Category: Obituaries

Margaret M. Deay

Posted on by RumseyYost

Margaret M. Deay, 98, Lawrence, passed Apr. 6, 2013 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She was born November 2, 1914 in Douglas County to William J. and Iva Curtis.

She owned and managed Margaret’s Cafe on West 23rd for 20+ years before retiring in 1973. She was renowned for her family gatherings, smile, fried chicken, pies, love of African violets and dancing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother (Roy), sister (Francis) and son (Bill).

She is survived her son (Fred), five grand children (Lauree’, Fred-II, Shane, Terry, Elaine) and five great grand children (Julie, Aaron, Lori, Nicole, Justin) and five great great grand children (Steve, Aubri, Matt, Andrew, Luke), daughter-in-law (Pat) and dear friend (Violet).

A memorial service will be held a later date.

Memorials may be offered to Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Stanley Lynn Helweg

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Stanley Lynn Helweg, born on March 30, 1954, went to be with his Lord on April 3, 2013. Stan was diagnosed with gastro-esophageal cancer in June 2012. After a courageous battle, he passed peacefully at his home in Eudora, Kansas.

For the past 32 years, Stan lived as a faithful, hard-working family man. His heart’s desire was to glorify the Lord Jesus, who he loved and served for over 40 years.

Stan’s family includes his wife, Michelle Helweg, and his children, Elizabeth (Helweg) and Micah Louis, Michael and Laura Helweg, Rebekah (Helweg) and Ben Peabody, David Helweg and Lopez Helweg, and his grandchildren, Mercedes Peabody and Emerald Peabody.

A celebration of Stan’s entrance into heaven will be held at Christ Community Church in Lawrence, KS on Monday, April 8, 2013, at 2:00 pm. There will be a visitation at the same location, on Sunday, April 7, 2013, from 2-4 pm and 6-8:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Christ Community Church, to help defray the family’s medical and funeral expenses, in care of the church, 1100 Kasold Dr., Lawrence, KS, 66049.

Cheryl Lee Suitt

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Memorial service for Cheryl Lee Suitt, 54, Lawrence, will be at 2 pm Saturday April 6, 2013, at Worden United Methodist Church. 294 East 900th Road Baldwin City, KS 66006. Cheryl died peacefully at her home, April 2, 2013.

She was born June 19, 1958, in Lawrence, the daughter of Leslie “Skip” and Helen Harrell. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1976. She was a life long resident of Douglas County. Prior to being diagnosed with brain cancer in April 2011, she worked 16 years as the Inventory Manager at Clinton Parkway Hy-Vee. She was a member of the Worden United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her husband of 30 Years, Michael P. Suitt; a daughter, Leslie Dlugosh and husband Dave of Spring, TX; a son, Joey Suitt and wife Amber of McLouth, KS; two stepsons Michael Suitt Jr., ST. Joe, MO, and Kevin Suitt, 29 Palms, CA; 5 grandchildren and 5 step grandchildren. Other survivors include her parents, mother-in-law Florence Suitt, Topeka; a sister, Twilla Brown and husband David, Baldwin City, KS; a brother Michael Harrell and wife Penny, Lawrence, KS and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Elvin and Lois Herschell; one grandfather, Russell Harrell, and father-in-law, Charles Suitt.

The family suggests memorials to Head For The Cure Foundation, sent in care of the funeral home 601 Indiana Lawrence, KS 66044.

J. Jack Clark

Posted on by RumseyYost

Services for J. Jack Clark, 69, Lenexa, will be 10 am Saturday, April 6, 2013, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

J. Jack passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on Monday, April 1, 2013, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.

Mr. Clark was born in Winchester, KS, June 1, 1943, the son of Jewell Herman and Wanda Juanita Cowan Clark. He graduated from Lawrence High School in Lawrence, KS, and later attended Kansas University.

J. Jack proudly served as a Boy Scout Leader for Troop 351 and the BSA Heart of America Council for many years. Mr. Clark also served as a U.S Marine, was a member of the Monticello United Methodist Church, Shawnee, Kansas, a Mason, and a member of the VFW auxiliary of De Soto.

