Category: Obituaries

Evelyn Louise McCleery-Elliott

Posted on by RumseyYost

A graveside memorial service for Evelyn Louise McCleery-Elliott, 94, Cameron, MO, will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 19, at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Mrs. McCleery-Elliott died June 5, 2020, at her home.

She was born June 8, 1925, in Grandview, Washington, the daughter of George and Alva Lena Cooper Hamilton.

Mrs. McCleery-Elliott worked as a cook for the Douglas County Sherriff’s Office. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, and gardening, and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.

She is survived by a daughter, Mary Payton of Cameron, MO; sons, Richard McCleery of Lawrence, Robert McCleery of Lawrence, Michael McCleery of Eudora; sisters, Mary Dollison and Irene Hamilton; a brother, Jimmy Dale Hamilton; and 11 grandchildren.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Diabetes Association, sent in care of the funeral home.

Anthony Edward ‘Tony’ Church

Posted on by RumseyYost

No public services are planned for Anthony Edward ‘Tony’ Church, 59, Eudora, who passed away Sunday, June 7, 2020, at Legend Healthcare in Tonganoxie.

He was born March 7, 1961, in Topeka, the son of Robert Eugene and Jo Ann (Todd) Church. He attended Lawrence schools. Tony worked for the City of Eudora for many years taking care of the landscaping and flower beds around town. He was a jack-of-all-trades and loved working on cars.

Survivors include the love of his life for 27 years, Kathy Livingston, Eudora; a daughter, Peydon Church, Eudora; a step daughter, Jenna Pash and wife Britany, Indiana; four sisters, Connie Boring (Bill), Athena Devers, and Kelly Church, all of Lawrence, and Kathy Minerd, Ottawa; and a granddaughter, Kahlan Kissinger, Eudora. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Michael Church.

Kathy Sue Davidson

Posted on by RumseyYost

Graveside services for Kathy Sue Davidson, 61, Linwood, will be held on Saturday, June 13th at 11:00 AM at Mount Sidney Cemetery in Linwood, Kansas.

Kathy died Sunday, June 7 at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City.

Kathy was born April 9, 1959 in Alexandria, Virginia, to Jack and Carol Pickerel. She lived in various states growing up and graduated from Linwood High School in 1977. She worked in various careers throughout her life, including being a travel agent in the 1980s, a paraprofessional in the Tonganoxie school district in the 1990s, and a manager at a veterinary supply store in the 2000s.

She married Russell Davidson on July 30, 1977 in Linwood, Kansas, and they remained faithful to each other for 42 years until her passing. They had two children together, Lindsay in 1985 and Spencer in 1988, and lived happily together on the Davidson family farm outside of Linwood.

Kathy is survived by her husband Russell; her mother, Carol; her daughter Lindsay and her husband Nathan, along with their children Landon and Piper; her son Spencer and his wife Katie, along with their son Luke; her older brother Scott and his wife Betty; her younger brother Mark and his wife Linda, along with their sons Matthew and Alex.

Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

The family suggests donations to the Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City, sent in care of the funeral home.

Dean M. Kirkman

Posted on by RumseyYost

Dean Milton Kirkman, 93, passed away on Friday, June 5, 2020, at The Windsor of Lawrence, KS.

Dean was born in Linwood, KS on March 26, 1927, to George and Alma Kirkman. When he turned 18 in 1945, he enlisted in the Navy and served in the Philippines in the Pacific.

He married Johanna Coleman, a long time childhood friend from Linwood in September 1949. They had a daughter, Deana. She survives. Johanna passed away in October 2000 after 51 years of marriage.

Dean worked from 1949 until his retirement as the rural U.S. mail carrier for the Linwood area. He loved driving the mail route and experiencing the changing seasons. Dean traveled every summer with his family to many different states to visit relatives and friends. He enjoyed watching football and basketball games at Linwood High School. He played on the town basketball team for several years, coached girls’ softball and later enjoyed watching friends play slow pitch softball in Bonner Springs. He bowled on several teams in Lawrence from 1963 until the early 2000s. In 1988, Dean and Johanna moved to Lawrence to live closer to their daughter, Deana and her family. They joined First Baptist Church and were active members there for many years.

Dean married Patsy Anderson in January 2004. She survives. Other survivors are a grandson, Scott Bowen (Jarinthorn), Bangkok, Thailand, Kelly Bowen (Torrie Fassnacht), Lawrence, three great grandchildren: Koby Owen, Jonah Owen and Dylan Fassnacht all of Lawrence.

No public service is planned. A private gathering will take place at a later date.

Rev. Donald L. Conrad

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A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 am Saturday, July 24, 2021, at Trinity Lutheran Church, with Bishop Susan Candea officiating. Private inurnment is planned.

Donald Luther Conrad was born July 20, 1929 in Chicago, IL, to Rev. Theodore and Alice Conrad. He was named and claimed in baptism as a beloved child of God August 4, 1929. He was raised in a parsonage family, first living in Rush City and then St. Peter, MN, where he completed high school, and entered Gustavus Adolphus College in 1945, graduating cum laude in 1949. Don attended Augustana Theological Seminary in Rock Island, IL, beginning in the fall of 1949, with an internship in Galesburg IL, and a year in Europe (June 1952-August 1953). He graduated in May 1954 and was ordained into the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church, June 20, 1954. His first call was at Bethel Lutheran Church in Bemidji, MN and Zion Lutheran Church (Hart Lake) Cass Lake, MN, where he served July 1954 to January 1959.

While at the seminary, he met Janice Young of Frewsburg, NY, to whom he was joined in marriage July 7, 1956.

