Author: RumseyYost

Rebecca Ann (Becky) Stiles

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Memorial service for Rebecca Ann (Becky) Stiles, 66, Lawrence, will be at 2 pm, Friday, May 17, 2024, at First Southern Baptist Church, 4300 W. 6th St., Lawrence, KS 66049. Visitation will be from 6-8 pm, Thursday at the same location. Graveside service will be at 11 am, Friday, May 17, 2024, at Johnson County Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66210.

Becky died Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She suffered a hemorrhagic stroke in September of 2023 and fought admirably during a difficult recovery before having another stroke on May 5. During her final eight months, her indelible sense of humor sustained her and her family.

She was born February 14, 1958, in Kansas City, the daughter of William (Bill) and Loretta Rowland. She graduated from Shawnee Mission West High School in 1976, a proud member of the marching band who played the clarinet and often reminded her family later in life that “West was best.” After a year at Johnson County Community College, she went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Kansas.

She married Joe Stiles on June 19, 1982, in Overland Park, Kansas. They moved to Valley Center, Kansas where Joe served as a youth pastor and Becky worked in the cosmetics department at JCPenny. During that time, they welcomed their first child, Katie. In 1985, they moved to Lawrence when Joe took the youth pastor position at First Southern Baptist Church. They welcomed two more children, Andy and Matt, and set up their roots as devout supporters of Lawrence High School and the University of Kansas.

She was a member of First Southern Baptist Church of Lawrence for 38 years. During that time, she served in children, student, and women’s ministries. She was active in women’s Bible studies, Vacation Bible School, and mission trips all over the country. She often attended Women of Faith conferences with her friends, and regularly listened to, even to her last breath, contemporary praise music.

Becky loved children. She taught her entire 30-year career for Lawrence Public Schools. She began as a substitute for two years before taking a full-time position to help open Sunflower Elementary School. She started teaching first and second grade, before finally serving on the third-grade team for most of her career. In all, she taught 25 years at Sunflower. She loved teaching science, specifically units on outer space, decorating her classroom like the rainforest, reading The One and Only Ivan to her class every year, and educating her classes on Kansas history. She was particularly fond of the yearly Kansas Kids Fitness Day, as well as taking students to tour Allen Fieldhouse and the historic Lawrence Walking Tour to learn about Quantrill’s Raid. She is often remembered for her wit, her patience, and her nurturing and encouraging spirit. One thing is also certain: everyone—students and co-workers alike—will remember Becky’s flawless penmanship. After retiring, she returned to the classroom for three more years, once again as a substitute.

Outside of her professional life, she enjoyed watching the Hallmark Channel, following the latest news on The Royal Family, reading Karen Kingsbury novels, baking—among other things—her summer no bake cookies, playing Solitaire on her laptop, and pulling weeds in her garden. She began every day by checking Facebook to see whose birthday it was and wish them well. She loved opening her home to neighbors and church members and, most often, to her kids’ friends. Her pantry and refrigerator were always fair game. You didn’t even have to ask. She loved curling up in her chair on rainy Sunday afternoons with a book and her Westie, Beasley. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family and creating lasting traditions and memories, like watching A Charlie Brown Christmas every year with her eight grandchildren.

Becky will be missed by her surviving family, including her husband, Joe, her daughter, Katie (Clay) Discher of Parkville, MO, and sons, Andy (Bri) Stiles of Olathe, KS and Matt (Emily) Stiles of De Soto, KS; grandchildren, Charlie, Brody, Nolan, Bo, Banks, Oliver, Lydia, and Levi. She is also survived by her sister, Beverly (Paul) Rupert, her aunt Donna Rowland, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, other extended family members and her dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.

The family suggests memorials to the children’s ministry at First Southern Baptist Church of Lawrence, 4300 W. 6th St., Lawrence, KS 66049.

Helen Onis Tilley Martin

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Services for Helen Onis Tilley Martin, 85, Lawrence, will be at 10:30 am Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont Street, Lawrence KS 66044, with a potluck lunch following services.