J. Jack married Virginia Ann Nichols on July 14, 1979, in Ozawkie, KS. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include two sons, Jay J. Walburn, Oskaloosa, and Jason J. Clark, Lenexa; one daughter, Jackie Clark Zensen, and husband Karl, Lawrence; a step-father Leo Shaw, Lawrence; one brother Dave Shaw and wife Kelly, Las Vegas; two sisters, Suzie Craig and husband Carl, Lawrence, and Trudy Sipes, Lawrence; four grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Clark was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will begin at 9am Saturday and services will begin at 10am.

The family suggests memorials be made to BSA Heart of America Council, sent in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana Lawrence, KS 66044.

Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com

John K. ‘Jack’ Brandau

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Services for John K, ‘Jack’ Brandau, 82, Lawrence, will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 29, 2013 at Cornerstone Family Church, 128 E. 6th Street, Tonganoxie, Kansas. Mr. Brandau died Tuesday, Mar. 19, 2013, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Jack married Kathleen ‘Katie” Donovan in 1952, and together they shared 50 years of marriage. She preceded him in death in 2002. Survivors include a daughter, Julie Martin and husband Jerry, Lawrence; a son, Jeffery Brandau and wife Cindy, Tonganoxie; a brother, Gerald Brandau and wife Louise, Columbus, Ind.; six grandchildren, Jennifer Ankenbauer and husband Bill, Andy Martin and wife Monica, Tim Martin, Jack Brandau and wife Patri, Steve Brandau and wife Shannon, and Nick Brandau; and six great grandchildren, Matthew, Nate, Ty, Macy, Aria, and Christy.

Jack enjoyed life, family, and golf, and will be missed by family and friends. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.

Thomas Chester Skinner

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Funeral service for Thomas Chester Skinner, 79, Lawrence, will be 2 pm Friday, March 22, 2013, at Trinity Episcopal Church.

Tom was born in 1934 in Lawrence, the son of Chester Ernest Skinner and Irene Elsie Brabazon Skinner. He died Mar. 18, 2013, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He is survives by his wife, Shirley, of the home; three children, Carol Stevenson, Robert Skinner, and Ronald Skinner, all of Lecompton; three grandchildren, Ryan Skinner, Lecompton, Sarah (Matt) Koerner, Lawrence, and Timothy McLees, Christiansburg, Va.; one sister, Mary (Dennis)Stauffer, Lawrence; two great grandchildren, two step great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Tom served in the United States Army and was a retired truck driver. Among his interests were fishing, hunting, target shooting, and working on his farm. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

Friends may call from 8 am to 8 pm Thursday where the family will receive them from 5:30-7:30 pm at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Lecompton Volunteer Fire Dept. or Lecompton United Methodist Church in care of the Funeral Home.

Robert E. Ayres

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Remembrance for Robert E. Ayres, 80, of Baldwin City, will be held at the American Legion Hall of Baldwin City, Kansas on Friday, March 22, 2013.

Mr. Ayres passed away Friday, March 15, 2013, at home, with family by his side.

He was born in LaCyne, Kansas on April 11, 1932, the son of William and Vesta Grace Ayres.
Starting at a young age, Robert worked in the oil rig business for many years, taking him throughout the United States. He then worked for Linkenfelter Construction, Co for 11 years and retired in 1996 from the Baldwin City electrical power plant, where he was a plat foremen for 16 years.

He married Geraldine L. Stevens of Leavenworth, Kansas and they were together for 42 years. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include; Brother, William Ayres, Philipsburg, KS. Daughters; Lori C. Hargett, Baldwin City, KS, Julie Parks, Lawrence, KS, Jodie Pope, Kansas City, KS and Diana Wilkinson, Hallettsville, TX, Sons; Douglas Stevens, Baldwin City and Richard Stevens, Greeley; and many loved nieces, nephews, grand and great-grand children.

He is preceded in death by Brother, Dillard Ayres, Sister, Waneta Grace Parker, Son, Wiley Stevens, Grand-Son, Brian Stevens and Great-Granddaughter Kerrybeth Hall.

