Category: Obituaries

Brenda Kaye Shawley

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A Celebration of Life for Brenda will be held on Sunday, May 23rd at 2 pm at the Baldwin Academy of Dance & Voice, 711 High St., Baldwin City, Kan.

Brenda Kaye Shawley passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2020, at her home in Lawrence, Kansas, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Brenda was born on February 15, 1969, in McPherson, Kansas, to LaVonne and Claude Shawley. She is survived by the love of her life Kala Loomis, her parents Claude and Lavonne Shawley, brother David and his wife Gabriella, nieces Alexandria Flory (Matthew), Amanda Patneaude (Nicholas), Analeesa Shawley, nephews Hunter Shawley, Chandler Shawley and great nephew Truman Flory.

Brenda and her family moved to Linwood, Kansas early in her life where she grew up and graduated from Linwood High School. Brenda’s love for athletics started at a very young age when she used to play catch with her dad and race him until she could finally beat him. She was a basketball, track and volleyball standout in high school and went on to play basketball at Emporia State University where she earned a degree in Physical Education/teaching. Her first teaching job was in Independence, KS but Brenda missed home and decided to return to the Lawrence area without a job just so she could be close to family and friends. She soon obtained a PE teaching position at Baldwin Junior High School where she taught and coached for 20+ years.

Words cannot do justice to Brenda’s positive approach to life and influence on those around her. She never met a stranger and her infectious smile would light up a room. She always made people feel like she had known them forever and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for you.

Brenda’s influence as a teacher/coach/mentor to 20 years worth of students was shown through the testimonies and support for her as she faced her health battle. She was a successful coach and in 2019 Brenda was named Middle School Coach of the Year by the Kansas Coaches Association.

Brenda loved sports, being outdoors and doing things with family and friends. She was an avid softball player and was a member of the Women’s USSSA Class C National Championship team. Her mom said she could “run like the wind” and no ball player better try to run on her as she could throw anyone out. She also inherited the love of music from Claude as he taught her to play the guitar. A love of cooking passed down from her Grandma Homeier and her mother LaVonne made many people happy with the fruits of their labor.

In 2006 after being softball teammates for a few seasons, she started a relationship with Kala. For 14 years, they were best friends and constant companions. They both loved the Jayhawks and spent many nights in Allen Fieldhouse. Whether they were playing basketball together (“I was open”), golfing, fishing, driving around Clinton Lake, going to family gatherings and niece/nephew activities, they were together showing what true soul mates and love could be. In 2019, they took a dream trip to Hawaii together. Brenda was loved by all of Kala’s family and was such an important part of every family gathering.

Brenda will be missed by all her family and friends, but her legacy will live on for a long time. We have been blessed by knowing her and are comforted in the knowledge that she is now in her heavenly home, running free. In lieu of flowers, a memorial scholarship will be established in Baldwin and can be sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Clyde Wesley Lomax

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Services for Clyde Wesley Lomax, 88, Overbrook, will be 2pm Wed. at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Mr. Lomax died May 2, 2021, at Aldersgate Village in Topeka.

He was born March 12, 1933, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Claude and Nellie Smith Lomax.

Mr. Lomax served in the United States Army during the Korean War.  He worked as a welder for the City of Lawrence Maintenance Department.  He was a member of the Overbrook United Methodist Church and was a certified lay speaker. He also was a member of the Overbrook American Legion.  He enjoyed camping, bowling, and was a junior bowling coach.

He married the love of his life, Virginia on October 25, 1952 in Kansas City, Missouri.  She died in 2001.

Survivors include a son, Steven Lomax of Greenville, TX; a brother, Parry Lomax and wife Shirley of Warsaw, MO; many nieces and nephews; and friend, Susan Johnson of Cumby, TX.

He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; and 11 brothers and sisters.

Friends may call from 9am to 2pm Wed. at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends from 1-2pm Wednesday.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Overbrook United Methodist Church, sent in care of the funeral home.

Darlene Marian Lisher

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Darlene M. Lisher, age 71, passed away on December 19, 2020 at home.

She was born May 6, 1949 in Leavenworth, Kansas.  She was a 1967 graduate of Paseo High School.

