Category: Obituaries

Sharon Booher-Stevens

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Sharon Booher-Stevens, 79, passed away peacefully at KU Medical Center Kansas City Kansas. Sharon was surrounded by her loved ones.

Sharon was born September 23 1946 in Russellville Arkansas.

Sharon graduated from Lawrence High School in 1964. She was preceded  in death by her mother and father Lillian and Art Olson. She is survived by her sisters Peggy Booher-Hooper and Donna Booher-Handel. She also had several nieces and nephews.

Sharon was the happiest on the beach. The warmth of the sun and sound of the ocean brought her a special kind of happiness.

Those who loved her will remember the moments she shared with them and she will be remembered in their hearts forever.

Services will be private, per her wishes.

Brian Wheeler Perkins

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Brian Wheeler Perkins, 80, of Lawrence, KS, a beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, neighbor and friend, passed away peacefully, surrounded by love, with his daughters by his side, on August 17, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. after bravely battling metastatic colon cancer for two years.  Brian was, above all else, a kind and cheerful man whose greatest joy was the people he loved, and he leaves behind a legacy of generosity, compassion, and quiet acts of love that will live on in the many lives he touched.

Brian was born on February 2, 1946, in Lawrence, KS, to Lois and Carl C. Perkins.  He grew up in Prairie Village, KS, where he spent much of his time building model airplanes and flying them at competitions with his dad and brothers, winning many awards and developing an appreciation for building, fixing, and figuring out how things worked that stayed with him throughout his life.

After graduating high school from Shawnee Mission East, he was drafted into the United States Army, where he proudly served as an air traffic controller during the Vietnam era until he was honorably discharged in 1971.  Following his time in the Army, he attended the University of Kansas and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business.

Brian was the proud father of two daughters, Silvy (James) Kehrli of Rogers, AR, and Abbey (Brett) Gatoff of Olathe, KS.  He was also the proud grandfather of six grandsons: Parker, Paxton, Payton and Pierce Kehrli, and Maddox and Rowen Gatoff.  His family was incredibly important to him.  Being a dedicated dad and grandpa brought Brian tremendous joy, and he took great pride in each of his children and grandchildren.  He loved hearing their stories, knowing what they were doing, and celebrating the people they were becoming.  He was especially proud of all they had accomplished, and his love for them was constant and unwavering.

Brian was also deeply devoted to his brothers and sister.  He is survived by his sister, Janet Perkins (Jeff Aube), and his brother, Bruce Perkins.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Carl II and Lois Perkins, and his older brother, Carl Perkins III.  Brian also leaves behind five beloved nieces and one nephew, Nicole, Casey, Mandy, Natalie, Whitney and Carl Perkins IV, all of whom held a special place in his heart.

Brian loved golf and had many great stories of his days both playing on the course and as a caddie.  He also had a lifelong love for his Kansas Jayhawks and Kansas City Chiefs and enjoyed cheering for his teams.  But Brian was perhaps the happiest when he had something to work on.  He loved fixing up old cars, lawn mowers, and just about anything that needed repairing.  He had a natural ability to look at something that wasn’t working and figure out how to make it work again.  More than simply fixing things, he loved giving the things he fixed to others and seeing them put to good use.

Brian cared deeply about people.  He was generous with his time, his knowledge, and his friendship.  If someone needed help, Brian was often there before they even had to ask. He never needed recognition for the things he did.  Although Brian was thoughtful and wise with his money and enjoyed investing, he was never defined by what he had—he cared far more about what he could give.  His generosity and kindness were quiet, consistent, and deeply felt by those around him.

Brian loved his neighbors and the community.  He looked out for the people who lived near him, formed meaningful relationships with them and was always willing to lend a hand.  His neighbors were not simply people who lived nearby—they became people he cared about, checked on and considered close friends. The love and kindness he shared by helping his neighbors was one of the many ways he made a difference in the lives of others.

Brian will be remembered as a devoted father and grandfather, a loving brother and uncle, a loyal friend, a caring neighbor, a proud Jayhawks and Chiefs fan, and a genuinely kind and pleasant man.  He leaves behind a legacy not only in the family he loved so dearly, but in the friends he helped, the neighbors he looked out for, the people he encouraged, the strangers he welcomed and the countless things he repaired and gave away along the way.

Brian’s life was marked with quiet acts of kindness, a willingness to help, an acceptance of everyone, a love of family, and an unwavering generosity toward others. He will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Services

A visitation will be held on Friday, August 21, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Rumsey-Yost Funeral home in Lawrence, Kansas.  A graveside service will be held on Saturday, August 22, at 11:00 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, followed immediately by a celebration of Brian’s life at the Red Lyon.  Family and friends are warmly invited to join together to remember Brian, share stories, and celebrate the life of a truly kind and caring man who meant so much to so many.

Janette M Strong

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Janette M. Strong, 82, of Winchester, passed away on August 18, 2026.

Janette was born on February 19, 1944, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Lloyd and Isyla Strong. She was a longtime resident of Rosedale, Kansas, and Oskaloosa, Kansas.

She graduated from Rosedale High School. After high school, she attended Park University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. She worked for 20 years in the liquor business with her best friend, Quincy.

She also enjoyed her time as a volunteer firefighter in the state of Missouri.

She had an interest in and enjoyed playing all sports. She was extremely passionate about wildlife, nature, gardening, and rescuing dogs and cats.

Janette was preceded in death by her father, Lloyd Strong; mother, Isyla Strong; brother, Richard Strong; and nephew, Robert Strong.

She is survived by her twin sister, Annette Strong of McLouth, KS; sister, Marlene Clevenger (Jo) of Shawnee, KS; brothers, Lloyd Strong of Folsom, CA, and Dennis Strong (Mary) of Shawnee, KS; sister-in-law, Mellanie Strong of Trenton, MO; and seven nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to LLDog Rescue of Shawnee Mission, Kansas.

Cremation will take place. A celebration of life with a circle of friends will be held at Springer Cemetery in Gilman City, MO. The service date and time are currently pending and will be released by Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home when available.

Randall David Bowling

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Randall David Bowling (Randy), 80, of Lawrence, KS, left us peacefully on August 13, 2026, at his home in Lawrence, KS surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Garden City, KS the son of D.R. and Evelyn (Coleman) Bowling. He graduated from Garden City High School in 1964 and then attended Garden City Community College, the University of Kansas and Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee where he met his wife, Linda Sue Baddour. He practiced optometry in Garden City for 40 years where he cared deeply for his many friends and patients. It was there his son, Brock, now in Charlotte, NC, was born.

Besides his optometric practice, Randy invested in entrepreneurial businesses there, and he was a dedicated board member of Garden City Community College.  Upon retirement, Randy and Linda moved to Fayetteville, AR, Linda’s home state, where they lived for ten years. Randy was a dedicated racquetball player during their stay there, gaining lifetime friends.

Randy began playing the base guitar as a teenager and enjoyed playing it with a band he helped form during his high school years, Da Tree Todes, which performed together as recently as 2021.  Randy also enjoyed water skiing, traveling, astronomy, working on various projects in his garage and spending time with his family and friends.

Randy and Linda eventually decided to settle in Lawrence, KS to be near sister Sydnie Kampschroeder (Vaun), nieces, nephews, other family and longtime friends. It was here his wife, Linda Sue Baddour, preceded him in death on July 6, 2025.  Randy will always be remembered as a loving and caring husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend who enjoyed life to the fullest.  A Celebration of Life is being planned for a later date. Donations may be made in Randy’s name to the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research at v.org/donate.   Condolences may be sent at www.rumsey-yost.com.

Richard Dennison Schrader Jr

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Mr. Schrader died Monday, August 17, 2026, in his home in Eudora, Kansas.

He was born on October 31, 1948, in Lawrence, Kansas, the son of Richard Schrader Sr. and Doris (Applegate) Seele. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1966, graduated from the Police Academy in 1975, and went to Barton County Community College (Great Bend, Kansas), 1983-1992 for continued education classes for Law Enforcement.

Mr. Schrader served in the U.S. Army 1970-1974, Support Company Second Battalion 137th Infantry, Army Reserves 1974-1976, and re-enlisted in the Army 1979-1980. Rank up to Sergeant and was also an Orthopedic Cast Specialist. Decorations medals include: Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and an Expert in M-16 Rifle Marksmanship.

Mr. Schrader loved being a police officer and worked at the University of Kansas Police Department, 1975-1982, working up to Detective Sergeant. From 1982-1983 he worked for Leawood, Kansas, Police Department before moving his family to Western Kansas. He then worked for the Kinsley, Kansas, Police Department 1983-1985, St. John, Kansas, Police Department 1985-1989, and the Stafford County, Kansas, Sheriffs department 1989-1992.

He moved back to Lawrence, Kansas, started a new career he loved for the Lawrence School District as a Security Guard for Lawrence High School, 1993-1997, then worked at Free State High School when it opened in 1997. He was a history buff and loved substituting for the history teachers when they needed off. He retired from the school district in 2000.