Robert was known for his sense of humor and love of story-telling. His family asks that you please join them in remembering their loved one from 4:30-7:30, Friday, March 22, 2013 at the Baldwin City American Legion Hall.

Cynthia Parker Hardman

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Funeral services for Cynthia Parker Hardman, 72, Lawrence, will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, with the Rev. David Rivers officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Cynthia died Saturday, Mar. 16, 2013, at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.

She was born Dec. 27, 1940, in Lawrence, the daughter of Thomas B. and Peggy Katherine Schenk Parker. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1958, and later attended Gulfpark Jr. College in Gulfport, Miss., and Kansas University. She worked in the family business, Jayhawk Bowling and Trophy, for many years. She later owned and operated The Type Shop, and ended her working career by following her father’s footsteps into the automobile sales and leasing business. She enjoyed cooking and reading and studying the Bible. In her earlier years, she enjoyed boating and waterskiing.

Survivors include two sons, John Hardman and wife Amy, Lawrence, and Bryan Hardman and wife Stashia, League City, Tex; two daughters, Mary Sites and husband Tim, Wichita, and Kari McCune and husband Brad, Manhattan; a brother, Tom Parker Jr. and wife Marty, Clarksville, Tenn.; and 8 grandchildren, Nathan, Alex, Thomas, Katie, Madison, Halle, Peyton, and Keller.

The family will receive friends from 5:30 – 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. The casket will remain closed. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Brandon Woods Employee Fund, in care of the funeral home, 601 Indiana St. Lawrence, KS, 66044.

George Kenneth Radin

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A memorial service for George Kenneth Radin, 55, Eudora, will be 2 pm Sunday March 24, 2013 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. He died Friday, March 15, 2013, at his home.

He was born in Detroit, MI., the son of George and Wilma Wagoner Radin.

He married Lorie Gassek for 7 years and later they divorced.

George and Christine met in 1984 and dated a year before he proposed. George married Christine Smith on November 1, 1985 in Milan, MI.

In 1978, George started working for General Motors. He was 21 years old. George and Christine Radin had their only daughter in 1988. Three years later in 1991 George, Christine and Starr moved to Burleson, TX to another General Motors Plant to further George’s career. George then transferred his family again in 1994 to Eudora, KS where they remain. He was able to see 35 years with the company.

Some of George’s likes were riding his Harley with family on beautiful summer days, spending time with friends, and exercising on his days off.

Survivors include his wife, Christine, Eudora; a daughter, Starr H., Lawrence; two grandchildren, Andrew H., and Jesse Jr. H., Lawrence; a sister Connie H., MI; a nephew Josh H., MI.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bikers For Babies, or Toys For Tots. Sent in care of the Funeral Home.

Marilyn P. Pratt

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Lawrence – Marilyn P. Pratt, 77, passed in peace on Friday, March 8, 2013 at Brandon Woods Retirement Community in Lawrence.

She is survived by a daughter, Bickell Lund of Eudora; a son, Wesley Pratt of Durham, North Carolina; two sisters, Judy Ruffing of Naples, Florida and Martha Carleton of San Francisco; a brother, Dewey Hughes of Ohio; four grandchildren and many friends. Marilyn was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Pratt.

Born and raised in Ohio, the daughter of Eva and Ralph Bunker, Marilyn also resided in San Jose, California; Kansas City; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and Chapel Hill, North Carolina; as well as travelling extensively during her lifetime.

Marilyn attended Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. She was fortunate enough to turn her love for literature into a career as a reading teacher.

Marilyn will be fondly remembered by her loved ones as a passionate and enigmatic woman known for her love of reading and her exotic garden, which was a celebrated part of the Gimghoul neighborhood in Chapel Hill. She never met a stranger, and her memory will live on through her many dear friends all across the world.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made in memory of Marilyn P. Pratt to either of the following organizations: Kansas VNA Hospice, 200 Main Street, Suite C, Lawrence, Kansas 66044; or Reach Out and Read Kansas City, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Mail Stop 1051, Kansas City, KS 66160.

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson