Author: RumseyYost

Lester D. Traxler

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Funeral services for Lester Traxler will be held Saturday, January 7th at 11:00 at Rumsey Yost Funeral Home with visitation at 10:00.

Lester peacefully went to be with the Lord on December 23rd at his home with family by his side.

He was born August 18, 1930 to Ralph and Josephine (Shirck) Traxler in Lecompton.  He graduated from Lecompton High School in 1948.

He was drafted into the Army in 1951 and served until 1953 in Austria as a high speed radio operator. After returning from the Army he began working at FMC in Lawrence in 1954 and retired in 1991.

He married Catherine Emery on March 13, 1960. She preceded him in death on the same date, December 23, 1990.

Watching sports was a favorite activity rarely missing a KU Jayhawks, Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas City Royals game.  Raising cattle was also an important part of his life. Right up until the end he was still concerned that the cows would be taken care of everyday.

He was a longtime member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Topeka.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Catherine and brothers John Traxler and Louis Traxler and sister Elizabeth Norris.

Survivors include daughter JoAnna of Lecompton, son Dale (Diana) of Hoyt, 3 grandchildren, Aaron (Megan) of Kansas City, Mo, Nathan (Sarah Burkhart) of Scottsdale, AZ and Catherine of Fort Collins, Co and great-granddaugher Emmaline and several  nieces and nephews.

During his health problems of the last month his nurses always commented about his great smile and how much they enjoyed that even though he wasn’t feeling well. That smile will certainly be missed.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Prairie Wind Hospice, P.O. Box 641, Baldwin City, KS, 66006.

Phyllis Jean Gibler

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Phyllis Jean Gibler (Nichols), 90, of Baldwin City, KS, passed away peacefully Tuesday December 20, 2022, at Wellsville Health and Rehab, Wellsville, Kansas.

Phyllis was born in the community of Vinland (Baldwin) on January 19, 1932, to Marlin (Nic) and Mildred (Schmidt) Nichols. She grew up in and lived her entire life in the Vinland Valley area just north of Baldwin City.

Phyllis graduated from Vinland High School in 1949.  She was a homemaker and managed the Farm’s accounting and other activities, and was quite resourceful.  Armed with a needle, a spatula, a mixer or a pair of pliers, she could make herself and others be the best dressed individual, create an eight course 5 Star meal, bake a smorgasbord of deserts, decorate a room, and repair or repurpose an item. She was active in the PTA, a 4-H leader and a life member of the Vinland Church of Christ, being a person of deep faith.

She married Kenneth “Paul” Gibler on March 12, 1950, settling in the same community she was born. She raised four children.

Phyllis was an amazing cook and baker, teaching all of her children and grandchildren those life skills, especially making cinnamon rolls and cheesecakes. She was an accomplished seamstress, creating an untold number of outfits throughout the years.  In addition, she canned hundreds of jars of produce from the annual garden, had a keen eye for decorating, used her green thumb to grow any plant indoors or outdoors, always having a brilliant flower garden.

She was preceded in death  by her Father, Marlin; Mother, Mildred; Husband of 58 years, Paul; Infant Grandson, Michael Hitchcock;  and Daughter-in-law, Janey Gibler.

She is survived by daughters: Pauletta (Bob) Baxter of Little Rock, AR; Rhonda (Ric) Hitchcock of Baldwin City, KS; and sons: Kent Gibler, Topeka, KS and Kevin (Lori) Gibler of Kansas City, MO; grandchildren: Kristin (Mark), Jason (Jodi), Joshua (Devon), Lindsey (Josh), Madison and Mitchell (Teagan); Great Grandchildren: Pia, Evie, Johnny, Alma, Jude, Willa, Vidallia, Christian, Sylvie, Charlie Rose and Tatum;  Sister, Betty Williams of Baldwin and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials can be made to the Vinland Cemetery Association or the Vinland Fair Association.

Services will be held on Monday January 2, 2023 at 2:00 PM at the Vinland Church of Christ, 1702 N 700 Rd, Baldwin City, KS, 66006. Visitation will be 1 to 2 pm preceding the funeral service at the Vinland Church of Christ.

A special appreciation goes to the staff of Wellsville Health and Rehab, Vintage Park of Baldwin City, and Gentiva Hospice for their quality and thoughtful care.

James Bruce (Jim) Chapin

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Services for James Bruce Chapin, 84, will be held at 2pm,Wednesday January 4th at First Christian Church, 1000 Kentucky Street, Lawrence, Kansas.

Jim was called home Sunday, December 18th, 2022 with his family by his side.

He was born November 26, 1938 in Downs, Kansas, son of Brad and May Chapin. He graduated from Lebanon high school in 1957. He married his life long love, Betty Jean Ritter,  August 31, 1959.  Together they shared 63 years of love and laughter.

The arrival of their first born son, James Brad came in 1960, followed by daughter, Debra Jean in 1962. Jim and Betty moved to Smith Center in 1966 where they added to their family with a son, Jerry Earl that same year.

Jim was a hard worker through the years, providing for his family. Working at the Smith County Pioneer newspaper for more than 20 years. He also worked as the maintenance supervisor at Bethesda Care Center in Smith Center.

