Author: RumseyYost

Larry Dean Beerbower

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Larry Dean Beerbower, 47, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away on October 16, 2023, in his hometown. Born on February 29, 1976, in Lawrence, Kansas, Larry was a beloved son, brother, and friend.

Larry was known for his free-spirited nature and his unwavering determination. He never shied away from speaking his mind and was admired for his strong-willed personality. Larry had a zest for life that was reflected in his hobbies and interests.

One of Larry’s greatest passions was attending rock concerts. He found solace and joy in the energy and music of live performances, and he cherished the memories he made at these events. In addition, Larry was an avid video game enthusiast. He would spend countless hours immersed in virtual worlds, honing his skills and finding excitement in the digital realm. When he wasn’t going to concerts or playing video games, Larry was a Kansas City Chiefs fan and would watch all their games on TV.

Larry will be deeply missed by his loved ones. He is survived by his mother, Helen M. Evans, daughter Mercedes Thomas and 2 grandchildren, his brothers Billie L. Beerbower Jr and Chester J. Beerbower, his sister-in-law Lisa D. Beerbower, his sister Debra M. Slifer, his brother-in-law Johnny A. Slifer, his brother Gary E. Beerbower and his sister-in-law Jennifer L. Beerbower. Larry had many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great great nieces and great great nephews. Larry was preceded in death by his father, Billie L. Beerbower Sr.

The loss of Larry leaves a void in the hearts of those who knew him. His memory will forever be cherished, and his spirit will live on through the countless lives he touched.

May he rest in peace.

Grace Marie (Cron) Allen aka Twiggy

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Graveside Inurnment for Grace Marie (Cron) Allen aka Twiggy, will be held at 11 am, Friday, October 20, 2023, at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence Kansas.  A Celebration of Life is to be set for a later date.

Grace died Tuesday October 10, 2023 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She was born January 9, 1935 in Welda, Kansas to Agnes & Guy Cron.  She moved to Lawrence in the late 1940’s, there she met and married Orval E. Allen on 7/15/1949.  He preceded her in death.  Also preceding her in death includes her mother Agnes Huskey of Iola, Kansas, her brothers Orval J. Cron of Baldwin, Kansas, Charlie Ogle of Washington State, Lawrence Ogle of Harrison, Arkansas.  A daughter Janet Decker-Spangler of Pittsburg, Kansas and a grandson Henry E. Wilks Jr. of Lawrence.

Grace is survived by 7 of her 8 children.

Steve Allen of Kansas City, Kansas

Margie Wilks (Henry) of Moran, Kansas

Betty Oshel-Clawson (John) of Lawrence, Kansas

Wanda Allen-Oshel (Jackie Creel) of Lawrence, Kansas

Barbara Wilson of Marysville, Kansas

David Allen (Amanda) of Oklahoma State

Orval E. Allen Jr. Of Lawrence, Kansas

22 Grandchildren

53 Great Grandchildren

35 Great-Great Grandchildren

Grace worked at Kansas University, Naismith Hall for many years and at age 72 started working at Anschutz Library in snack services.

She loved to read and do genealogy research into family history.  She also spent a lot of time embroidery, and making quilts for the younger generations.

The family suggests memorials go to Cron/Allen Genealogy Research.  Memorials can be sent to Rumsey–Yost Funeral Home P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, Kansas 66044.

Rebecca Elizabeth (Beci) Stubbs

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Celebration of Life services for Rebecca Elizabeth Stubbs, 52, Lawrence, will be from 2-5 pm, Saturday, October 21, 2023, at Set’em Up Jack’s Mezzanine Level.

Rebecca Elizabeth (Beci) Stubbs, of Lawrence KS, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 13th at NorthCare Hospice House in North Kansas City, MO. Rebecca was 52 and had been battling Stage 4 Liver Disease.

Rebecca was born May 19th, 1971 to William and Nancy Stubbs in Tucson, Arizona. Her parents moved to Perry, Kansas after years in service. She was the middle child of 3. After her father’s passing in 1979, they moved to Lawrence, Kansas where she went to school and  graduated from Lawrence High School in 1989.

Rebecca worked a few small jobs until she eventually started at E&E Display Group. She worked as a shipping clerk and forklift driver among other things. E&E is where she met some of the most impactful people in her life and came to call them family. She later worked at Amarr garage doors as a forklift driver. After her time at Amarr she eventually found her way to the Lawrence Paper Company and worked there up until she got diagnosed.

To say she was a strong, hardworking woman is an understatement. Rebecca never married, but she did find love for a time and had 3 beautiful children who she loved dearly.

Rebecca was a hardworking, prideful, and caring woman who knew how to be the life of the party. She made it her job to see everyone laugh and made an impact on everyone around her. She loved a good romance novel when she wasn’t working or tending to her jungle of plants. Rebecca is predeceased by her parents William and Nancy Stubbs, and her brother Garrett (Gary) Stubbs. She is survived by a brother John Stubbs (Pelican Rapids, MN), half sister Rhonda Zelepuza (Aberdeen, WA), her sons Damon Stephens (Liberty, MO), Nicholas Crowe (Lawrence, KS), daughter Alexia Crowe (Lawrence, KS). She is also survived by grandsons Nicholas Crowe Jr and Ryker Wilson and nephews Roscoe Stubbs, Charles Stubbs, and William Stubbs.

Alyson Ann Pickens

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Alyson Ann Pickens, 71, of Lawrence, passed away on September 2, 2023, after a brief battle with cancer.

Ally was born on September 12, 1951 to John and Mildred Pickens in Lawrence. She graduated with a master’s degree in education from the University of Kansas. She was a jayhawker through and through.

Ally loved all things outdoors, traveling, her family, including her dog Rocky and seeing to the needs of the less fortunate.

Ally was preceded in death by her father John. She is survived by her mother “Mickey”, and her brother Mike.

Graveside services will be held on October 21, 2023 at 11am at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Special Olympics, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, PO Box 1260 Lawrence, KS 66044. This was an organization she held near and dear to her heart.

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.