Private family services will be held at a later date for Bruce Hamilton Beale, 75, of Stull. He died January 13, 2024, at his home.
Category: Obituaries
Valeria Alvena Cheek
Valeria Alvena Cheek sadly passed away on January 2, 2024, at the age of 60. She was born to Charles F. Ridinger and Maria D. Ridinger (Cisneros) on August 10, 1963, in Lawrence, Kansas. Valeria is survived in life by her eight children, Katie, Joshua, Jessica, Amanda, Samantha, Rachel, Bo, and William, along with 22 grandchildren and four great grandchildren and three siblings, Morris Archuleta, Sharon Ridinger, and Charles E. Ridinger. Also surviving of the home is her lifelong partner, Richard Walker III, Sasha and Bam, her two dogs. She was proceeded in death by her parents, and sister Corrine J. Torneden.
Valeria had a big family and she loved to cook. She enjoyed telling stories from her childhood, especially the ones that involved her grandmother Alvena Ridinger, whom she shares a namesake with.
Larry J. Alexander
Visitation for Larry J. Alexander will be on Sunday, January 21, 2024, from 4:00-6:00pm. He passed away on Monday, January 15 at Medicalodges of Eudora.
He was born on March 26, 1952 in Lawrence. The son of Francis L. Alexander and Betty L. (Deplue) Alexander.
He graduated from Lawrence Highschool in 1970 and worked in communications from 1970-2012.
Survivors include his mother, Betty Alexander (Lawrence), daughter Lori (Ottawa), son Larabe (wife Tammy, Lawrence), brother Duane (Lawrence), brother-in-law Steve (Fairfax, Virginia), 4 granddaughters, and lots of cousins, nieces, and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his sister, Rhonda Busch and his father, Francis L. Alexander.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Phoenix Hospice or Centenary United Methodist Church in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.
Friends may call from 4:00pm – 6:00pm on Sunday, January 21 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
John David Gates
Private family services for John David Gates, 41, of Lawrence will happen at a later date. He died January 12, 2024.
A full obituary will appear here at a later time.
Duane Ross Moon
Private graveside services for Duane Ross (Cotton) Moon will be at a later date. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Duane passed away peacefully on January 11, 2024, at his home.
He was born January 15, 1931, in Lawrence, the son of Daniel Ross and Olive Marie Moon. He attended schools in Lawrence.
Duane served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was a member of the American Legion. Duane was employed by DuPont in Tecumseh, Kansas for 27 years. He retired in 1985.
Duane married Dorothy Jean Trovillion on August 5, 1950, in Lawrence. Dorothy passed away on March 2, 2013. During their retirement years, Duane & Dorothy took trips to Hawaii and Alaska, and traveled extensively in their RV throughout the country making new friends along the way. They enjoyed spending time with their longtime friends, playing the slots at the casino and cards at one another’s homes. They loved attending their grandchildren’s school and sporting events. While at home, they enjoyed watching KU basketball, Chiefs football and Royals baseball. Duane often spent early mornings fishing with his son at Clinton & Perry Lakes.
Duane moved to Randy & Raelynn’s horse ranch in June, 2020, to live out his remaining years. While living there, he enjoyed using a zero-turn mower for the first time, driving a tractor, helping bale hay and transporting produce. Duane enjoyed watching the birds, especially the hummingbirds, and the deer who came daily for the scattered corn. He loved the view from his bedroom window of the open field and especially enjoyed watching the hawks hunting. As Duane’s health deteriorated, he enjoyed watching RV travel shows on YouTube and car racing in the quiet of his room. While he loved RV traveling with Dorothy, he also loved his final years on the ranch.
Survivors include two daughters, Linda (Jim) Young; Brenda (Dan) Hardtarfer; and a son, Duane Randall [Randy] (Raelynn) Moon, all of Lawrence, Kansas. Five grandchildren, Randi (Rory) Harms, Brandon (Shelby) Hardtarfer, Jaymie (Jon) Kuehler, and Baylie (Nick Bullock) Moon. Four great-grandchildren, Lillian Harms, Marlow Harms, Josie Kuehler, and Natalie Bullock. Also, numerous nieces and nephews. One grandchild, Cody Young, died February 23, 2017.