Darlene did data entry for Boilermakers and was also a travel agent.  She was an avid reader and owned hundreds of books, C. S. Lewis being her favorite author.  She was a member of AA for over 35 years, and helped to mentor many.

Darlene loved to travel and took many cruises where she met some incredible people, who would become her friends.  She enjoyed a beautiful sun shiny day and loved a thunderstorm at night.

She was a loving cat mom to 7 and 1 dog.  She had so much empathy for animals, she couldn’t turn a stray away.

Darlene is survived by her son, David; daughter, Amber (Chris); grandchildren, Christopher, Crystal (Beau), and Julian; great grandchildren, Grace, Hope, and Valor; brother, Leroy (Judy); and many caring friends.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Fred and Daisy Lisher of Lawrence, and great grandson, Courage.

We will miss her tremendously.  She was a brave soul and loving mom.

There will be a graveside service, May 8, 2021 at 1 p.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery, Lawrence, KS.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, sent in care of the funeral home.

Charles Eugene Thomas

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Funeral services for Charles Eugene Thomas, 65, Lawrence, will be at 11 am Tuesday, May 11th at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, with the Rev. Joseph Clark officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at 1:30 pm Tuesday at Leavenworth National Cemetery. A visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Mr. Thomas passed away Friday, April 30, 2021, at his home.

He retired from the United States Army after 20 years of service, attaining the rank of SFC. Most recently he was working security at Lawrence Free State High School.

His wife Marsha survives of the home.

More information will appear here later.

Elsie Catherine Shuck

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Elsie Catherine Shuck, 89, of rural Baldwin City, Kansas, passed away on Friday April 30, 2021 in her home.

She was born on August 10, 1931, in rural Rossville, Indiana at her parent’s home, the late Elmer and Mary (Yoder) Shively. She was the 5th of 10 children.

On Oct 1, 1947, she was baptized into the Old German Baptist Church at the Middlefork District.

She married Warren Shuck at the Elmer Shively home in rural Rossville on July 18, 1954, at 2 pm.

Mom was a homemaker and farmwife her entire married life. She had a house cleaning circuit in Lawrence and Baldwin, Ks and had a weekly egg / pie route (vegetables in season). She also raised frying chickens for her customers. She was an active participant in the farm work whether raising pigs or building fence. She insured her children were involved in those endeavors.

Survivors include Warren Shuck of the home, children – Mary (Mike) Tye, Margaret (Fred) Clark, Mark (Kathy) Shuck, and Marcia (Galen) Peters, 15 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren.

Visitation and services will be at the Willow Springs Old German Baptist church. Visitation will be Sunday, May 2 from 4-6 pm and services will be Monday, May 3 at 2 pm. Burial will follow services at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials to Visiting Nurses or Keep Living at Home.

 

Phillip “Keith” Myrick

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On April 30th, 2021 Phillip (Keith) Myrick passed away in his home in Lawrence, at the age of 80.

He loved to watch the Chiefs and the Royals, to hunt and to fish, dance, sing, play pinball and to laugh.

Keith was a credit manager and later became a beloved part of the lunch program in Lawrence Public Schools.

He is survived by his two loving sons and an extended network of family and friends.

Memorial services will be 10am Saturday, May 8 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home to help with funeral expenses.

Barbara Mary Hartnett

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Dr. Barbara Mary Witczak Hartnett, 74, Lawrence, lost her battle with cancer at home on April 27, 2021.

She was born to Matthew and Mary Witczak on Dec. 5, 1946 in Cicero, Ill. She graduated from St. Mary of Czestochowa grade school and then Nazareth Academy. She earned college degrees from the U. of Illinois (B.S.), Illinois State U. (M.S.) and Northern Illinois U. (Ed.D).

She met her future husband, Mike Hartnett, in high school in 1963. They married the day after graduating from Illinois in 1968. She taught Psychology for many years, at Illinois Central College in East Peoria, IL, rising to the rank of full professor. She later took early retirement and eventually became Executive Director of Friendship House of Christian Service, a social agency in Peoria, IL.

Barbara and Mike retired and moved to Lawrence in 2013. She then served on the board of directors for 10,000 Villages and Altrusa.

A celebration of her life will be held at 10:00 am Tues. May 4, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home and live-streamed on the Rumsey-Yost Facebook page.

