Category: Obituaries

Connie Jean Benander

Posted on by RumseyYost

Graveside services for Connie Jean Benander, 63, Lawrence, will be 2 pm Saturday October 11, 2014, at Clinton Cemetery.

She died at her home on October 7, 2014.

Connie was born November 22, 1950 Topeka, Kansas. She was the first born child of Elbert “Shorty” and Doris (Myers)  Benander.  Connie was preceded in death by both her parents, and her brother Victor.  Connie leaves behind her two sisters, Yvonne Shaw and Kimberly Wilson, nieces and nephews. Connie will also be missed by her extended family at Cottonwood, where she had worked and shared many years of her adult life with staff and her roommates.  She enjoyed life at it’s fullest and always had a smile and a joke to share.  Connie will be missed by all who knew her, and she never knew a stranger…

Friends may call from noon to 8 pm Friday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorials made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, sent in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Stoney Ray Strickland

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Funeral services for Stoney Ray Strickland, 51, Lawrence, will be 3:30, Thursday, October 9, 2014, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

He passed away October 5, 2014, after battling cancer for almost 7 years.

Stoney was born August 1, 1963 in Parsons, KS the son of Barb and Marion Strickland.  He grew up in Lawrence and graduated from Lawrence High School in 1982.  He married Karen Grammer on June 21, 1996.  His recent employer was RD Johnson Excavating.  Stoney enjoyed camping, hunting and being with his family and friends.

He leaves behind his wife Karen of the home; his son, Rusty Vervynck and wife Amy; his daughter Brandy Vervynck and fiancé Cory Gaston; grandaughter Madison Vervynck; his father Marion Strickland; brother, Randy Strickland and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother Barb Strickland.

Friends may call from noon to 8 pm Wednesday, a visitation will take place from 6-7:30 pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Stoney Strickland Memorial Fund, sent in care of the funeral home.

Terry M. Wisdom

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Terry Melvin Wisdom, 58, of Eudora, received his ultimate healing and went to be with his Creator on October 2, 2014, after a short battle with cancer. He was at home surrounded by family and loved ones. A celebration of Terry’s life will be held Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at 11:00 am at Free Methodist Church located at 31st and Lawrence Avenue.

Terry was born July 9, 1956 in Lawrence, KS to Arlen and Robbie Wisdom of Eudora, Kansas. Terry spent his years as a loving husband, son, brother and friend to many. Terry lived his life in such a way that many admired and respected. He was always there with a helping hand no matter if you were family, friend, or just someone in need. Terry was a man of few words, but always a great listener and thinker. Because of his constant calm demeanor and level head, he became the rock that many turned to and counted on.

Terry worked as a truck driver and heavy equipment operator with the city of Lawrence for over 20 years. Terry loved his job and rarely sat idle. When not working, you could find him in his garage tinkering on a car or working on a new project for someone. On the weekends he enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting and attending swap meets with his family and friends. Terry also believed in supporting his community. In 2001, he traveled to Wichita to help with clean up following devastating tornados.

He leaves behind his best friend and wife, Roma Wisdom of the home; his sons, Josh of Odessa, TX., Jason Spillman of Baldwin, Joshua Fraser and his wife Molly of Lawrence; his daughters, Amber of Lawrence, Amelia Murtagh of Desoto and Amanda Murtagh of San Francisco, CA.; Grandchildren, Makenna Wisdom, Taylor Spillman, and Chase, Kori and Kasey Fraser; Mother, Robbie Wisdom of Eudora; brother, Bob Wisdom and wife Kay of Garnett, KS.; sisters, Debbie Flint and husband Nick of Lawrence and Tammy Wisdom of Eudora, KS and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his beloved furry friends Chevy, Rio and Spike.

He is preceded in death by his father Arlen Wisdom and his brother Bill Wisdom. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Douglas County Visiting Nurses or Lawrence Humane Society, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.

Edward Stuart Small

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Professor Emeritus Edward Stuart Small, 74, passed away Friday, August 22, 2014 at Allie’s Village Memory Care Home in Lawrence, Kansas. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, October 5, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Ed Small was born October 15, 1939 in New York, NY. At the age of five, he moved to West New York, NJ with his parents Edward and Anne (Forbes). Ed attended Hope College, where he met his future wife Ruth Diane Hagymasy. He continued his studies at the University of Arkansas, lived in Japan while working on his dissertation, and received a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa.

