Category: Obituaries

Sheila Kaye (Courter) Potts

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Celebration of life for Sheila Kaye Potts will be at the American Legion Hall at 803 Eighth Street, Baldwin City  On Wednesday July 9th from 6-8 PM. This will be a pot luck dinner.

Sheila died on Thursday June 26th, 2014 in her home after a short battle with cancer.  She was born on January 19th, 1974 in Lawrence, Kansas.

Sheila is survived by her mom and dad Sue and Marvin VonBargen, Father Jim Courter, Sons Tory Courter and Jaden Brewer, daughter Caitlyn Brewer, one granddaughter Aislinn Courter, long time companion Brian Brewer, daughter in law Mary Courter, brother, sister, cousins, aunts uncles and numerous others. 

At the time of death Sheila was working at the Baldwin Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center.

Contributions can be paid to the Sheila K. Potts memorial fund at Baldwin State Bank also on gofundme.com.

Edna Catherine Poole

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Services for Edna C. Poole, 96, Lawrence, will be 10 am Friday, June 27, 2014, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church.

She was born March 23, 1918, in Colby, KS, and died June 25, 2014, in Lawrence, KS.

Edna was preceded in death by her parents John and Edith Bremenkamp, husband Rufus, brothers Raymond, Leonard, Eddie, Jerry, and sister Cecelia.

She was born and raised on a farm in Colby where she spent a happy childhood with her siblings thru the times of the great Dust Bowl. 

At the age of sixteen she entered nurses training at St. Francis Hospital, Topeka, KS. After graduating as an RN Edna taught nursing. In 1942 she joined the army and was commissioned to 2nd Lieutenant. She served for 2 ½ years in the Aleutian Islands, treating soldiers wounded in the Pacific. Edna was one of only seven nurses on the island. At the height of the war in 1944 she was sent to Europe to serve in the army’s 4th Division under the command of Gen. Patton. She served on the front lines for the rest of the war.

After the war ended Edna returned to Colby where she met her husband Rufus, who was also a veteran of the Navy. Edna continued her nursing career in Colby. She worked with Dr. Jenson, Headed the intensive care unit of St. Thomas Hospital and was promoted to head supervisor.

After her husband’s death she moved to Lawrence, KS, and spent her retirement years enjoying friends, church, and women’s clubs.

Mrs. Poole’s last three years were joyously spent at Meadowlark Manor among good friends, caring staff, and a compassionate caregiver. After a lifetime of caring for others Meadowlark and her caregiver took care of her.

Edna leaves a son Kevin, daughter Reni, many beloved nieces, nephews and friends.

Lee Taylor McBee

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Services for Lee T. McBee, 63, Lawrence, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, visitation to follow.  Mr. McBee died unexpectedly on June 24.

He was born March 23, 1951 in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Taylor R. McBee and Margaret Reece McBee.  He spent his early years in Lincoln and Warsaw Missouri before moving to Kansas.  Lee married Carla Hamilton Nakata on May 3, 1975 in Leavenworth, Kansas.  She survives of the home.

Other survivors include a daughter, Angela Nakata, a son, Gregory Nakata, a grandson, Gregory Fowler and a great grandson, Ethan Fowler.  He is also survived by his sisters and brothers in law Leslie Hamilton, Michael and Donna Hamilton and Mary Janine Hamilton, as well as nieces Jessica Hamilton and Rachel Lear.  He is also survived by several cousins and a foster sister.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, a sister, Roberta Mauck, a brother Charles  McBee,, his father in law Carl Hamilton, his mother in law Mary E. Hamilton, and a granddaughter, Alicia LeeAnn Fowler.

Lee McBee was an acclaimed musician, singer and songwriter who taught himself to play harmonica and drums while still a teenager.  He played in bands around Kansas and Missouri in the 70’s and 80’s.  In 1988 he joined the Dallas Texas based “Mike Morgan and the Crawl”.  McBee toured with “The Crawl” as a songwriter, lead singer, harmonica player and front man throughout the USA and Europe until 1995.  During this time the band released 4 albums with Black Top Records.  These include “Raw and Ready”, “Mighty Fine Dancin’”, “Full Moon Over Dallas”, and “Ain’t Worried No More”. In 1995 McBee left “The Crawl” to pursue other musical interests. That year, as “Lee McBee and the Passions” he released “44 Blues” on the Red Hot Records label. Subsequently released in Europe by CRS Records, “44” climbed the German blues charts to #1.

 

McBee again joined briefly with “The Crawl” in 1998 and the band subsequently released “The Road” in 1998 and “I Like the Way You Work It” in 1999.

In 2000 McBee left “The Crawl” and began work with Pacific Blues Records on his newest release “Soul Deep”.

McBee listed as his influences, “Little Walter” Jacobs, George “Harmonica” Smith, Jimmy Reed, and “Slim” Harpo.

