Category: Obituaries

Dr. Theodore A. ‘Ted’ Kennedy

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Dr. Theodore A. “Ted” Kennedy, 100, Lawrence, was laid to rest at Leavenworth National Cemetery, on October 21, 2013.

Memorial services for Dr. Theodore A. ‘Ted’ Kennedy, 100, Lawrence, will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory. Private inurnment will take place at Leavenworth National Cemetery. Dr. Kennedy died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.

He was born Oct. 18, 1912, in Lawrence, the son of Albert ‘Bert’ and Mary Theresa Kennard Kennedy. He graduated from Liberty Memorial High School, Kansas University, and the University of Missouri Dental School in Kansas City, Mo. Dr. Kennedy served in the United States Navy, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Cmdr.

Dr. Kennedy was a dentist in Lawrence for over 30 years. He was active in the Naval Reserves, and the Douglas County Dental Society. He was a lifetime member of the Lions Club, and enjoyed speaking to groups about local history. He also served as Mayor of Lawrence.

He married Grace Carter. She preceded him in death in 1985, as did a son, Ted F. Kennedy, two brothers, Jack and Bud Kennedy, and two sisters, Ruth Kennedy King, and Jane Kennedy Van Hoy. Survivors include two sons, Dr. David Kennedy and wife Betty, San Diego, Calif., and Dr. Pat Kennedy and wife Patty, San Leandro, Calif.; 5 grandchildren, ten great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorial contributions to Penn House, or to the charity of the donor’s choice, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.

Mary E. Harman

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Celebration of life memorial service for Mary Ernestine Harman, 92, Lawrence, will be at 2 pm, Saturday, October 26, 2013, at Clinton Lake Corps Overlook Area, Shelter House 1, Overlook Park 800 N. 1402 Rd. Lawrence, KS 66049.

Mary passed away peacefully Wednesday, October 23, 2013, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Mary (Perrenoud) Droz and sister, Alice (Droz) Snyder.

Born September 5, 1921, in Humboldt, KS, Mary was the youngest daughter of Ernest and Mary Droz. She graduated from Humboldt High School in 1939 and attended Neosho County Community College until 1941. She received a Bachelor Degree in Home Economics and Education from Kansas State University in 1943. Mary taught Home Economics at Thayer High School, Thayer, Kansas and at Tonganoxie High School, Tonganoxie, KS. After a vocation change to Registered Medical Technologist, graduating from Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas in 1949, she worked as a Med Tech at Santa Fe Hospital, Topeka, KS, and then at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Mary moved to Watkins Student Health Center in 1961 staying there for 25 years until she retired in 1986.

In 1951, Mary and Marcus Eugene Harman were married and moved to Lawrence KS to begin their life together. They were blessed with two children, Tom and his younger sister, Janet. Many from the area might remember the fireworks stand they setup each July in their front yard on Sixth Street for Tom and his friend Lee in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Mary enjoyed life and had many friends. She was an avid K-State fan and attended the Big 8 basketball tournament in Kansas City with the same group of friends for over 20 years so she could cheer on her Wildcats! She loved to travel and visited many places near and far from visiting castles and her Swiss relatives in Europe, to the tropical beaches of Jamaica and Mexico. She loved to visit any beach, walk in the sand, then sit back and enjoy a drink while the tide washed away all evidence of her footprints.

Love for family and friends was Mary’s specialty. Her love for them was always evident in her smiles and actions. She celebrated their joys and victories as well as knowing just what to say when they needed to hear kind words of support. Her quick wit often had them laughing. She will be truly missed and never forgotten.

Mary knew the importance of giving to your community and contributed in many ways. In a special ceremony, the Wallace Galluzzi Certificate of Appreciation was awarded to Mary in 2007 in recognition of her delivering “Meals on Wheels” for over 30 years in the Lawrence community. Mary also served as a Stephens Minister for the Plymouth Congregational Church which she attended while living in Lawrence.

