Category: Obituaries

Susan K. Jones

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Memorial services for Susan K. Jones, 62, Lawrence, will be at 1:30 pm Saturday, Jan, 18, 2014, at First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Matt Sturtevant officiating.  The family will receive friends following the service.

Susan died Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014, at her home, following a prolonged and courageous battle with breast cancer.  Throughout her life, Susan maintained her warm spirit of nurturing help for all, recognizing personal needs and finding helpful solutions.  Susan was known to many through her work as an English teacher and tutor, and she touched many lives from many nations through the friendships she made and maintained while teaching international students of all ages.

Susan was born in Fullerton, Nebraska on August 1, 1951, the third of five children. She attended Doane College in Crete, Nebraska.  She married John H. Jones in 1971 and moved from Nebraska to Florida, to Georgia, and then to a three year experience in Spain as a Navy wife.  For many years, Susan cared for patients as a Registered Nurse.  She moved with John to duty stations in Virginia, Texas, Japan, and California prior to his retirement in Lawrence after his assignment to the Naval ROTC Unit at the University of Kansas.  Their family grew to include Stephen, his wife Jennie, and their children Rosemarie, Owen, and William, as well as their daughter Jeannie and her husband Steven Paulson.  Susan’s interest in helping others led her to begin voluntarily teaching at Small World, where she taught English to international women and their children, and  where she served as Assistant Director for more than twenty years.  Susan also served the Lawrence First Baptist Church as a volunteer teacher and program leader.  Her final days drew her community of friends and family even closer together, and her loss is felt deeply by many.

The family suggests memorials in Susan’s name to Small World, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home &  Crematory, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Rose Suzette ‘Suzi’ Jackson

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Memorial services for Rose Suzette (Suzi) Jackson, 71, Lawrence, will be Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 2 PM, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.  Suzi died Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She was born Oct. 4, 1942, in Bloomington, Ill., the daughter of Roland Francis and Ethel Marie Miller Smith.  She graduated from University High in Columbia, Mo., and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Missouri.  She later earned her Master’s degree and Specialist in Education degrees from Pittsburg State University.  Mrs. Jackson taught elementary school in Missouri and Kansas for 34 years, retiring in 1998.  After retiring, she did substitute teaching for Lawrence Public Schools.  She was a member of the National Education Association, and enjoyed reading, gardening, and spending time with her family and her dogs.

She married Joseph B. Jackson on Dec. 28, 1968.  He preceded her in death in 1997.  She was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Hannah Taylor.  Survivors include two daughters, Kimberly Ann Jackson Taylor and husband Christopher, and Carrie Jackson, all of Lawrence; a brother, Michael Smith and wife Kathleen, Jackson, N.J.; and three grandchildren, Olivia, Joseph, and Madeline Taylor.

The family suggests memorials to the American Cancer Society, or Harvester’s, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.  Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.

Tristan Alexis Westphal

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A visitation for Tristan Alexis Westphal, 35, Lawrence, will be from 6 pm to 7 pm Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory.

Tristan peacefully left this world on January 6, 2014.

He was born May 18, 1978, in Hastings, Nebraska, the son of Steven Ethan and Michelle Renee Moore Westphal.  He attended school at Superior Public Schools and graduated from Lawrence Alternative High School.  He also attended railroad school at Johnson County Community College.

He was employed at various crafts, as an apprentice chef at the Adams Alumni Center; the Reuter Pipe Organ Company, where he was a finisher; at Vaughncraft Percussion in Baldwin, where he crafted world class tambourines; and Schlumberger in Lawrence.

Tristan was a very dedicated and doting father.  Besides spending time with his daughters and family, he enjoyed listening to music, as well as going to concerts, fishing, gardening, cooking, fine cuisine, and fine beers.  He was very caring, generous, and a loyal friend to many and will be sorely missed.

He is survived by his daughters, Aurora and Athena Westphal, Olathe; parents Steve and Michelle Westphal of Lawrence; his brother, Schuyler and wife Jasmine; sister, Chanelle and partner Patrick; nephews, Nevada Diehl of Superior, Nebraska, Quinton Westphal of Lawrence; niece, Laney Westphal of Lawrence; and grandmother, Clara Westphal.

He was preceded in death by his grandpa, Donald Moore; grandma, Fern Moore; and uncle, Hugo Westphal.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Tristan Westphal Memorial Fund, sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Rosalee “Rose” Marie Earl

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Services for Rosalee “Rose” Marie Earl, 63, Lawrence, will be 11 a.m. Monday, January 13, 2014 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence, Kansas.  Burial will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, at Pleasant View Cemetery in Logan, Kansas.