Contributions can be made to the Altrusa Foundation Barbara Hartnett Career Scholarship sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, PO Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Debra S. (Debbie) Bott

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Debbie Bott, age 66, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2021. She was born in September 1954 in Hiawatha, Kansas to Dale and Doris Snyder.

She graduated from Sabetha High School in 1972. Attended Emporia State University and was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. She was first runner up Miss Emporia State 1974.

Debbie married Lynn Bott in 1974. Together they have two children Mindi Kastning and Jason Bott. Son-in-law Brian and grandchildren Lilian, Nicholas, Ericson, and Annalie. A daughter-n-law Julia and granddaughter Paisley.

She is survived by her parents Dale and Doris Snyder of Sabetha and her sister Terri Giesel.

Debbie began working in banking in 1976. She worked at Douglas County Bank, Emprise Bank, and Central Bank of the Midwest. She retired in 2019.

Debbie enjoyed gardening, traveling, and reading. She volunteered for Relay for Life of Douglas County. She started her first team in 1999. She was on the committee from 2005-2013 and was Co-chair from 2008-2010. She also served on the Lawrence Security Committee.

Funeral services will be held at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home on June 2, 2021 at 11am.

Memorials are to go to Relay for Life of Douglas County and LMH Foundation Oncology, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260 Lawrence, KS 66044.

Laurel Betty “Midge” Kraft

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It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Laurel Betty “Midge” Kraft on April 20, 2021.

She was the daughter of Arlen LeRoy Anderson and Zola Braid Anderson, born on January 6, 1924 in Buffalo, KS.  The family later moved to Chanute, KS. where she graduated from high school and Chanute Junior College.

She married Loren Duane ”Sonny” Kraft on June 12, 1949 In Lawrence, KS. and had two boys. Laurel taught school in Chanute and again in Lawrence.

Laurel is survived by her two sons, Norman Kraft (Karen) Overland Park, KS. and Roger Kraft (Charles) Montreal Canada; two grandchildren, Leah Kraft-Dawson (Justin) and Cole Kraft (Amanda).

Graveside services will be held at 2:00pm Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, KS.

The family will receive friends from 12:00pm – 2:00pm, Wednesday at the funeral home.

Lynn Marie Daughenbaugh

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Lynn Marie Daughenbaugh (Halsband) 62, of Eudora, KS, Passed away Saturday, March 27, 2021 at Medicalodges of Eudora, with family by her side. Cremation is planned with graveside service to be held on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at 2pm in Des Moines, IA at Resthaven Cemetery.

Lynn was born May 6, 1958 in Des Moines, IA to Benjamin (Ben) and Lola Halsband. Lynn graduated from Des Moines Tech High School in 1976. She was also a member of the ROTC Marine Corp. After graduation she worked at Methodist Hospital for a few years doing Data Entry then moved on to Ruan Trucking Company as a head Data Entry Specialist for a few more years.

Lynn married Thomas Church in 1980. They raised their children together till separating. She later married Terry Daughenbaugh and moved to Lawrence, KS. After that separation she raised her children on her own and worked at Wal-Mart in Lawrence as a stocker, later moved up to department manager of Electronics. Lynn decided to move back to Iowa in 2002 until she suffered from multiple strokes in 2005, after which her children moved her back to Kansas to be closer to them and her grandchildren.

She is survived by her mother, Lola Halsband; brother, John Halsband both of Des Moines, IA; sisters, Lois Daughenbaugh, Boone, IA, Lora (Ray) Gamble, Jacksonville, NC; daughter, Tiffney (Allen) Gaines, Ottawa, KS;  son, Thadd Church, Ottawa, KS;  and grandchildren, Jessica, Dakota, Casey and Katelyn.

She is also survived by her aunt, Pauline (Dale) Balmer Ames, IA; aunt, Caroline Hill, Omaha, NE; uncle, Virgil (Glenda) Lass of Sun City, AZ; as well as her cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Lynn was preceded in death by her father, Ben Halsband; her aunt, Helen Miller; both sets of grandparents, and a niece, Johnna Halsband.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests any memorial donations to be made to:  St. Jude’s Hospital www.stjude.org.