Author: RumseyYost

M. Doyle Bontrager

Posted on by RumseyYost

M. Doyle Bontrager, 76, Prairie Village, Kan., passed away peacefully on March 3, 2013, at Hickory Pointe Care & Rehab in Oskaloosa.

Visitation will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Doyle was born October 2, 1936, to Simon J. and Clara Elizabeth Schrock Bontrager in South Hutchinson, Kan. He graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1954. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.S. degree in Industrial Management in 1959. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1954 until 1962.

Doyle attended St. Paul Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Kan. from 1962-86. and served as a vestry member and treasurer. He later attended St. Michael’s in Prairie Village and Trinity Episcopal in Lawrence. He was an Industrial Engineer for Ford Motor Co. in Claycomo, Mo. in 1959, and also for Bendix Corporation from 1960-64. From 1964 until his retirement in 2003 from American Airlines, he was a management employee for Trans World Airlines.

He was married 20 years to Helen Holmes, and eight years to Ann Holmes Parker, with whom he loved to travel, dance, and enjoy KU alumni events. He is survived by a daughter, Julia Alexis Jacobs, son-in-law Randy Jacobs, granddaughter Rebecca Jacobs, and grandson Justin Jacobs, Tonganoxie; a son, Alex Bontrager, Phoenix, and his daughter Kennedy and son Hugh, Long Beach, N.Y.; two brothers, Bill Bontrager and wife Mary, Des Moines, and Dean Bontrager, Hutchinson; and seven nephews.

Donations in his memory may be made to St. Michael’s Church in Prairie Village or Trinity Episcopal Church in Lawrence, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Dorothy Jean (Trovillion) Moon

Posted on by RumseyYost

Graveside services for Dorothy Jean Trovillion Moon will be at 2PM Friday, March 8, 2013 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence, with the Rev. Dr. Tom Brady officiating. Dorothy passed peacefully on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at her home. Dorothy was born February 6, 1932 in Lawrence, Kansas, the daughter of John (Lonnie) and Mayme A. Trovillion.

Dorothy graduated from the School of Education at the University of Kansas. She was employed by the Lawrence School District for many years and taught in the Shawnee Heights School District, retiring in 1993.

Dorothy was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Autumn Club, Douglas County Association of Retired School Personnel and a ladies club composed of Lawrence High School (1950) graduates, known as the “Been There, Done That” club.

Dorothy married Duane R. Moon on August 5, 1950 in Lawrence, Kansas. He survives of the home. Other survivors include two daughters: Linda Young (Jim) and Brenda Hardtarfer (Dan); one son, Duane [Randy] Moon (Raelynn), all of Lawrence; six grandchildren: Jeremy Young, Randi Harms, Cody Young, Brandon Hardtarfer, Jaymie Hardtarfer and Baylie Moon; two great-grandchildren; two sisters: Jeri Hammig, Overland Park, Kansas and Darlene Pennock, Gardner, Kansas; brother-in-law, Rev. Robert Hopkins of Bloomfield, Nebraska; and many nieces and nephews. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and a sister.

Dorothy enjoyed traveling with Duane in their motorhome, Jayhawk football & basketball, and especially her grandchildren.

The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorials to Lawrence VNA Hospice or Lawrence Oncology Center at LMH in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.

Becky Isaac

Posted on by RumseyYost

Becky Isaac, 64, lost her valiant battle against pancreatic cancer at her home in Overland Park March 1st with family by her side. Becky was born in Lawrence, Kansas, August 18th, 1948, the daughter of Kathryn and Howard Heck. She attended Lawrence High School (class ’66), Emporia State University and Crum’s Beauty School in Manhattan¸ KS.

Becky is survived by her husband Larry Isaac, daughters Kristi Stallings and husband Wayne, Ottawa and Kelli Curry and husband Shane of Oskaloosa, her sister Sherry Nelson and husband David of Lawrence, brother Fred Heck of Ottawa, and her three beloved grandchildren Regan, Reese and Colton Curry. She is also survived by stepchildren, Todd and Natalie Isaac of Lawrence. She was preceded in death by her parents Howard and Kathryn Heck.

Becky married Richard Boehringer, the father of her daughters in 1967. She then married Larry Isaac. For 35 years Larry loved and cared for Becky and her family.

