Jerry passed away July 6, 2014, at the age of 65. He was born June 9, 1949, in Emporia, to Fern Daily and Howard Samuel ‘Sam’ Gray. He graduated from Topeka West High School in 1967. He went on to work for Santa Fe Railroad and various other jobs. Jerry was in The Way ministry and lived in Ohio for a time. He returned to the area and went to Washburn Tech and became an electronic technician. While working at King Radio, he met Mary Harrison, whom he married on Sept. 7, 1985. They had a daughter, Hannah, in 1994. He retired in 1997 due to health issues related to diabetes. Jerry had many hobbies, including Ham Radio, watches, trains, and watching Jeopardy. He had a lot of friends that he loved to visit even while keeping up his dialysis treatments three times a week. Survivors include his wife, Mary, of the home; a daughter, Hannah and husband Jerod; a brother, Geoff Gray and wife Barb; two sister-in-laws, Sharon King and Karen Harrison; and a grandson, Vincent. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, Donovan, a sister, Gaylynn Dickey, nephews Darrick Karr and Dean Harrison, brother-in-laws Norman King, Sonny Harrison, and Charles Harrison, and his mother and father-in-law. Memorial services will be held at Calvary Temple Assembly of God, where he served as a deacon and loved attending, on Friday, July 11, at 11 am. A visitation will be held from 10 am to 11 am at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jerry Gray Memorial Fund, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. His family and friends will miss his smile and friendly voice. This is not ‘goodbye,’ but rather ‘see you later.’
Author: RumseyYost
Jane W. Nesselrode
Jane Winifred Waring Nesselrode passed away July 5, 2014, in Lawrence, Kansas. Born in Kansas City, Kansas, to Maude and Clarence Waring in 1919, she was one of the few women to become a champion golfer and diver and to graduate from the School of Architectural Engineering at KU in 1940. She married (and later divorced) Frederick McCoy, M.D. and became a loving mother of five children.
She was an active volunteer in Kansas City for the March of Dimes, the Nelson Art Gallery, the Della C. Lamb Center, St. Mary’s Hospital, St. Andrew’s Church, and many others. She was on the Board of the Red Cross, President of Kappa Kappa Gamma Alums, Chairwoman of the Philharmonic Education Program and President of the Women’s Philharmonic. She taught children’s programs prior to their attending concerts, so that they would understand more about what they were experiencing. For decades she also volunteered at the St. Lukes Hospital gift shop, delivered books to patients, and helped knit caps for newborns.
She was married to George Nesselrode from 1972 until his death in 1981. She was an accomplished pianist who could bring her listeners to tears and/or laughter, depending on the music. She played for small children at the Jewish Community Center in KC as they danced and marched around her piano. She led many a sing-along with her piano and was entertaining the residents at Brandon Woods until recently..
She made friends wherever she went and accepted the changes of age with incredible grace. She loved to make people smile, and her wit was unstoppable. She had a comeback for just about any remark. She spent many days in hospitals in her final years, and invariably nurses and aides would tell us that our mother made their day with her cheerful attitude and witty remarks in spite of the many challenges she faced.
She will be dearly missed by her five children and spouses: Judy and Michael Carman, Rick and Nancy McCoy, Anna McCoy, Melissa McCoy, Steve McCoy; three step-daughters: Ellen Jasa, Georgia Nesselrode, and Jean Anne Nesselrode; nine grandchildren and their spouses; 19 great grandchildren, countless dear friends, and her beloved cat—Miss Kitty.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that the best way to honor our mother would be a donation to the Brandon Woods Employee Recognition Fund at 1501 Inverness Drive, Lawrence, KS, 66047. Service will be held at 1:30 pm on Friday, July 11, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vermont, Lawrence, KS. Following the service everyone is invited to attend a Celebration of Jane’s Life at the Brandon Woods Smith Center, 4723 Brandon Woods Terrace, at 3pm.
Ethel Pearl Herren
Graveside services for Ethel Pearl Herren, 100, Baldwin City, will be 11:00 a.m. Friday at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Herren died Friday, July 4, 2014 at Baldwin Healthcare & Rehab in Baldwin City.
She was born November 30, 1913 in Pollach, MO, to Clarence William and Ida Mae Fleshman Towell.
Mrs. Herren was a homemaker most of her life, and also worked in the laundry at the Valley View Nursing Home for 13 years before retiring in 1980. She enjoyed watching TV, word find puzzles, crocheting, embroidery, quilting, and canning.
She married Cloyd Gibson Herren in 1935 in Lawrence. He preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Bobby Herren and girlfriend Martha Rampy of Platte City, MO; a daughter, Marie Ann Ochs of Baldwin City, KS; grandchildren, Michael B. Davis of Belle Plaine, KS, Terry L. Davis of Iowa, Vicki L. Trout of Wichita, KS, Anne Ostermyer of Russell, KS, Gary W. Trout of Oklahoma, Rick D. McMichaelson of Topeka, KS, James A. Ochs of Baldwin City, KS, Shirley M. Sayler of Lawrence, KS, and Bobby G. Herren, Jr. of Lawrence, KS; 15 great grandchildren; and 3 great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and granddaughter, Andrea I. Simpson in 2001.
Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
The family suggests memorials to the Ethel P. Herren Memorial Fund, sent in care of the funeral home.
Dorothy M. Fritzel
Services for Dorothy Maxine Fritzel will be at 11am Friday, July 18, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will be immediately following at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Dorothy passed away Friday, July 4, 2014 at Pioneer Ridge. She was born August 7, 1915 in Girard, KS, daughter of Albert & Anna Fitz Holcom. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Richard, and sister, Alberta.
