Graveside Services for Maria Perez, 100, Lawrence, will be 11 am, Friday, April 17, 2026, at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Perry, Kansas. Visitation will be from 4:30-5:30 Thursday, April 16, 2026 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.
She died April 4, 2026, at Presbyterian Manor.
Frederick “Fred” Earl McCreary, Jr., 82, of Baldwin City, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. A celebration of his life will be held on April 11, 2026, at New Life Assembly in Baldwin City, KS. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., with services following at 11:00 a.m.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 13, 2026 at Norton City Cemetery in Norton, Kansas.
Fred was born on April 25, 1943, in Norton, Kansas, to Frederick Earl McCreary, Sr. and Ivalee (Miller) McCreary. A lifelong student, he graduated from Kansas State University, earned his teaching certificate from Kansas Wesleyan University, and completed several military NCO schools.
In May 1966, Fred answered the call to serve his country by joining the National Guard. He served honorably for more than 24 years. During his final six years, he worked full-time as a retention sergeant with the National Guard in Ottawa, KS, retiring in December 1990 with the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC). Fred also served his community as “Education’s Sixth Man,” enjoying his years as a substitute teacher in the Lawrence, Gardner, and Baldwin school districts.
On May 23, 1969, Fred married the love of his life, Mary Seusy, in Salina, Kansas. They shared more than 56 years of marriage. Fred and Mary made music together with local choirs, participated in melodramas, community plays and musicals. Together they danced with the Ottawa Promenaders. He also enjoyed supporting local sports teams, woodworking, traveling, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He remained an active member of American Legion Post 228 in Baldwin City.
Fred is survived by his wife, Mary Seusy; three children: son Bryce McCreary, his wife, Julie, and their children Alec, Emma, and Maya of Lakeland, Tennessee; daughter Sarah McCune and her children Grady and Marley of Lawrence, Kansas; daughter Ruthanne Smith, her husband, Chad, and their son Bryce of Kansas City, Missouri; sister-in-law Noelle Schechter, her husband, Orvis, and their children Brent Schechter, Suzanne Schechter, Joshua Schecter, and Bonnie Longnecker of Joshua, Texas; sister-in-law Karen McCreary-Alderman, her husband, Kent, and their children David and Andrew of Salt Lake City, Utah; and brother William McCreary of Salt Lake City, Utah.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Abba House or New Life Assembly.
Funeral Services for Ardis Gay Connor, 82, of Lawrence, will be at 11am, Friday, April 10th, 2026 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Lawrence, Ks. There will be A Visitation at Rumsey-Yost Funeral home on Thursday, April 9th, 2026 from 6pm – 7pm, with an additional viewing at the church at 10am prior to the funeral. Burial will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence, KS.
Mrs. Connor died Tuesday, March 31st, 2026 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, surrounded by her family.
She was born January, 2nd, 1944 in Batesville, Ark., the daughter of Henry and Ina Harmon. She grew up in both Batesville and Lawrence. She attended Lawrence High School.
Mrs. Connor married John William Connor in 1964 and together they raised 8 children in Lawrence. Mr. Connor passed in 2007. She is survived by Glenda Harding, Lawrence, Paul and wife Linda, Raleigh, NC, Brad and wife Erin, of San Antonio, TX, Jeff of Raleigh, NC, Sarah Connor, Lawrence, KS, Stella Connor, Topeka, KS and Kenneth, Lawrence, KS. Together they had 27 grand children and 25 great grandchildren.
Mrs. Connor was preceded in death by her daughter, Darla Vossler, in 1999, as well as 3 siblings and 2 grandchildren.
Mrs. Connor worked as a Certified Nurses Aid at Presbyterian Manor. She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving in various areas of service throughout the years. She and her husband served as Church & Family History Missionaries in SLC, UT and for 2 years as temple workers in the LDS Temple in St. Louis.
Ardis Gay Connor was a beloved wife, mother, friend and member of her community and will be missed.
Melvina Gail Freeman, 76, of Lawrence, passed away Saturday, March 28, 2026, at LMH Health.
She was born February 27, 1950, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Melvin and Fayemont (Whitacre) Gray.
Melvina found great joy in caring for her grandchildren, serving as a devoted childcare provider to her family. She also worked at Naismith Hall at the University of Kansas. In her free time, she enjoyed reading, crocheting, and working word search puzzles.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James W. Freeman, Sr.; her daughters, Debra McDaniel and Polly Hildenbrand; and her sons, Robert Freeman and Jimmy Freeman.
Survivors include her daughters, Jody Brown and Terri McDaniel; her son, Avery Hedgecock; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 3, 2026, at Memorial Park Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Friday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.
Services for Steven (Steve) Burnette Mitchell, 73, of Lawrence, will be at 1 pm, Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Inurnment will take place at a later date.
Steve died Sunday, March 15, 2026, from complications of dementia.
He was born April 2, 1952, in Gardner, Kansas, the son of Jack Ralph Mitchell and Helen (Mittlestadt) Mitchell. His brother, Charles (Charlie), joined the family in January of 1954.
Steve attended grades K-12 in Montana, New Mexico, and Texas, graduating from John H. Reagan High School in Austin in 1970. He earned a BA from KU in May 1979, followed by an MA in Political Science in December 1992.
While a student at KU, Steve worked for the Libraries and Student Financial Aid office. He transferred those skills to positions in data entry/customer service with Sallie Mae, DST Systems, and General Dynamics.
He married Lois Bauer on May 21, 1988, in Lawrence. She survives, along with his brother Charlie of Waco, Texas, and an extended family on Lois’ side that he warmly embraced.
The family would like to thank the staff and students of KU Speech Language Hearing Clinic; the staff of Lawrence Family Practice, Lawrence Neurology Specialists, LMH, Key Rehab, Ascend Hospice, and Neuvant House for their care. And a special thank you to a group of wonderful neighbors that literally lifted Steve up when he was down, and gave him reason to smile on hard days.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Schiefelbusch Speech Language Hearing Clinic at KU, entering “SPLH Endowment” on the KU Endowment Association website; a favorite charity; or the planting of a tree.
Livestream the service at https://together.oneroomstreaming.com/F6STCN
John Smith, known affectionately to all as “Jack,” passed away on March 26, 2026, at the age of 72. Born on May 27, 1953, Jack was a man defined by his hardworking nature, booming voice, infectious laughter, and his deep devotion to his family as a husband and father, and grandfather.
Jack was a true gun enthusiast whose expertise went far beyond just collecting. An avid shooter and hunter, he took great pride in the precision of the craft, spending countless hours loading his own ammunition and perfecting his marksmanship, and sharing his knowledge.
While he was happiest immersed in his hobbies or out in the field, his greatest pride was the life he built with his family. He will be remembered as a steady, quiet presence—a man who took meticulous care in everything he did, from his craft to the love he showed his wife, daughters, and grandchildren.
Jack is survived by his daughters, Laura Terry (Dustin) and Tara Smith; his grandchildren, Ryder and Hadley Terry; his brother, Larry Smith (Candyce); and multiple nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Diana Smith; his parents, Max and Doris “Lorraine” Smith; and his brother, Max “Dean” Smith.
A celebration of Jack’s life will be held at a future date. The family appreciates your thoughts and prayers during this time as they prepare to honor his memory.
Marian Ione Braden, 96, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Funeral arrangements are currently pending with Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory. A full obituary and service details will be announced as soon as they become available.
To share a memory or leave a condolence for Marian’s family, please visit our online guestbook.
Edwin Charles Stewart, 79, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
Born January 5, 1947, in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Leah Grace (Cover) and Wilbur Dean Stewart. Ed grew up in Highland, Kansas, where he embraced life fully—excelling in sports, music, and friendships. A standout athlete at 6’5, he played basketball in high school and at Highland Community College, earning Hall of Fame Honors. He continued at Pittsburg State University, where he received his degree in Psychology and went on to earn his Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado.
Ed’s life was defined by connection, adventure, and family. He spent years in Anchorage, Alaska, raising five of his seven children, building a house with the help of his four brothers, singing in a barbershop quartet, and enjoying basketball and cross-country skiing. He later returned to Kansas, where his last two children were born and where he continued his career supporting and uplifting others, retiring from the State of Kansas in 2012.
In 1994, Ed met the love of his life, Carol, and together they built a life full of travel, laughter, and devotion to their large, blended family. They shared 32 years together.
Ed was a natural-born dad—loving, present, and endlessly proud of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He believed deeply in the power of humor and was a lifelong jokester, known for his warm hugs, playful spirit, and ability to make any moment lighter. He loved music (especially classic country), basketball, fireworks, good food, and time spent with family—especially at Christmas, his favorite time of year.
He was a devoted husband, a loyal brother, a kind friend, and an extraordinary father. His greatest joy and proudest accomplishment was the family he created.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Patrick. He is survived by his beloved wife Carol, daughter Mary Meinholz (Joseph) Prescott, Arizona, grandchildren: Peter, Matthew and Elizabeth; daughter Melinda Valentini (Adrian) Wheat Ridge, Colorado; daughter Jo Anna Brown, St Louis, Missouri, grandchildren: Layla, Hadleigh, Abbygail and Tristann Wooten (Conner) Benton, Arkansas, great-grandchildren: Brady and Beckham; daughter Stephanie Koehler (Chris) Lawrence, Kansas; grandchildren Elliot, Arlo and Gracie; son Tim Stewart (Doris) Wake Forest, North Carolina; daughter Katie Hemphill (Justin) Bauxite, Arkansas; grandchild Ronin; stepdaughter Julie Lambert (Tim) Medford, Massachusetts, grandchildren: Calvin Neville and Desmond (Ellie); stepdaughter Jill Boren (Curtis) Kansas City, Kansas, grandchildren: Rylee and Kayle; brothers and their families Dave Stewart (Connie) Overland Park, Kansas; Bob Stewart (Tammy) Dripping Springs, Texas; Paul Stewart (Julie) Wichita, Kansas, and Kenny Stewart (Diane) Highland, Kansas.
The visitation will be held from 4–6 pm on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS. Ed will lie in state from 1-2 pm on Thursday, April 2, 2026, followed by the Celebration of Life from 2 – 4 pm all at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lawrence Humane Society, 1805 E 19th St, Lawrence, KS 66046 or Douglas County Visiting Nurses, 200 Maine St STE C, Lawrence, KS 66044.
On March 21, 2026, Cheri Ann (DuPree) Richardson passed away at the age of 94, on her own terms, in her cute little apartment in Lawrence, Kansas. Cheri was born in rural Noble County, Oklahoma on February 15, 1932. She was the only daughter of Edward “Eddie” and Hazel (Johnson) DuPree. She graduated from Stillwater High School in 1950.
Cheri was the little sister of James “Jim”, Woody and Jerry DuPree. She was lovingly called “Sis” by her three big brothers. She married the man she loved, Harvie Richardson, on June 12th, 1949, in the Governor’s Suite of Hotel Yancey in Grand Island, Nebraska. They were united for sixty years until death separated them. They had one daughter, Monica Lynn Richardson.
Cheri was the family Home Executive and known for keeping a perfect house and making delicious baked goods that she loved sharing with others. She was a valued employee at many banks in many states. She had numerous opportunities to perfect her superlative home decorating style as the family moved frequently for Harvie’s career– a fact which may have more than slightly vexed her and about which she famously said, “There are a lot of twists and turns in (your) life. Especially if you’re living it.” Nonetheless, anyone who ever crossed a threshold over which she presided would have agreed that she always created exquisitely clean, orderly and welcoming households and that she graciously shared these households with any guest lucky enough to find their way to her doorstep. She was adept at quilting and sewing; she enjoyed canning too. When her two grandchildren were young, she took great joy in making special watermelon rind pickles for each.
She had a passion for antiquing and thrifting and she had what some might call “a good eye for quality.” She was tremendously tough and once drove herself to her hairdresser’s home after having broken her back in an auto accident. Well into her elderly years, she could be found moving 30lbs buckets around the barn.
Cheri loved to read and was disappointed that she lost that ability in her later years. She most certainly, however, did not lose her sharp wit. She could fire off a quick, incisive comment that would stop you in your tracks, laughing. Cheri loved her pets, especially her many Black Standard Poodles (a string of which accompanied her through more than five decades of her life) and her cat, Kitty Baby, who was with her until the end.
After Harvie died in 2009, Cheri took over the family business selling the horse supplement, Breathe Eze, and successfully ran the enterprise with Monica’s help, well into Cheri’s eighties. Most folks thought of her as tiny, mighty, vibrant, sweet and pragmatic. Above all else, it must be said that despite the hardships life threw at her, she remained, to the very last of her days, remarkably and astoundingly resilient.
Cheri will be missed by the loved ones she left: her daughter Monica Lynn Richardson of Stillwater, Oklahoma; granddaughter Joni Timms, husband Daniel Timms, and great-grandsons Ridley and Liam Beard all of Lawrence, Kansas; and her grandson Brady Hybsha of El Reno, Oklahoma. Cheri also leaves behind other family, friends and several kind and eminently capable women who helped care for her in the last of her days.
The family invites you to join them for graveside services on June 16, 2026, at 10 am at Fairlawn Cemetery in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Cheri’s honor to Stillwater Humane Society at https://hspets.org/ or to Lawrence Meals on Wheels at www.lawrencemow.org.
