Category: Obituaries

Thomas Lee McCombs

Posted on by RumseyYost

Visitation for Thomas Lee McCombs, 58, Lawrence, will be 2-3 pm, Friday, November 2, 2018, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

He died Thurs. October 25, 2018, at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Thomas was born January 6, 1960, in Taipei, Taiwan, the son of Melvin Thomas McCombs and Carol Alice Richardson.

He previously worked as a Master Electrician and Maintenance Technician for Brandon Woods at Alvamar and Heating and Cooling companies.

His wife of 19 years, Julie Hoecker survives of the home.

Other survivors include his mother Carol Richardson, Lawrence; sisters, Cindy Cook, Lawrence, Yvonne Daniels, Overland Park; many nieces and nephews.

Thomas is preceded in death by his father and sister Valerie Lynn.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lawrence Humane Society, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Bill C. Nye

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A Celebration of Life for Bill C. Nye, 77, Lawrence, will be held Saturday, November 3, 2018, from 4 to 6 pm at Lighthouse Baptist Church, Baldwin City. Bill died Tuesday, October 23, 2018, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Bill was in the floral business for many years, having owned Nye’s Flowers, The Flower Market, and the Kansas School of Floral Design.

Survivors include his three children, Debbie, Billy, and Dustin.

A full obituary will appear here later.

Charles J. Miller

Posted on by RumseyYost

Memorial services for Charles J. Miller, 73, Savonburg, KS, are pending and will be announced at a later date.

He died Tuesday, October 23, 2018, at his son’s home in Lawrence.

Charles was born June 12, 1945, in Chanute, KS, the son of Charles Wesley and Dorothy Maxine Franklin Miller. He attended Humboldt High School.

He was a farmer for most of his life. Several years he worked at the Coop Grain Elevator in Humboldt, KS. He enjoyed hunting, loved fishing and being with his family. He handmade many fishing lures and always managed to catch the biggest fish.

Charles married Phyllis Ann David on December 20, 1963, in Moran, KS, she survives of the home.

Other survivors include his children Joe Miller (Jeff Babinski), Lawrence, Randy Miller (Carla), Yates Center, Needa Brand, Savonburg, Jamie Miller (Brenda), Iola, David Miller (Kris), Savonburg; brother Arnold Miller, Moran; brother in law Leroy Beeman, Humboldt; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and sister Shirley Beeman.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Roberta Julene (Reeves) Tedlock

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Roberta Julene (Reeves) Tedlock, loving wife, mother and grandmother, was called home by our merciful Lord on October 22, 2018.

Born January 4, 1935 to Fern Orilla (Rowley) and Clarence Maynard Reeves in Wichita, Kansas, Roberta attended Wichita public schools and graduated from Wichita High School North. She was a valedictorian of the class of 1952 and took classes at Wichita State University.

Roberta married her high school sweetheart, Richard Dean Tedlock, on June 7, 1953. They enjoyed many adventures with friends and family, and made their home in many different locations from Wichita to Amarillo, TX, Salinas, CA, Tulsa, OK, back to Wichita and then to Chicago, IL and Creston, IA. They retired in Lawrence to be close to their children, Rowley (Cindy) and Julene Miller (Jim).

In addition to being a wife and mother of two, Roberta was a career girl, working in many different environments including KG&E, Sears and St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, and the University of Kansas Department of Special Education in Lawrence. She was also an active member of her church, having served several years as a deacon.

Survivors include Richard, of the home, Rowley, Julene, seven grandchildren (Angela, Evan, April, Jake, Wesley, Shelby and Briahna) and two great grandchildren (Raya and Riley). Roberta was pre-deceased by her parents and a sister, Ramona Lowene Kraft.

The family suggests memorials to Bridge Haven Memory Care or Lawrence First Presbyterian Church, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

No public services are planned.

Tasman McKay Grout

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Free Bird

Tasman McKay Grout was born October 8, 1993 with fierce love and wild light coursing through her veins.

She grew up in Lawrence, Kansas, attended Lawrence public schools and graduated from Grinnell College in 2016 with a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and Spanish.