Ed began his career as a Professor of Film at the University of Missouri in 1972. In 1989 the Small family relocated to Lawrence, Kansas where Ed worked until his retirement in 2012. His scholarly work centered on experimental and documentary film and video. His varied films, often imaginatively merging the two approaches, won festival prizes and were featured at film conferences as well as showcased on television.

Ed was preceded in death by his wife Ruth D. Small in 2004. He is survived by his children Jessica R. Small and Edward W. Small of Lawrence, KS, as well as his fiancé Sandra J. Boogertman of Fair Haven, VT. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: KU Endowment Association, c/o Ed Small Scholarship for Experimental Film, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044-0928.

Chu-tsing Li

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Chu-tsing Li passed away peacefully Tuesday, September 16th at the age of 94 at St. John’s on the Lake in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

He graduated from Puiching High School in Macao, received a: BA in English from Nanjiing Univ. in Chengdu, MA in English and PhD in Art History from the Univ. of Iowa (1954) where he taught for 10 years. At the University of Kansas for 19 years, he was the Judith Harris Murphy Distinguished Professor of Art History and Research Curator, Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City. Also taught at Oberlin and Chinese Univ. of Hong Kong. He received a Ford Foundation Grant to retrain in Chinese Art at Harvard and Princeton Univ. (1960) and an American Council of Learned Studies Grant to spend a one-year sabbatical in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan (1964). He visited China frequently after 1972 and became the first Fulbright Visiting Exchange Scholar to China in 1979.

He had an illustrious academic career in Chinese art history. A tireless teacher, he mentored 28 PhD and 50 MA students who taught or curated at Princeton, Washington-St. Louis, Arizona State, Harvard and Phoenix Art Museums and National Palace Museum, Taiwan. A relentless scholar of Yuan painting, he published 19 books and catalogs including the seminal Autumn Colors on the Ch’iao and Hua Mountains by Chao Meng-fu (1964), eventually publishing on Ming, Qing and contemporary works. With a keen eye, he first recognized merit of contemporary (abstract) Chinese ink paintings in early 1960s, organized exhibitions and opened up the field. Many of his collected works in A Tradition Redefined: Chinese Ink Paintings in the C.T. Li Collection will be donated to Harvard and Phoenix Art Museums. He touched many graduate students, art historians, collectors, curators and Chinese artists throughout the world with his rigorous, yet humble approach.

Husband of the late Yao-wen Kwang Li (56 years). Son of deceased Wu Zi Li and Jing Tran Hsieh (Taiwan). Father of B U.K. Li (Milwaukee) and Amy Lee (Portland). Grandfather to Rachel Li Cullivan (spouse John NJ) and Benjamin Li (MI), and Daniel Lee, Brandon Lee, Christopher Lee (OR). Great grandfather to Jack and Naomi Cullivan. Preceded in death by elder and young brothers Chu-ling Li and Chu-shan Li. He is further survived by relatives in California, Taiwan and Guangzhou, China, his birthplace.

There will be an informal reception in November 2014 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin TBA. There will be a formal memorial service in May of 2015 in Lawrence, Kansas TBA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Chu-tsing Li Award for Graduate Students in Chinese Art, Univ. of Kansas Endowment Association, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Sharon Lynn Roberts

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Graveside services for Sharon Lynn Roberts, 55, Lawrence will be 11 am Friday, at Oak Hill cemetery.

She died Saturday September 27, 2014, at her home.

Sharon was born July 17, 1959, in New Orleans, the daughter of James and Ruth Dorsett Brigman.   She moved to Lawrence in 1981, where she furthered her education.  Sharon never gave up, even though life presented her many difficulties.  She always had a love towards animals.

She married Stephen Roberts on June 15, 1984, they later divorced in 2010.

Survivors include a sister Pam Daniels, and brother Joe Brigman.

Sharon didn’t let bad health cloud her vision or her belief in god or kindness.  She deserved much better then she got, but she still fought on.  She will be missed.

Friends may call from noon to 8pm Thursday, where the family will receive them from 10-10:45 Friday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sharon Roberts Memorial Fund sent in care of the funeral home.

Robert “Bob” Gene Taylor

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Services for Robert “Bob” Gene Taylor, 80, Lawrence, will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Mr. Taylor died Saturday, September 27, 2014, at Baldwin Healthcare and Rehab. in Baldwin City, Kansas.

He was born October 12, 1933 in Lawrence. He lived most of his life in Lawrence and California.

He worked various places over the years, Ray Stoneback’s, Joe’s Bakery, and retired from the University of Kansas as a maintenance supervisor after 40 years of service.

