Author: RumseyYost

Dr. James S. Ralston

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Funeral services for Dr. James S. Ralston will be held at 11:00 a.m. , Saturday, November 17, 2012, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vermont. Burial will follow at Pioneer Cemetery. Dr. Ralston died on November 7, 2012, at Pioneer Ridge.

He was born in Columbia, Missouri, on December 18, 1930, to Lawrence T. and Minnie S. Ralston. In 1944 the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated from Southwest High School in 1948. He earned an Associate Degree from Kansas City, Kansas, Junior College in 1950 and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Kansas in 1952. He earned a Master’s degree in Music Education in 1958 and a Ph.D. in Music Education in 1973, both from the University of Kansas.

Dr. Ralston served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1956 and remained in the Naval Reserve program, retiring as a Commander, USNR-R in 1974. He taught choral music at Washington High School in Kansas City, Kansas, from 1956 to 1962. Ralston joined the faculty of the University of Kansas in 1962 as a visiting lecturer in choral music. The following semester he was a graduate assistant in the School of Education. He was appointed assistant professor in choral music in 1963 and became a full professor in 1978. He retired from KU in 1994.

Professor Ralston also served as Chair of the Department of Ensembles at KU from 1976 to 1983; from 1983 to 1994, he was Director of the Choral Division. He was also associated with the Midwestern Music camp beginning in 1964. During his tenure at KU, Dr. Ralston worked with eminent choral directors such as Donald Swarthout, Clayton Krehbiel, and Robert Shaw. His choirs also performed with the Kansas City Philharmonic, the Kansas City Symphony, and the Wichita Symphony. They also performed for the conventions of Kansas Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, and American Choral Directors Association.

Among the major works for chorus and orchestra that Professor Ralston conducted during his tenure are the following: J.S. Bach, Mass in B Minor and St. John Passion; Beethoven, Missa Solemnis; Berlioz, Requiem; Bernstein, Chichester Psalms; Brahms, German Requiem; Britten, War Requiem; Handel, The Messiah, Solomon, and Dixit Dominus; Haydn, Creation; Mendelssohn, Elijah; Mozart, Grand Mass in C Minor and Requiem; Orff, Carmina Burana; Stravinsky, Symphony of Psalms; and Verdi, Four Sacred Songs (for Michael Palmer); and Mahler, Eighth Symphony (for William McGlaughlin).

During his career, Ralston was actively involved in the preparation and performance of many new works, mostly in conjunction with the Symposium of Contemporary Music at the University of Kansas. Included among the many composers were Lukas Foss, Norman Dello Joio, Vincent Persichetti, Gunther Schuller, and Libby Larsen.

In 1970 Dr. Ralston initiated a master’s degree program in choral conducting at KU, and in 1973 he began the doctoral degree program in choral conducting. Under his supervision, more than thirty students completed graduate degrees in choral conducting from the University of Kansas.

In nearly forty years of service to music and music education in the state, he conducted over fifty concerts of major choral works at KU, more than thirty Vespers performances, and taught choral music to students numbering in the thousands. In 1997 he was inducted into the Kansas Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.

Dr. Ralston was a member of the Monday Rotary Club and served as their song leader for forty-six years. Rotary honored him as a Paul Harris Fellow. From 1956-1962 he directed the Welborn Community Church Choir in Kansas City, Kansas; in the 1960’s he was the choir director at Plymouth Congregational Church; from 1973-2008 he was the choral director for Trinity Episcopal Church. Other honors include the Federated Music Club’s 1999 Kansas Musical Family of the Year Award and the 2003 Phoenix Award in Musical Arts.

He married Susan Frederick on May 17, 1975, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lawrence. He is survived by his wife Susan of 37 years as well as four daughters: Julie Hodges and husband David, Keizer, Oregon; Joi Monnington and husband Mark, Kansas City, Kansas; Meghan Adams and husband Nick, Overland Park, Kansas; and Natalie Wilemon and husband Zane, Austin, Texas. Dr. Ralston also leaves thirteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother Robert T. Ralston and a sister Jean Barns.

Memorials may be made in his name to Trinity Episcopal Church and to KU Endowment for a graduate scholarship in choral conducting. Contact KU Endowment, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, Ks. 66044 A memorial concert at KU will take place in the spring.

