Author: RumseyYost

Dennis Leroy Smith

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Dennis Leroy Smith ,75, lost his battle with cancer on Friday, October 6th, 2023.

Dennis was born September 22, 1948 in Lawrence, KS the son of Leland and Eunice Smith.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam war and was stationed in Germany. He was a man of many skills including singing, hunting, playing poker, and coaching baseball. His longest job was as a maintenance and grounds worker for USD 497. He was also a welder, construction work, and limo driver, just to name a few.
He married Eloise Montgomery on October 25th, 1969. They later divorced. He never remarried.
Survivors include his daughter, Mischa Bell (Chris), Lawrence; a son Richard McCart (Shari), Garner, North Carolina; a brother Eric Smith (Judy), Lawrence; 5 grandchildren Allison, Aeron, Aspen, Jackson and Alexandria; his nephews and niece, Dustin, Cory, Brett, Patrick and Lori whom he loved like they were his own.
Dennis was a fierce KU Basketball fan, he loved his hot rods, his motorcycle, hunting, fishing and playing cards. Dennis never met a karaoke night he didn’t like, you could find him singing anything- Oldies, Doo Wop and especially anything Motown.
Dennis was a friend to everyone, if you were lucky to call him friend, you knew it was for life. He was a gentle giant, a big teddy bear with a huge heart. He loved his friends and family with everything he had.
A graveside inurnment will take place on Thursday, October 12th at 11:00 AM at Maple Grove Cemetery in North Lawrence. Memorial contributions can be sent to Douglas County VNA- Hospice.

Debra Ann Smith-Baker

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Debra Ann Baker, 61, of Baldwin City, Kansas, passed away on October 5, 2023. She was born on March 20, 1962, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Sandra and John Caswell. Debra was a kind and loving mother and wife who enjoyed dancing and listening to soul music. She had a playful spirit and always went out of her way to do things for the people she cared about. Debra also loved card games and having a good time.

Debra is survived by her husband Richard Baker. Her children, Christopher Smith, Merry Cabrera and her husband Roberto, Josh Smith and his wife Kendra, Dustin Baker, Ricky Baker, and Melissa Baker. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren. Debra was preceded in death by her mother, Sandra Caswell, and her father, John Caswell.

Debra attended Lees Summit High School.

Please join us in celebrating Debra’s life at her Memorial Services at 6:30 pm, Monday, October 16, 2023, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Barbara Hays Martin Duke

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Barbara Hays Martin Duke died on October 3, 2023 in Lawrence, KS.

She was born February 7, 1930 in San Diego, CA to Russell Randolph Hays and Adele Eugenia Weidner. She grew up on the family farm near Baldwin, KS and in Lawrence, KS.

She graduated from KU in 1951 with a B.A. in economics and received a M.S in library science in 1971 from the University of North Texas, Denton. She was coordinator of the community relations program in the Ft. Worth Public Library, headed interlibrary loan services at the Texas State Library in Austin, and retired as head of the UCLA Education and Psychology Library in 1992. She lived in South Dakota, Texas, and California before returning to Kansas in 1993.

She was active in the National Organization for Women (NOW) in Texas and served on the NOW Board in the 1970’s. She was a legislative coordinator for the NOW Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) countdown campaign in Florida in 1982. She lobbied for the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, and, in Kansas, for women’s reproductive rights as president of the Kansas Choice Alliance and as a member and officer in the Kansas American Association of University Women. She worked with Planned Parenthood of Kansas and mid-Missouri on fund raising projects in Lawrence. She also served for three years as president of the board of the Peggy Bowman Second Chance Fund. She read for Audio-Reader, was a docent at the KU Spencer Museum of Art, a member of the KU University Women’s Club, and Kappa Kappa Gamma, as well as the Sunday, Sunday Book Club and Kappa Book Club.

She married Maurice Clark Martin in 1951. She married Osborn Duke in 1973. They both preceded her in death. She and Maury’s 2nd wife, Patricia Martin, became good friends and Pat survives her.