An avid traveler, she visited more than 30 countries (her mom lost count) and had friends from all over the world.

As a match specialist with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, she worked with the Spanish-speaking families of Douglas County.

She died unexpectedly on October 15, 2018, one week after her 25th birthday, of a ruptured aneurism.

She is survived by her pets, Izzie and Trivia, her mom Pam Grout (Lawrence) and her three dads, Robin Murray Woodsford (Christchurch, New Zealand), Ronnie Quaso Questo DeWitt (Overland Park, Kansas) and James Dick (Lawrence). She has eight sisters: Rachael, Elisabeth, Rebekah, Hannah (Lawrence), Jenny (Overland Park), Kayla (Austin, Texas), Meredith and Angela (Christchurch, New Zealand) and one brother Finnzabby Woodrich (Christchurch, New Zealand.)

A 222 Foundation with a yearly $10,000 grant to a creative project for bettering the world is being established in her honor. Memorial contributions can be sent directly to The 222 Foundation c/o DCCF, 900 Massachusetts, #406, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Her kind spirit, unwavering goodness and generous and indiscriminate love will be missed by all.

My magical Taz: snapshots of a life of incomparable goodness, grace and gusto

Christine E. Hird Isern

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Graveside services for Christine E. Hird Isern, 81, Lawrence, will be at 2 pm Tuesday at Memorial Park Cemetery. A visitation will be held Monday from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Casual attire.

Christine Elizabeth (Hird) Isern was born 3/28/37 on Easter Sunday to Harold H Hird and Bonnie Buchheim. A turbulent start, she was relinquished at birth because her mother was not expected to survive. Her mother did survive and she was raised by her biological parent’s. She wrote, “Growing up an active little brat, I gave my parents a lot of expenses with broken bones”. Christine a.k.a Betty Hird spent lots of time on the Buchheim family farm.

She attended Lawrence schools and graduated in 1955. She attended KU between 1955-1958 and again in 1977-1978. She majored in communications, sociology and law studies.

She married Lawrence Isern after meeting him at a KU Football game. They were married March 28th 1958 on her birthday. Larry often spoke of the beautiful eyes looking up at him in the stands. They were married for 37 years at the time of Larry’s Death November 2nd 1995.

Her daughter Ganis was born in 1959 and Trina in 1968.

Over the years she worked for Charleton Insurance Agency, State of Kansas Physics Department, Mortons Building Materials, Urban Renewal, Pendleton Law Office, Douglas County Senior Services, Lawrence Memorial Hospital and finally for Don Strole and Sally Kelsey Attorney’s at Law. Christine loved working with people and attempted to help people in various ways. She was President of WestPerry Park Neighborhood Association, served on the Lawrence School District Districting Committee and served 6 years on the Lawrence City Traffic Commission. She was active PTA member and enjoyed party planning at the schools. She Was an active participant in the Class of 1955 reunion committee and cherished her friends.

She adored her daughters, grandchildren (Chase, Quincy and Keiron Langston) and many friends, often telling people they were the flowers in her life. When Larry became ill with Multiple Sclerosis in 1984, Christine both cared for him and worked until his death in 1995. She kept active with Lawrence High School Class of 1955 activities and shopping. Christine always had a project on which she was working, a cause for which to fight for or a bargain to be found. Following Larry’s death, Christine enjoyed working as a legal secretary; until she was forced retire in 2011 due to failing health. Into her 80’s she would often tell doctors that she wanted to go back to work because she found it so rewarding. In her failing health she enjoyed daily long car rides until she could not longer make it to the car.

In recent years Christine was frustrated with limitations brought on by COPD and asthma. She was cared for by her daughters, Trina and Ganis and had help of Linda Lash and Lisa Chamberlain and staff of Keep Living at Home.

She died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, at LMH surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her daughters Ganis Himes and Trina Langston (Pete); grandsons, Chase, Quincy and Keiron Langston and “Sweetie” her beloved cat.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lawrence Humane Society, send in care of the funeral home.

John Wesley Clark Jr.