Helen Martin died unexpectedly on Saturday, May 4, 2024.

Helen was born July 16, 1938 in Panama City, Panama, the daughter of Marjorie Locke Tilley and Joseph Otto Tilley. She graduated from Balboa Union High School in 1954, and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from New Mexico State University and a master’s degree in humanities at Iowa University.

Helen married Edwin John Martin, whom she met at New Mexico State University, in 1959. They lived in Ann Arbor Michigan from 1963 – 1974, and then in Lawrence Kansas from then on. They built a house in Pleasant Grove, south of Lawrence, and enjoyed traveling, attending live jazz venues, classical concerts and lectures, and sailing. Helen was widowed in 2001.

Helen was a potter beginning in 1970 when she took her first ceramics class in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She sold her work in art shows around Kansas during the late 70s and early 80s, and was a member of The Hand and Eye shop in the Casbah on Massachusetts Street. Later, she started selling her work at the Lawrence Farmer’s Market, where she was planning to start this year’s season the following weekend.

Helen loved living in Lawrence Kansas, and was a vital part of so many communities. She attended the same dance aerobics class for over 40 years, and made many friends with the other women in class. She sang in the choir at Plymouth Congregational Church for over 40 years, and was looking forward to the major work they were to perform the next day. She volunteered for Audio Reader for many years. As a potter, when she moved into town from Pleasant Grove in 2007, she did much of her ceramics at the Lawrence Arts Center, where she befriended many other potters both young and old. Many younger potters considered her a mentor. She also played bass in her daughter and son-in-law’s Scandinavian folk dance band.

Family was also very important to Helen, and she traveled often to Phoenix Arizona to visit her son and daughter-in-law, and was there in the lives of her four Phoenix grandsons as well as her two Lawrence grandsons. She made dinners, washed dishes, attended soccer games and music concerts, played peek-a-boo, and went on hikes.

In the two weeks before her death, Helen spent a week with her son and daughter-in-law in Arizona, playing with her great-grandsons, visiting old friends, and hiking to the top of Thunderbird Mountain; made several trips out to her daughter and son-in-law’s farm to commune with the sheep, have dinner and play games; went to her dance aerobics class and choir practice; worked in the studio at the Lawrence Arts Center and visiting with all her friends there; visited the Farmer’s Market to buy pastries and talk to all her friends there; and made plans to visit a friend in the hospital and take another friend out to lunch.

Helen is survived by her daughter Theresa Martin and son-in-law Byron Wiley, Lawrence, Kansas; son John Charles Martin and daughter-in-law Michelle Martin, Phoenix, Arizona; sister Marjorie Janet Tilley Lee, Cerro Punto, Panama; six grandsons, Martin Bergstrom, Brooklyn New York, Beckett Bergstrom, Lawrence Kansas, Jack Martin, Peter Martin, Elliot Martin, and Scott Martin, all Phoenix Arizona; and five great-grandsons.

Charles “Charlie” Lathan Rappard

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Charles L. Rappard, born on September 2, 1970, left this world on May 5, 2024. He was the beloved son of Charles H Rappard and the late Frances J Rappard. Charlie cherished his family deeply, leaving behind three siblings: Laura Roberts (Hal), Sarah Rogers (Tom), and Andrew (Melanie). His love knew no bounds, especially for his 3 nephews, Gideon, Jeremy, and Archer and 2 nieces, Micah and Rinnah. They all held a special place in his heart. As we bid farewell to Charlie, we hold onto memories of his positive outlook on life and his unwavering love and devotion to Christ and to those he held dear.

Visitation/Celebration of Life will be held at:

Grace Community Church 310 E 8th St, Overbrook, KS Saturday 11-1

Dr. Beth Ann Bohnet

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Dr. Beth Ann Bohnet, 84, of Lawrence, KS, passed away on May 4, 2024. She was born on January 19, 1940, in Minneapolis, MN to Herbert Leslie Bohnet and Ruth Marie (Heig) Bohnet.

