Author: RumseyYost

Donny D. Barnhart

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Graveside services for Donny D. Barnhart, 73, Lawrence, will be 2 p.m. Friday at Valley Brook Cemetery.

Mr. Barnhart died Monday, January 20, 2014, at Medicalodges in Eudora.

He was born April 19, 1940, in Topeka, the son of Dewey M. and Lena McCracken Barnhart.  He graduated from Appanoose High School in 1959.  He has lived in Lawrence since 1962.

Mr. Barnhart was employed by KDOT as a highway maintenance supervisor and by Kennedy Glass as a glazier.  He enjoyed fishing and taking care of his yard.

He married Beverly Trendel April 21, 1962 in Michigan Valley, Kansas.  She survives of the home.

Other survivors include a son, Raymond Barnhart of Lawrence; daughter, Dona Higgins of Lawrence; brothers, Dewey L. Barnhart and wife Nellie of Lawrence, Robert Barnhart and wife Karen of Afton, Oklahoma; sister in law, Mary Barnhart of Lawrence; and grandchildren, Michael Higgins of Manhattan, and Michelle Higgins of Lecompton.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Keith Barnhart.

Friends may call from 9am to 8pm Thursday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, where the family will receive them from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.

The family suggests memorials to Grace Hospice and Medicalodges in Eudora, sent in care of the funeral home.

Donald W. Potter

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Funeral services for Donald Wayne Potter, 83, Lawrence, will be at 10:30 am Thursday at Lawrence Heights Christian Church, with the Rev. Steve Koberlein officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Mr. Potter died Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, at his home.

He was born Aug. 1, 1930, in Marion, Kan., the son of John B. and Ruth E. Pierce Potter. He spent his early years in Herington, Kan., and later moved with his family to Lawrence, where he graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in 1949. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War, earning numerous medals and awards. After his honorable discharge in Dec., 1953, he attended the University of Kansas, where he met and married his first wife, Allois Mary Twigg on Jun. 6, 1955, and raised their family here. Don was proud of his family’s participation in Lawrence Aquahawks and football. Don worked as an equipment operator for Douglas County Public Works, a chemist for Callery Chemical, and a process engineer for Boeing until 1962, when he bought his first service station, Potter’s 66, at 23rd & Louisiana St. This began his entrepreneurship, which included three service stations, a body shop, and Hertz Rent-a-Car, which he continued to operate until his retirement. After Allois passed away on June 7, 1986, he met and married Marie Galluzzi on Jan. 22, 1994, and they shared nearly 20 loving years together. Throughout his life, he was an active member of Sertoma, receiving his 30 year pin and the Sertoman of the Year award, as well as a founder and longtime member of Lawrence Heights Christian Church. In his later years, his passions included raising roses, bird watching, KU athletics, meeting with his LMHS alumni group, participating with Marie in the Christmas Tour of Homes, and volunteering at the Lawrence Visitor’s Center.

Survivors include his wife, Marie, of the home; his children, Stacy Orr and her three children, Erin, Kevin, and Kaitlyn and their families, Lynn Potter, his wife Nancy, and their three children, Dustin, Nikki, and Cassandra and their families, and Sheryl Denny and her husband John; and Marie’s four children, Greg, Annette, Gary, and Dan Galluzzi and their families; a nephew, Mark Coates, and a niece, Debbie Fitzgerald; 20 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Douglas Wayne Potter in 1981, and a sister, Juanita Coates.

The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6:30 – 8 pm, and Thursday from 9:30 – 10:30 am, both at Lawrence Heights Christian Church. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Lawrence Heights Christian Church building fund, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.

Kenneth C. Kuester

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Graveside services with military honors for Kenneth C. Kuester, 67, Overbrook, will be at 11 am Tuesday at Memorial Park Cemetery.  Mr. Kuester died Saturday, Jan, 11, 2014, at his home.

He was born May 8, 1946, in Lawrence, the son of Herman C. and Paula M. Beaver Kuester.  He graduated from high school, attended college, and served in the United States Navy.  Survivors include a son, Jimmie, a brother, Dennis, a sister, Kathy Patton and husband Glen, and good friends Michael and Janet Swalm.

Susan K. Jones

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Memorial services for Susan K. Jones, 62, Lawrence, will be at 1:30 pm Saturday, Jan, 18, 2014, at First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Matt Sturtevant officiating.  The family will receive friends following the service.

Susan died Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014, at her home, following a prolonged and courageous battle with breast cancer.  Throughout her life, Susan maintained her warm spirit of nurturing help for all, recognizing personal needs and finding helpful solutions.  Susan was known to many through her work as an English teacher and tutor, and she touched many lives from many nations through the friendships she made and maintained while teaching international students of all ages.

Susan was born in Fullerton, Nebraska on August 1, 1951, the third of five children. She attended Doane College in Crete, Nebraska.  She married John H. Jones in 1971 and moved from Nebraska to Florida, to Georgia, and then to a three year experience in Spain as a Navy wife.  For many years, Susan cared for patients as a Registered Nurse.  She moved with John to duty stations in Virginia, Texas, Japan, and California prior to his retirement in Lawrence after his assignment to the Naval ROTC Unit at the University of Kansas.  Their family grew to include Stephen, his wife Jennie, and their children Rosemarie, Owen, and William, as well as their daughter Jeannie and her husband Steven Paulson.  Susan’s interest in helping others led her to begin voluntarily teaching at Small World, where she taught English to international women and their children, and  where she served as Assistant Director for more than twenty years.  Susan also served the Lawrence First Baptist Church as a volunteer teacher and program leader.  Her final days drew her community of friends and family even closer together, and her loss is felt deeply by many.

The family suggests memorials in Susan’s name to Small World, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home &  Crematory, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Rose Suzette ‘Suzi’ Jackson

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Memorial services for Rose Suzette (Suzi) Jackson, 71, Lawrence, will be Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 2 PM, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.  Suzi died Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She was born Oct. 4, 1942, in Bloomington, Ill., the daughter of Roland Francis and Ethel Marie Miller Smith.  She graduated from University High in Columbia, Mo., and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Missouri.  She later earned her Master’s degree and Specialist in Education degrees from Pittsburg State University.  Mrs. Jackson taught elementary school in Missouri and Kansas for 34 years, retiring in 1998.  After retiring, she did substitute teaching for Lawrence Public Schools.  She was a member of the National Education Association, and enjoyed reading, gardening, and spending time with her family and her dogs.

She married Joseph B. Jackson on Dec. 28, 1968.  He preceded her in death in 1997.  She was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Hannah Taylor.  Survivors include two daughters, Kimberly Ann Jackson Taylor and husband Christopher, and Carrie Jackson, all of Lawrence; a brother, Michael Smith and wife Kathleen, Jackson, N.J.; and three grandchildren, Olivia, Joseph, and Madeline Taylor.

The family suggests memorials to the American Cancer Society, or Harvester’s, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.  Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.

Tristan Alexis Westphal

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A visitation for Tristan Alexis Westphal, 35, Lawrence, will be from 6 pm to 7 pm Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory.

Tristan peacefully left this world on January 6, 2014.

He was born May 18, 1978, in Hastings, Nebraska, the son of Steven Ethan and Michelle Renee Moore Westphal.  He attended school at Superior Public Schools and graduated from Lawrence Alternative High School.  He also attended railroad school at Johnson County Community College.

He was employed at various crafts, as an apprentice chef at the Adams Alumni Center; the Reuter Pipe Organ Company, where he was a finisher; at Vaughncraft Percussion in Baldwin, where he crafted world class tambourines; and Schlumberger in Lawrence.

Tristan was a very dedicated and doting father.  Besides spending time with his daughters and family, he enjoyed listening to music, as well as going to concerts, fishing, gardening, cooking, fine cuisine, and fine beers.  He was very caring, generous, and a loyal friend to many and will be sorely missed.

He is survived by his daughters, Aurora and Athena Westphal, Olathe; parents Steve and Michelle Westphal of Lawrence; his brother, Schuyler and wife Jasmine; sister, Chanelle and partner Patrick; nephews, Nevada Diehl of Superior, Nebraska, Quinton Westphal of Lawrence; niece, Laney Westphal of Lawrence; and grandmother, Clara Westphal.

He was preceded in death by his grandpa, Donald Moore; grandma, Fern Moore; and uncle, Hugo Westphal.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Tristan Westphal Memorial Fund, sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Rosalee “Rose” Marie Earl

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Services for Rosalee “Rose” Marie Earl, 63, Lawrence, will be 11 a.m. Monday, January 13, 2014 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence, Kansas.  Burial will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, at Pleasant View Cemetery in Logan, Kansas.

Mrs. Earl died Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.

She was born February 15, 1950 in Logan, Kansas, the daughter of George Elmer and Elsie Kraus Carver.  She graduated from Logan High School.

Mrs. Earl worked for Kansas Color Press and has been with Allen Press for the last 30 years.  She enjoyed Civil War and gunfighter reenactments, traveling, bowling, reading, board and card games, KU basketball, NASCAR, and visiting with people everywhere she went.  She was also a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary in Winchester.

She married Eldred Lee Earl March 22, 1969 in Phillipsburg, Kansas, at the First Baptist Church. 

Her parents, brother, and sister preceded her in death, as did her beloved husband, Eldred, in 2010

Survivors include a sister, Arlene Hix of Norton, Kansas; nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; and one great great nephew.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, and a visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The family suggests memorials to the Lawrence Humane Society or to the Rosalee Earl Cemetery Memorial Fund for Pleasant View Cemetery, for upkeep of grounds, sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Gilbert ‘Gil’ Frazey

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No public services for Gilbert ‘Gil’ Frazey, 77, Eudora, are planned.  Mr. Frazey died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, at Bonner Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation.

He was born Dec. 7, 1936.

He earned a Master’s degree from Wichita State University, and taught science and math for 40 years in Wichita and Kansas City, Mo. He enjoyed music, and played the trumpet in the orchestra. Gil was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Wichita and the Nazarene Church in Kansas City, Mo. He was a musician and played the trumpet for many years while he was attending East High and later at Wichita University. While in high school and college he also had a dance band. Gil studied trumpet with Rafael Mendez at the Western State Music Festival held in August at Gunnison, CO. He also played trumpet with the Friends University orchestra in Wichita for several years. GIl was awarded several National Science Foundation grants for advanced summer studies.

He married Susan J. Burk on June 30, 1974, in Lawrence.  She survives of the home. Other survivors include a sister, Harriett Ranney and husband James (Jim), Philadelphia; a sister-in-law, Barb Vantuyl, Lawrence; two brother-in-laws, Bob Burk, Lawrence, Randy Burk, Kansas City, Mo; a nephew, Justin Taylor Ranney, Darien, CT,  great-nephew, August Ranney, Darien, CT; and cousins, Virginia Clinton Pennington and Vivian Clinton, both of Dodge City, KS.

Memorials are suggested to the Lawrence Humane Society, P.O. Box 651, Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Jean Louise Hooper

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Services for Jean L. Hooper, 93, Lawrence will be 11 am, Saturday, January 11, 2014, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at Oak Hill cemetery.

Mrs. Hooper died Monday, January 6, 2014, at her home.

She was born September 16, 1920, in Atchison, KS, the daughter of Louis H. and Mary E. Davenport. Jean enjoyed gardening; making handmade crafts, and nothing was more important than spending time with family.

She married James H. Hooper on August 30, 1941, in Los Angeles, CA.  They moved to Lawrence, in December of 1960.  She worked in housekeeping for Virginia Inn and Travelodge Motels of Lawrence, for many years.

Survivors include a daughter, Sandra Edwards; two sons, James Hooper Jr. and David Hooper Sr.; eleven Grandchildren; twenty six great grandchildren; and nine great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband James Hooper Sr.; son, Daniel Hooper Sr.; and a great grandson.

Friends may call from noon to 8 pm Friday, at the funeral home. The family will receive friends from 10 am to 11 am Saturday, before the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 1260 Lawrence, KS 66044.

Ms. Fayetta Renay Norwood

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Ms. Fayetta Renay Norwood died Jan. 4, 2014,  losing her battle with heart failure and kidney failureat at LawrenceMemorialHospital. She was born Nov. 13, 1954, in Winfield, Kan., the only daughter of Lafayette and Betty Ann White Norwood.

She graduated from WichitaHeightsHigh School in 1972, and went on to take some classes studying dentistry. In March 1976, she gave birth to her first child, Alexius S. Norwood (Lex). Two years after the birth of her second child, Akeshia R. Norwood (Kesh) in 1980, she moved to Topeka upon receiving a pianist position at First Church of God In Christ with fellow family friend and pianist Vickie Divers. As a local church pianist in Topeka, she began doing guest appearances for different churches around town and in 1984 became the musical director at Abundance of Life Church of God in Christ, in which she remained until 1985. In 1985, she and her children moved to Lawrence to be closer to family, and became the musical director for Overcoming Church of God in Christ, and was there from 1988-1994. From 1994 to present, she went on to hold several musical positions for the City of Lawrence, from playing piano for the Lawrence chapter of Women’s Aglow, to also playing for the “LINK” food outreach program, and aided her mother, Betty Ann Norwood, for several years.  In 2004, she moved to Albany, New York, to join her son in writing and recording music, writing over 120 Gospel songs, essays, short stories, and poems over a period of 20 years, living in such places as Albany, Houston, and Nashville, where she did some original recordings of her musical works. While residing in Nashville, she became ill, and with a combination of loss of family members and illness, decided to move back to Lawrence with son Alexius (Lex) in 2012.

On Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, Fayetta lost her battle with heart failure and kidney failure.

She leaves to morn two children, Alexius S. Norwood and Akeshia R. Norwood, one brother, Cory Norwood, her father, Lafayette Norwood, and two nieces, Ashlynn and Janee’ Norwood, all of Lawrence, and a host of friends and relatives.

She joins in glory brother Seth E. Norwood and mother Betty Ann Norwood. Her legacy is and was to be a power woman of God first, a good mother, and a faithful servant using the gift God gave her providing her musical talents to the Church Of God In Christ for over 25 years…she will be missed.  May she rest in peace.

Funeral services will be at 2 pm Friday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends from 1 pm until service time Friday.  Memorial contributions are suggested to the Fayetta Norwood Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.