Category: Obituaries

Easter Mary Pennington

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Services for Easter M. Pennington, 75, Lawrence, will be 2 pm, Saturday, February 1, 2014, at Victory Bible Church. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Easter Mary Pennington of Lawrence, Kansas went home to be with the Lord on January 25, 2014. 

She was born January 13, 1939, in Cameta, Mississippi to the late Johnny McClain and Phyllis Marie Demby.  Easter was the sixth child of eleven children.  Her parents quickly discovered she was a special child who was gifted with many talents.  One of the talents was playing the piano.  She started playing at age 4.  She learned to play the piano by ear and soon after became the church pianist.  As she grew older they realized that she had a beautiful singing voice.  She became the lead soloist of the choir at The Church of God.  As a teenager she opened the church’s weekly broadcast by singing “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone”.  In addition to be artistically talented, Easter had a strong drive to go to school and learn as much as she can.  She graduated from Simmons High School in 1957 and was Valedictorian of her class.  She was offered a full music scholarship but turned it down because she wanted to get married and start a family.   On August 4, 1957, she married Earl Pennington.  To this union was born four daughters:  Linda, Lisa, Vanessa, and Jacqueline.  The marriage ended and Easter became a single mother.  She was a loving, devoted mother.  She taught them to love the Lord and the importance of being part of a Bible based church.  Even though she sometimes had to work 3 different jobs in order to make ends meet, get certified to be a pre-school teacher.  She went to school in the evenings and on weekends.  She had a special affinity with young children. Her love for children enabled her to work in early childhood education for more than thirty five years.  After raising her biological children to adulthood, she became a foster parent for several children and adopted three more children:  Danielle, Shamar and Lee Andrew.  Even after she “retired” she still worked 3 part-time jobs up until she became ill due to complications with Diabetes.

She served in the Church of God in Kansas City, Missouri faithfully as a musician, singer, teacher, church secretary, and was appointed as a Church Mother by the late Elder Murvin Dean. She was known for her giving and words of encouragement and inspiration.  For the past year, Easter resided at the Legacy on 10th nursing facility.  While there, she received a commendation for her work as a volunteer.  Even though her vision was very limited, she enjoyed playing the piano and singing for the residents.  She provided love and inspiration to the people who lived there and to the people who came to visit.

Easter was proceeded in death by her parents, and five siblings; Rebecca Dean, Richard Demby, Beau Demby, Frank Demby, Bobby Funchess,  and Dorcus Taylor. She leaves to cherish her beloved memory: seven children, Linda Pennington-Pearl, Lisa Jewsome (Jeff), Vanessa Rials (Jerry), Jacqueline Fitzgerald (Paul), Danielle Demby Pennington (Arturo Vega, Jr.), Shamar Nelson Pennington, Lee Andrew Mitchell Pennington;  more than twenty Grandchildren; three sisters, Lessie Mae Rhodes, Gladys Turner, and Phyllis Fulton; one brother Samuel Demby (Florence); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Roberta ‘Jean’ Flory

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Funeral services for Roberta Jean Flory, 84, Lawrence, will be 10 am Monday, Jan. 27, at Central United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Washington Creek Cemetery.

Mrs. Flory died Thursday at Baldwin Health Care Center. She was born Jan. 28, 1929 in Ottawa, the daughter of Louis Emery and Grace Roseta Taylor Turner.

She worked at India and Kaw Valley schools for 22 years and along with her husband owned and operated the Bungalow Laundry Mat for several years.

She married Calvin Fox Flory on Apr. 9, 1950. He died Jan 22, 2007.

Survivors include a son Stan Flory and wife Michelle of Lawrence, daughter Carol Taul and husband Jimmie of Baldwin City, brother Eldon Turner of Ottawa, sister Doris Sullivant of Lawrence, brother and sister in law Raymond and Caroline Flory of Lawrence, grandchildren Pete Flory, J.J. Keltner, Nickie Harding, Levi Flory, Katy Boehm, Tyler Flory, great-grandchildren Hunter Harding, Leanna Flory, Oscar Keltner, Caden Keltner and Kylie Keltner.