She is survived by her children: Maureen Martin Winkler (Marty), Daniel Hays Martin, and her step-daughter, Olivia Duke. In addition, she is survived by her daughter-in-law, Sheila Wilkins (Kim), four grandchildren: Jessica Hays Martin (Jessie), Joel Hunter Martin (Demi), William Russell Martin and Adam Russell Martin. She leaves two great-grandchildren, Ezra Martin and Romi Martin.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Kansas Abortion Fund at www.kansasabortionfund.org or the Southern Poverty Law Center at https://support.splcenter.org. Special thanks go to her caregivers at Star Living Assisted Living and to Interim Healthcare Hospice.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Arterra Event Gallery from 5-8 pm on Saturday, November 18. Burial will be at the Oakwood Cemetery in Baldwin.

Barbara F. Archinal

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Barbara Ford Archinal, 83, passed away September 28, 2023, at her home.

She was born Dec. 2, 1939 in Worth County, GA., the daughter of Fred G. and Agnes M. Powell Ford. She graduated from Sylvester High School, Sylvester, GA. in 1957.

After living in several different states as a military wife, she settled in to work at AGE Federal Credit Union in Albany, GA, where she worked for 10 years from 1971-1981, before moving to Lawrence, KS with her family. She was employed there with the City of Lawrence in the Finance Division, where she worked from 1981-2005 before retiring after 24 yrs.. She was a member of Cornerstone Community Church.

She is survived by a daughter, Donna K. Smith (Sean P.) Linwood, KS., and a son, Alan C. Archinal (Carol E.) Perry, KS. Two grandchildren – Kayli E. Tucker, Topeka, KS. and Tyler C. Archinal, Lecompton, KS.   Great-grandchildren – Kycin and Breckin , Step-grandaughters – Nicole R. Garber (Micah), Rachel E. Ussery, and Madison D. Smith, Step-Great-grandchildren – Aleah, Ashton,  Cole,  Xander, Colton, and Raelynn – A brother, Billy G. Ford, Azle, TX. and a sister, Anita Ford Mallory (Shirl C.) Cedartown, GA., and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by not only her parents, but her husband, Donald E. Archinal, and sisters, Bettianne Ford Amick and Joyce Ford Bliss.

Memorial services for Mrs. Archinal will take place at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS. 66046 on Sat., Oct. 28th at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions made to Visiting Nurses Assoc. of Douglas Co. or  St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260 , Lawrence, KS. 66044

Larry Lee Helm

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Larry Lee Helm, 68, of Wellsville Kansas passed away unexpectedly in his home on September 29th, 2023.

Larry was born on August 18th, 1955, to Odis “Lee” Helm & Lois Helm in Wichita Falls, Texas. Larry graduated from Lawrence High School in 1974 and he spent most of his career at Lawrence Paper Company until a work injury forced him to retire.

Larry spent his childhood years camping and enjoyed collecting Antique Barbwire with his father. Over the years, Larry often frequented barb wire shows and had a passion for woodworking, gardening, and fishing. He spent much of his time tinkering around his shop and was a collector of many things by thrift shopping at Goodwill. Larry enjoyed weekly lunches with his parents and there wasn’t a conversation to be had where he wasn’t sharing stories or bragging about his daughter.

Larry is survived by his parents, Lee & Lois Helm, Lawrence, Kansas, his daughter Amanda Davis (Kyle Davis), Lawrence, Kansas. His sister Lori Petrie (Matt Schmidt) Baldwin City, Kansas, a niece Kari Brungardt (Ken Brungardt), Lawrence, Kansas, grandsons Cohen & Nash Davis, Lawrence, Kansas, and many extended family members.

A Private Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring for family and friends.

John (David) Ragan

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The Lord called John David Ragan home on August 21, 2023. A Memorial Service will be held October 3 at Christ United Methodist Church in Independence at 10 AM, with a visitation at 9:30.