Beth grew up in Fargo, North Dakota. During her childhood, Beth had many adventures and got into lots of mischief with her cousins on their grandparents’ farm in Clark, South Dakota. After high school Beth attended North Dakota State University. In 1959 she married John Kocourek. They had three daughters, Tracy, Jill, and Amy. The family moved around the Midwest for John’s job, eventually settling in Lawrence, KS in 1969.

Beth received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Kansas in 1970 and taught at Schwegler Elementary School. She also shared her love for crochet and knitting by teaching classes at the Crewel Cupboard. In 1972, she married Steve Glass, they later divorced. Her career path led her to work as an Interior Designer for Jane Bateman Interiors while furthering her education at the University of Kansas. Beth’s additional degrees included Bachelor of General Studies, Master of Science in Counseling, and Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology.

While working on her doctorate, Beth’s love of the East Coast led her to become a Psychology Intern at the Counseling Center at the University of Maine in Orono. She later served as a Clinical Supervisor and Psychologist at various institutions, including the Augusta Mental Health Institute. This eventually led to her fulfilling her dream of opening a private practice as a Clinical Psychologist in Bangor, Maine, where she touched many lives before retiring in 2013. After 35 years in Maine, Beth returned to Lawrence in 2021 to be near family.

Outside of her professional life, Beth found joy in decorating, knitting, crocheting, stained glass work, gardening, and entertaining. Other favorites included summers on Lake Amelia at her sister’s lake house, family trips to Ocean Isle Beach, NC, times at her camp (cabin) in Maine, hiking at Acadia National Park, and cross-country skiing.

Beth shared many crazy adventures with the “Grove Street Gang,” her neighbors on Grove Street in Bangor. She was a fabulous Maine tour guide for visiting friends and family. Her tour favorites included Acadia National Park (Cool As A Moose for t-shirts, Ben and Bill’s for ice cream, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliffs, popovers on the lawn at Jordan Pond House, hiking the Bubbles, and watching the sunset from the top of Cadillac Mountain), Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound, Pat’s Pizza in Orono, Mount Battie, Camden, and Freeport. When you visited it would not be surprising to find an empty refrigerator and a freezer full of Ben and Jerry’s Coffee Toffee Bar Crunch, and you may even get popcorn for dinner.

Beth worshiped at the First United Methodist Church of Lawrence and Saint John’s Episcopal Church of Bangor. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and served as President of the Douglas County Historical Society and Museum, Lawrence Arts Commission, Lawrence Arts Guild, Bangor Historical Society, and Maine

Psychological Association. She enjoyed volunteering at the Bangor Homeless Shelter and the American Folk Festival at Waterfront Park in Bangor.

Beth will be missed by her surviving family, including her daughters, Tracy (Ted) Kihm and Amy (Mike) Byrn both of Lawrence, KS, and Jill (John) Balogh of Raleigh, NC; her grandchildren, Stephen Schmille, Leslie Schmille, Sarah Beth (Craig Stoppel) Schmille, Nick (Hannah) Balogh, Daniel Balogh, Dylan (Nicole) Geiger, Lauren (Elliot) Vaughn, Patrick (Erin Doran) Balogh, John Kihm, and Morgan (Josh) Bergeron; great grandchildren, Veda Balogh, Maverick Vaughn, Lottie Balogh, Maren Vaughn, Grayson Bergeron, and a sixth great grandchild due in June; brother Richard (Nancy) Bohnet of Sausalito, CA and sister Nancy (Dave) Tank of Alexandria, MN; as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.

The family wants to thank the staff of Bridge Haven Memory Care and Ascend Hospice for their loving care. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. In honor of her memory, we will strive to live by her favorite motto, “I will be pleased and surprised at how well it all turns out.”

In her memory, contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Lawrence or the Bangor Historical Society, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Christopher Hagley

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Chris’s path in life started in Akron, OH, on August 30, 1990. He continued his life’s journey in Fenton, MO, Houma, LA, Hays, Hutchinson, Lawrence, and Kansas City. He graduated from Hutchinson High School in 2009.