Becky owned and operated Becky’s Salon and Day Spa in Lawrence for 25 years. After selling the spa, Becky and Larry retired in Overland Park, KS to be near grandchildren. While in Overland Park, Becky managed Quinn’s Medical Day Spa for several years. Becky’s vibrant personality and presence will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Visitation will be at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 5th from 5-7pm.

A funeral service will be held 10 am Wednesday, March 6, at Lawrence Free Methodist Church. Family and friends will meet after the service at Lawrence Country Club to celebrate Becky’s life. (Lunch will be provided).

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to COF Training Services in Ottawa, Kansas in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Mickey Hermreck

Posted on by RumseyYost

Funeral services for Mildred ‘Mickey’ Finch Hermreck, 85, Lawrence, will be at 10 a.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Lawrence, with the Rev. Matt Sturtevant officiating. Private burial will be at Highland Cemetery, Ottawa. Mrs. Hermreck died Tue., Feb. 26, 2013, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She was born May 24, 1927, in DeSoto, Kansas, the daughter of Harley and Nina Beach Finch. She graduated from Rantoul High School, and later earned bachelors degrees from Ottawa University and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas. She also held a real estate broker’s license from the GRI. She taught elementary school in Ottawa and Garnett, and owned the Gambles store in Osawatomie from 1971-76. She moved to Lawrence in 1978, and was a member of the First Baptist Church and its Mary Circle, P.E.O. Chapter GQ, Red Hat Ladies, Ventura Club, Welcome Club, and six bridge clubs. In previous years, she had also been a member and president of numerous organizations, including the PTA, AAUW, BPW, and served on the Election Board.

She married Fredrick Hermreck on Apr. 16, 1949, in Ottawa. They shared 53 happy years of marriage. He preceded her in death on Sept. 11, 2002.

Survivors include a son David Hermreck and wife Sharon, Germantown, Md.; two daughters, Marsha Hermreck, Lawrence, and Michelle Gray, Ottawa; two sisters, Shirley Daney, Albuquerque, and Beverly Bolger and husband Dick, St. Charles, Illinois; three brothers-in-law, Larry Hermreck and wife Almeda, Vero Beach, Fla., and Richard Roeckers and wife Shirley, and Henry Roeckers and wife Kay, all of Garnett; two sisters-in-law, Roberta Boyer and husband Eddie, Lawrence, and Barbara Burwell and husband Glen, Manhattan; and three grandchildren, PFC Nicholas Hermreck, Ft. Hood, Tex., Jordan Gray, Lawrence, and Mark Hermreck, Germantown, Md.

Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorial contributions to First Baptist Church, or Boy Scout Troop 74 in Ottawa, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

James “Jim” Thomas Newell

Posted on by RumseyYost

Services for James “Jim” Thomas Newell, 54, Baldwin City, will be 10 am Tuesday, March 5, 2013, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Sutton Cemetery.
Jim died February 27, 2013 in Leadville CO.

He was born November 17, 1958, in Lawrence, the son of Harry and Clarice Deay Newell. Jim graduated High School from Baldwin City in 1977. He owned and operated Jim Newell Trucking for the past 30 Years. He enjoyed many hours and years trail riding with family and friends. He was the guy that always made you feel welcome when you visited, a wonderful host. A very talented person that could do anything he put his mind to, he constantly had multiple projects going and he thought they should have been done yesterday. Always had a story to make you laugh and made sure there was a good time, loved a good argument in which he was never wrong and enjoyed life the only way he knew how. Jim strived to teach his children his way of life, work hard and reap the benefits.

Jim married his best friend and the love of his life, Brenda Y. Burton on April 4, 1981 in Baldwin City. She survives of the home. Other survivors include a son; J.T. Newell, Baldwin; a daughter Pamela Y. Carnagie and husband Drew, Lawrence; two brothers Tim Newell, and Virgil Newell both of Baldwin, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Vernon Newell who passed in 1991.

Friends may call from noon to 8 pm. Monday at the funeral home, where the family will receive them from 6 pm to 7pm. The family suggests memorials made to American Heart Association sent in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to rumsey-yost.com

Lora Lee Johnston

Posted on by RumseyYost

Memorial Services for Lora Lee Johnston, 86, Lawrence, will be held March 6 at 3:00-4:00pm at Brandon Woods at Alvamar, 1501 Inverness Drive, in the Oaks Building, 2nd floor Town Hall.

