Category: Obituaries

Ralph Winfield (Win) Campbell

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Memorial services for Ralph Winfield “Win” Campbell, 75, Lawrence, will be at 10 am, Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at First Southern Baptist Church.

He died Wednesday, December 27, 2017, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Win was born August 15, 1942, in Lawrence, the son of Ralph Golden and Ruth Hayes Peck Campbell. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1960.

Win was the owner of multiple Downtown Lawrence businesses since 1964. Most notable: Campbell’s Clothing and Winfield House. He was a former Downtown Lawrence President and Board Member, and Former Vice-Chair of the Douglas County Republican Party. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and John Wayne fan. Win’s passion after his wife, Linda, was gardening – we’re not sure which came first.

Win married Linda Sue Midyett on July 16, 1963 in Wichita, Kansas. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include Daughters: Carrie Gerace, Merritt Island, FL and Megan King, Lawrence, KS; Son: Ken Campbell, Olathe, KS; Sisters: Susan Noon, Spotsylvania, VA and Nancy Byers, San Antonio, TX; and 8 Grandchildren

A visitation will take place at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home from 5-6 pm Monday, January 1, 2018.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions made to the Veritas Christian School or Cottonwood Inc, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Bernadine Hall Burton

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Bernadine Hall Burton, 97, Lawrence, passed away December, 26, 2017, at Brandon Woods.

She was born in 1920 in Kansas City, Kansas, to Challis A. and Nelle Johnson Hall. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the University of Kansas and enthusiastically pursued art and design all her life.

On February 26, 1944, in Meridian, Mississippi, she married John T. Burton, Sr., while he was on leave from naval duties in South America. He preceded her in death.

Bernadine loved her family and enjoyed spending time with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren all of her life. She was also an active and devoted member as a deacon and elder at the Village Presbyterian Church, her local Garden Club, and Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae Association.

Survivors include daughters, Linda Burton of Lawrence, Kansas; Kristin Johnson of Austin, Texas; Bernadine Brown of Perry, Kansas; a son, John T. Burton, Jr. of Austin, Texas; 7 grandchildren; and 6 great grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by a grandson, Declan Lawrence Brown.

A private family graveside service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to The Nature Conservancy in Kansas, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, PO Box 1260, Lawrence, Kansas, 66044.

Condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.

Wanda G. Knapp-Howard

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Graveside services for Wanda G. (Knapp) Howard, 71, Lawrence, will be at 2 pm Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mrs. Howard died Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She was born February 22, 1946, in Leavenworth, Kansas, the daughter of Clarence and Garnett (Hillix) Knapp. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1964. Wanda worked at Raney’s Drug, Hallmark Cards, Round Corner Drug, and the University of Kansas where she retired after working in the Comptroller’s office and the Spencer Museum of Art.

Wanda and Dean enjoyed traveling and spent the winters with friends in Bandera, Texas.  They traveled to several places around the country and especially loved Colorado and the mountains.

Mrs. Howard was a member of Central United Methodist Church in Lawrence.

She married Melvin E. Copp on June 25, 1965, in Garnett, Kansas. They later divorced.

She married Dean Howard on December 1, 1988 in Miami, Oklahoma.  He survives of the home.

Other survivors include a daughter, Tammy (Copp) Barta and husband Jon, Lawrence; a son, Timothy Copp, Lawrence; a sister, Dianna Raybern, Lawrence; a stepdaughter, Jama Howard and companion, Jeff, of Ottawa; a stepson, Todd Howard of Lawrence.  Grandchildren Timothy, Tia, Taylor, Maddison, Hannah, Jacey, Jenna, Sydney and husband Kevin, Tanner and Justin, great-grandchildren Hadden, Brennan and Ainsley, and her beloved dog Bandi.

The family suggests memorials to Arms of Hope – Medina Children’s Home in Medina, Texas or a charity of the donor’s choice, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS 66044.

 

Ann S. Conley

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Ann S. Conley died at the age of 81 at midnight on Christmas morning 2017. She was born on January 1, 1936 being the first baby born that year in her town. She was the daughter of Ellsworth Spencer and Margaret Ethalind Gray who were born in the Boston, MA area. They moved to Columbia, MO where Ann was born, but later moved to Lawrence, KS where her father was a professor at the University of Kansas in the Mechanical Engineering department. He passed away when she was a pre-teen and she realized the need to help support her family, so she went to work for the Castle Tea Room at the age of 11 serving coffee and water in the ballroom. She attended Lawrence High School where her class was the first to graduate from the new school at 19th and Louisiana St. She later attended the University of Kansas on an academic scholarship. She was active in many activities while at KU including being President of LaTertulia Spanish Club, President of the Christian Science organization and worked part-time in the Registrar’s office in Strong Hall while going to classes. It was there that she met her future husband, Harold L. Conley. She boasts of having Wilt Chamberlain in her biology class who sat in front of her in Lindley Hall. She also participated in ballet swimming while at KU. In the summer she was water-front counselor at Sea Pines camp on Cape Cod and while there she got to teach Gypsy Rose Lee’s son, Eric, to swim. Her grandparents had a house on Cape Cod just down the beach from the camp where she would go every Thursday on her day off.

She married Harold on November 6, 1955. They were busy travelling, attending KU basketball games, attending shows at the New Theatre in Overland Park, KS, the Lied Center in Lawrence, KS and Topeka Civic Theatre in Topeka, KS where they had season tickets to all of them. For a number of years, they also had season tickets to the College World Series of baseball in Omaha, Nebraska. They had been members of FSBC since 1978. On many of their long trips before and after their marriage, they often would sing their favorite theme song, The Bible Tells Me So. She was also a busy mother of 3 children. Harold preceded Ann in death in 2005.

She is survived by her brother, David Gray (Ella) of Ft. Worth, TX; daughter Cindy Lakey (Barry) of Overland Park, KS; son David Conley of Tonganoxie, KS; son Steven Conley (Rosalyn) of Lawrence, KS; granddaughter Sarah Conley of Lawrence, KS; step granddaughter Amy Navarro (Matt Huss) of Lawrence, KS; step grandson Erik Slan (Meredith) of Topeka, KS and two great grandsons Martin Navarro and Brian Navarro of Lawrence, KS. There are also numerous nieces and nephews from Texas, Kansas, New England and England. She leaves behind many dear friends, some of whom she has known and remained friends with since her elementary school days. She also leaves a long-time friend, Dottie Matthew whose 4 children are her God children.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Christian Higher Education Endowment Fund of the Kansas-Nebraska Southern Baptist Foundation at 5410 W. 7th st., Topeka, KS 66606.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, January 6th at 11:00 am at the First Southern Baptist Church in Topeka, KS. That evening a Celebration of Life open house will be held at the Castle Tea Room in Lawrence, KS from 6:00-8:00 pm for friends and family to come. Beverages and snacks will be served as we share memories.

JoAnne Mitchell

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A memorial visitation for JoAnne Mitchell, 76, Kansas City, Mo., will be held Wednesday, Dec. 27th from 3 to 5 pm at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory. JoAnne died Friday, Dec. 22, 2017, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.

She was born June 23, 1941, in Chicago, the daughter of Marion Skilhans Waters Sr. and Mary E. Payne Waters. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1959, and was employed in customer service by DST Insurance for 15 years. In her spare time, JoAnne enjoyed volunteer work at Cathedral Square Towers where she lived. She also enjoyed traveling and attending plays and garage sales.

Survivors include a son, Walter Long III, Lawrence; and two brothers, Marion Waters and Carl Kiser, both of  Lawrence. She was preceded in death by her parents.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Cathedral Square Towers, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Leigh Ann Shella

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On December 22, 2017 Leigh Ann Shella passed away, surrounded by her loving family.

Leigh was born May 23rd, 1956 to Hall Lamborn Shella and Lois Ruth Krapf in Pipestone, Minnesota. She grew up in the small town of Jasper, Minnesota where she graduated high school. Went on to University of Minnesota – Moorehead where she got a bachelor’s in special education. She continued her education at Friends University getting her Master’s in Family and Marriage therapy in 2001.

Leigh spent her life being a light for those in need. She worked tirelessly as a therapist but also a mentor and a healer. She was a Reiki master and create her own style of therapy infused with energy work and new age aspects. Later in life, she grew passionate as an herbalist. Graduating from a Prairiewise clinic herbalism program 2016 and became the director of Prairiewise herbal school in Lawrence, KS. She was passionate about using herbs and plants in natural medicine remedies. Her other passionate were her two grandchildren, crystals and rocks. She loved as she would say “digging in the dirt” and spending time with her kids.

She was preceded in death by her father, her sisters Susan and Jane, and her aunts Lila and Lora Mae.

She is survived by her three children, her daughter Jessica and her son Joe and his wife Mikayla of Lawrence, Ks and her son Joshua of San Diego, Ca, her two grandchildren Arabella and Jonathan Joseph “J.J”. Her mother Lois and her sister Cindy Shella-Tranby and brother-in-law Jim Tranby, her sister-in-law Lisa Lyngstad her niece Haley Tranby-Kanengietier all of Sioux Falls, SD. And her many cousins.

Her memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, December 30th, 2017 at Rumsey-Yost funeral home.

Donations can made at the family’s gofundme page. www.gofundme.com/LeighShella

 

 

 

Edward Lewis “Ed” Sangster

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Edward L. Sangster, known as Butch by many, was reunited with Our Lord and Savior on Wednesday, December 20th, 2017. Edward passed away peacefully in his home due to complications from diabetes at the age of 72.

He was born to Edward Sangster Sr. and Ahnawake Gandy on March 18, 1945 in Fresno, California. In his early childhood, Ed moved to the Lawrence, Kansas area with his mother, where Ahnawake later met and married Merle Southard.

Ed’s love of cooking began early in life. When he was only 6 or 7 years old he would prepare dinner for his mother and have it hot and waiting for her when she returned home each night. This passion for cooking would be a lifelong love of Ed’s.

Always a hard worker, Ed began working as young as 13 at Joe’s Bakery in Lawrence as a night clean up and assistant.  If the weather was too cold or snowy he was allowed to drive his stepfather’s tractor to work instead of walking.  While attending high school he worked at various restaurants in Lawrence as a line cook.

Edward graduated from Lawrence High School in 1964 and then went on to serve in the US Navy. Upon his return from the Navy, he joined the Lawrence Fire Department. Ed bravely served the community for 31 years fighting fires and assisting with medical emergencies.

Butch was known to be a reserved, proud Christian man. He had a great infectious laugh, a private nature and no interest in gossip.  A man of few words, he let his food do the talking. He was well known throughout the community for his 4th of July barbecues. Ed would have all types of meats each one meticulously cooked with a fine attention to detail ensuring that he had just the right flavor he was looking for. He and his wife Sandy would host this large and diversely attended event for all who wanted to attend.   The guest list often included many of his former co-workers, his children and their friends and people from local NA groups including people he sponsored in NA.

Edward was preceded in death by his mother Ahnawake Southard, his stepfather Merle Southard (LaNelle), both of Lawrence and his father Edward (Eddie) Sangster of California.  He is   survived by his wife Sandra Williams Sangster of the home, daughter Kendra Sangster Fuller of DesMoines, Iowa, son Elijah Sangster (Jamie) of Topeka, four grandchildren – Isabella Fuller, Myra, Lewis and Lilith Sangster, his sister Beverly Southard Richardson (Frederick), brothers Donald Southard, Rondell Southard, Marlon Southard and his four siblings born to his birth father Edward (Eddie) Sangster.

A Memorial service for Edward, with military honors, will be held at 2p.m. on Friday, December 29th at the Rumsey-Yost funeral home, located at 601 Indiana St, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Richard H. ‘Rich’ Breshears

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Funeral services for Richard H. ‘Rich’ Breshears, 45, Baldwin City, will be at 11 am Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, with the Rev. Paul Babcock officiating. Cremation will follow the service. Rich died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, at his home, following a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born May 2, 1972, in Lawrence, the son of William D. and Sandra A. Perkins Breshears. He graduated from Lawrence High School, and later from Apprenticeship school. Rich worked as a general foreman electrician with IBEW Local 226 for 25 years, where he was most recently assigned to P1 Group. In his spare time, he enjoyed bowling, golf, baseball, and hunting. He completed a ‘bucket list’ trip recently to South Africa for a big game hunt. Rich was a member of the Palmyra Lodge #23 AF&AM, and the Grand Masonic Lodge of Kansas.