Songs:

(McBee)

I’ve Got a Good Thing / Take Me Back / Just the Kind of Man I Am / Kiss Be Baby / I Don’t Want You Hangin Round / Full Moon Over Dallas / She’s Takin Me to Heaven / Born to Boogie / I Like the Way You Work It / I Wanna Know / See Me Runnin / Everybody Loves My Baby / 12 Hours From You / Woman Down in Arkansas / Gonna Find My Baby / I Don’t Understand / Your Turn to Cry

(McBee and Morgan)

I’m Worried / You Ain’t Like You Used to Be / Big D Shuffle / Cause I Love You Baby / My Trouble / Jus’ A Little Bit of Your Love / I’m Blue / I Let Her Slip Right Through My Hands / Cold Word / One of a Kind / The Hammer / Face Down in the Dirt

Losin’ Ground (McBee, Kazanoff and Morgan) / Somebody Help Me (McBee, Morgan, R. Innis, W. Campbell) / It’s Gonna B e Alright (lyrics McBee, Music McBee, Angerer, Recob

Quotes:

“Lee McBee, a truly a great musician”               B.B. King

“Soul Deep turned out to be one of the best blues releases in a long, long time.  McBee of course, is a master at blending blues grit with the beauty of soul. McBee is one of a handful of blues artists who’ve perfected a style that is modern enough to pack the dance floor and yet close enough to the roots to still touch the soul.”                       Dave Ranney, Blues Access

“What ya have in Soul Deep is simply McBee’s best outing to date, which is saying something.  He righteously gets the vocal across in completely his own unique, natural, Soul Deep style.”  John “Juke” Logan, Mocombo recording artist; blues radio host, RythmRadio.com

“A truly exceptional vocalist, Lee McBee also happens to be a dynamite harmonica player. One of my all time favorite blues singers….deeply soulful and always “For Real”. His phrasing is impeccable… a master of dynamics and subtle nuance… really puts across the story in his songs.  With his song writing talent and his engaging on stage enthusiasm, it is apparent why he is such an asset to the blues in general…Anson Funderburgh says it best when he describes Lee musically as “a natural”.”  Hammond Scott, Black Top Records

“Vocalist/harmonica player, Lee McBee taking honors for “Raw and Ready”  Billboard Magizine

Musicians and fans may wish to attend a Lee McBee memorial “invitational jam” Sunday 6:00pm to 9:00pm at BB’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th, Kansas City, MO 64131.

The family suggests memorials to the American Heart Association in care of the funeral home 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence Kansas.

 

James (Jim) Edward Briggs

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Memorial services for James E. Briggs, 55, Lawrence, will be 2 pm, Friday June 27, 2014, at Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church in Lawrence. Burial will follow at Scranton Cemetery, Scranton, KS.

He passed away June 20th, of complications from over 50 years of diabetes.

Jim was born July 28, 1958, in Topeka, the son of Dean E. and Lyla Rae Leishman Briggs. He graduated high school from Santa Fe Trail in 1976. Jim married Donna Duncan in 1980, they later divorced.

He worked for the Lawrence Paper Company for over 20 years, retiring for health problems. He then volunteered for LINK Kitchen and Jubilee Café as long as he was able and served on the board at LINK for several years. James was a member of Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Christina and son, Aaron (Jessie), 2 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren, all of Lawrence, parents, Dean Edward and Lila Rae Leishman Briggs of Scranton, brother Darrin (Tina) Burlingame.

The family suggests memorials made to the LINK Kitchen, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.

John V. Hardwick

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Funeral services for John Hardwick, 62, Eudora, will be at 1 pm Friday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory, with Fr. Michael Scully officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Mr. Hardwick died Mon., June 23, 2014, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

He was born July 4, 1951, in Hutchinson, the son of Vincent and Arlene Barb Hardwick. He graduated from high school in Hutchinson, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from Kansas State University. He participated in ROTC. John was a machine operator at Hallmark Cards, and had 20 years of service at the time of his death. He was a member of the Loose Lugnuts Tailgate Club.

He married Linda A. Bechtel on Dec. 26, 1979, in Manhattan. She survives of the home. Other survivors include two sons, Kyle Hardwick and Jacquelyn, Hutchinson, and Jesse Hardwick and wife Starr, Eudora; a brother, Howard Hardwick and wife Tracey, Flower Mound, Tex.; and four grandchildren, Andrew, Shiloh, Jesse Jr., and Pieper.

Friends may call from 8 am until service time Friday. The family suggests memorials to the American Heart Association, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.

Ann L. Hyde

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Graveside memorial services for Ann L. Hyde, 83, Lawrence, will be at 10 am Saturday at Pioneer Cemetery on the University of Kansas campus. Miss Hyde died Thur., June 19, 2014, at Bridge Haven Care Cottage.