The family suggests memorials to Douglas County VNA Hospice, sent in care of the funeral home.
Hazel Marie Coleman
Hazel Marie (Sparks) Coleman, 82, died January 9, 2024 at Saint Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.
Hazel, also known as Maz by her family and many of her friends was born in Emporia, Kansas, the second child and first daughter to Margaret and Roy Sparks. Hazel grew up in the Emporia area and graduated from Emporia High School. Wishing to pursue college and a career so she could get her own apartment, she attended Friends Bible College, now Barclay College in Haviland, Kansas. A young man visiting from Friends University in Wichita introduced himself there. That young man was Ernest Jesse Coleman Jr. A whirlwind romance ensued: their first date was May 1, 1960, and by August 16, 1960, they were married.
Hazel and Ernie were both from large families, and after having two children of their own, they decided to open their home to foster children. The first two boys remained their permanent sons. After Ernie’s career led them to several Kansas towns, they had their youngest child and settled in Lawrence, Kansas in 1971. In addition to managing a household of up to 6 (six) children, Hazel also had several part-time jobs around Lawrence. Her final position was as a paraeducator at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School for 15 years before she retired in 2009.
Hazel was preceded in death by her husband, Ernie, her parents, Margaret and Roy Sparks, and three brothers, Roy Lee, Tom, and John Sparks. She is survived by her children, Candi Wilbur (Patrick), Craig Coleman (Amy) and Chris Self (Keith) all of Lawrence, Kansas, Dennis Hanlon (Barb) Fairview, Oklahoma and Ed Hamilton (Kathy) Iola, Kansas; one sister, Mary Beth Winters (Bob), Salina, Kansas; one brother, Bob Sparks (Regina), Emporia, Kansas; and her sister-in-law, Marilyn Sparks, Emporia, Kansas.
Hazel was a loving grandmother to her grandchildren, always available for support and advice and teaching many of them how to cook: Jordan and Jessica Coleman, Jesse and Melia Self, and step granddaughter Renee Robinson, Lawrence, Kansas; step grandson, Andre Robinson, Providence, Rhode Island, and Jamie Sherman (James), Woodward, Oklahoma, as well as several other grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Hazel was a charming woman of amazing strength, curiosity, and wisdom. No one was a stranger to her for long due to her calm engaging approach and interest in everything.
Internment will be private with a Celebration of Life, 1:oo P.M. Saturday, March 9, 2024 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home of Lawrence. Services will be live streamed by the family and can be watched at: https://youtube.com/live/HwY_L8ky6bU or by clicking here
Memories and condolences for the family may be left at rumsey-yost.com. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions made in Hazel’s name to Barclay College via the Rumsey-Yost website or by mail to Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana, Lawrence, KS 66044.
Ann Elizabeth Williams
No Services are planned for Ann Elizabeth Williams, 83, who passed away Saturday, January 6, 2024. She was cremated.
Annie was born in Chicago, IL, Oct. 3, 1940, where she attended public schools. She was the daughter of Allan Craft Williams and Louise Seavey (Foss) Williams, who predeceased her; she was also predeceased by a brother, Allan Cressey Williams. Survivors include many cousins.
Annie had a BA from Hiram College, Hiram, OH, in 1962, and a MS in Library Science from Syracuse University in 1963. She earned an MA in history from Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, in 1968 and a PhD in medieval history from Emory University, Atlanta, GA, in 1976. While in college she spent summer vacations working as a para-professional librarian at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, and the Peabody Museum of Anthropology, Harvard University, in Cambridge, MA. She received a fellowship from the American Association of University Women when she did her research in London, England. From 1976 until 1986 Annie often taught a night class in the KU History Dept, usually about medieval English history.
Annie worked as a librarian at Mount Holyoke College, 1963-1968, at American International College, Springfield, MA, 1971-1974, and at the University of Kansas Libraries 1974-2002. While at KU she worked in the Special Collections Dept. at Spencer Research Library, and later in the Cataloging Dept. in Watson Library. During her final years at KU she also was the library liaison with the KU Dept. of Religious Studies. After retiring she ran Annie’s Used Books and Search Service on the web until 2014, and also volunteered with the GED program at the Adult Learning Center here in Lawrence.
