Author: RumseyYost

Dorothy Grace (Tasker) Hird

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An 11 a.m. Celebration of Life will be held for Dorothy Grace (Tasker) Hird, 91, of Conroe TX, on Saturday, August 3, 2013. Prior to the service, the family welcomes visitors for a “meet and greet” from 10 – 11 in the foyer at Rumsey-Yost Funeral home in Lawrence. Following the service, interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery with burial next to her husband, Eugene Hird. A sign-language interpreter for the Deaf will be provided. Dorothy passed away peacefully July 23, 2013 at her home in Conroe, Texas.

She is survived by her sister, Adelaide Fry, of Hutchinson KS, her son Carroll and his wife, Kaye, of Conroe TX, her daughter, Kathleen Hird Kostner and her husband Ricardo Kostner, Lawrence KS, 5 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

On September 7, 1942, Dorothy married Otis Eugene “Gene” Hird. She joins her husband and their infant daughter, Julie Elaine, and her parents, Lester and Avis Tasker. She was a 1942 graduate of the Kansas School for the Deaf.

Dorothy was a long time resident of Lawrence, KS. For 54 years, she lived with her husband while raising two children in a country setting 5 miles west of town. In 2001, she moved to Conroe, TX to be close to her son and his family. With the daily help of Annie Williams, her caregiver, and her devoted dog Otis, Dorothy lived in her own apartment until her death.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Kansas School for the Deaf Endowment Association with payment to KSD Endowment: Dorothy (Dot Tasker) Hird Fund, 450 E. Park, Olathe, KS 66061 or to make contributions by credit card, please call the KSD Endowment, Jeanette Magathan, at 913-791-0570.

You may follow any condolences or messages regarding Dorothy Grace Hird through this RSS feed https://rumsey-yost.com/2013/07/dorothy-grace-tasker-hird/. Here the family has included additional memories of Dorothy and would enjoy sharing personal anecdotes from everyone who had the privilege to know Dorothy.

To see photographs, please visit this link at http://www.hirdandkostner.com/family/dorothy-tasker-hird.html

We invite you to share your stories and comments below.

Leda E. Rose

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A memorial visitation for Leda E. Rose, 84, Lawrence, will be Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory. Mrs. Rose died Saturday, July 27, 2013, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She was born Dec. 15, 1928, in Olathe, the daughter of Lewis and Mary Deffenderfer Ridlon. She graduated from Liberty Memorial High School. Leda was a homemaker, and enjoyed antiques, reading, cooking, camping, boating, and spending time with grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She married Robert E. Rose on Oct. 20, 1948, in Yellville, Ark., and together they shared 64 years of marriage. He survives of the home. Other survivors include four sons, Robert Rose and wife Wendy, Monte Rose and wife Sharon, and Randall Rose, all of Lawrence, and Joe Rose and wife Diane, Holton; a daughter, Becky Wright, Lawrence; 8 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lawrence Humane Society, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

SuZane Michelle Reed

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SuZane M. Reed, 44, passed away peacefully while at home on July 21, 2013. She was born December 23, 1968, in Sherman, TX, the daughter of Weldon and Janie Gray.

She graduated in 1987 from Cleburne High School, Cleburne, TX.

She married Gary Reed on May 23, 1997, in Lewisville, TX. They have one son Zakary Reed, 15, of Lawrence, KS. They moved to Topeka, KS in January 2001. She was employed by CoreFirst Bank & Trust in Topeka and was later promoted to Retail Market Manager in Lenexa, KS. They later relocated to Lawrence, KS.

Survivors include husband Gary, son Zak, parents Weldon and Janie Gray, brother Chad (Misty) Gray, niece Abbi, nephews Travis, Austin, Kaleb, and Lucas.

Services will be held at First Southern Baptist Church, 1912 SW Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS, on Saturday, July 27th at 10:30 am. Visitation with family and friends will be held at the church beginning at 9:45.

Her infectious laughter and beautiful smile will be truly missed.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.

Edward W. Boehle

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Funeral services for Edward W. Boehle, 93, Eudora, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, with the Rev. Bob Giffin officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Mr. Boehle died Monday, July 22, 2013, at Medicalodges Eudora.

Edward was born July 8, 1920, in rural Eudora, the son of Arthur and Mary Johanning Boehle. He attended Harmony Grade School and graduated from Vinland High School. He sold magazines for Curtis Publishing for 25 years, and later was a mail handler for the United States Postal Service, retiring in 1980 after 22 years of service. He was a member of First Church of the Nazarene, and enjoyed yard sales and buying broken furniture and later repairing it.