Visitation will be on Friday, November 16, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Wilma M. Young

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Wilma Ireland Young, 79, died November 6, 2012 , with her family by her side in Lawrence, Kansas. Wilma was born June 16, 1933 in Lawrence, KS to Eugene Thomas Ireland and Irma Elizabeth Hillman.

Wilma worked at Campbell Soup Company and Stillwell Cannery for several years. Her interests included family, crocheting, and cooking. Wilma enjoyed spending time with her family and truly cherished the time she spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Wilma was married to Delbert Smith, they later divorced and she married Joe Young.
Wilma is survived by her children, Sherry Adams, Rosemary Palacios, Margaret Van Dyke, Billy Joe Young, David Young, her sister, Shirley Ramsey; her niece and primary caregiver of the last several years, Carla Butler; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; her sons Larry Dean Kelly, Michael Young, and Pam Deihl; both of her parents and stepfather, William (Okie) Eagleton; two brothers, Billy Eugene Ireland and Clifford Marion Ireland.

Friends and family are invited to Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence, KS on Sunday, November 11, 2012 from noon – 8pm to say their final farewells. Graveside services will be Monday, November 12, 2012 at 11:00am at Oak Hill cemetery in Lawrence Kansas, Pastor Scott Berry will be officiating the service.

Robert “Bob” Harold Woods

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A memorial service for Robert “Bob” Harold Woods, 65, of Wellsville, will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, November 12, 2012, at Family Worship Center, 601 Locust in Wellsville.

Mr. Woods died Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at Ransom Memorial Hospital in Ottawa after fighting over a year with pancreatic cancer.

He was born August 22, 1947, in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of Hubert Eugene and Opal May Busey Woods.

Bob enjoyed fishing, watching western movies, playing cards, and going to the casino.

He and his wife Susan Ann Tarwater Woods have enjoyed 42 years together. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include a son, Matthew Eugene James Woods, of Wellsville; three daughters, Sarah Lynn Woods, of Wellsville, Cora Beth Taylor and husband Greg, and Mary Grace Woods, all of Ottawa; three brothers, Charles Woods and wife Betty, of Liberty, Missouri, Jimmy Woods, of Overland Park, Kansas, Gary Woods and wife Joann, of Lansing, Kansas; and a sister, Opal Hockman, of Tonganoxie, Kansas; four grandchildren, Adam Taylor, Ava Mae Taylor, Johnnie Woods, and Isabella Woods.

Brian Paul Quinn

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Funeral services for Brian Paul Quinn, 52, Lawrence, will be 9:30 am. Saturday, Nov. 10, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Kansas City, KS. Mr. Quinn died Tuesday in Wichita.

Brian was born Feb. 3, 1960 in Livonia, Michigan, the son of Donald L. and Leigh Anne Stonestreet Quinn.

Brian graduated Shawnee Mission Northwest High in 1978 and the University of Kansas in 1982. He enlisted and served in the US Army in the 101st Airborne Division, Ft. Campbell, Kentucky from 1982 to 1984 and nine years in the Army Reserves. He received Masters in Aviation Safety from CMSU. Brian was a commercial pilot for Baron Aviation Services, who is contracted with Federal Express.

He married Gay Ann Holladay August 6, 1994. She survives of the home.

He is also survived by his father and step-mother, Donald Lee and Patricia Quinn of Overland Park, brother-in-law, Tony Holladay, niece, Noel Holladay, father-in-law, John E. Holladay, all of Lawrence, his Uncle Robert Quinn, his cousins Dennis Quinn, Pattie Quinn and Michael Quinn, all of Seattle, Washington.

He was preceded in death by his mother.

Friends may call Friday from noon to 8 pm. at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Cottonwood Inc. or Health Care Access in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Don Schick

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Funeral services for Don Schick, 80, rural Lawrence, will be at 10 am Friday at Lone Star Church of the Brethren, with the Rev. Jane Flora-Swick officiating. Burial will follow in Washington Creek Cemetery.