He was a faithful follower of Christ, a soldier (volunteer) for the Salvation Army, and member of Praise Temple Church. He enjoyed watching basketball and baseball, car clubs, watching his wife bowl and shopping with her a well.

Mr. Taylor is survived by his wife, Mary Louise Taylor of the home; daughter, Kay Jackson-Taylor of Topeka, KS; sisters, Barbara Dixon of Omaha, NE, Lena Dixon of Omaha, NE; grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Robert Taylor, Jr.

Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, where the family will receive them from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Baldwin Healthcare & Rehab., sent in care of the funeral home.

Millie Rohlfing

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Memorial service for Millie Rohlfing, 97, Lawrence will be September 30th at 6:00 pm, First Baptist Church, 1330 Kasold Dr., Lawrence, KS. Reverend Matthew Sturtevant & Pastor Sandra Heacock will officiate. A memorial service will be announced in Stone Lake, WI. this spring.

Mrs. Rohlfing died Thursday at her daughter’s home.

She was born Dec. 30, 1916, in Forest Park, IL, the daughter of Fredrick & Martha Borrnack Duensing.

Millie lived in Stone Lake, WI for many years. She and her husband Willard Rohlfing owned and operated a summer resort, The Chalet, in Victory Heights before moving to Lawrence, KS in 2006.

She is survived by 2 son’s Richard of IL, Warren of FL, daughter Dorothy (Dottie) and her husband David Nordlund, of Lawrence, 7 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great grandchildren, and 2 on the way.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Willard, 6 sibling, and daughter-in-law, Susan Rohlfing.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church or Visiting Nurses, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Online condolences may be made at rumsey-yost.com.

Grace Lee Harris Payne

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Graveside services for Grace Lee Harris Payne, 75, Lawrence, will be 11 am, Friday, September 26, 2014, at Maple Grove cemetery.

She died Friday September 17, 2014, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Grace was born March 19, 1939, in Augusta, Arkansas, the daughter of Ulis and Sadie Lewis Mellon Harris.

Survivors include two sons Stanley Harris (Patricia), Ricki Payne; four daughters Barbara Harris, Brenda Taylor, Rhonda Payne, Norma Payne Hardrick (Willard), all of Lawrence, one brother Bobby Harris, Chicago, Il; one sister Pearl Prunty, Jonesboro Arizona; Many grandchildren Charmaine, Katherine Reid, Ke-Ita Reid-Ray, Lashont Harris, Tania Harris, Tavaris Hunter, Naris Hunter, Tyrone Hunter, Daiceonna Henderson, Chandre Harris, Adrian Taylor, Kizzey Carter, Jessica Carter, Jessie Carter Jr., Samantha Carter, Jermaine Carter, Sherry Payne, Terence Payne, Porsha Payne, Laticha Bennette, Denzell Payne, Brittany Payne, Aletha Hardrick; thirty-eight Great Grandchildren, one great great grandchild and one adopted daughter Sherri Scott-Nunez.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers Jimmy Green and Otha Davis; four sisters Ethel Mellon, Dorothy Bolden, Pauline Marley, Exora Roddy; and her eighteen year companion Jimmy Towers.

A visitation will take place from 9-10:45 am Friday at Rumsey-Yost.

James Thomas Smith

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Captain James T. (Jim) Smith died on Monday, September 22, 2014 at Hickory Pointe, Oskaloosa.

Born November 19, 1932 in Kansas City, Kansas, Jim attended Turner High School.  He joined the Air Force at the age of 17.  After being honorably discharged from the Air Force he joined the Marine Corps Reserves.  In 1961 he was hired by Delta as their youngest captain at age 29.  He flew for Delta Airlines until 1968.  He left Delta to become an international pilot in the private sector.  Jim was a certified FAA Instructor in both multi-engine jet aircraft and helicopters.  He retired from flying in 2004 at the age of 72 and then moved to McLouth, Kansas in 2005 to be near family.  He was a member of The Church of Christ, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and The American Legion.

He is survived by his wife, Faye Smith; 2 daughters, Neva (Herman) Wittenberg and Ginger (Ronald) Beene; 4 grandchildren, Bobby Beene, Staci Wittenberg-Smidt, Heath Beene and Sean Wittenberg; 5 great grandchildren, Logan Wittenberg, Lanie Wittenberg, Hannah Beene, Chayton Smidt and Destin Smidt.

A Memorial Service will be 7 pm, Friday October 3, 2014 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home

Memorial contributions may be made to the James T. Smith Memorial Fund, sent in care of the funeral home.