He married Eva Marie Wrightsman on Nov. 1, 1941, in Worden. She preceded him in death in 1983, as did a brother, Harold in 2005. He later married Doris Crane on July 1, 1983. She survives of the home. Other survivors include two sons, James Boehle and wife Edie, and Steven Boehle and wife Marcia, all of Lawrence; a stepdaughter, Beverly Gist, Lawrence; two stepsons, Robert Crane and wife Patsy, Colo. Springs, and Sheldon Crane and wife Debbie, Bennington, Kan.; two sisters, Dorothy Gately and husband Bill, Grants Pass, Ore., and Marguerite Hankins, Montrose, Mo.; 10 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 5 great great grandchildren.

Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. The family will receive them from 10 a.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home. The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Bruce David Schweda

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Bruce David Schweda, Lawrence, was born August 29, 1949 in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Frank August Schweda and Margaret Oakley Schweda. He graduated Lawrence High School in 1967 and joined the Navy shortly after. When Bruce completed his service, he returned to Lawrence and worked at Hallmark Cards. Bruce was one of the lucky ones who was able to retire at the youthful age of 55.

Bruce was an avid hunter, passionate harmonica player, and enthusiastic F-Word user. His colorful and filter-free wit kept everyone on his or her toes. While Bruce wasn’t protecting Lawrence from an over-population of wild animals, he enjoyed watching American Idol, spending time with his five grandchildren, and reading any book on Star Wars (although he did morbidly joke that he was a happy that he wouldn’t live to see Disney butcher their planned Star Wars movie).

Bruce was survived by his son, Kenneth Schweda-Stoskopf, Ken’s husband, Evan, Ken’s ex-wife Jennifer Schweda, and their three children, Maddie, Tristan, and Hayley, Bruce’s daughter, Kristi Schweda-Rojas, her husband, Juan, and their two children, Elizabeth and Frank, the love of Bruce’s life and long time girlfriend, Melody Ash, Bruce’s older brother, Brian Schweda, and his five children, Katie, Chris, Brandon, Faith, and Eric, Bruce’s late older brother Frank’s five children, Jeff, Marvin, Mary Anne, Tom, Cheryl, and Bruce’s ex-wife Helen Schweda.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents and brother Oakley.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Bruce’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in care of the Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Devin Alan Ward

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A Graveside inurnment for Devin Ward, 48, will be at 11 a.m. Friday, July 26th in the natural section of Oak Hill Cemetery, 1605 Oak Hill Ave. in Lawrence, KS.

He was born August 13, 1964 in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of Roger Ward and Barbara Powell. He graduated from Ottawa High School in 1984 and after that he attended classes at Pittsburg State University. He moved to Lawrence in 1989.

He was preceded in death by his sister Shelly Leigh Ward, his grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Reid Ward, all of Ottawa and Mr. & Mrs. Floyd Yockey of Osage City.

Survivors include his two children, son Treet Ward and daughter Abigail Ward both of Lawrence, his mother and step-father Barbara and John Powell, Osage City, and his father and step-mother Roger and Cheryl Ward, Ottawa along with aunts, uncles and cousins.

The family suggests memorial contributions in his name sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260 Lawrence, KS 66044.

Steven Dale Gregg

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A Celebration of Life for Steven Dale Gregg, 50, Lawrence, will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, with the Rev. Rod Hinkle officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Steve died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, July 17, 2013.

He was born Dec. 11, 1962, in Topeka, the son of Dale H. and Loma L. Christie Gregg. He graduated from Perry-Lecompton High School, and later attended Washburn University. Steve was a homemaker who lived his life for his family He was a member of Lawrence Heights Christian Church. He enjoyed cooking, fishing, singing, playing the harmonica, and spending time with his family. People enjoyed his smile, positive attitude, help, and his cinnamon rolls. Steve shared 25 wonderful years with the mother of his children which includes three sons, Kyle Young, Lawrence, Cole Gregg, Lawrence, and Austin Gregg, Lawrence; a daughter, Lacey Gregg, Lawrence,

Additionally he is survived by his mother, Loma Christie Gregg, Lawrence; his father and stepmother, Dale and Elise Gregg, Wichita; a brother, Dan Gregg and wife Janet, Tonganoxie; a sister, Christine Hollister and husband Mark, Des Moines; two half-sisters, Julia Ingrassia, Lawrence, and Dayle Hodges, Raytown, Mo.; a foster sister, Dorothy McAuliffe, Baldwin City; two granddaughters, Kaia & Lexi Young; and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by a sister, Brenda Hepner in 2003.