In 1995 he became owner/operator of the Modern Aire Motel, Highway 36, Smith Center, where he worked side by side with Betty. They shared their talents and hospitality there until 2007. At this time they moved to Lawrence Kansas to be near their children and grandchildren. Jim continued his work as the Maintenance supervisor at Wyndam Place Senior Residence in Lawrence until 2019. As well as volunteer work at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Survivors include wife Betty and daughter Debra of Lawrence. Son Jerry of Perry, Kansas with his wife Teresa. Three Grandsons, Spencer Chapin of Pineville Louisiana with  his wife Samantha. Mitchel Masten of Lawrence and Harrison Chapin of Perry, Kansas. He also leaves a legacy of love for 5 great grandchildren. Tanner, Conner and Lanie of Pineville, Louisiana and Felix and Trinity of Lawrence, Kansas.

He was preceded in heaven by his son, James Brad, his parents and 3 brothers, Brad Jr, Gene and Glen.

Graveside services at Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, Kansas pending.

The family suggests memorials made to Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260 Lawrence, Kansas 66044.

Ernest T. ‘Ernie’ Brewster

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A Celebration of Life for Ernest T. ‘Ernie’ Brewster, 87, of rural Baldwin City, will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 11th at Lawrence First Church of the Nazarene, with the Rev. Robby Giffin officiating. Ernie passed away Thursday, December 15, 2022, at Olathe Medical Center.

He was born March 25, 1935, in Lawrence, Kansas, the son of Albert H. Sr. and Laura Mason Brewster. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1954 and later attended Manhattan Bible College. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1957 until 1961. Ernie worked for Farmland Industries for 35 years. In his free time he enjoyed wood carving, mowing the church grounds, and carpentry. Another of his hobbies was bee keeping.

Ernie was a long time member of Lawrence First Church of the Nazarene, and was involved in the selection of the current property, the planning for its de-velopment, and the construction of the current building. He could be seen regularly greeting attendees at the door to welcome them to the services.

He married Gail Mae Weischedel on September 2, 1961, in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. She survives of the home. Other survivors include children Michelle Brown (Michael), Olathe, Jonathan Brewster (Jennifer), Baldwin City, and Lorraine Foster, Prairie Village; siblings Tharold Brewster, Clarks-ville, Tennessee, Rosa Jane Fowler (Allen), Linwood, Glen Brewster (Mary-lin), Modesto, California, William Brewster (Janet), Temescal Valley, Califor-nia, Gerald Brewster (Terry), San Luis Obispo, California, and Phillip Brew-ster (Carol), Lawrence; and grandchildren Robert (Alyssa) and Jason Brew-ster, Mikhaila, Mikhenna, Miguel, Mikah, Mikholai, and Mailhani Brown, and Olivia Foster; and a great-granddaughter Melina Brewster.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Donald Brewster and Albert H. Brewster, Jr.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Lawrence First Church of the Nazarene.

Louise E. Farrell

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Louise Elberta Farrell, 95, Lawrence, KS, died December 7, 2022.
Born November 12, 1927, she was the daughter of Victor Monroe and Nana Louise Steeber Simpson in Kansas City, MO.
On July 7, 1947 she married Forrest Lee Farrell in Kansas City, MO.  Forrest was a chiropractor in Lawrence for many years while Louise was a secretary for the University of Kansas for 32 years.  They enjoyed 45 years of marriage, many of those years in Lawrence, KS.
Louise enjoyed watching and taking care of the wildlife and loved her flowers.
Forrest preceded her in death on April 3, 1992. She was also preceded in death by her parents, two brothers Victor and Harold (Chig) Simpson, and a sister who died at birth.
No public services are planned at this time.

Alice Marie Ann McClanahan

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My dearest daughter, Alice, was born August 7th, 2016 at Overland Park Regional hospital.

She was soon diagnosed shortly afterwards with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, and with it would come a myriad of obstacles for her to overcome.

Obstacles, that did not slow Alice down in the slightest.

If you knew Alice, you knew that anywhere she went, nothing but happiness and smiles followed her.

Anytime she was sick, not feeling well in the hospital, she would always try to give everyone reassurance with her iconic thumbs up and big smile.

She would scoot up to anyone feeling down at anytime, and made sure you didn’t feel the same way once she was done with you.

She was always happy, bubbly, a absolute joy to be around; besides when she first woke up or was asleep.

If you tried to bother her at those times she would act like a downright teenager, giving you nasty glares; and throwing her blanket back over with the most attitude you’d ever seen.

One of Alice’s favorite words in her small vocabulary was ‘Momma’, knowing those words would always have her picked up regardless.

These limitations not affecting that everyone knew what Alice wanted, when she wanted it.

At Alice’s happiest moments she would always take her hands and rub her right knee and give her big bubbly laugh and roll onto her sides.

Other times her big thumbs up was always a key point to her attitude, rather she was trying to reassure you of something, or mad at you and giving you the bird essentially.

Having her feet rubbed after a bath was one of Alice’s favorite things; being pampered like a princess, she would always laugh, giggle and roll around during so.

She was extremely loved by her two younger brothers, sometimes picking on them; always giving them a reminder that she was the baby regardless of the situation.

She absolutely loved school and was loved by her peers; she was so clever and full of surprises, always keeping them on the edge of their seats.

These are things that will always be remembered about my sweet baby girl.

She was preceeded in death by her grandfather George McClanahan, younger sister Rinoa McClanahan, and grandmother Linda Wheeler.

She’s survived by her father Jacob McClanahan, mother Samantha Criss, brother Tidus McClanahan, brother Charles Reed, grandmother Lisa Weaver, grandfather Mike Criss and many aunts and cousins.

Alice was love.

This isn’t goodbye, it’s see you later.