Author: RumseyYost

Carl Leroy Athey

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Graveside services for Carl Leroy Athey, 60, Lawrence, will be 11 a.m. Friday, at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Athey died Monday, February 13, 2017.

He was born May 28, 1956, in Lawrence, the son of Edward H. and Evelyn May Brightwell Athey. He attended Lawrence Public Schools.

Mr. Athey enjoyed fishing, hunting, bicycling, and camping.

He is survived by his mother, Evelyn Athey of Baldwin City; brothers, Larry Athey of Lawrence, Edward L. Athey of Lawrence, William Athey of Richmond, KS, Roger Athey of Lawrence, and Gary Athey of Lawrence.

Mr. Athey was preceded in death by his father, Edward, and a brother, Danny Athey.

A visitation with the family will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Carl Athey Memorial Fund, sent in care of the funeral home.

Floyd (Leon) Sawyer

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Funeral services for Leon Sawyer, 89, Lawrence, will be at 2 pm Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. A visitation will be held one hour prior. Burial will follow the service at Oakwood Cemetery, Baldwin City. Leon died Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Floyd “Leon” Sawyer was born August 8,1927 near Gardner, Kansas, the son of Floyd Merritt and Zula Lorretta (Larrick) Sawyer. He graduated from Edgerton Rural High School, Class of 1944.

Leon married the love of his life, Rosa Marie (Admire) Sawyer on May 3, 1947 in Edgerton, Kansas. They shared almost 70 years of marriage.

Leon served in the US Navy as a Seabee at the end of WWII in the Philippines. He returned work at the VA in Kansas City and farming until he thought he would be called up to serve in Korea. At that time, he and Marie moved to Lawrence where he began working for Coca-Cola as as route salesman and Regional Route manager.

In 1956, Leon opened Sawyer’s Texaco Service at 23rd and Barker. He closed the Texico Station in 1976 and continued to work in the auto repair industry for several more years.

Leon’s next career change led him closer to the farm when he worked for KU Housing Department as a landscape supervisor. He retired from KU, packed up the motorhome and headed to Florida.

He loved his family, traveling, his camping, fishing and boating, and the snowbird lifestyle. He had a great sense of humor and always enjoyed people.

Leon was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Donald and Howard Sawyer; and great-granddaughter Emily Sawyer.

Leon is survived by his wife, Marie Sawyer; his son Duane L. Sawyer and wife Denise, of Pomona, KS; his daughter Janis E. Miskimins and husband Mike of Lawrence; his daughter Jean M. Rummer and husband Bob of Lawrence; 7 grandsons; 5 granddaughters; and 21 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild two sisters Junadah Kathleen Sawyer Admire, from Kerrville, TX and Dollie Jean Sawyer Moore of Baldwin, KS

Leon was a loving husband and parent, uncle, brother, grandpa and great-grandpa, and friend. He has left us with many wonderful memories that will be cherished by family and friends forever…

Mary Elizabeth ‘Mary Beth’ Treece

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Mary Elizabeth (Mary Beth) Lindsey Treece was born in Carmona, Texas, on November 25, 1924, the daughter of Morris P Lindsey and Gladys Palmer Lindsey. She was a graduate of Corrigan (Texas) High School. She received Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from The University of Kansas. She was a Fulbright Scholar in the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Her early work history included the U.S. Navy Department, in Texas, where she met Richard Foster Treece, Lawrence native, who was serving in the U.S. Navy. They married in Boston Harbor, onboard the Destroyer Escort USS George E. Davis, on October 9, 1944. He preceded her in death in 2009.

Mary Beth worked for The University of Kansas Athletic Department in the Basketball Office for Coach Dick Harp. She was always proud of her association with The University of Kansas.

Fulfilling a lifelong desire to attend college, Mary Beth enrolled at KU after her children all began school. She worked as a teacher at Lawrence High School for 19 years, until her retirement. She also served as an exchange teacher in Bonsall, England.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Richard, a sister JoeAnn Stokes, a brother-in-law Robert Lee Treece, and her son, also named Robert Lee Treece.

Mary Beth is survived by daughters Virginia Treece Crane and Joan Lindsey Treece, and grandchildren: Jill Susan Crane, Jeffrey Stephen Crane, Matthew Daniel Treece Gallegos, and Molly Elizabeth Gallegos.

Great- grandchildren include: Robert Kellen James, Matthew Foster James, and Joaquin Daniel Flores-Gallegos.