Survivors include a son, Ryan Breshears and fiancé Michaela Armstrong, Baldwin City; a brother, Billy Breshears and wife Marci, Lawrence; his mother, Sandra Breshears, Baldwin City; his maternal grandparents, Helen and Richard Perkins, Baldwin City; and a granddaughter on the way. He was preceded in death by his father, Bill Breshears.

The family will receive friends Friday from 6 to 8 pm at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Palmyra Lodge #23 AF&AM, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044

Travis Duane Graham

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Graveside inurnment for Travis Duane Graham 51, Belle Chasse, LA will be 2 pm, Saturday, January 6, 2017, at Mount Hope Cemetery, Humboldt, KS where he will be laid to rest with his predeceased son.

He died unexpectedly on Saturday, November 25, 2017 in Belle Chasse, Louisiana as a result of cancer.

Travis was born August 10, 1966, in Fresno, CA the son of Kathryn Grace Spangler Bullis and Bennie Aubry Graham. He attended Iola High School with the Class of 1985.

He worked as a Certified and Licensed HVAC Technician for more than 20 years and spent the last 7 years at Belle Chasse Marine Transportation as a heavy machine maintenance technician and operator. Travis was an avid sports fan; he spent over 40 years as an active soccer player, was a lifelong fan of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, and a huge fan of the New Orleans Saints. He also loved riding motorcycles.

Travis is survived by his 20 year old son Logan Hetherly of Belle Chasse LA, Parents-Kathy and Kirk (step father) Bullis of Iola KS, One Aunt-Joanna Baric of Belle Chasse, LA, Two Sisters-Shanna Sue Wilson and Angel Heffington, Brother in law-Ross Heffington all of Belle Chasse LA, Four Nephews-Corey Wilson, Zack Wilson, Trevor Barrett and Ross Matthew Heffington, and Two Nieces-Courtney Barrett and Alexis Heffington. He also leaves behind numerous cousins in California, including Scott, Mark, Leslie and Greg (Stephanie) Spangler.

He is preceded in death by his father, cousin Jason Baric, and son Daniel J Graham.

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

Raymond A. ‘Ray’ Urbanek

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Ray Urbanek, 58, died December 10th, 2017. He was born and raised in Topeka, Kansas.

Ray was an avid outdoorsman, as well as a competitive fisherman. He also enjoyed hunting and playing golf.

Ray retired as a Captain from the Lawrence Police Department in 2011 after over 27 years of service. He thrived on a life of service both in his career and his personal life.

Ray spent his time on this planet providing security and love to those around him. He enjoyed 25 years of marriage with his wife Kerrie, and loved working on their home and property.

Everyone that encountered Ray left a wealthier human being. He truly had a selfless spirit and could make a lifetime friend in a moment. He treasured time with his family and friends.

Ray is survived by his wife Kerrie, his son Dustin Chase and his daughter-in-law, Alex, as well as his mother Lois Urbanek, brother Barry and sister-in-law, Carla, and his beloved golden retriever Bella, “FMIL” mother-in-law and father-in-law Sue and Monte Pearson, sister-in-law Kim Fulcher, brother-in-law Kevin Fulcher and wife Trish, and step brother Robert Pearson and wife Debbie, many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, special bonus family Vince, Julie, Alex, Haley, Lila, and Tariku Avila, and innumerable friends.

Ray was preceded in death by his father, Roland Urbanek, and his brother, Randall. He is greatly missed by his family and friends.

Services will be held at Lawrence Free Methodist Church, 3001 Lawrence Ave. in Lawrence, on Friday, December 15th, at four o’clock in the afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to the Fraternal Order of Police Lawrence Lodge #2, the Kansas Walleye Association, or the Lawrence Humane Society, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.