Author: RumseyYost

Susan F. Morris

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A Memorial Service celebrating Susan F. Morris, 76, Lawrence, will be held at 1:00pm on Thursday, October 15, 2015, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1101 Vermont, in Lawrence, with reception to follow at Merchant on Massachusetts Street. She died Thursday, October 8, 2015, at her home.

Susan was born July 26, 1939, and grew up with her older brother Robert in Leawood, Kansas, the daughter of Fred and Helen Gibbs Nelson. She was proud to receive her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Kansas and was a working Registered Nurse most of her adult life, continuing after retirement to provide volunteer service at Healthcare Access in Lawrence until her unexpected passing.

Susan married the love of her life, Galen Z. Morris, in 1962 and together they made a wonderful life, making a home and raising a family in Salina, Kansas, until Galen’s death in August of 1991. After moving to Lawrence in 1993, Susan embraced a new life making great friends, nursing at Brandon Woods in Lawrence and Alterra Sterling House in Topeka, Kansas, doing volunteer work and traveling around the world with friends and family. She is survived by her two best friends, sons Fred N. Morris of Stuyvesant, New York and Jeff D. Morris, of Kansas City, Missouri, and her daughter-in-law Mary and two grandchildren, Gibbs Morris and Evelyn Morris, who filled her heart and made her so proud to be “Granny Sue.” She is also survived by many friends who she accepted into the family of her heart.

Susan lived a life of action and purpose. She loved her country life near Salina, her dachshunds, working in her yard, the smell and look of a mowed lawn and her daily Jumble. She lived for meaningful times with her many friends, visits to Fred at his farm in New York State, time with her grandchildren, fishing at her family cabin and the adventures of daily life.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made directly to Health Care Access Clinic in Lawrence (www.healthcareaccess.org) or the Lawrence Humane Society (www.lawrencehumane.org).

Eunice C. DeCourcy

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A memorial visitation for Eunice Elizabeth Peyton Conforti Rezek DeCourcy will be held from 6 to 8 pm Friday, Oct. 16 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Inurnment will be at a later date in Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery in Elmhurst, Illinois, where she will join her husband Raymond Rezek.

Eunice died Saturday, October 10 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital following surgery. She was 96 years young.
She was born on July 30, 1919 in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Harry Peyton and Therese Peyton Conforti. She grew up in Chicago and attended Senn High School. She left school in her sophomore year to work as a receptionist and switchboard operator at Superior Engraving Company in Chicago to help support the family. There she met Raymond James Rezek, a delivery boy and the love of her life. They married November 4, 1939. Mr. Rezek died in 1977, and in 1988 she married Dr. Neil DeCourcy of Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. DeCourcy died in 2006. Eunice then moved to Lawrence to live with her daughter Lorel. At the time of her death she lived in Baldwin City at ComfortCare Home.

Eunice is survived by daughters Karel Rezek Brown (David) of Burr Ridge, Illinois and Lorel Rezek Lewis (Steve) of Lawrence, Kansas. A son, James Cyril Rezek (Elin), of Oswego, Illinois, preceded her in death. Eunice has 5 grandchildren: Scott Brown (Iliana), Robert Brown (Mary), and David Brown (Amy), all of Hinsdale, Illinois; and Molly Lewis Rasmussen (Jonathan Glauner) of Lawrence and Elizabeth Lewis Rulifson (John) of Shawnee, Kansas. Eunice also has 14 great grandchildren. Eunice was a creative and accomplished homemaker, and a loving daughter, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother. All of us will miss our beloved “GG.”

Friends may call on the family from 6 to 8pm at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home on Friday. A short, informal celebration of life will be shared at 7:15pm.

The family suggests memorials to the Lawrence Humane Society, sent in care of the funeral home.

William Kenneth Calhoun II

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William Kenneth Calhoun II, 71, of Lawrence, formerly of Emporia, died of cancer in his home on October 9, 2015. Ken engaged in life through his wit, wisdom, banter, and challenging conversations. He was kind and caring. His hope was that the world would be a little better for his being in it because nothing else mattered. Above all, he believed people were more important than things. He lived his beliefs until his last moment.