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Funeral services for John Wesley Clark Jr. will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Clark died Tuesday, October 9, 2018, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

He was born October 8, 1963, in Lawrence, the son of John Wesley Sr. and Martha Mae Watson Clark. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1982.
Mr. Clark has worked at Berry Global since November 14, 1983. He enjoyed caring for his family, fishing, traveling, and admiring cars and hotrods.

He married Brenda Lee Turner on March 29, 1985 in Lawrence. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include sons, John Wesley Clark III (Danielle Dumortier) and Shawn Wade Clark both of Lawrence; a daughter, Sarah Lee Clark of Lawrence; mother, Martha Mae Clark of Lawrence; brothers, David Clark and Ramus Clark both of Lawrence; sister, Laquita Watson of De Queen, OK; grandchildren, John Wesley Clark IV, Melanie Clark, Gabriella Clark, and Laila Clark.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, where the family will receive them from 3:00p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Lawrence Humane Society, sent in care of the funeral home.

Danny Eugene “Gene” Conner

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Celebration of Life services with military honors for Danny Eugene “Gene” Conner, 65, Humboldt, will be 2 pm, Sunday, October 14th, 2018, at Restoration Fellowship Church 716 Bridge St. Humboldt, KS.

He was taken home to be with the lord Sunday, September 30, 2018, at Allen County Regional Hospital in Iola, KS.

Gene was born March 5, 1953 in Mattoon, Illinois, the son of Delmar “Bud” and Norma L. Neason Conner. He graduated from Mattoon High School.

He enlisted in the United States Navy on November 7, 1974 and served until July 6, 1981.

His love of God became his number one priority, he always said his greatest accomplishments were raising and loving his kids and grand kids. He enjoyed mowing his yard. In recent years he greatly enjoyed spending a quiet evening watching the beautiful hummingbirds. He met and established friendships throughout the years as a police officer. AutoZone was another enjoyable job for him. He was a die-hard Chicago Bears fan, the day he passed the Bears dominated the Buccaneers 48-10 “DA Bears”

Gene married Joan Elizabeth Rafferty on March 15, 1975 in Santa Cruz, CA, they later divorced. He married Patricia Maree Morris on December 29, 2000 in Iola, KS, she survives of the home.

Other survivors include his son, Danny Conner (Stacie), Chanute; daughters, Laurie Swiler (Bob), Erie, KS, Linda Stange, Grandview, MO, Judy Weide (Eric), Iola, KS, Kathy Sealy (Phillip), Grandview, MO, Tawni Conner (Robert), Gas, KS, Tobi Conner (Brandon), Humboldt, KS, Taray Davis (Christopher), Karigen Conner, of the home; Many grandchildren and great grandchildren who he loved dearly.

He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, father-in-law David Morris.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Danny Eugene Conner Memorial Fund, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Brenda Sue Rice

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Funeral services for Brenda Sue Rice, 72, rural Baldwin, will be at 10 am Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, with Dave Olmstead officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Brenda died Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018, at her home, surrounded by family.

She was born April 7, 1946, in Lafayette, Georgia, the daughter of Temple T. and Irene Hales Hale. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1964. From 1965 to 1974, she worked at Hallmark Cards as an IBM keypunch operator. She then worked at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor, and later worked for ServiceMaster as an Environmental Services Manager. She enjoyed home decorating and cooking, and watching HGTV and various cooking shows. But most important to Brenda was her family.

She married Frank Molby in 1964. They divorced in 1976. She married Dan Morrow in 1977. They divorced in 1985. She married Virgil ‘Bear’ Rice in 1987. He preceded her in death in 2009. She was also preceded in death by four siblings, Geneva, Jeanette, BettyJo, and Sonny. She is survived by three children, Sean Molby and wife Christy, Grain Valley, Mo., Daniel Morrow, North Kansas City, Mo., and Shawna Vandebuerie and husband Luc, Baldwin City; a brother, Oscar Dee Hale and wife Donna, Burlingame; a sister, Frances Bates, Chattanooga, Tenn.; two sisters-in-law, Carol Hale, Overbrook, and Carol Hale, Kansas City, Kan.; and many nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Brenda Rice Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.