On November 27, 1982, Mr. Schrader married Karen Evinger, Lawrence, KS, in which she came into the relationship with two boys, Jeremy Wilson, Eudora, KS, and Daniel Wilson (Cassie), Lawrence, KS. Together, they had a Daughter, Kit French (David) of Eudora, KS. They later divorced in 1988.

Schrader was a part of many associations throughout his life. He was a historian, he really liked the old west and only shot single action revolvers during his police career. He was a part of S.A.S.S. (Single Action Shooting Society), NRA (Nation Rifle Association of America), and the 354th Association (U.S. Air Force’s historic 354th Fighter Group). He loved building WWII plane models.

Other survivors include a brother, Edwin Schrader (Rita), Tecumseh KS, a sister Peggy Cobb, Dickinson, TX. Two grandsons, Aaron McDonald Jr. (Sadey), Lawrence, KS, and Dakota Bowlin, Eudora, KS and a cat, Dulcey Cooper Smith.

Preceded in death are his parents, brothers Jim Schrader and Jerry Schrader.

Robert Eugene “Gene” Grogan

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Robert “Gene” Grogan, 87, passed away in the presence of family at his home on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in Lawrence, Kansas.

Born on January 27, 1939, Gene grew up on a family farm near Grogan, Missouri in Texas County. He was the son of the late Hazel Odessa (Summers) Grogan and James Robert Grogan.

After graduating from Summersville High School, Gene enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Bad Hersfeld, Germany where he met a local woman, Lisa Habermehl. Two years later they would marry on September 22, 1962 in Eunice, Missouri.

Together they made their first home in Willow Springs, Missouri and a son, Andreas was born in 1964. A few years later, Gene moved his family to West Plains, Missouri where he became a member of the First Baptist Church and was active in the choir and served as a deacon for many years. Gene worked at District 9 of MDOT until his retirement in 2001. Concurrently, Gene was a member of the 1138th MP Company Missouri Army National Guard and as such, completed 20 years of proud military service.

Gene purchased some land in Howell County near Pomona, Missouri where he, along with the aid of his family created a hobby farm of a few cows, rabbits, and an abundant garden. While seeming to have few other hobbies, Gene, nevertheless, learned to play the guitar. After retirement, he would apply this musical talent along with his singing to entertain at the West Plains senior center. While he enjoyed listening to ‘old country’ music, his performing genre was gospel. It was one of the ways of sharing his love for the Lord.

In 2009, Gene and Lisa moved from southern Missouri to Lawrence, Kansas to be nearer their three ‘newly acquired’ granddaughters – Jessie, Jamie, and Josie. Gene took the term ‘Grandpa’ with ease and pride.

Gene was a devoted reader of the Bible. He joined the church family of First Southern Baptist Church in Lawrence and particularly enjoyed the fellowship of his Sunday school class.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Maria Smith.

He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 64 years, Lisa M. Grogan and son, Andreas Grogan of Lawrence, Kansas.

No memorial services are planned. Burial will be at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery in Pomona, Missouri at a later date.

Carolyn Sue Mills

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Carolyn Sue “Sue” Mills, 80, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at her home in Lawrence.

She was born April 1, 1946, in Lawrence, the daughter of Jack and Shirley Schultz.  She was a graduate of Tonganoxie High School.  She moved to Lawrence in 1969 from Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Sue married Clarence Irvin “Butch” Mills on February 27, 1965, in Tonganoxie, Kansas. Butch preceded her in death in 2006.

Sue was a homemaker who devoted much of her life to caring for her family and creating a loving home. She was a devoted friend and a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Family was at the heart of Sue’s life, and she treasured the time she spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She took great pride in watching her family grow and was always there to offer love, encouragement, and support. Those who knew Sue will remember her for her caring heart, her loyalty to her family and friends, and the love she freely gave to those around her. Her family will cherish the many memories they made with her and the lasting love she leaves behind.

Sue is survived by her two sons, Mark Mills and wife Bonnie of Lawrence, Kansas, and Dennis Mills and wife Lori of Lawrence, Kansas; her mother, Shirley Schultz of Lawrence, Kansas; and her two sisters, Sharon Meyer of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, and Bobbi Kelly of Houston, Texas.

She is also survived by six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren: Aaron Mills and wife Lena, and their children Mya, Mila, and Meredith; Dustin Mills and wife Danielle, and their daughter Lily; Hope Lee and her children Ava, Betty, and Grace; Andrea and husband Cody Peepgrass; Samantha Mills; and Jacob Mills.