Survivors include one son Tom and wife Sherry Harman, Linwood, KS; a daughter Janet and husband Jaimie Dewey, Dearborn, MO; two grandsons, Mark Harman and Scott Harman, and one granddaughter, Devyn Harman, all of Linwood, KS; an extended family member Kenneth Dewey, Eudora, KS; Mary’s longtime caregiver, Molly Landon, Lawrence, KS; and we can’t forget Spice, her loving cat.

The family suggests memorials to the Midland Hospice House, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, or the KSU Foundation, all sent in care of the Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Margaret Louise Hammig Snow

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Graveside services for Margaret Louise Hammig Snow, 90, Lawrence, will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Friends may call Sunday from noon to 8 pm. & Monday 9 am. to 8 pm. at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends Monday from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.

Mrs. Snow passed away Tuesday, October 22, at her home with her family.

She was born November 16, 1922 in Lawrence, to Erwin and Edith Broat Hammig.

Mrs. Snow married Charles Robert “Bob” Snow, July 16, 1942. They were married 66 years.

She worked along with her husband, raising and selling strawberries, rhubarb, asparagus, and other garden produce. Margaret enjoyed spending time in her flower garden, and helping raise her first grandson J.D. Snow. She also enjoyed spending time with her family and preparing home cooked foods for them. She was famous for her homemade strawberry jam. Margaret helped her husband Bob for many years put on Christmas dinners at the Flamingo Club in North Lawrence for families in need.

Survivors include her daughter Janice Prager, of the home; four grandchildren, J.D. Snow of Lawrence, Jamie Prager (Micki) of Oskaloosa, Amy Snow Franklin (Tim) of Lawrence, Charles R. Snow III of Topeka; and seven great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; a son, Chuck Snow; and brother, Erwin Hammig Jr.
Margaret was the inspiration of her family and will be deeply missed.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Hospice, Lawrence Humane Society, or Susan G. Komen for the Cure, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana, Lawrence, KS 66044.

David M. Butterfield

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A Celebration of Life for David Martin Butterfield, 60, Lawrence, will be at 11 am Saturday at Unity Church. David died Monday, Oct. 21, 2013, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He was an organ donor.

David was born June 17, 1953, in Kansas City, Kan., the son of Cecil and Joanne Wolgast Butterfield. He graduated from high school in Cincinnati, and later attended Otterbein (Ohio) College and Ottawa University. He was employed in residential services at Cottonwood, Inc. for ten years. He was an artist/cartoonist, and active in the EMU Theater, where he served on the Board of Directors for three years. At the time of his death, he was working on a production entitled “Horrorshow VII: Tales of Monsters, Malevolence and Mercy”

He married Connie Adams, and they shared seven years of marriage. She survives of the home. Other survivors include a son, Maxwell Butterfield, Lawrence; a step daughter, Jordan Crice, Chicago; his mother, Joanne Butterfield, New Bern, N.C..; and two brothers, John Butterfield, Arlington, and Gerry Butterfield, Cincinnati. He was preceded in death by his father, Cecil Clair Butterfield, and his first wife, Kimberle Rae Luther Butterfield.

Memorials may be made to EMU Theater, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home & Crematory, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.

Stacey Smith

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Memorial services for Stacey Smith, 48, Lawrence, will be Thursday, October 24th at 7pm, at Judah Worship Center, 409 E 12th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Funeral services will be Saturday October 26th at 1 p.m, Deliverance Temple, Alton, IL 62002. Burial will be in Alton Cemetery.

Mr. Smith passed Thursday, October 17, 2013, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

He was born January 18, 1965, in Hollandale, Mississippi, Son of Matthew and Ollie Smith. He was raised in Alton, Illinois, where he attended Alton Sr. High School. Stacey moved to Lawrence, Kansas in 1989. He studied computer science at DeVry University and Johnson County Community College, in Overland Park Kansas.

Stacey worked for Allied Signal in Lawrence, Kansas. He played a significant role in assisting engineers with product development, manufacturing processes, and issue resolution.

Stacey did not marry; though, he was very committed to his parents, siblings, nephews, and nieces. Stacey’s exceptional emotional intelligence, and selfless efforts, positioned him as the glue in which strengthened the family as a whole. He was instrumental in many successes and advancements for his family.

Other survivors include two brothers, Ledell Smith, Alton, IL; and Bruce Smith, Lawrence, KS; six sisters, Queen Slater, Alton, IL, Earleane Smith, FL, Brenda Venzen (Tony), Lawrence, KS, Flossie Smith, Alton IL, Genary Porter (Mark), Olathe, KS, Sharon Smith, Kansas City, KS; and a half brother, David Smith, Sacramento, CA; a sister-in-law Shirley Pearl Truner Smith.

He was preceded in death by his father Matthew Smith Sr., his Mother, Ollie Smith, four brothers, Matthew, Willie, Shelby, and Stanley Smith; a sister, Shirley Ann Smith, and a half sister, Katherine Dillard; a brother-in-law Clarence Slater.

The family suggests memorials to the Deliverance Temple, 1125 E 6th St. Alton, IL 62002, sent in care of the funeral home.

Sharon Kay ‘Sherri’ Cobb

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Services will be announced at a later date for Sharon Kay ‘Sherri’ Cobb, 68, Lawrence. She died Thursday, October 17, 2013, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Sharon Kay Cobb Memorial Education Fund, sent in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Kristopher Pete McDonald

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Funeral services for Kristopher Pete McDonald, 38, Topeka, will be 4 pm, Friday, October 18, 2013 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Inurnment will be 3 pm, Monday, October 21, at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Mr. McDonald died Thursday, October 10, 2013 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

He was born November 12, 1974 in Riverside, California to Pete Hoyt and Teresa Anne Fisher McDonald.

Mr. McDonald served in the United States Marine Corp as well at the United States Army National Guard. He was deployed five times, three in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, watching movies, playing frisbee golf, sports, shooting guns, swimming, and spending time outdoors.

Kristopher was a very giving person in life, as shown in his career choice. And was it is very evident that he was giving in death, being the first heart transplant donor at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He donated other organs as well.

He is survived by his parents; two brothers, Mitchell McDonald and wife Lisa of Linwood, KS, Michael McDonald of Topeka, KS; grandmother, Nancy Fisher of Lawrence, KS; cousins; and friends.

Friends may call from 9am to 8pm Friday, October 18, at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Kristopher Pete McDonald Memorial Fund, to help with funeral expenses.

Douglas Randolph “Randy” Evans Sr.

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Memorial Services will be Friday, Oct. 18, 2013 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home at 10:00 am. Military honors will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Mr. Evans died Friday, Oct. 11, 2013, at his home in Overbrook.
He was born September 8, 1956 in Lawrence, the son of Clifford Laverne Evans Sr. and Barbara June (Withers) Evans. He was raised in Lawrence.
Mr. Evans joined the U.S. Army after high school and retired after 18 years of service. He served in Desert Storm from 1991-1992 where he received the Bronze Star in 1991.

He married Rochelle L Burgett in 1972, they later divorced.

Randy was an avid music lover, musician, poet, artist and songwriter.
He is survived by one daughter, Barbra Ann Evans-Spotts of Phoenix, AZ; one son, Douglas Randolph Evans Jr. of Woodward, OK; six brothers, Richard W. Evans, Mark G. Evans, Dana A. Evans, all of Lawrence, Darryl A. Evans of Tonganoxie, Clifford L. Evans, Robin E. Evans of Overbrook; and one sister, Cheryl M. Evans of Rifle, CO.

The family suggests memorials to the Lawrence Humane Society, in care of the funeral home.
Family will receive friends at the Lawrence VFW following burial.