Mrs. Johnston died Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at her residence.

She was born April 24, 1926 in Oakland, CA to Louis M. and Zeta Lee Smith Bliler. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

She married Richard F. Johnston in 1948 in Oakland, CA. He survives of the home. After Richard received his PhD, he and Lora moved from Oakland to Las Cruces, NM where they lived for a few years, eventually moving to Lawrence in 1958.

Mrs. Johnston worked as an artist and homemaker most of her life. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, creating and selling stained glass at the Phoenix Art Gallery, playing the piano and harpsichord, traveling, reading, her pets, and nature. She was also a member of the Kansas Mycological Society. She was quite a renaissance woman.

Other survivors include three daughters, Regan Johnston and husband Carl Lutz of Pomona, KS, Janet Johnston and husband Mark Rose of Langley, WA, Cassandra Johnston and husband Douglas McEnery of Al Manama, Bahrain; and two grandchildren, Miles McEnery of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Winn McEnery of Humboldt, CA.

Mrs. Johnston was dearly loved and cherished by her family and those who knew her.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lawrence Humane Society, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory, P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Eva Louise Curtiss

Posted on by RumseyYost

Eva Louise (Lawson) Curtiss, 79, passed away on February 24, 2013 at her home, in Lawrence, KS. She was born on November 21, 1933 to Ernie James and Velma May (Richardson) Lawson in Hutchinson, KS where Eva met and married the love of her life, Kelley J. Curtiss. They were married from 1952 until her passing, sharing a lifetime of laughter and love and an appreciation for music, art and literature that they have passed to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Eva loved sunshine and moonlight and working in her gardens. She was an avid reader, dragon collector,and a baker known far and wide for her fabulous cinnamon rolls. She loved all babies, her Yorkies, Patsy Cline, Big Band singers and Bluegrass at the Walnut Valley Blue Grass Festival before it was cool. She was Miss Hutchinson of 1951. She was an undefeated leg wrestler, a champion jack player, and once bowled a 500 game. She played the autoharp, a mean tambourine, and had a throaty contralto voice. She was sassy, stubborn, loyal, opinionated, independent and generous.

She considered her greatest achievement to be her family. Six children were born in Hutchinson. The family moved to Salina in 1964 and to Topeka in 1970.

In Topeka she went to work, first at Northern Hills Jr High as a baker (hence the fabulous cinnamon rolls), then at Calhoun’s Department store, and finally at Hall Directory. She was a member of Pleasant Hill UMC. When her husband was transferred to Guthrie, Oklahoma, they made a new life, joining the First United Methodist church and choir, Eva working at BancFirst, Kelley playing in the Okie Dokie Banjo Band, and kicking up their heels while (square) dancing the night away. When she retired, they moved to Colorado Springs, then back to Kansas for the last 4 years. While living in KC she attended Wesley United Methodist Church.

Eva is survived by her spouse, Kelley, of Lawrence, KS; three daughters, Cleon Curtiss of the home, Melody Curtiss (Jamie Beletz) of Seattle, WA, and Lyric (Larry) Bartz of Lawrence, KS; three sons, Kelley (Myra) Curtiss of Colwich, KS, Kevin (Darcy) Curtiss of Kansas City, KS, Patrick (Martha Coffman) Curtiss of Lawrence, KS; and her stepson Ronald (Amelia) Curtiss of Guatemala City, GT.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Gillian (Brandon) Masters; Colin (Catherine) Cathey, Era (Ari Hornick) Cathey, Robin (Barry) Adcock, Jenny (Matt) Talley, Eric and Sarah Beletz; Brianne, Kindra, Charlton (Cheyenne) and Brenton Bartz; Danielle (Jessica) Curtiss-Smith, Dana (Rick) Piatt, Gwen (Kevin) McDonald, Bill, Rachel, Christa, Joel and Jessica Curtiss; Sarah, Caitlin, Arin, Evan, and Ryan Curtiss; Kelley Evans, Clint Curtiss and Brendan Gallagher; and Loraine, Ronald Jr., and Oscar Curtiss.