She was preceded in death by husband Butch Mills, father Jack Schultz, great-granddaughter Ellie.

A visitation will take place before the funeral at 9:00 a.m. Friday, August 21, 2026, at Tonganoxie Christian Church.  Funeral services will take place at 10:00 a.m. Friday August 21, 2026 at Tonganoxie Christian Church, 204 E. Washington St. Tonganoxie, Kansas 66086. Graveside services for family will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery, Tonganoxie, Kansas.

Robert Anthony (Rob) Mooney

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Robert (Rob) Anthony Mooney, age 57, passed away on August 12th, 2026 surrounded by the people he loved most. Rob never knew a stranger, he was friends with everyone he met. His humor, warmth, and ability to make others feel seen made him unforgettable. Even in serious moments, Rob had a gift for easing tension; he could drop a perfectly timed movie quote or a funny remark that made you laugh even when you didn’t feel like it. That gift stayed with him until the very end, as he continued joking and laughing with his family.

Rob lived life with spontaneity and joy. It wasn’t unusual for him to call his wife on a Friday afternoon and say, “Pack up the kids, we’re going somewhere this weekend.” He embraced adventure, loved the outdoors, and especially cherished time in the mountains. After his heart attack in 2011, he took up mountain biking and fell in love with it. He rode almost every day, sharing the joy of biking with others and forming friendships throughout the cycling community. He was a proud member of both the Lawrence Bicycle Club and the Lawrence Mountain Bike Club.

Rob was loyal to a fault. If you were a true friend to him, he stood by you, cared for you, and showed up when you needed him. He was smart and resourceful, able to look at a problem and see solutions no one else saw. He loved sports and wrote a sports column for a Topeka paper titled “From the Cheap Seats.”

Rob worked many jobs throughout his life, but most recently served as the Director of Transportation for Midland Pace. He wasn’t just an employee, he was a promoter of Midland’s mission. He often told people about the program and kept an eye out for good drivers.

First and foremost, Rob was a Christian. He loved God, his family, and those around him, in that order. He was generous with his time and money, serving faithfully at Heritage Baptist Church for over 20 years as a bus captain and Jr. Church teacher. During that time, he witnessed many children and families come to know the grace of God. In his last few years, he and his family transferred to First Southern Baptist Church, where he deeply appreciated the joy, love and support of the congregation.

Rob loved his family fiercely and worked hard to build a special connection with each of his children. He is survived by his wife, Suzy Mooney (Dilfer); his six children, William “Ace” Butrum, Harrison Cooperider, Kassandra Mann, Rhett Mooney, Charity Mooney, and David Mooney; his five grandchildren, Joeseph, Zakary, Ezekiel, Rowan, and Kayleigh; his five brothers, David, Jim, Mike, Jay, and John; sister, Suzanne, and his mother, Peggy Mooney (Masters).

Rob loved deeply, lived fully, and gave generously. His laughter, loyalty, and faith touched countless lives, and his legacy will continue in the hearts of all who knew him.

Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, August 21, 2026, at First Southern Baptist Church, 4300 W 6th Street, Lawrence, KS.  Funeral Services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, August 22, 2026, also at the church.  Burial will follow at Twin Mounds Cemetery.

For those wishing to help with medical bills and expenses, a GoFundMe has been set up: https://www.gofundme.com/support-robert-mooneys-brain-cancer-fight

Betty B Bean

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Betty B Bean, 95, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2026, at Presbyterian Manor in Lawrence, Kansas.  Betty was born January 31, 1931, in Pueblo, CO, the daughter of Albert and Marguerite (Drew) Gennetten.  She worked for J. C.  Penney, Hutchinson KS, for 34 years. Following her retirement, Betty moved to Oskaloosa, KS, and later to Lawrence, Kansas.  Betty enjoyed decorating her home, working outdoors, and playing cards with family and friends.  She was preceded in death by her son, Frank L Bean and six siblings Alice Pryor, Cleta Greer, Ernest Gennetten, Delbert Gennetten, Ed Wood and Ron Wood.  Survivors include her two daughters, Cindy Nelson (Jim) of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, and Sharie Mueller (Dave) of Oskaloosa, Kansas; her grandson, Derek Mueller of Lenexa, Kansas; her granddaughter, Carie Mueller Credit (Andre) of Pearland, Texas and her great-grandson Kai.  A grave side service will be held at a future date.  Betty will be remembered for her independent spirit, consideration of others and lifelong dedication to health and wellness.