Services will be at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana Street Lawrence, KS 66044, Saturday, February 18, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., with a social gathering starting at 9:30 a.m.

Donald Wayne ‘Don’ Bergner

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Donald Wayne Bergner, 87, of Baldwin City, died Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 at Baldwin Healthcare & Rehab.

Don was born Nov. 5, 1929, in Pratt, Kansas. He was the son of Rient and Grace (Rosenbaum) Bergner and graduated from Pratt High School. He was a farmer, truck driver, and was active in the American Agriculture Movement. Don was a lifelong member of the Pratt Elks Club.

Don married Jean King on Jan. 17, 1948. They were married 60 years. She preceded him in death, as did his parents, a daughter, Cathy Bergner and a brother, Richard Bergner.

Survivors include two daughters, Linda Lees and husband Rick of Baldwin City and Jody Bergner of Boston; three grandchildren, Kyle (Karla) Lees of Gardner, Kelly (Lucas) Yarnell of Olathe and Jon Bergner of Hutchinson; and six great-grandchildren, Kellon and Riley Lees, Dylan and Mackenzie Mabrey, and Kendall Jean and Zack Yarnell.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Vintage Park at Baldwin City, 321 Crimson Ave., Baldwin City, Ks. 66006 or the Pratt Humane Society, 10233 Bluestem Blvd., Pratt, Ks. 67124. Memorial services for Don will be held at a later time.

Donald Wayne “Donnie” Harrell

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Donnie Wayne Harrell, 68, a resident of Lawrence, Kansas, left this world peacefully on February 4th, 2017, to meet his Heavenly Father. Donnie was born December 31,1948 and was the son of Arla and Betty Harrell. He attended Blue Springs High School. He was a mechanic, truck driver and ran his own restaurant business prior to sustaining a traumatic brain injury in 1994.

Survivors include his parents, Arla and Betty Harrell; his children, Curt Harrell, Kelly Harrell Scholz, Shawn Harrell, Ryan Harrell, Christopher Harrell, Aaron Harrell; six grandchildren; and his siblings Betty Agan, Ray Harrell, Beverly Howe and Trish Ayers.

Family and friends can celebrate his life at a memorial service on Saturday, February 18 at 11 am, Bevier Baptist Church, 411 N Macon St, Bevier, Mo.

Memorial contributions can be made to ResCare, where he received loving care for 19 years after his head injury, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Melissa Kay Vaughn

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Melissa Kay Vaughn, 58, passed away peacefully Wednesday February 8, 2017 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital surrounded by her husband and children. Melissa was born in Wichita, KS to Theodore Loudenback and Mary Slagle. She was the second youngest child in a family of five girls. Melissa met her soulmate, David Vaughn, in Lawrence, KS at their place of work. Together, they had two beautiful children, a daughter Mariah Kathryn and a son David Elliot. She worked as a florist and homemaker. Melissa, will always be remembered for her full of life personality. Her favorite past times were dancing, singing, gardening, and cooking. She had an incredible love for animals and nature. Butterflies were an important symbol in her life, and something she held very close to her heart. Melissa loved her children deeply, and was so incredibly proud of all their accomplishments. Her daughter, Mariah, will graduate in May with her Doctor of Physical Therapy. Elliot, her son, is a deputy sheriff in Shawnee County, KS. She looked forward to being a loving grandmother.

Melissa was preceded in death by her father, mother, and sister. She is survived by her husband, two children, and three sisters. She also leaves behind nieces and nephews, as well as her beloved cats and dog.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 18th at Central United Methodist Church, 1501 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS. The service will be followed by a gathering that will include lots of love, laughter, and sharing of stories.

Condolences and flowers may be sent to Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. www.rumsey-yost.com

Helen A. Nation

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A Celebration of Life for Helen A. Nation, 92, Lawrence, will be at 10 am Tuesday at Redeemer Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Robert Leiste officiating. Inurnment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Mrs. Nation died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She was born Nov. 8, 1924, in Cogar, Okla., the daughter of Adolph and Erna Leus Wegner. She graduated from Great Bend High School in 1942. She worked at Smoky Hill AFB in Salina before marrying and moving to Lawrence in 1950. She worked at Haskell and the United States Postal Service, where she was the first female letter carrier in Lawrence. She retired as a financial secretary at Bert Nash in 1988 after 18 years of service. Helen was a board member of Douglas County Trailriders Association, and was involved in Girl Scouts, PTA, and church activities at Redeemer, where she was a member.

She married Oscar C. ‘Bud’ Nation on Sept. 26, 1948, in Great Bend. He preceded her in death in 2014. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Vinson Wegner, and a brother in law, Dean Tittel. Survivors include three children, Debra Schmidt and husband Timothy, Wichita, Barbara Nation-Jackson and husband Bruce, Phoenix, and David Nation, Wellington, Fla.; three siblings, Richard Wegner and wife Jeanne, Lake Quivira, Kan., Irene Tittel, Odessa, Tex., and Kenneth Wegner and wife Ruth, Needham Heights, Mass.; a sister in law, Virginia Wegner, Houston, Tex.; six grandchildren, Andrew and wife Kristin, Nathaniel Herren, Susannah Carnegie, Rebecca Carr and husband John, Laura Friedberg and husband David, and Matthew Schmidt and wife Alexandra; and thirteen great grandchildren, Malik Craven, Rorie, Ariella, Zechariah, and Gabriella Carnegie, Jack, Ever, and Sunny Carr, Adessa and Tylis Herren, Annistyn and Ellington Friedberg, and Gabriella Villacana.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm Monday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory. Memorial contributions are suggested to Redeemer Lutheran Church or Lutheran Hour Ministries, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

George Vorovka

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A Celebration of Life for George Vorovka, 94, Lawrence, will be at 2:30 pm Saturday at Smith Center at Brandon Woods at Alvamar. Mr. Vorovka died peacefully on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, at his home.

He was born Mar. 4, 1922, in Hemingford, Neb., the son of Alois and Marie Stumpf Vorovka, who were immigrants from Czechoslovakia. He graduated from high school in Hemingford, and later served in the United States Navy during World War II, stationed in Pensacola, Fla. George was an officer in the Navy during World War II serving as a Naval Aviator and flight instructor, flying SNJ’s and PBY’s. He served in the Naval Reserves until 1955. He continued his love for flying as a commercial charter pilot. George farmed, and worked for Investors Diversified before joining AAA as a travel insurance agent. He retired in 1986 after 19 years of service. He was a member of the Shriners, Masons, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. George enjoyed flying, travel, Ham radio, carpentry, polka dancing, and spending time with grandsons.

George married Evelyn L. Lange on June 29, 1945, in Hemingford. She survives of the home. Other survivors include a son, David Vorovka, Lincoln, Neb.; a daughter, Cheri Thompson and husband Mike, Lawrence, and two grandsons, Tony and Tim Thompson. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Louise Nekuda.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Brandon Woods Employee Recognition Fund, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com

Virgie Leona Haggerty

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Virgie (Orram) Moody Haggerty, age 85, passed away February 9, 2017 in Eudora, KS. She was born December 10, 1931 to Virgil and Corabelle (Lawhorn) Orram in Wichita, KS. She graduated from Wichita East High School. She was united in marriage to Martie Moody in 1950 and together they raised 6 children in Moundridge, Florence, and Marion, Kansas. There, Virgie enjoyed raising quarter horses and cooking for her family. The couple would later divorce and in 1982, Virgie married Leonard “Pete” Haggerty in Wichita at which time their adventures together began. She enjoyed her job as an activities director in the Kansas Masonic Home in Wichita until 1985 when they moved to San Diego where they flew ultralight planes and traveled the United States and parts of Europe. Virgie and Pete continued their adventures after a move to Homosassa, Florida, where they kept company with good friends, enjoyed boating and taking helicopter rides, and sought out treasures at neighborhood garage sales. Virgie took great pride in her children and grandchildren. Through life’s many challenges and achievements, she loved her family dearly.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Pete, sisters Naomi Roth and Mavis Friesen, son John Moody, grandson Michael Moody, and Pete’s son Shawn Haggerty. She is survived by her children Cheri Thompson, Eudora, KS, Kim (Carolyn) Moody, Ulysses, KS, Chris (Allen) Radtke, Marion, KS, Konnie Hamilton, Loomis, CA, Cindy (Mark) Naff, Lawrence, KS, also Pete’s children whom she loved: Sharon Haggerty, Scott Haggerty, Sheryl Lashway and Patrick Haggerty, seventeen grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren. She will be missed by all.

Virgie will be laid to rest next to Pete at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. The family will have a private celebration of her life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Virgie’s honor to Grace Hospice, Lawrence, Kansas.