Category: Obituaries

Shirley Ann Harris

Posted on by RumseyYost

Funeral services for Shirley Ann Harris, 82, North Lawrence, will be at 1 pm Monday, January 9, 2023, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. A visitation will be held Sunday, January 8th from 2-4 pm at the funeral home. Shirley passed away Thursday, December 29, 2022, at her home, surrounded by family.

Shirley was born April 12, 1940, in Richmond, Kan., the daughter of Walter Harvey Grammer and Ruby Elizabeth (Rist) Grammer. The 8th of 10 children, she is survived by a sister, Beulah Anderson and a brother, Gerald Grammer. She was married to Milton Earl Harris, who preceded her in death. They had three daughters, Candy K. Terry, Judy Lynn Powers, and Sheila Ann Harris. They had six grandchildren, Heather, Shea, Taunya, Kristen, Randy, & Emmaline, and 16 great grandchildren, Kalob, Bailey, Holden, Cory, Gary, Anna, Hanna, Eli, Anthony, Addy, Arya, Hunter, & Mary Jane.

Shirley spent her life taking care of her family and making sure their needs were met. After the kids grew up, she played pool which she enjoyed. She has many plaques and trophies and even went to Las Vegas with her team. She also enjoyed gardening and going on trips with her husband and just enjoying life.

 

Marcia Ann Tyhurst

Posted on by RumseyYost

Private family services with inurnment in Independence, Mo. will take place at a later date for Marcia Ann Tyhurst, 77, Eudora, who passed away Sunday, December 25, 2022, at LMH Health.

She was born January 22, 1945, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Arnold V. Sr. and Martha Bloomquist Johnson. She was a homemaker.

She married Robert W. ‘Bob’ Tyhurst and together they shared 57 years of marriage. He survives, as do their three children, Sherri, Amy, & Troy.

 

Melba Elaine Bartlett

Posted on by RumseyYost

Melba Elaine (MacBeth) Bartlett, 83, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2022 at Meadowlark Estates in Lawrence, Kansas. She was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 9, 1939. She married Thomas Bartlett on October 16, 1957; Tom preceded her in death in 2015. Survived by daughter, Denise (Jeff) Cyzman, loving partner, Gary Forister, and son-in-law, Gary (Susan) Granke. Three daughters preceded her in death, Pam Granke, and Mary and Elaine Bartlett. Loving grandmother to Jeff (Michelle) Granke, Scott (Crystal) Granke, Courtney Cyzman, and Ryan (Carly) Cyzman. Great-grandmother to Emma and Cody Granke, Thomas Manly, and Jack Cyzman. Cherished aunt to many nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her grandson, Aaron Granke, parents, Melvin and Billie (Schniers) MacBeth and two sisters and brothers-in-law, Patricia (Chuck) Smallwood and Joanne (Jim) Mitchell.

Melba worked as a paraprofessional at Southfield Public Schools, where she also served as a union president. She enjoyed cooking for families and friends, and was known for her Christmas fruitcake and decorated birthday cakes. Equally enjoyable to her was going out to eat. She and Tom loved to travel throughout the United States and on cruises. Melba was deeply spiritual with ties to the Catholic and Presbyterian faiths, and she enjoyed singing in the church choir.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Michigan this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan.

Lester D. Traxler

Posted on by RumseyYost

Funeral services for Lester Traxler will be held Saturday, January 7th at 11:00 at Rumsey Yost Funeral Home with visitation at 10:00.

Lester peacefully went to be with the Lord on December 23rd at his home with family by his side.

He was born August 18, 1930 to Ralph and Josephine (Shirck) Traxler in Lecompton.  He graduated from Lecompton High School in 1948.

He was drafted into the Army in 1951 and served until 1953 in Austria as a high speed radio operator. After returning from the Army he began working at FMC in Lawrence in 1954 and retired in 1991.

He married Catherine Emery on March 13, 1960. She preceded him in death on the same date, December 23, 1990.

Watching sports was a favorite activity rarely missing a KU Jayhawks, Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas City Royals game.  Raising cattle was also an important part of his life. Right up until the end he was still concerned that the cows would be taken care of everyday.

He was a longtime member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Topeka.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Catherine and brothers John Traxler and Louis Traxler and sister Elizabeth Norris.

Survivors include daughter JoAnna of Lecompton, son Dale (Diana) of Hoyt, 3 grandchildren, Aaron (Megan) of Kansas City, Mo, Nathan (Sarah Burkhart) of Scottsdale, AZ and Catherine of Fort Collins, Co and great-granddaugher Emmaline and several  nieces and nephews.

During his health problems of the last month his nurses always commented about his great smile and how much they enjoyed that even though he wasn’t feeling well. That smile will certainly be missed.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Prairie Wind Hospice, P.O. Box 641, Baldwin City, KS, 66006.

Phyllis Jean Gibler

Posted on by RumseyYost

Phyllis Jean Gibler (Nichols), 90, of Baldwin City, KS, passed away peacefully Tuesday December 20, 2022, at Wellsville Health and Rehab, Wellsville, Kansas.

Phyllis was born in the community of Vinland (Baldwin) on January 19, 1932, to Marlin (Nic) and Mildred (Schmidt) Nichols. She grew up in and lived her entire life in the Vinland Valley area just north of Baldwin City.

Phyllis graduated from Vinland High School in 1949.  She was a homemaker and managed the Farm’s accounting and other activities, and was quite resourceful.  Armed with a needle, a spatula, a mixer or a pair of pliers, she could make herself and others be the best dressed individual, create an eight course 5 Star meal, bake a smorgasbord of deserts, decorate a room, and repair or repurpose an item. She was active in the PTA, a 4-H leader and a life member of the Vinland Church of Christ, being a person of deep faith.