Friends may call from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, where the family will receive them from 6-8 p.m. The family suggests memorial contributions to North Lawrence Christian Church, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.

Barbara Ann Curry

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Barbara Ann Curry (Washler), 91, daughter of Orla Virgil and Amy Washler (Bowen), was born on June 27, 1922, in Langdon, Kansas, and died on July 16, 2013, in Lawrence, Kansas, from complications of pneumonia. She is preceded in death by her beloved sister, Marian Holmes (Washler).

She is survived by her three children and two sons-in-law: daughter Susan Curry Flores, and husband Carlos, of Benicia, California, daughter Page Curry Ginns, and husband Bryan, of Albany, New York, and son John Leeworth Curry, of Lawrence, Kansas.

Barbara was a 1943 graduate of Park College in Parkville, Missouri. She began her independent and adventurous life working for the War Relocation Department at the Poston Arizona Relocation Camp and taught English and journalism to high school students for two years. When the camp closed in 1945, she served as a relocation aide, and then transferred to Washington D.C., where she worked for the Department of the Interior, Personnel Management. She maintained contact throughout her life with the many students and friends she made in Poston, and was recognized for her accomplishments by the Japanese-American Citizens League.

She and George Curry, from Prescott, Kansas, were married in Washington D.C., and then moved to Manhattan, Kansas, where George earned a degree in engineering. Barbara and George raised their children in Shawnee Mission, Kansas, and were divorced in 1970.

Barbara became a counselor for the North Kansas City School District. She was able to make use of her love of travel by joining the People To People Ambassador Program, that offers educational travel programs to students. From 1970 to 1981, she recruited and led groups of students to serve as goodwill ambassadors on summer trips around the world. She began writing poetry about the people she met and her travels.

In 1983 Barbara volunteered for the Peace Corps. She served two years as an English teacher in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, and made many life-long friends there.

Barbara moved to Lawrence in 1995 and was an active member of the Kansas Authors Club. She continued her life-long love of writing as a member, and was proud to have won a Free Verse award for her poem, “Accessible of Joy,” in 2004. She volunteered in Lawrence’s Small World program, teaching English as a second language. The friendships she made in Lawrence, and her children, were the joys of her life.

Memorial service will be at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, Lawrence, Kansas, on Saturday, August 17, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Holmes Cemetery in Prescott, Kansas.

Barbara was a teacher, a traveler, and a writer throughout her life, loving life and living it to its fullest.

Autumn Rose Shafer

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Graveside services for Autumn Rose Shafer, daughter of Jason and Kelly Rawlings Shafer, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Oak Hill Cemetery, with Pastor Jeff Barclay officiating.

Autumn was stillborn Thursday, July 11, 2013, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

A visitation will be held Tuesday from 7-8 p.m. at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Survivors include her parents, Lawrence; two brothers, Jaden Rawlings and Dallas Shafer; two sisters, Jessica Church and Brianna Shafer; maternal grandparents Maryanna and Larry Rawlings, Lawrence; paternal grandparents Harry and Debbie Shafer, Lawrence; maternal great grandparents Evah and Dan Basel, Lawrence; paternal great grandparents Janet Mills, Lawrence, and the late Charlie Mills; two uncles, Shawn Rawlings and Christopher Shafer, both of Lawrence.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Autumn Shafer Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Mary Katherine ‘Katie’ Banta

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Funeral services for Mary Katherine ‘Katie’ Banta, 86, Fishers, Ind., formerly of Lawrence, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, with the Rev. Melvin Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Banta died Saturday, July 13, 2013, at The Hearth of Windermere in Fishers.

She was born June 12, 1927, in Emporia, the daughter of Guy S. and Velma C. Waller Zink. She graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in 1945 and attended Kansas University. She and her husband moved to Salt Lake City in 1960, and back to Lawrence in 1965. Katie worked at Weaver’s Department Store and in the office at Meyer Dairy in North Lawrence in the late 60’s and early 70’s. She later worked at the Lawrence Journal-World for many years, and retired from there in 1992. She was a member of First Christian Church, and the Order of the Eastern Star.

She married John V. Banta Jr. on July 30, 1950, in Lawrence. He preceded her in death in 1986. She was also preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Richard Zink. Survivors include two sons, Kieth R. Banta and wife Ann, Richland, Wash., and Chris Banta and wife Sondra, Fishers, Ind.; a sister, Betty Richey, Denver, Colo.; six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.