She was born Aug. 31, 1930, in New York City, the daughter of John B. and Helen Stranska Hyde.  Ann spent many days in her early life enjoying the resources of the Great Neck Public Library in Great Neck, NY. Those early experiences shaped her entire life.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at KU in 1960, a Diploma of Manuscript Studies from the University of Edinburgh, and in 1966 earned a Master of Arts in Library Science from the University of Minnesota.  Ann was the Manuscripts Librarian in the Department of Special Collections at KU’s Kenneth Spencer Research Library, retiring in 2000.  She spent more than forty years connected to KU. Ann’s early love of books became her life-long passion.   William Crowe, a former dean of KU Libraries, said “Ann left a lasting legacy by using her unique skills to create inspiring well-crafted finding aids which in turn inspired scholars worldwide to delve further into the vast resources held in the Spencer.”  Ann would keep up long term correspondence with scholars from across the world to help them discover and study  many of  KU’s important holdings. Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and her lifetime friend, Alexandra Mason. Memorial contributions may be made to KU Endowment – Ann Hyde Fund, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.

Carol Susan (Johnson) Holliday

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Memorial Services for Carol, 72, Charlotte, North Carolina, will be at 2:00 pm Thursday, June 26th at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Family will greet friends following the service. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Carol passed away on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at a hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina.

She was born February 28, 1942, in Lawrence, the daughter of Norman and Berly Johnson.

She married James Holliday on June 30, 1963 in Arizona; they divorced January 19, 1970.

She is survived by two sons, Norman Holliday, Charlotte, North Carolina and Clayton McMillan, Orlando, Florida, a sister, Barbara Kluge, Lawrence brother, Don Johnson Morro Bay, California and five grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters Patricia Kriesel and Shirley Wilson.

The family suggests memorials to the National Kidney Foundation sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044

William (Bill) Raymond Durrant

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Funeral services with military honors for William R. (Bill) Durrant, 87, Lawrence, will be at 10 am Monday, June 23, 2014, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.  Mr. Durrant died Tuesday, June 17, 2014, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

He was born July 6, 1926, in Chicago, IL, the son of William Charles and Irene Florence Atwood Durrant.  He graduated from Calumet High School in Chicago, in 1944.  He later attended the University of Kansas for some business classes.

Mr. Durrant served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and worked for the University of Kansas in their Police and Parking Department for 23 years and retired in Nov. 1988.  After retirement he worked at Dillon’s on Mass.  He was a member of the Alford-Clarke VFW Post #852, and was a lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lawrence Lodge # 2.

Bill married Marjorie Thompson in 1953. They later divorced.  He married Donna Cook Channel Durrant in 1978. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include two daughters, Denise Gilges, Baldwin City, KS, Christa and husband Thomas Schram, Bonner Springs, KS; two step daughters, Yvonne and husband Dominic Palermo, Lawrence, KS, and Charmaine and husband Raymond Messick, Garnett, KS; twelve grandchildren, Jason Gilges (Heather), Wellsville, KS, Amanda Gilges, Kansas City, MO, Dustin Gilges (Jessica), Bradford, IL, Lauren Brazzle (Luke), Wamego, KS, Troy Gilges, Columbus, IN, Jacqueline Thyer (Mike), Arcadia, KS, Justin Messick, Garnett, KS, Brian Johnson, NC, Mark Johnson, Alexandria, VA, Michael Schram, Baldwin City, Jason (Kathleen) Schram, Bonner Springs, Blake Schram, Lenexa; one sister Alberta and the late Dr. Tom Parry, Washington, KS;

Friends may call from noon to 8 pm Saturday at the funeral home. A visitation will be from 1-2 pm Sunday.

The family suggests memorials made to Fraternal Order of Police, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS 66044.

Terrance Ross Unfred

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A visitation for Terrance Ross Unfred, 65, Lawrence, will be held Tuesday, June 17, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 pm, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.  Cremation is planed to follow.

Mr. Unfred died Friday, June 13, 2014 at his residence.

He was born September 3, 1948 in Lawrence to Frank Lester and Ethel Darlene Walker Unfred.  He graduated from Lecompton High School in 1963, and has lived in the area most of his life.

Mr. Unfred served in the US Marine Corps during Vietnam and worked as a heavy equipment operator for KU.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, working as a mechanic, playing cards, watching movies, golfing, and bowling.  He was also a certified SCUBA diver.

Survivors include two sons, Eric Unfred and wife Amber of Eudora, Matthew Unfred of Fosston, MN; brothers, Martin Unfred and wife Elaine of Lawrence, Bruce Unfred and wife Shirley of Hemphill, TX; sisters, Loretta Deskins of Bloomington, IN, Twila Higgins of Lawrence, Marsha Jenkins of Wittmann, AZ; grandchildren, McKenna Unfred, Jaden Unfred, and Ebony Unfred.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project, sent in care of the funeral home.