She married Kenneth “Paul” Gibler on March 12, 1950, settling in the same community she was born. She raised four children.

Phyllis was an amazing cook and baker, teaching all of her children and grandchildren those life skills, especially making cinnamon rolls and cheesecakes. She was an accomplished seamstress, creating an untold number of outfits throughout the years.  In addition, she canned hundreds of jars of produce from the annual garden, had a keen eye for decorating, used her green thumb to grow any plant indoors or outdoors, always having a brilliant flower garden.

She was preceded in death  by her Father, Marlin; Mother, Mildred; Husband of 58 years, Paul; Infant Grandson, Michael Hitchcock;  and Daughter-in-law, Janey Gibler.

She is survived by daughters: Pauletta (Bob) Baxter of Little Rock, AR; Rhonda (Ric) Hitchcock of Baldwin City, KS; and sons: Kent Gibler, Topeka, KS and Kevin (Lori) Gibler of Kansas City, MO; grandchildren: Kristin (Mark), Jason (Jodi), Joshua (Devon), Lindsey (Josh), Madison and Mitchell (Teagan); Great Grandchildren: Pia, Evie, Johnny, Alma, Jude, Willa, Vidallia, Christian, Sylvie, Charlie Rose and Tatum;  Sister, Betty Williams of Baldwin and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials can be made to the Vinland Cemetery Association or the Vinland Fair Association.

Services will be held on Monday January 2, 2023 at 2:00 PM at the Vinland Church of Christ, 1702 N 700 Rd, Baldwin City, KS, 66006. Visitation will be 1 to 2 pm preceding the funeral service at the Vinland Church of Christ.

A special appreciation goes to the staff of Wellsville Health and Rehab, Vintage Park of Baldwin City, and Gentiva Hospice for their quality and thoughtful care.

James Bruce (Jim) Chapin

Posted on by RumseyYost

Services for James Bruce Chapin, 84, will be held at 2pm,Wednesday January 4th at First Christian Church, 1000 Kentucky Street, Lawrence, Kansas.

Jim was called home Sunday, December 18th, 2022 with his family by his side.

He was born November 26, 1938 in Downs, Kansas, son of Brad and May Chapin. He graduated from Lebanon high school in 1957. He married his life long love, Betty Jean Ritter,  August 31, 1959.  Together they shared 63 years of love and laughter.

The arrival of their first born son, James Brad came in 1960, followed by daughter, Debra Jean in 1962. Jim and Betty moved to Smith Center in 1966 where they added to their family with a son, Jerry Earl that same year.

Jim was a hard worker through the years, providing for his family. Working at the Smith County Pioneer newspaper for more than 20 years. He also worked as the maintenance supervisor at Bethesda Care Center in Smith Center.

In 1995 he became owner/operator of the Modern Aire Motel, Highway 36, Smith Center, where he worked side by side with Betty. They shared their talents and hospitality there until 2007. At this time they moved to Lawrence Kansas to be near their children and grandchildren. Jim continued his work as the Maintenance supervisor at Wyndam Place Senior Residence in Lawrence until 2019. As well as volunteer work at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Survivors include wife Betty and daughter Debra of Lawrence. Son Jerry of Perry, Kansas with his wife Teresa. Three Grandsons, Spencer Chapin of Pineville Louisiana with  his wife Samantha. Mitchel Masten of Lawrence and Harrison Chapin of Perry, Kansas. He also leaves a legacy of love for 5 great grandchildren. Tanner, Conner and Lanie of Pineville, Louisiana and Felix and Trinity of Lawrence, Kansas.

He was preceded in heaven by his son, James Brad, his parents and 3 brothers, Brad Jr, Gene and Glen.

Graveside services at Fairview Cemetery, Smith Center, Kansas pending.

The family suggests memorials made to Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260 Lawrence, Kansas 66044.

Ernest T. ‘Ernie’ Brewster

Posted on by RumseyYost

A Celebration of Life for Ernest T. ‘Ernie’ Brewster, 87, of rural Baldwin City, will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 11th at Lawrence First Church of the Nazarene, with the Rev. Robby Giffin officiating. Ernie passed away Thursday, December 15, 2022, at Olathe Medical Center.

He was born March 25, 1935, in Lawrence, Kansas, the son of Albert H. Sr. and Laura Mason Brewster. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1954 and later attended Manhattan Bible College. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1957 until 1961. Ernie worked for Farmland Industries for 35 years. In his free time he enjoyed wood carving, mowing the church grounds, and carpentry. Another of his hobbies was bee keeping.

Ernie was a long time member of Lawrence First Church of the Nazarene, and was involved in the selection of the current property, the planning for its de-velopment, and the construction of the current building. He could be seen regularly greeting attendees at the door to welcome them to the services.

He married Gail Mae Weischedel on September 2, 1961, in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. She survives of the home. Other survivors include children Michelle Brown (Michael), Olathe, Jonathan Brewster (Jennifer), Baldwin City, and Lorraine Foster, Prairie Village; siblings Tharold Brewster, Clarks-ville, Tennessee, Rosa Jane Fowler (Allen), Linwood, Glen Brewster (Mary-lin), Modesto, California, William Brewster (Janet), Temescal Valley, Califor-nia, Gerald Brewster (Terry), San Luis Obispo, California, and Phillip Brew-ster (Carol), Lawrence; and grandchildren Robert (Alyssa) and Jason Brew-ster, Mikhaila, Mikhenna, Miguel, Mikah, Mikholai, and Mailhani Brown, and Olivia Foster; and a great-granddaughter Melina Brewster.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Donald Brewster and Albert H. Brewster, Jr.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Lawrence First Church of the Nazarene.