David is survived by Ann Ragan, loving wife of 51 years; son Phil Bennett and wife Kirsten; grandchildren Trevor, Laurel, and Tristan Bennett and his wife Amy; niece Ellen Ragan, her husband Mark Allen, their children McKinley Allen and Ragan Archer and her husband Max; niece Janice Lopez and son Mark Lopez; and Markus Preissler.

David graduated from the University of Kansas in 1965 in Architecture, and served in the Army as a Captain in the Ordnance Corps. As an architect, David was on the design team of many projects, notably Bartle Hall, One Kansas City Place and the Folly Theater renovation in Kansas City, as well as the Seattle Seahawks football stadium.

David’s life was characterized by service to the community. He was a Boy Scout leader and Commissioner, and hosted AFS international exchange students including Markus who has been family for 43 years. He served on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity in Eastern Jackson County, and was a long-time supporter and President of the City of Independence Sister City program with Higashimurayama in Japan. David also was a volunteer docent at both the National Frontier Trails and Chicago-Alton Railroad museums in Independence, teaching hundreds of students these aspects of American History.

As a humble servant of the Lord, David took leadership roles in Trinity Presbyterian, First Presbyterian, and Christ United Methodist Churches in Independence, where he also donated architectural design to facility upgrades over a 50-year span.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations supporting School of Architecture and Design Scholarships (04831), which he supported. Donations can be made to KU Endowment, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044 or online at www.kuendowment.org/givenow.

David’s spirit lives on in his family, the people he touched, and through his works.

Janice Gail McKenzie

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Services for Janice Gail McKenzie, 83, will be on October 1st, 2023 at 10am at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Hardy Oak Cemetery in Jefferson County, KS.

Janice died Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She was born June 12, 1940 in Corona, New Mexico, daughter of Claude and Lucille Tarpley. She graduated from Placer High School in Auburn, California.

She married Kenneth Alec McKenzie US Navy, on July 29, 1959 at the US Naval Base in San Diego, CA by the Chaplin. They had met on a blind date on a Monday, got married on a Wednesday, and he shipped out on a Friday for a year at sea. Kenneth died July 7, 2007. They were together for 48 beautiful years and had 2 daughters, Robbie and Melody.

Jan loved children and spent her life serving Jesus.

Proceeded in death were Janice’s parents, Lucille and Claude Tarpley, brothers Warren Preston Tarpley, Joe Mitchel Tarpley, and Howard Dale Tarpley.

She is survived by daughters Robbie (Rob) Fischer, Ottawa. Melody McKenzie (Michelle Gainer), Lawrence. Brother Jimmy Wade Tarpley, Dubois, Idaho and sister Amy Shirlene Tarpley, Citrus Heights, California.

Grandsons Shaun (Wanda) McKenzie, Blue Springs MO, Michael (Mischell) Peters, Philippines, Mark (Tanya) Bartling, Lecompton,  Andrew (Paige) Barrows, Olathe, and Steven Barrows, Topeka.

Great grandsons Chet Bartling, Lecompton, Tommy and Evan Barrows, Olathe, Phillip McGraw, Tonganoxie, Austin and Nicholas Asmussen, Blue Springs, and Issac Bartling, Lecompton.

Great granddaughters Lacey Barrows, Topeka, Tabitha Peters, Lawrence, Danae and Delaney McKenzie, Springfield, Illinois, Neveah Peters, Philippines, Callie Bishop, Blue Springs, Marissa Bartling, Perry, Ashlyn Henney, Perry and Kay McKenzie, KCK.

Great great grandsons Bently and Hudson Umbenhower, KCK, and Waylon Henney, Perry.

Great great granddaughters Maria Umbenhower, KCK, Brelynn Cullumber, Perry, and Haidyn Henney, Perry.

Honorary granddaughters Dorothy Ann and Mary Ann and Bobbie Lee.

To livestream the service please click the link below

https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY5NjAxNjY4MjI3NDEwNyZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==