Mrs. Earl died Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.

She was born February 15, 1950 in Logan, Kansas, the daughter of George Elmer and Elsie Kraus Carver.  She graduated from Logan High School.

Mrs. Earl worked for Kansas Color Press and has been with Allen Press for the last 30 years.  She enjoyed Civil War and gunfighter reenactments, traveling, bowling, reading, board and card games, KU basketball, NASCAR, and visiting with people everywhere she went.  She was also a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary in Winchester.

She married Eldred Lee Earl March 22, 1969 in Phillipsburg, Kansas, at the First Baptist Church. 

Her parents, brother, and sister preceded her in death, as did her beloved husband, Eldred, in 2010

Survivors include a sister, Arlene Hix of Norton, Kansas; nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; and one great great nephew.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, and a visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The family suggests memorials to the Lawrence Humane Society or to the Rosalee Earl Cemetery Memorial Fund for Pleasant View Cemetery, for upkeep of grounds, sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Gilbert ‘Gil’ Frazey

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No public services for Gilbert ‘Gil’ Frazey, 77, Eudora, are planned.  Mr. Frazey died Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014, at Bonner Springs Nursing and Rehabilitation.

He was born Dec. 7, 1936.

He earned a Master’s degree from Wichita State University, and taught science and math for 40 years in Wichita and Kansas City, Mo. He enjoyed music, and played the trumpet in the orchestra. Gil was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Wichita and the Nazarene Church in Kansas City, Mo. He was a musician and played the trumpet for many years while he was attending East High and later at Wichita University. While in high school and college he also had a dance band. Gil studied trumpet with Rafael Mendez at the Western State Music Festival held in August at Gunnison, CO. He also played trumpet with the Friends University orchestra in Wichita for several years. GIl was awarded several National Science Foundation grants for advanced summer studies.

He married Susan J. Burk on June 30, 1974, in Lawrence.  She survives of the home. Other survivors include a sister, Harriett Ranney and husband James (Jim), Philadelphia; a sister-in-law, Barb Vantuyl, Lawrence; two brother-in-laws, Bob Burk, Lawrence, Randy Burk, Kansas City, Mo; a nephew, Justin Taylor Ranney, Darien, CT,  great-nephew, August Ranney, Darien, CT; and cousins, Virginia Clinton Pennington and Vivian Clinton, both of Dodge City, KS.

Memorials are suggested to the Lawrence Humane Society, P.O. Box 651, Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Jean Louise Hooper

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Services for Jean L. Hooper, 93, Lawrence will be 11 am, Saturday, January 11, 2014, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.  Burial will follow at Oak Hill cemetery.

Mrs. Hooper died Monday, January 6, 2014, at her home.

She was born September 16, 1920, in Atchison, KS, the daughter of Louis H. and Mary E. Davenport. Jean enjoyed gardening; making handmade crafts, and nothing was more important than spending time with family.

She married James H. Hooper on August 30, 1941, in Los Angeles, CA.  They moved to Lawrence, in December of 1960.  She worked in housekeeping for Virginia Inn and Travelodge Motels of Lawrence, for many years.

Survivors include a daughter, Sandra Edwards; two sons, James Hooper Jr. and David Hooper Sr.; eleven Grandchildren; twenty six great grandchildren; and nine great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband James Hooper Sr.; son, Daniel Hooper Sr.; and a great grandson.

Friends may call from noon to 8 pm Friday, at the funeral home. The family will receive friends from 10 am to 11 am Saturday, before the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 1260 Lawrence, KS 66044.

Ms. Fayetta Renay Norwood

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Ms. Fayetta Renay Norwood died Jan. 4, 2014,  losing her battle with heart failure and kidney failureat at LawrenceMemorialHospital. She was born Nov. 13, 1954, in Winfield, Kan., the only daughter of Lafayette and Betty Ann White Norwood.

She graduated from WichitaHeightsHigh School in 1972, and went on to take some classes studying dentistry. In March 1976, she gave birth to her first child, Alexius S. Norwood (Lex). Two years after the birth of her second child, Akeshia R. Norwood (Kesh) in 1980, she moved to Topeka upon receiving a pianist position at First Church of God In Christ with fellow family friend and pianist Vickie Divers. As a local church pianist in Topeka, she began doing guest appearances for different churches around town and in 1984 became the musical director at Abundance of Life Church of God in Christ, in which she remained until 1985. In 1985, she and her children moved to Lawrence to be closer to family, and became the musical director for Overcoming Church of God in Christ, and was there from 1988-1994. From 1994 to present, she went on to hold several musical positions for the City of Lawrence, from playing piano for the Lawrence chapter of Women’s Aglow, to also playing for the “LINK” food outreach program, and aided her mother, Betty Ann Norwood, for several years.  In 2004, she moved to Albany, New York, to join her son in writing and recording music, writing over 120 Gospel songs, essays, short stories, and poems over a period of 20 years, living in such places as Albany, Houston, and Nashville, where she did some original recordings of her musical works. While residing in Nashville, she became ill, and with a combination of loss of family members and illness, decided to move back to Lawrence with son Alexius (Lex) in 2012.

On Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, Fayetta lost her battle with heart failure and kidney failure.

She leaves to morn two children, Alexius S. Norwood and Akeshia R. Norwood, one brother, Cory Norwood, her father, Lafayette Norwood, and two nieces, Ashlynn and Janee’ Norwood, all of Lawrence, and a host of friends and relatives.

She joins in glory brother Seth E. Norwood and mother Betty Ann Norwood. Her legacy is and was to be a power woman of God first, a good mother, and a faithful servant using the gift God gave her providing her musical talents to the Church Of God In Christ for over 25 years…she will be missed.  May she rest in peace.

Funeral services will be at 2 pm Friday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends from 1 pm until service time Friday.  Memorial contributions are suggested to the Fayetta Norwood Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Dorothy Marie Robertson

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Dorothy Robertson, 86, of Mission, Kan. passed away December 30, 2013, in her sleep.  Services will be held at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence, with a visitation on Thursday, Jan. 9th  from 5-7 pm, and funeral services on Friday, Jan. 10th at 10 am.  Burial will follow at Rock Creek Cemetery near Overbrook, Kan.

Dorothy was born November 21, 1927, in Kansas City, Kan., to Glenn and Ethel Schuetz.  Dorothy grew up in Kansas City, Kan., and graduated from Turner High School in 1944, where she was crowned Homecoming Queen.  Dorothy worked for a time as a beautician prior to starting a family with Marvin D. Robertson whom she married in 1947.  Dorothy and Marvin lived in Kansas City prior to moving to Lawrence in 1989 to be closer to the family farm in Overbrook.  They also loved spending time at their home in Prescott, Ariz.  Dorothy was always on the go, and spent every weekend at the farm, the trains, or traveling with Marvin.  She loved to entertain, and there was always a homemade cake, brownie, or some new treat from her kitchen.  Dorothy was a former member of the St. Agnes Altar Society and the Junior League of Johnson and Wyandotte counties.  Dorothy’s only brother, Bill, passed away in December, 2012, and Marvin passed away in 2007.  She is survived by daughter Marcia Tremonti, Jacksonville, Fla., son Jeff Robertson (Christy), Shawnee, Kan., daughter Julia Prideaux (Tony), Lawrence, grandchildren Holly Monson, Jessica and Andy Robertson, Nicholas, Matthew, and Maegan Tremonti, Madisonne and Landon Prideaux, and two great grandchildren.

 

Dale Francis Hunter

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Services for Dale Francis Hunter, 91, Topeka, will be 10 a.m., Saturday, January 4, 2014, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence, Kansas.

Mr. Hunter died Tuesday, January 1, 2014, at his home.

He was born May 10, 1922, in Garrison, Kansas, the son of Samuel Francis and Vivian Foley Hunter. 

Mr. Hunter served in the United States Army Air Force during World War II in Europe and was a POW in Sweden.  He became an electrician in 1948 with IBEW Local 226 until retiring in 1963. 

He was also a life member of the Wellsville American Legion and enjoyed attending gospel meetings, and had a great sense of humor.

He married Ruth Winchell in 1945.  He later married Hazel Benskin in 1974 and lived near Eudora, Kansas.  He moved back to Topeka after Hazel’s death in 2005.

Survivors include a son, Roger Hunter and wife Karen of Topeka, Kansas; daughter, Judy Doyle, of Topeka, Kansas; step daughters, Hazel “Lady” Davis, Susan Woods, Judy Dennigstein, and Nancy Freeman; a sister, Elsie Mead; and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until service time on Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice House, sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 1260, Lawrence, KS 66044.