Ken was born September 4, 1944, in Emporia, Kan., the son of William Gunn Calhoun and Dorothy Crain Calhoun. He attended elementary schools in Emporia, graduated from Culver Military Academy in Culver, Ind., and received a BS in Business from The University of Kansas in 1966. While at The University of Kansas, he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and a member of the competitive intramural volleyball team.

He married Judith Elaine Cartright of Iola, Kan. on October 16, 1964. Ken is survived by his wife, Judith; his two daughters, Stephani Calhoun Davis of Greenwood Village, Colo. and Melissa Calhoun Sottoway (Doug) of Portland, Ore.; four grandchildren, Madeleine Anne Davis, Kansas City, Mo., Caroline Calhoun Davis, Lawrence and Greenwood Village, Nolan Gunn Sottoway and Laci Cartright Sottoway of Portland.

Other survivors include two sisters: Carol Wood (Bill) of Rockville, Md. and Kay Mehrer of Stilwell, Kan.; his sister-in-law, Nancy Watts (Lee) of Carlsbad, N.M. and his loved cousins, nieces, and nephews.

After graduating from The University of Kansas, he worked for the Target Stores in Minneapolis, Minn. He then returned to Emporia to join the family-owned business, Newman’s Department Store, from 1968-1998, and continued as Secretary and President of Newman’s Inc. until 2011. He was Firm Administrator at the accounting firm of Pool & Wright from 1999-2006. He joined the Emporia Community Foundation as CEO and Secretary in 2000, retiring in 2013.

While living in Emporia, Ken had roles in numerous organizations, boards, and community efforts. He was involved in the United Way from 1973-1987, serving as Chair of the Budget Committee (1973-1977), President, Drive Chairman, Steering Committee, and Steering Committee Chair. He served as a Chamber of Commerce Director from 1974-1977 and 1996-1997, and Vice President in 1977. He was an advocate of Mainstreet and BID efforts, serving as a Board Member and President. As Project Pride Chair, he developed and raised money for street landscaping, and he developed and raised money for the White Park. He was a member of Emporia Enterprises (now Regional Development Agency) during the acquisition and development of Park III in Emporia.

Ken served on the Citizen’s National Bank Board and successor banks from 1974-1999 and on the Jones Trust Board from 1974-2006. For the Jones Foundation, he held the positions of Secretary from 1974-1994 and President from 1994-2006. He was a Director for the Newman Regional Health Foundation from 1968-1976, 1993-1996, and 2010-2013, holding the office of President in 1975-1976 and 1996-2012. He was a member of the Calhoun Foundation, serving as Secretary from 1969-1999 and President from 1999 until 2012 when it became the Calhoun Family Fund with the Emporia Community Foundation.

Ken was a member of the Emporia Country Club, served three full terms on the club board, and was President in 1974, 1998, and 2012. For the Kahola Homeowner’s Association, he served four full terms as a Director and was Treasurer from 1987-2011. During that time, he oversaw the formation of both cabin and homeowner’s associations. He was a member of the Emporia State University President’s Advisory Council from 1998-2012.

He was recognized as Man of the Week by the Emporia Gazette in 1971 and received the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce.

In Lawrence, he joined the Lawrence Arts Center and the New Generation Society. He was an active member of the men’s golf community at Alvamar Country Club and of a coffee group at J&S Coffee Company. He closely followed Kansas University and Emporia State University volleyball and basketball teams. He served as Finance Committee Chair of the Bella Sera Community Association.

He left a legacy of accomplishments, yet his greatest gift was leaving a lifetime of memories for his family and friends. Memorials in his honor may be sent to the Emporia Community Foundation, 527 Commercial, Suite 501, Emporia, KS 66801 and designated for the Heather Stewart Endowment Fund for Camp Wood student scholarships or for the Fund for the Future Endowment.

Memorials also may be sent to The Culver Educational Foundation at 1300 Academy Road 18, Culver, IN 46511.

Services will be held in Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vermont Street, Lawrence, KS on Sunday, October 18, 2015 at 1:30 p.m., with a celebration to follow.

Online condolences may be made at rumsey-yost.com.