Friends may visit Sunday noon to 8pm. and the family will receive friends from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. at the Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Grace Hospice, Heifer Project International or Central United Methodist Church in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana, Lawrence, KS66044.

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

M. Ruth Rosen

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Mabel ‘Ruth’ Rosen, 93, passed away Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014, at Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community.  She was born Jan. 1, 1921, in Plymouth, Mass., the daughter of Elias & Katherine Thornhill.

Ruth married Daniel Rosen in 1956 in San Diego, Calif.  He died in 1998.  Ruth was an avid bowler and loved to fish and travel.  Her husband was a career Navy man, and she traveled to many states in the U.S. during his career.

Survivors include a sister, Pearl ‘Rusty’ Moore, Lawrence, and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by brothers George, Jim, Leslie, and John Thornhill.

No services are planned.  Ruth will be cremated and inurned next to her husband at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, Calif.

Harold Gus Brune

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Services for Harold Gus Brune, 97, Lawrence, will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory.  Cremation is planned following the service.

Mr. Brune died Thursday, January 23, 2014, at his home.

He was born September 8, 1916, in Lawrence, the son of Gustav Wilhelm and Doris Rothwell Brune.  He graduated from Liberty Memorial High School and later attended Kansas State University.  He has been a life long resident of Lawrence.

Mr. Brune worked as a farmer, raising cattle and growing various crops.  He enjoyed bowling, golf, bird watching, fishing, playing games, and watching the Royals, Chiefs, and Jayhawks.

He married Wilma Lee Nichols in 1943.  She died in 1984.

Survivors include a sister, Ruth Bowlin of Olathe; grandsons, David Nichols of Lawrence, Michael Nichols of Ozawkie, Dee Nichols of Lecompton, Richard Nichols of Lecompton; granddaughters, Ann Clark of Lawrence, Donna Davis of Tonganoxie, Susan Wood of Lecompton; 15 great grandchildren; several great great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, Charley Harold Nichols; brother, Danny Brune; and sister, Eugenia Jones.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home, where the family will receive them from 1 p.m. until service time Tuesday.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Jayhawk Audubon Society, sent in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Cheryl Marcia Evans

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Cheryl was born Aug. 4, 1958, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. to Clifford LaVerne Evans Sr. and Barbara June Withers. She grew up in Lawrence, Kan., and went to public schools there, graduating from Lawrence High School.

She died Jan. 21, 2014, at her brother’s home in rural Douglas County from advanced stages of cancer. Her home was in Rifle, Colo., and she decided to be with her family here for her final days.

She served in the U.S. Navy from 1977 – 1981 in Hawaii.

She married Jimmie D. Johnson in 1980 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and they lived in various locations around the U.S. near the ship yards where they worked. They divorced in 1996.

She worked for many years as a dispatch supervisor for a trucking company in Colorado and Wyoming. She was currently working for Tex Am Pumps as an office clerk.

She was preceded in death by her father, Clifford, a daughter from a previous relationship, Dawnita Brandon, and a brother, Douglas R. Evans Sr.

She is survived by her Mother, Barbara of Baldwin City; brothers, Richard, Greg, and Dana, all of Lawrence, Daryl, Leavenworth, Clifford Jr. and Robin, both of rural Douglas County near Overbrook; sons Benjamin, DeBeque, Colo.; Matthew, Rock Springs, Wyo., and Richard, Parachute, Colo. with their wives,  and 9 grandchildren.

Graveside services will be at 2 pm Saturday at Oak Hill Cemetery. A pot luck dinner will follow services at Brookwood Mobile Home Park Clubhouse.  Bring a dish.

Mary Riester Brooks

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A Celebration of Life for Mary Riester Brooks, 95, Lawrence, will be January 27, 2014 at
Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. A visitation will be held from 5-6 pm and service will begin at 6:00 in the chapel.
 