Contributions may be made to the Lawrence Humane Society, 1805 E. 19th St, Lawrence, 66046. Arrangements are with Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, Lawrence, KS. Online condolences can be made at rumsey-yost.com
Glen Dee Hildebrand
No services are planned at this time for Glen Dee Hildebrand, 95, Lawrence. He died January 10, 2024 at his home.
Glen lived in Lawrence for most of his life. He also lived in Florida where he enjoyed fishing and golfing.
He lived the last few years in Lawrence In Monterey Village with his wife Rose Marie.
Survivors include his wife of 75 years Rose Marie, One daughter in Prairie Village and a son in Tulsa OK, a grandson and two great granddaughters in Prairie Village.
Norma Mae Harrod
Norma Harrod was born in Ottawa, Kansas, in 1931, She was the daughter of Mae and Steve Ralph. She graduated from Ottawa High School in 1949 and graduated from Ottawa University in 1953 with a degree in Education.
In 1952, she married Vic Harrod, he preceded her in death in 2010. She was also preceded in death by an infant son, Blaine Ralph Harrod.
Norma spent her life as an educator, a career that spanned almost 70 years. Her intense drive to inspire young and old minds alike, took her thru several roles during her career. The majority was spent in the Lawrence community. She served as a speech and drama teacher and was sponsor of Junior Player and director of all school plays at West Junior High. She would then retire from her role as the district director for multimedia for the Lawrence School District. Retirement did not suit Norma, she quickly signed up to teach English as a second language to adults. This resulted in another career of almost 30 years where she met students from all over the world. Norma also served on the Lawrence Park and Recreation Advisory Board in the 60’s. She took great pride in the progress that board made in bringing the first community pool to serve ALL residents. Norma was also a published author in numerous publications.
Norma is survived by her daughter, Laurie Harrod Boyd; son V. Lynn Harrod and his wife Lisa; grandchildren Andrew Boyd and his fiancé Suzanne Stout (Indianapolis), Bree Beasley (Denver), Britt Beasley (Lawrence), and Bailey Salsbury and her husband Matthew (Topeka); five great grandchildren.
There will be a visitation at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home from 5:00-6:00 PM on Sunday, January 14. The family will celebrate Norma’s life at 10:00 AM Monday, January 15 at the Rumsey-Yost Funeral home and meet with friends immediately following the ceremony at the funeral home, PO Box 1260, Lawrence KS 66044.
The family would like to thank the 4th Floor staff at LMH and Pioneer Ridge AL for their sincere and dignified respect towards Norma. The family suggests memorials be sent in care of the funeral home to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Lawrence School Foundation.
Online condolences may be left at www.rumsey-yost.com.
Emmett Eugene Stovall Jr.
Emmett Eugene Stovall passed away Sunday, January 7, 2024 at home shortly after the Chiefs beat the Chargers. He had battled health issues for several years.
He was born July 7, 1956 in Junction City, Ks. to Emmett E. Stovall, Sr. and Claudia Booker Stovall.
He was a fisherman, a singer, a friend, a good son, brother, father, grandfather, and husband. He loved kids, especially his, Colt 45, the Chiefs, and KU basketball-Rock Chalk. He served in the US Airforce.
He met Kathie (Kat) in prison…where they both worked. They were married for 31 years. She survives of the home.
Emmett was preceded in death by his parents; his loving daughter, Zenobia, who liked going fishing with him; four brothers Ray, Leonard, John, and Francis (Lori), also his Uncle Claude and Aunt Betty.
Besides his wife, Kathie, he is survived by his children; Emmett E, Stovall III (his mom, Wrena); his stepchildren Alan Price, Jonathan Price (Nikki), and Molly Fraser (Josh); his brother, David Stovall; his sisters, Fay Taylor (Ron), Ann Salter (Lorenzo), Sharlene Rochester (Richard “Fly”), Carol Stovall, Carolyn Staten (C), and Peggy Malone (Gary) plus lots of nieces and nephews, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
His memorial service will be held at Venue 1235 at 1pm on January 20th with a reception to follow. Family is requesting no visitors to the home at this time.
Online condolences may be sent to www.rumsey-yost.com