Mary Janet Gray

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Services for Mary Janet Gray, 62, Lawrence, will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Temple Assembly of God Church.

A visitation with the family will be from 9 a.m. until service time at the church.

Ms. Gray died Thursday, October 8, 2015.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Calvary Temple Assembly of God Church, sent in care of the funeral home.

Kenneth Irby

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Poet and University of Kansas Professor Kenneth Irby died at 5 a.m. on Thursday, July 30, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He passed peacefully in his sleep, a few hours after close friends and colleagues read to him from Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” and Rainer Maria Rilke’s Duino Elegies, the first book of poems he owned, at the age of fourteen.

Irby’s work is widely respected by readers and writers of innovative poetry worldwide. He published 20 books and chapbooks during his long and fruitful career. The last of these, The Intent On: Collected Poems, 1962-2006 (North Atlantic Books, 2009) was received warmly, and in 2010 the Poetry Society of America awarded Irby the prestigious Shelley Memorial Award. His body of poetry is quite diverse, but is characterized throughout by a conversational tone, persistent questioning, keen attention to the music of language, and a concern with geography, particularly that of Kansas.

Kenneth Lee Irby was born in Bowie, Texas in 1936, the son of physician Addison Craft Irby and nurse Dora Elizabeth Irby. In 1940, the family moved to Fort Scott, Kansas, where Ken grew up. He attended the University of Kansas and graduated with a BA in History in 1958; in 1960, he received an MA in Far Eastern Studies from Harvard University. He served in the Army from 1960-62, then went on to earn a Master of Library Science from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1968. Irby taught briefly at Tufts University and Copenhagen University in Denmark, and in 1974 received a Fulbright fellowship. In 1977, he moved to Lawrence, Kansas, to care for his elderly mother, and, in 1985, he began teaching at the University of Kansas. He was promoted to the rank of full professor in 2012 and continued teaching until his health no longer permitted.

Irby was a friend and associate of many of the poetic luminaries of his generation, such as Robert Duncan, Edward Dorn, and Robert Creeley. His passing has been met with an outpouring of grief and sympathy from former students, colleagues, and fellow poets. “The first poet I ever laid eyes on!” said poet and critic Ron Silliman, who called Irby “a wonderful guy and still the poet with the best ear I’ve ever read.” Irby’s former student, attorney Genna Sue Hibbs, remarked, “He was stunning in his ‘American Poets of the 20th Century’ class and really opened up [Ezra] Pound and H.D. for me in a way I would not have found on my own. . . . he reminded you that poetry involved engaging all human experience.”

Kenneth L. Irby is survived by a brother, James East Irby and his wife Marta Peixoto of Princeton, NJ; nephews Francisco, Daniel, and Thomas; and nieces Elizabeth and Mariana. Memorial services will be announced at a later date; interested parties should e-mail Joseph Harrington for more information, at jharrington@ku.edu. – See more at: http://obituaries.ljworld.com/obituaries/ljworld/obituary.aspx?pid=175439868#sthash.CXaiArB1.dpuf

James H. ‘Hoop’ Hooper Jr.

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A celebration of life for James H. “Hoop” Hooper Jr. will be held at a later date.

He died at his home, Wednesday, October 7, 2015.

Hoop was born February 1, 1946, in Atchison, KS, the son of Howard and Jean Hooper. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1964.

He served in the United States Army, and worked at Montgomery Ward (mechanic) and Walmart (mechanic and lawn & garden). He retired from Walmart earlier this year.

Hoop married Peggy S. Booher, on May 1, 1965 in Tonganoxie. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include 2 daughters, Sheila White (Mike), of Lawrence and Stephanie Hooper (Sean Smith), of Lawrence; a sister, Sandy, of Lawrence and a brother, Dave, of Park City, KS; and 5 grandchildren, Samantha, Tucker, Sydney, Tim, and Mikey.

Hoop will be missed by friends and family. He enjoyed camping, softball, and just being outdoors.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, a brother, Dan, and a grandson.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Hospice, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Alfreda Martin

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Visitation for Alfreda Martin, 83, Lawrence, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. She will be cremated.

Mrs. Martin died Wednesday, October 7, 2015, at Brandon Woods.