Mary passed away on December 31st, 2013, at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.
 
She was born October 2nd, 1918, in Louisville, Kentucky, the daughter of Louis Bonaface Riester and Gretchen Land Riester. Mary went to live with her Aunt, Kenneth Toon when she was 3 years old. She graduated from high school in Frankfort , Ky. She attended college at The University of Kentucky in Lexington.
 
Mary was a secretary for the Governor of Kentucky and was made an honorary “Kentucky Colonel”.

She was a secretary of the Lutheran church in St. Petersburg , Florida.
 
Mary married Thomas Oliver Gans in 1950 and moved to Parkersburg, West Virginia. They had a son Thomas Oliver Gans Jr. and daughter Vicki Lynn Gans. When her husband died they moved to St. Petersburg , Fla. Mary married Dennis Moscopulos in 1960. He died in 1963. Mary married Robert Brooks on June 17th, 1967. They moved to Lawrence in 1978. Robert died in 2007.
 
Survivors include a daughter, Vicki Lynn Vormehr and companion Vance Freeman, Lawrence; three grandchildren, Nate Vormehr and wife Alana of L. A., Katy Vormehr of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and Amy Vormehr of Chicago, Illinois; and one great-grandson, Brixton Vormehr of L.A.
 
A son, Thomas Gans, died in 1979.

Instead of memorials, give a flower to a friend or neighbor, or do a kind deed for someone in need.

The family would like to thank: Visiting Nurses of Lawrence, Senior Meals Delivery, The nurses and staff at Brandon Woods and Grace Hospice.

Online condolences may be sent to rumsey-yost.com.

DeLoris Mae ‘Dee’ Gordon

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Funeral services for DeLoris Mae ‘Dee’ Gordon, 80, Lawrence, will be at 1 pm Monday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.  Dee passed away Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014, at The Windsor of Lawrence.  A visitation will be held from 1-3 pm Sunday at the funeral home.

She was born Nov. 18, 1933, in Edwardsville, Ill., and graduated from high school in Collinsville, Ill.  Dee worked as a nursing assistant at Lawrence Memorial Hospital for over 30 years.  The one thing that Dee loved most of all was taking care of her family and home, but over the years she also enjoyed camping, boating, arts & crafts, and had a great love of animals.  Dee was a very kind and thoughtful person; most of her children’s friends lovingly called her ‘Mom.’  Throughout her career with LMH, many of her patients, and families thereof, would stop her on the street, in a store, or restaurant to say ‘thank you’ for the excellent care they or their family/friend had received under her care.

She is survived by her son, Rick Hunt (Marti) of Mauldin, SC; daughter Pat Faulconer (Len) of Albuquerque, NM; son Michael Hunt, Roundup, MT, and daughter Cyndi Rodriquez (Stan) of Topeka; grandchildren Shaun Tate (Beth) of Aledo, TX, Deanna Hunt of Lawrence, Stephanie Miller (Tony) of Eudora, Jennifer Trotter (Phillip) of Greenwood, SC, Danielle Emanuel (Drew) of Omaha, Heather Fowler (Andrew) of Greenville, SC, Chris Kane, Lee’s Summit, MO, and Jennifer Rodriguez, Topeka; great grandchildren Nate Tate, Roch Emanuel, Jacob Fowler, Alex Trotter, Haley Trotter, Marissa Robinson, and Miranda Robinson.

She was preceded in death by her grandson, Shannon Michael Daugherty, and a daughter, Deborah Sue Hunt-Boehle.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Lawrence Humane Society, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

As Dee’s family grieves for their loss, they take comfort in the fact that she is no longer in pain, is in the loving arms of the Lord, and is now their beautiful guardian angel.

 

 

Donny D. Barnhart

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Graveside services for Donny D. Barnhart, 73, Lawrence, will be 2 p.m. Friday at Valley Brook Cemetery.