His second call was to Messiah Lutheran Church in Lindsborg, KS, where he served from 1959 until 1965. The call was expanded to serve also Freemount Lutheran Church, rural Lindsborg. In August 1965 he began 27 years of ministry as Lutheran Campus Pastor at the University of Kansas. After retiring in 1992, Don was summoned by the MO-KS Synod to serve interim ministries from 1992 at St. Mark’s Lutheran (Kansas City, MO), Lord of Love Lutheran (Belton, MO), All Saints (Blue Springs, MO), Faith Lutheran (Prairie Village, KS), Reformation Lutheran (Wichita, KS), First Lutheran (Topeka, KS), Holy Cross (Overland Park, KS), Gloria Dei Lutheran (Kansas City, MO), Atonement Lutheran (Overland Park, KS), Resurrection Lutheran (Prairie Village, KS), St. Mark’s (Emporia, KS), and concluding in 2012 at St. Paul’s Lutheran (Valley Falls, KS).

Over the years, Don and Jan travelled to many destinations in Europe, Africa, Central and South America. Among these were Lutheran World Relief tours to Peru and Bolivia, Kenya and Tanzania, and to Palestine and Israel. After a stroke in December 2019, Don died at Brandon Woods Retirement community in Lawrence, early on June 4, 2020, at age 90.

Surviving family includes his wife Janice (Lawrence) of nearly 64 years, children David (Pollyann), Olathe, KS, Julie (Harmon) Abrahamson, Grand Forks, ND, Anne (Alan) Hageman, Topeka, KS, and Rev. John (Ellen) Conrad, Floresville, TX; 12 grandchildren Nicole Conrad, Melissa (Matt) Galbraith, Mark Conrad, Joel (Dorea Ruggles) Abrahamson, Kit (Reina) Abrahamson, Peter (Brittney) Atoms, Sarah (Joshua) Lozier, Brian (Bandana) Hageman, Emilie Boutry, Colette (Ben) Tenenboim, Natalie (Jacob) Mikami, and Pierre Boutry; 9 greatgrandchildren, and brothers Paul Conrad (Burnsville, MN), and Tom Conrad (Brookings, OR), and sister in law Donna Mae Conrad (San Jose, CA). He was preceded in death by sister Dorothy Gaard, and brother Norman Conrad.

Memorials are requested to be given to Trinity Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS, or to Lutheran World Relief.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Michael A. ‘Big Mike’ Erickson

Posted on by RumseyYost

Graveside services for Michael A.’Big Mike’ Erickson, 36, Lawrence, will be at 11 am Saturday, June 13, 2020, at Oakwood Cemetery, Baldwin City. Mike died Sunday, May 31, 2020, in Baldwin City.

He was born January 22, 1984, in Ft. Riley, Kan., the son of David C. and Cindy (Kneedler) Erickson. He was an automotive mechanic for many years.

He married Joanna Hendry. She survives. Other survivors include a son, Osiris, a daughter, Isis, and a stepdaughter, Caitie.

Patty L. Deay

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Private family services will be held at a later date for Patty L. Deay, 86, Lawrence, who passed away Saturday, May 30, 2020, at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.

She was born April 26, 1934, in Peoria, Oklahoma, the daughter of Everet and Geneva Canady Cowan.

Patty worked at Stokley-Van Camp for many years, then later worked at Chada Sales as an administrative assistant.

Patty was proceeded in death by her husband Bill E. Deay. The love they shared gave life to a daughter Teresa A. Hodge of Comanche, Texas and daughter Elaine L. Muckey of Lawrence, Kansas. Patty has five grandchildren, Julie A. Osburn, Aaron S. Whistler, Lori A. Hanamaikai, Nichole Muckey, and Justin Muckey. Patty has five great grandchildren, Abby Osburn, Ava Osburn, Andrew Whistler, Luke Whistler, and Gavin Becvar.

Suggested contributions to the American Cancer Society or Lawrence Humane Society.

Mary Ann Easley

Posted on by RumseyYost

Mary Ann Easley (nee Moore) entered the gates of Heaven on May 29, 2020.

Born August 1, 1932 in Marshall, Missouri, the eldest daughter of Elwood and Catherine Moore. She was a devout Catholic and proud of her Irish heritage.

She married John Taylor Easley in 1953 and thus began a 67 year romance during which they gave life and love to six children, eleven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. She loved babies, sunflowers, life on the farm, and Jayhawk basketball. She devoted her life to her family and spent all of her time as a wife, mom, and grammy. In her later years, she loved her work as a caregiver at Hilltop Child Development Center and her time in the pediatric practice of doctors Branson, Gilles, and Loveland.

Despite a long debilitating struggle with dementia, she never lost her sweet and sunny disposition. She is dearly missed by her family, especially her devoted husband John, her children John Patrick (Mary T), Dan (Tami), David, Tim, Mary Beth Diaz (Juan) and Matt (Carrie). She is also missed by her sister Sue Williams and her many nieces and nephews. She will live on in her beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren, Emily Sinkclear (Derrick), Grace, Erin Nelson (Chris), Molly, Samantha Diaz, Katie Diaz, Maddie, Callie, Harry, Emmy, Grayson, Ella, Morley Sinkclear, Josie Sinkclear, Vincent Nelson, Hadley Nelson, and Aiden. The family is grateful for the loving care provided during her final months by Faith and Gilbert Gathunguri, and the rest of the staff at Star Living Memory Care.

Funeral Mass will be at 1 pm Wednesday, June 3, 2020, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Current distancing guidelines will be observed. Private burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in her name may be given to Little Sisters of the Poor, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.