E. 900 Road, Baldwin City, KS 66006.

Dianna Elizabeth (Thomas) Raybern

Posted on by RumseyYost

Services for Dianna E. (Thomas) Raybern, 81, of Lawrence, will include a visitation on Thursday, September 3, 2026 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Graveside Services will follow at McLouth Cemetery in McLouth, Kansas, on Friday, September 4, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Ms. Raybern passed away on September 1, 2026, at her son Shane’s home.

She was born February 20, 1945, in Sabetha, Kansas, the daughter of French and Pearl (Hillix) Thomas. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1963. Dianna worked at Owen’s Flower Shop, Maupintour, and A-1 Mini Storage.

Dianna was a devoted mother who dedicated her life to raising her children and cherished time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In her youth, she enjoyed roller skating, and throughout her life had a love for dancing, drawing and artwork, and visiting with friends. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lawrence and the Eagles Lodge Women’s Auxiliary.

She married Gerald Raybern on August 7, 1965, in Eudora, Kansas; they later divorced.

Survivors include two daughters, Sondra (Pat) Murphy of Lawrence, KS, and Belinda (John) Godden of West Palm Beach, FL; a son, Shane Raybern of Lawrence, KS; six grandchildren, Brittney (Adrian) Levsky, McKayla (PJ) Paez, Kylee (Tony) Gioannini, Tia Raybern, Nathan (Laura) Raybern, and Jakeb Murphy; seven great-grandchildren, Mila and Lena Levsky, Margot Gioannini, Isla and Raya Paez, Rosalina and Raelynn Raybern, and another great-granddaughter on the way; as well as many nieces, nephews, and her beloved cat, Dolly.

She is preceded in death by her sister, Wanda Howard and infant brother, Ronald French Thomas.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS 66044, to assist with the purchase of a headstone.

David Charles (D.C.) Kelly

Posted on by RumseyYost

David Charles Kelly, 87, died Thursday, August 27, 2026, at Neuvant House of Lawrence.

David was born June 20, 1939, in Ottawa, Kansas, to George and Anna (Stephens) Kelly. He graduated from Ottawa High School in 1958 and joined the United States Navy that same month at the behest of his mother, despite having his heart set on the Army. He served four years in the Navy, including more than two years of sea duty aboard the USS Taconic, before returning home to Kansas in May 1962.

On February 16, 1963, David married the love of his life, Immagean “Imma” Martin, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ottawa. Eight months later, David finally got his way and enlisted in the United States Army. He was assigned to the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and Imma followed him there, where they began their life together and built a family.

After five years in Germany, David was sent to Vietnam where he served as a supply sergeant from June 1968 to June 1969, before returning to the United States with his family. In March of 1971 he was promoted to Sergeant First Class and began a new chapter in the Army as a recruiter, a job he truly enjoyed. David was a people person at heart and always had a trick up his sleeve, qualities that served him well throughout his time recruiting for the Army. After more than eight years as a recruiter and more than twenty years of active military service between the Navy and Army, David retired from the United States Army on November 30, 1979. He took great pride in his military service and would fondly remember those years for the rest of his life.

Retirement from the military began another chapter for David and Imma. Together, they became successful business owners, operating a floral shop for more than a decade and founding two restaurants. Imma was the creative director, while David handled the business side. He would say those were the best years of his life, and it was never really about the flowers. It was that he got to spend the day beside his wife. When they had good days, they had them together. When they had bad days, they had them together. Either way, they got to do it together.

In 1986, David and Imma became grandparents, a role that fit them perfectly. Always ones for travel and never inclined to stay still for long, David and Imma took the family on countless weekend getaways and adventures. There was never a dull moment with David around, and that made him one heck of a grandfather. From crashing weddings to dumpster diving, he always had a mischievous plan ready to go. His laugh could fill a room, and so could his snoring, a fact his family never let him forget.

When David and Imma finally decided to retire for good, they wandered the country before eventually settling in Winnsboro, Texas, where they stayed for more than fifteen years, a truly impressive feat for anyone who knew them and their propensity to move. There, David took pride in meticulously caring for their property, found his soul dog, Johnny, and faithfully supported Imma in all of her church activities.

David and Imma returned home to Kansas in 2020 to be closer to family. After more than six decades of marriage, David lost Immagean on August 10, 2024. Their life together had taken them from Kansas to Germany, across the country and back again, through military service, businesses, retirement, adventures, grandchildren, and everything in between.

David was truly one of a kind. He had a heart of gold, an ornery streak that never left him, and there was nothing he would not do for the people he loved. He will be remembered for his kindness, his mischievous ways, his unmistakable laugh, and, above all, his unwavering love for Immagean and his family.

David was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Immagean (Martin) Kelly; and his parents, George H. Kelly and Anna (Stephens) Kelly.

He is survived by his daughter, Lorie (Kelly) Haas of Lyndon, Kansas; his son-in-law, Rex E. Brecheisen of Lyndon, Kansas; his granddaughters, Ashley (Brecheisen) Senestraro and her husband, Garrett, of Lawrence, Kansas, and Alyssa Brecheisen Henson and her husband, Isaac, of Topeka, Kansas; and his great-granddaughter, Isabella Armstrong of Lawrence, Kansas.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Ottawa, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ottawa, Kansas.