Mr. Schick died Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Donald Duane Schick was born Nov. 6, 1931, about two miles west of Vinland to Avier and Dorothy Edmonds Schick. As a young boy, his family moved to 23rd & Alabama in Lawrence. He attended Liberty Memorial High School and graduated in 1949.

Don attended KU for one year. He then worked for J.C. Penney and Woolworth Co. While with Woolworth’s, he worked in Dodge City, Kan. and Sheridan, Wyo. In 1951, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he was trained as a B-29 Gunner and was a boom operator refueling other aircraft in mid air. He was discharged at the end of the Korean War in the fall of 1953. Don operated Phillips 66 stations and worked in bulk agengy until 1960. He was in the auto parts business for 25 years, beginning at Pippert’s Auto Parts, and later owning and operating Don Schick Auto Parts.

Don married Marjorie Ann Bond on Apr. 10, 1955, in Lone Star. To this union were born two sons, Jerry Dean and Larry Duane.

Don was a member of the Lone Star Church of the Brethren for 57 years. He taught Sunday School, and was a Deacon and youth leader. He enjoyed gardening.

Don is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marjorie Ann Schick, his sons Jerry Schick of Lawrence and Larry Schick and wife Kathy of Meadow Grove, Neb., and grandchildren Valerie Schick of Lincoln, Neb., and Bradley, Kendall, and Joshua Schick of Meadow Grove, Neb.

Friends may call from 9 am to 8 pm Thursday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Don Schick Memorial Fund, or the Lone Star Church of the Brethren Handicap Ramp Fund, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Elizabeth “Moe” (Morey) Goetz, Ph.D.

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Elizabeth “Moe” (Morey) Goetz, Ph.D., passed away peacefully on November 2, 2012 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas, where she recently had been admitted after fracturing her hip in a fall. She was 85 years old.

Born in Mansfield, Ohio on August 1, 1927, Moe’s father was a physician, and her mother was a nurse. Her brother preceded her in death. Shortly after graduating from Grinnell College in 1950, Moe worked for a law firm in Chicago, Illinois, where she met her husband, Raymond Goetz. In 1967, Ray and Moe moved to Lawrence when Ray was hired as a professor at the KU School of Law.

After her youngest child reached school age, Moe earned two degrees from KU: a Master’s degree with honors in Child Development in 1970 and a Ph.D. in Developmental and Child Psychology in 1977. She had a distinguished academic career in KU’s Department of Child Development, becoming an Assistant Professor in 1974, Associate Professor in 1978 and Professor in 1985. She served as the Director of the Edna A. Hill Child Development Laboratory from 1978 to 1987. She authored scores of publications, primarily on creativity in children and preschool literacy, and edited two books on early childhood education. She became Professor Emerita in 1992.

Ray and Moe were well known in the Lawrence community for their support of the arts and wonderful hospitality, often opening their art-filled home to students, faculty and friends for parties and events.

Moe is survived by two daughters, Sibyl Wescoe (David) of La Jolla, California and Victoria Goetz (Ted Coffey) of Lawrence; three sons, Thomas Goetz of Lawrence, Steven Goetz of Portland, Oregon and Morey Goetz (Lisa Hess) of Austin, Texas; and six grandchildren, Maxwell, Benjamin, Zachary and Zoe Wescoe, and Scott and Kelly Goetz. Raymond, Moe’s husband of 49 years, died in 2000. Their son, Ray, died in 2001.

All services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Moe’s name to the Douglas County Visiting Nurses, sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Addene ‘Dean’ Hardister

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Private memorial services will be held for Addene ‘Dean’ Hardister, 86, Lawrence.
Mrs. Hardister died Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, at her home.

She was born June 14, 1926, in Batesville, Ark., the daughter of Clyde & Gladys Thomas Hinchman. She grew up in Batesville and graduated from Batesville High School.

Mrs. Hardister was a homemaker, and assisted her husband in the family business – Hardister Painting and Decorating, until it was sold in 1977. The joy of Dean’s life was nurturing her family and friends. She enjoyed traveling in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, as well as in Europe. She loved the Kansas Jayhawk basketball games and other sports, too. Bridge and square dancing were favorite past-times for more than 30 years. Hobbies included reading, music, and collecting antiques and American Indian art.