Chris was an adventurous, musically talented, intelligent, determined, witty young man with a charming smile. He enjoyed riding his bicycle, hiking, collecting foreign coins, playing the guitar, exploring, and reading history.

Chris loved animals and found solace in the company of pets, as they found comfort in his gentle spirit. Now, they look for him, mystified by his absence.

His last journey in this life was amid the trees and nature that he loved to experience. On April 22, 2024, we said goodbye to our Chris. He is loved dearly and will be forever loved and deeply missed by his mother, Tina Nipper-Karnowski, and husband, Pete of Lawrence; his father, Michael Hagley and wife, Stacey of Hutchinson; brother Steven Hagley of Seattle; sister Layni Hagley of Hutchinson; many aunts, uncles, and cousins in Texas, Iowa, Georgia, Arkansas, and Nebraska, and friends and work associates in Hays, Lawrence, Hutchinson, and Kansas City. He joins his cherished grandparents, Norman and Janet Hagley, Fletcher and Shirley Nipper, Aunt Janette Nipper, Uncle Mark Hagley, and friends who preceded him in that last chapter of life.

If you wish, please donate to the animal shelter or wildlife area of your choice in lieu of flowers.

Memorial services will be June 2, 2024 at 11am at the Baker Wetlands Discovery Center in Lawrence, Kansas.

Richard “Skip” Link Foster

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Richard “Skip” Link Foster, 63, of Lawrence, Kansas passed away Thursday May 2, 2024, after a short battle with cancer. He was born September 16, 1960, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Richard “Dick” H. Foster and Susan G. (Link) Bremer.

Skip graduated from Platte County High School in 1979, Coffeyville Community College in 1980, and Missouri Western in 1984.

In 1983, he and Tammy Renae Kretzer married, and together they had a son, James Spencer Foster. They later divorced. He married the love of his life, Pama Gay Grewell, in July of 1993, in a boot shop/wedding chapel in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Together they had a daughter, Shelby Leigh Foster, and a son, Patrick Gage Foster.

Skip spent much of his career as the Head Football Coach at Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College, later coaching in the Arena Football League. The past 10 years of his life were dedicated to managing the tree farm at Lawrence Landscape.

Skip loved adventures with Gay, bulldogs, attending sporting events, family gatherings, barbequing, tending to his yard, good conversation, and spending time with his four grandsons.

He is survived by his wife of 30 years, and his three children: Spencer (& Anna), Shelby and Gage – plus his grandchildren: Mitchell, Will, Dillon, and Henry. Skip’s siblings also survive him: Dinah (& Glen) Westervelt, deAnne Trave, Scoot (& Shell) Foster, Jon (& Amie) Bremer, Wayne (& Shelly) Warren, and Mike Warren; as do brother-in-law, Melvin Grame, and Gay’s sister, Robin Grewell-Hines. Skip’s stepmother, Karen Foster, and in-laws Gary Grewell and Pam & Bill Williamson also survive him – as does Spencer’s mother, Tammy (& Wolf) Schmidt. There are far too many other family and friends to list, but Skip loved each of them in a special way.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Debbie Grame, and his parents Richard “Dick” Foster, and Wayne & Susan (Link) Bremer.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at River City Church, 3001 Lawrence Ave., Lawrence Kansas, Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. Services will be under the direction of Pastor Ed Mease.

Live-streaming will be available at: https://findandfollowjesus.org/memorial.

Memorials may be given in Skip’s name to the Coffeyville Community College Foundation (400 W. 11th St, Coffeyville, Kansas 67337).

Phyllis JoAn Wilson

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Surrounded by family members singing her favorite hymn, Phyllis JoAn Fink Wilson, a “Super-Duper” wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend, began her new life on May 1, 2024, at age 92.

Born to Clinton and Dora Fink on December 1, 1931 in Quinter, Kansas, JoAn graduated from the University of Kansas where she met her future husband, Richard “Dick” Wilson, in a dance class. JoAn and Dick were married for 54 years and had three children: Rick, Steve and Trish – all of whom learned to jitterbug. Their legacy includes two daughters-in-law, a son-in-law, 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren (and counting!).

Family and faith were JoAn’s passions. She was a devoted homemaker who supported her children in all their activities, serving on school PTAs and working various jobs to help pay for her kids’ college. As her family expanded she hosted grandkids for vacations and sleepovers and traveled to help out as needed, generating a whole lot of lifelong memories along the way. She passed on her love of family by sharing stories of growing up in western Kansas and compiling an extensive genealogy of both the Fink and Treu families that included her 12 aunts and uncles and 25 first cousins.

JoAn attended church her entire life and developed a deep appreciation and knowledge of Scripture. She taught Bible studies at every church she attended as an adult in Albany NY, Palatine, IL, Indianapolis, IN and Lawrence, KS. Her faith was very personal and she recounted vivid visualizations of meeting with Jesus that provided comfort and strength throughout the ups and downs of life.

JoAn is reunited in heaven with her husband, daughter, and grandson, Rudy, along with her parents, brother, all those aunts and uncles, many cousins and dear friends who passed before her. She leaves those still living who knew and loved her with wonderful memories and the great hope of a future reunion in the presence of her Lord.

Memorial Service to be held at 1:00 pm Saturday, May 18th, 2024, at First Baptist Church Address 1330 Kasold Dr, Lawrence, KS 66049.

Graveside Service to be held at the Baker Township Cemetery in Quinter, Kansas at 1:30 pm on Sunday, May 19th.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Lawrence, KS, or the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission in Santa Barbara, CA.

Richard Andrew Salierno

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A Celebration of Life for Richard Salierno will be on May 11th, 2024 at Venue 1235 from 1:00-7:00 PM, located at 1235 North 3rd Street, Lawrence, Kansas, 66044.

Richard Andrew Salierno of Lawrence, Kansas passed away March 14, 2024 with family by his side. He was born May 19, 1954 in Brooklyn, New York and grew up on Long Island in Lindenhurst, New York and spent much of his youth surrounded by friends and family playing sports and going to nearby beaches. He became a Kansan when he filled his older brother already attending Ottawa University.
Rich worked for the Lawrence Journal World as a Distribution Manager for 30 years. He followed at the Kansas City Star for three years and then became a casual Bus Driver in Lawrence, Kansas for 2 years prior to full retirement.
Rich married Wanda Freeman on December 6, 1993 in Las Vegas. She survives of the home. Other survivors include Michael Salierno, brother, 8 brother-in-laws, 7 sister-in-laws and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Beatrice Salierno, nephew, Dominic Salierno, and sister-in-law, Aneita Burton.
Rich could light up any room with his whit and laughter. He loved to travel home and abroad with his wife, friends and family. Many of those travels involved attending one of many sporting vents and music venues. Rich was a true captain at heart and enjoyed spending his free time fishing and boating at Perry Lake. We all need to celebrate a life well lived.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Douglas County Visiting Nurses Hospice Care, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home: P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Michael Donald Landsness

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Michael Donald Landsness, son of Terry and Shawna Landsness-Shelby, was born on January 29, 1987 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He passed away in a tragic auto accident on April 24, 2024 in Lawrence, Kansas at the age of 37.

Michael attended and graduated from high school in Lawrence, Kansas. Afterwards he attended WTI in Topeka and was certified in HVAC. He worked in various capacities in the construction industry and as a cook.

His passions were cooking, KU athletics and his beloved Chiefs. He loved going to the park with his children, and cookouts with family and friends.

He is survived by his parents, grandparents Connie & Charles VanNess, and Glenda Shelby, his children Kaiyah, Gracen, and Kansas, and his stepsons Quailan, Blake, and Silas.

A visitation will be Monday, May 6, 2024 at 6pm at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Memorial services will be Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 10am at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. A luncheon will follow at 12pm at Spring Hill Suites Marriot in the Naismith Ballroom.