She is also survived by fourteen great-grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, Patricia Trantham and Donna Adcock, and 8 nieces and nephews.

Eva was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Goldie Helflin and Pat Baytosh.

A private family celebration of life will be held at a later date.

A link to relive more memories caught in still frame will be posted here soon, so come back and hash up those happy memories.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the Scleroderma Foundation (300 Rosewood Drive, Suite 105, Danvers, MA 01923), theAlzheimer’s Foundation of America (322 8th Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001) or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (1311 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 310, White Plains, NY 10605).

Edwin Lee McKelvey

Posted on by RumseyYost

Funeral services for Edwin Lee McKelvey, 75, Lawrence, will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Clinton Parkway 360 Church, with the Rev. Rick Burwick officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Lee died Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

He was born May 31, 1937, in Lawrence, the son of Jacob and Edith Tipton McKelvey. He attended Lawrence schools. He was a 3rd generation Union Pacific Railroad employee, working as a section man for 34 years. He was an avid bowler, and member of the Lawrence Men’s Bowling Association. He attended Clinton Parkway 360 Church.

He married Susan K. Farmer on Jan. 12, 1976, in Miami, Okla. She survives of the home. Other survivors include two brothers, Bill McKelvey and wife Connie, Oakdale, Calif., and Roger McKelvey and wife Mavis, Rogers, Ark; a sister, Edna Dirks, Corpus Christi, Tex; and a cousin, Esther L. Sparks, Lawrence. He was preceded in death by a twin brother, Edward Leroy McKelvey.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time Tuesday at the church. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Lee McKelvey Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.

Helen Marie Dardis

Posted on by RumseyYost

UPDATE: THE SERVICES SCHEDULED FOR HELEN DARDIS FOR 10:30 A.M. TUESDAY HAVE BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR 11:00 A.M. WEDNESDAY AT HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH, EUDORA. THE ROSARY AND VISITATION SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY EVENING WILL TAKE PLACE AS SCHEDULED.

Helen Marie Dardis, 85, joined her husband and loved ones in the peace of eternal life, when she passed away at her home in Lawrence, Kansas on Wednesday February 20, 2013. Helen was born to Frank and Beulah Williams on June 12, 1927 in Kansas City, Missouri.
After graduating from Leavenworth High School, she worked as a secretary for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Leavenworth, KS. She married Michael Dardis at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on May 24, 1947.

While raising a family of nine children, Helen and Michael lived in Leavenworth, Kansas; Killdeer, North Dakota; Butte, Montana; and Sunflower Village, Kansas. She and her family lived in Eudora, Kansas until Michael’s death in October 1998. For many years, Helen was active with the Holy Family St. Theresa’s Society in Eudora. Helen retired from the University of Kansas, where she worked in the Watkins Student Health Center. After moving to Lawrence, she volunteered for Hospice Care of Douglas County, Kansas.

Helen was proud of her many loved ones who served in the military. She enjoyed traveling, music, and watching the Jayhawks – but her greatest enjoyment was being with her family. The achievements and adventures of her children, as well as their spouses and children, was a source of joy for her. Helen’s maternal devotion was most evident by her endless acts of love for her son, John. Helen’s sense of humor and kindness enriched the lives of all who knew her.

Helen is survived by her children Mary, Patrick, Mark, Gregory, Michael, Jeffrey, Anne, and John; sons-in-law Ross Shuman and Daryl Perry; daughters-in-law Patricia, Melissa, Candy, and Elizabeth; grandchildren Aaron, Brie, Emily, Amanda, Kelly, Travis, Andrew, David, Jacob, and Alyssa; great grandchildren, Sarah, Moriah, and Jordan; and sister Louise.

She was preceded in death by her husband Michael, daughter Kathryn, granddaughter Lili, grandson Brennan, sister Beulah, and brothers Frank, Francis, Jim, John, and Bill.

Friends may call from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday and from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence.

A rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. Monday February 25, followed by a visitation until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday February 26 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Eudora, and burial following in the Holy Family Catholic Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials in her name to the Cottonwood, Inc. Workshop for the Developmentally Disabled in Lawrence, Kansas; or to the Holy Family Catholic Church in Eudora, Kansas, sent in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St, Lawrence, KS 66044.
You can follow any condolences regarding Helen Dardis through rumsey-yost.com.