She married John H. Hardister on Feb. 14, 1945, in DeSoto, Kan. He preceded her in death on June 15, 2010, as did her two brothers, Harold and Ralph Hinchman and their wives.

Survivors include three daughters, Beverly Lasswell, Lawrence, Wanda Cox, Lawrence, and Donna Avey (Jerry), Longmont, Colo.; two brothers in law, Homer Welsh and Don Ray, both of Lawrence; two sisters in law, Patty Allen, St. Joseph, Mo., and Patricia Hardister, Lawrence; 9 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren, and many special nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, or Lawrence Meals on Wheels, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Betty Jane Hamilton

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Betty Jane Hamilton, 85, former resident of Greensburg, passed away peacefully Oct. 30 at the Lawrence Presbyterian Manor. Betty was born in Pittsburgh, PA, to Ben and Jessie (Abbott) Stone on March 2, 1927. She had fond memories of her great grandparents, Sam and Jessie McClannahan, who played an important role in her upbringing.

She married John T. Hamilton on May 10, 1945, in Boston and moved to western Kansas in 1949. They divorced in 1975.

Ms. Hamilton managed the Duckwalls variety store in Greensburg for 18 years while serving on the Chamber of Commerce and the City Council. Betty was the first and only female to serve as mayor of Greensburg. She retired from public service after serving as mayor for six years.

Ms. Hamilton moved from Greensburg after the May 4, 2007, EF5 tornado destroyed much of the town. She lived in Cheney for three years before moving to Lawrence.

She is survived by daughters Betty Jo (Jim) Sunley, Thornton, Colo.; Cheryl McLaren, Colorado Springs, Colo; Lisa (Tom) Cleveland, Spring Hill, Fla; and Penny (David) Hodge, Lawrence. She also is survived by six grandsons and one granddaughter, three great grandsons and three great granddaughters and one great great grandson. She was preceded in death by Fred T. McLaren, son-in-law.

She was cremated and services will be at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Nov. 10, at the First Baptist Church in Greensburg with Pastor Marvin George officiating. The family will greet visitors between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9, at the Fleener Funeral Home in Greensburg.

Memorials may be sent in care of Fleener Funeral Home, 514 S. Main St., Greensburg, KS, 67054, for Grace Hospice, Greensburg First Baptist Church, or Lawrence Presbyterian Manor Scholarship Fund.

Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of local arrangements.

Vernon W. Erskin

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Memorial Visitation for Vernon Walter Erskin, 54, Eudora, will be from 7 -8 pm Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. He died Oct. 30, 2012 at Providence Medical Center.

Vernon was born December 13, 1957, in Lawrence, Kansas, to Chester and Mary Holden Erskin. He grew up in Lawrence and graduated from Lawrence High School in 1977. Vernon worked as a drywall finisher.

He is survived by 2 brothers, Edward of Lawrence; & Tommy of Eudora; 2 sisters, Mary Wilson of Perry; & Shirley Lohness of Eudora; 5 stepchildren, Ashley, Peydon, Terren, Dakota & Brady, a grandson, Colin, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents & a sister Maggie Reeves.

Vernon loved to fish and hunt. He also loved to dance to country & western music.

The family suggests memorials to the Vernon Walter Erskin Memorial Fund, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Mitchell James Landreth

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Mitch Landreth 53, Lawrence, died Thursday, October 25, 2012 at his home. He was born on September 26, 1959, the son of Jack and Betty Landreth.

All services well be private.

A lifelong resident of Lawrence, Mitch attended Hillcrest Elementary, West and South Junior High, and graduated with the Lawrence High School Class of 1977. Over the years, he worked as a dental technician and as an environmental technician. At the time of his death, he was employed by the Kansas Memorial Union.

Survivors include his mother, Betty, Monte Vista, Colorado; his sister Libbie, Mosca, Colorado; his son, Sean, Lawrence, Kansas, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Jack. Memorial plans are pending. Contributions may be made in his name to the Lawrence Humane Society.

Mitch was a handsome, charming man known for his humor and wit. He loved playing softball, vacationing at the family cabin in Estes Park Colorado, reading, and joking about world events with his friends, but most of all, he loved his son, Sean.

Mitch will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by all who knew him. As he often quoted: “The King is dead, long live the King.”