Mr. Barnhart died Monday, January 20, 2014, at Medicalodges in Eudora.

He was born April 19, 1940, in Topeka, the son of Dewey M. and Lena McCracken Barnhart.  He graduated from Appanoose High School in 1959.  He has lived in Lawrence since 1962.

Mr. Barnhart was employed by KDOT as a highway maintenance supervisor and by Kennedy Glass as a glazier.  He enjoyed fishing and taking care of his yard.

He married Beverly Trendel April 21, 1962 in Michigan Valley, Kansas.  She survives of the home.

Other survivors include a son, Raymond Barnhart of Lawrence; daughter, Dona Higgins of Lawrence; brothers, Dewey L. Barnhart and wife Nellie of Lawrence, Robert Barnhart and wife Karen of Afton, Oklahoma; sister in law, Mary Barnhart of Lawrence; and grandchildren, Michael Higgins of Manhattan, and Michelle Higgins of Lecompton.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Keith Barnhart.

Friends may call from 9am to 8pm Thursday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, where the family will receive them from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.

The family suggests memorials to Grace Hospice and Medicalodges in Eudora, sent in care of the funeral home.

Donald W. Potter

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Funeral services for Donald Wayne Potter, 83, Lawrence, will be at 10:30 am Thursday at Lawrence Heights Christian Church, with the Rev. Steve Koberlein officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Mr. Potter died Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, at his home.

He was born Aug. 1, 1930, in Marion, Kan., the son of John B. and Ruth E. Pierce Potter. He spent his early years in Herington, Kan., and later moved with his family to Lawrence, where he graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in 1949. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War, earning numerous medals and awards. After his honorable discharge in Dec., 1953, he attended the University of Kansas, where he met and married his first wife, Allois Mary Twigg on Jun. 6, 1955, and raised their family here. Don was proud of his family’s participation in Lawrence Aquahawks and football. Don worked as an equipment operator for Douglas County Public Works, a chemist for Callery Chemical, and a process engineer for Boeing until 1962, when he bought his first service station, Potter’s 66, at 23rd & Louisiana St. This began his entrepreneurship, which included three service stations, a body shop, and Hertz Rent-a-Car, which he continued to operate until his retirement. After Allois passed away on June 7, 1986, he met and married Marie Galluzzi on Jan. 22, 1994, and they shared nearly 20 loving years together. Throughout his life, he was an active member of Sertoma, receiving his 30 year pin and the Sertoman of the Year award, as well as a founder and longtime member of Lawrence Heights Christian Church. In his later years, his passions included raising roses, bird watching, KU athletics, meeting with his LMHS alumni group, participating with Marie in the Christmas Tour of Homes, and volunteering at the Lawrence Visitor’s Center.

Survivors include his wife, Marie, of the home; his children, Stacy Orr and her three children, Erin, Kevin, and Kaitlyn and their families, Lynn Potter, his wife Nancy, and their three children, Dustin, Nikki, and Cassandra and their families, and Sheryl Denny and her husband John; and Marie’s four children, Greg, Annette, Gary, and Dan Galluzzi and their families; a nephew, Mark Coates, and a niece, Debbie Fitzgerald; 20 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Douglas Wayne Potter in 1981, and a sister, Juanita Coates.

The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6:30 – 8 pm, and Thursday from 9:30 – 10:30 am, both at Lawrence Heights Christian Church. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Lawrence Heights Christian Church building fund, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.

Kenneth C. Kuester

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Graveside services with military honors for Kenneth C. Kuester, 67, Overbrook, will be at 11 am Tuesday at Memorial Park Cemetery.  Mr. Kuester died Saturday, Jan, 11, 2014, at his home.

He was born May 8, 1946, in Lawrence, the son of Herman C. and Paula M. Beaver Kuester.  He graduated from high school, attended college, and served in the United States Navy.  Survivors include a son, Jimmie, a brother, Dennis, a sister, Kathy Patton and husband Glen, and good friends Michael and Janet Swalm.