Dorothy moved to Lawrence in 1935 and enrolled in Lawrence Business School. In November, 1937, Dorothy was offered a job which unbeknownst to her would be her career. She went to work at the Lawrence Journal World as Mr. W.C. Simon’s secretary and remained for 67 years until her retirement.
She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Altrusa, CW Chapter of PEO, Laureate Beta of Beta Sigma Phi, American Business Women’s Association, Westside Study club and many bridge clubs.
Dorothy married John Valentine Fritzel on June 28, 1938 and lived in the Lone Star area where their farm and Lone Star Lake house were happy destinations for many nieces, nephews and other children. She and John loved KU sports and when possible travelled to out of town games. After his death in 1977, she moved to Lawrence. She was a gracious, fun loving, generous, kind hearted “Lady” and is remembered by many friends and family throughout the country. She is survived locally by Gene Fritzel, Joel Fritzel, Gordon Chappell, Gwen Altic Leckron, Pam Altic-Van Roekel, family friend Glenn Johanning and many other extended Fritzel family members.
Visitation will be held at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home on Thursday, July 17, from 6-8pm.
The family suggests memorials to Douglas County Visiting Nurses or the charity of your choice, in care of the funeral home.
Richard Martin Wolford
Services for Richard Martin Wolford, 82, Lawrence, are pending and will be announced by Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.
He died Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.
Robert M. Pierce
Robert M. Pierce, 91, Lawrence died Monday, June 30, at Eudora Nursing Center.
Inurnment will be at a later date in Hayward, Wisconsin.
Samly Khanthaboury
Funeral service for Samly Khanthaboury will be Saturday, July 5th at noon. Visitation will be Friday, 5- 8 pm, both at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.
Samly died June 27, 2014 at University of Kansas Hospital.
Armilda Yvonne ‘Bonnie’ Beebe Turner
Graveside services for Armilda Yvonne ‘Bonnie’ Beebe Turner, 85, Lawrence, will be at 11 am Thursday at Oak Hill Cemetery, with Pastor Don Ogden officiating. Mrs. Turner died Sunday, June 29, 2014, at her home.
She was born Apr. 3, 1929, in Lawrence, the daughter of William Albert and Evelyn Erwin Beebe. She attended Lawrence schools. She lived in Fort Smith, Ark, from 1949 to 1953, before moving to California, where she lived for 23 years and worked in and managed a drapery shop, a General Telephone Co. supervisor, and an electronic supervisor in Long Beach, Calif. and Costa Mesa, Calif. before returning to Lawrence. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, quilting, travel, fishing, and writing poems, several of which were published.
She married Donald P. Turner Sr. on Apr. 22, 1983, in Oskaloosa. He survives of the home. Other survivors include two daughters, Sally Thompson, Bryan, Tex., and LaciLinn Turner, of the home; three step daughters, Vicki Ramirez, Brenda Clark, and Susan Wiedeman; a sister-in-law, Nora Beebe, Paragould, Ark.; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter, Hallie May Cool, three brothers, Billy, Glenn, and Rollie Beebe, and two sister-in-laws, Laura Dean-Beebe, and Lorene Beebe-Roberts.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Visiting Nurses, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.
Sheila Kaye (Courter) Potts
Celebration of life for Sheila Kaye Potts will be at the American Legion Hall at 803 Eighth Street, Baldwin City On Wednesday July 9th from 6-8 PM. This will be a pot luck dinner.
Sheila died on Thursday June 26th, 2014 in her home after a short battle with cancer. She was born on January 19th, 1974 in Lawrence, Kansas.
Sheila is survived by her mom and dad Sue and Marvin VonBargen, Father Jim Courter, Sons Tory Courter and Jaden Brewer, daughter Caitlyn Brewer, one granddaughter Aislinn Courter, long time companion Brian Brewer, daughter in law Mary Courter, brother, sister, cousins, aunts uncles and numerous others.
At the time of death Sheila was working at the Baldwin Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center.
Contributions can be paid to the Sheila K. Potts memorial fund at Baldwin State Bank also on gofundme.com.
Edna Catherine Poole
Services for Edna C. Poole, 96, Lawrence, will be 10 am Friday, June 27, 2014, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church.
She was born March 23, 1918, in Colby, KS, and died June 25, 2014, in Lawrence, KS.
Edna was preceded in death by her parents John and Edith Bremenkamp, husband Rufus, brothers Raymond, Leonard, Eddie, Jerry, and sister Cecelia.
She was born and raised on a farm in Colby where she spent a happy childhood with her siblings thru the times of the great Dust Bowl.
At the age of sixteen she entered nurses training at St. Francis Hospital, Topeka, KS. After graduating as an RN Edna taught nursing. In 1942 she joined the army and was commissioned to 2nd Lieutenant. She served for 2 ½ years in the Aleutian Islands, treating soldiers wounded in the Pacific. Edna was one of only seven nurses on the island. At the height of the war in 1944 she was sent to Europe to serve in the army’s 4th Division under the command of Gen. Patton. She served on the front lines for the rest of the war.
After the war ended Edna returned to Colby where she met her husband Rufus, who was also a veteran of the Navy. Edna continued her nursing career in Colby. She worked with Dr. Jenson, Headed the intensive care unit of St. Thomas Hospital and was promoted to head supervisor.
After her husband’s death she moved to Lawrence, KS, and spent her retirement years enjoying friends, church, and women’s clubs.
Mrs. Poole’s last three years were joyously spent at Meadowlark Manor among good friends, caring staff, and a compassionate caregiver. After a lifetime of caring for others Meadowlark and her caregiver took care of her.
Edna leaves a son Kevin, daughter Reni, many beloved nieces, nephews and friends.