She was born August 2, 1932, one of 11 children. She was a survivor of a World War II Polish concentration camp. In her lifetime, she also survived cancer twice, and a severe head injury from a car accident.

Alfreda married Hermann Martin, on November 30, 1957, in Ippinghausen, Germany. He preceded her in death on May 3, 2009. In 1958, they moved to Dunkirk, NY. In later years, they moved to New York City, Smithville, MO, Olathe, KS and finally to Lawrence, KS. She was a homemaker.

In 1970, she was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Her husband, Hermann, joined her in worshiping Jehovah several years later. She was a faithful member of the Southern Hills congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Survivors include a daughter, Ruth Dease-Smith, of Bronx, NY, a son, Herbert Martin, of Leander, TX, a daughter, Heidi Lewis, of Lawrence, KS, a sister, Helena Liedtke, of Germany, a brother, August Blok, of Germany, a brother, Robert Blok, of Poland, and 5 grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, sent in care of the funeral home.

Darrell K. Falen

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The world said goodbye to a most gentle, kind and patient soul last week.

Darrell Keith Falen, 82, of Lawrence, passed away peacefully at his home on October 6, 2015, after a struggle with cancer.

Darrell was born September 5, 1933, in Stafford, Kansas, the son of Raymond Falen and Mary Fern (Salmon) Falen. He attended school in Stafford, and after receiving a music scholarship he graduated from Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas in 1955. While at Southwestern he lettered in both football and basketball. Upon graduation Darrell joined the United States Navy, attending Officer Candidate School, and became a Naval Aviator. He served in active duty for four years, and in the Navy Reserve for six years. He married Carol Ann Detter of Winfield, Kansas on June 23, 1956.

Following active Navy service, Darrell taught math at Central Junior High School in Lawrence in 1959. In 1960 he continued teaching at West Junior High School and was the head basketball coach and a football assistant for four years. In 1964 he moved to Lawrence High School, where he was an assistant in both sports. He was the Lions’ head basketball coach from 1968-1973. In 1974 he was named Lawrence’s director of athletics business affairs under AD Al Woolard, and in ‘77 became Athletic Director. Under Darrell’s directorship, the Lions started a full-scale girls‘ athletics program, as well as boys’ sports of soccer and baseball. During that time LHS won 52 state championships. In addition to teaching and his contributions to Lawrence High athletics, Darrell spent years in administration and was a division principal at the time of his retirement.

Darrell’s retirement years were full of travel with Carol, time spent with family and friends, playing golf, and watching lots of sports on TV.

Darrell is survived by his wife Carol, his son Steven Craig Falen of Missoula, Montana and his daughter Diana Lynn Vincent of Leesburg, Virginia. Steve’s family includes wife Susan Ash and son Zachary. Diana’s family includes husband Jeff Vincent, and sons Cooper and Tanner of Leesburg, Virginia. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Doris Falen.

A celebration of Darrell’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, October 12, at Plymouth Congregational Church in Lawrence with the Reverend Dr. Peter A. Luckey officiating. A reception will follow in the Mayflower Room, at the church.

A private family inurnment service will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery. Donations in Darrell’s name may be made to the Darrell Falen Memorial Athletics Fund at Lawrence High School, Plymouth Congregational Church, and Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.

Crystal Louise Downing Floyd

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Memorial services for Chrystal L. Downing 67, Topeka, will be at 6pm Friday Oct. 9th, Lawrence Train Depot/Visitor Center.

Ms. Downing died Tuesday Sept. 29th 2015 at Lawrence memorial Hospital.

She was born Oct 20th 1947, the daughter of Cecil and Lucille Mason Fewins.

Ms. Downing worked in the Lawrence community for several years, the last being King radio till her retirement.

She married Leslie Downing, he proceeded her in death.

She is survived by her partner of 20 years Dale Floyd, a step daughter Ella Downing Curtiss, two grandsons Cody and Austin Floyd. Two brother Cecil Wichita and Frank Topeka, two sister Betty Ray Lawrence and Myrl Fewins-Roberts Lawrence.

The family requests everyone Please Dress Casual.