Obituaries

May 15, 2021

Theodore Robert Ford, 78, of Leoti, died Saturday, May 15, 2021, at the Wichita County Health Center, in Leoti. He was born March 18, 1943, in Troy, NY, to Theodore Roosevelt and Bernadette (Tudor) Ford. Theodore proudly served in the United States Navy. While stationed on an aircraft carrier, Theodore fought in the Bay of Pigs and received 4 medals...

May 13, 2021

Byron D Sowers, 69, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, May 13, 2021. He was born on July 15, 1951 at the farm in Thomas County Kansas to Geraldine (Duffey) Sowers and Byron H Sowers. At a young age, Byron accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and served him well throughout his life. As a young man...

May 5, 2021

Wilma Genevieve Staats was born on July 2, 1928 in Woodward, Oklahoma to G.G. and Mary Jane Staats. She passed away on May 5, 2021, at her home, in Colby. Wilma spent most of her childhood in Woodward, moving to Oklahoma City as a teenager where she graduated high school. In 1947, Wilma attended McPherson College where she met her...

May 3, 2021

Eugene W. Geisinger, 80, of Phillipsburg, KS, died Monday, May 3, 2021. He was born November 12, 1940, in Sheridan County, KS, to John and Anna (Goscha) Geisinger. Eugene graduated from Leoville High School and enlisted in the United States Army, in August of 1962. He was honorably discharged in 1963. Eugene farmed with his father and then worked in...

May 2, 2021

Lindola (Schuman, Baker) Merriman, 81, of Oakley, KS died May 2, 2021. She was born to John D. and Theodora E. (Vawter) Schuman on January 21, 1940 in Oakley, KS. She attended school in Oakley, graduating in 1958, then studied at Manhattan (Bible) Christian College for 2 years. Lindola married Francis Baker in 1960 and had a daughter, Melissa Lynne...

May 2, 2021

Janice Irene (Persell) Colgan was born January 3, 1941 in rural Phillips County, KS, the youngest of 3 daughters born to Dale and Mona (Molzahn) Persell. She passed away on May 2, 2021 at the age of 80, at the Good Samaritan Center, in Atwood, KS. Janice grew up in Norton, KS, where she attended grade school. She graduated High...

Apr 29, 2021

Alvin Frank Korte, 79, died Thursday, April 29, 2021, at his daughters’ home in rural Pierceville, KS. He was born May 7, 1941, in Brewster, KS, to Henry and Mary (Juenemann) Korte. When Alvin was 2, the family moved to a farm, near Selden, KS, where Alvin attended Violenta Country School through the 3rd grade, then Selden Elementary School until...

Apr 21, 2021

John Gerald Hansen died on April 21, 2021, at his home south of Colby. He was 89. He was born on March 18, 1932, in Kearney, Nebraska. His parents had moved there from Thomas County to be nearer to family. He was the third of three children born to John Hansen and Sadie K. (Jensen) Hansen, after sisters Lillian Elaine...

Apr 17, 2021

Gregory L. Phillippi, 66, of Oakley, died Saturday, April 17, 2021, at Logan County Senior Living. He was born June 17, 1954, in Wichita KS, to Louis and Naomi (McLaughlin) Phillippi. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Beverly. He is survived by his children, Matt (Jessica) Phillippi, of Kanarado, KS; Adam (Laura) Phillippi, Utah; Billy (Accalia)...

Apr 12, 2021

Kenneth Eugene Gatlin, 68, the best big brother ever, walked right into heaven on April 12, 2021. We are sorry not to have more days with Kenneth, but he is not sorry to now live in the presence of his Lord. Kenneth was born June 23, 1952, to Calvin and Joyce (Lauritsen) Gatlin and would be the oldest of eight...

Apr 6, 2021

Roy Dean Draper was born July 14th, 1939 in Smith Center, KS, the youngest son of Clyde W. Draper and Velma L. (Nonamaker) Draper. He passed away on April 6th, 2021 at the Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, KS. Roy grew up on the family farm south of Kensington, KS. He spent most of his summers working for relatives...

Apr 4, 2021

Truman Lee Coffman, 74, of Oakley, died Sunday, April 4, 2021, in Hays, KS. He was born January 12, 1947, in Sullivan County, MO, to Willie and Lenora (Woody) Coffman. After graduating high school, Truman joined the United States Navy. He served on the USS Lexington, in the Gulf of Mexico, for four years. After leaving the Navy, Truman did...

Mar 29, 2021

Mar 27, 2021

Mary Ellen Horton, longtime resident of Atwood, Kansas, died on March 27, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Center. She was born on October 3, 1921, near the Sappa Creek, west of Achilles, in Rawlins County, to Frankie Brown and Josephine (Josey) Raber Brown. Mary Ellen had two older brothers, Robert Clarence and Thomas Raber (Bud) Brown. She graduated from Atwood...

Mar 26, 2021

Victor D. Johnson, age 81, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 26 at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. Victor will be lying in state on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 from 10:00 am ~ 7:30 pm, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary with a Rosary Recitation starting at 5:00 pm. Family will be present from 5:00 pm ~ 7:30...

Mar 21, 2021

JB Cox, 95, of Atwood, died Sunday, March 21, 2021. He was born Sept. 6, 1925, to Ray Ardel and Mary Gertrude (Brown) Cox, in Hill City, KS. He was the fourth of five children, Marvin, Ada Fae (Jerry Bell), Mary Jo (JC Youngblood), and Dorothy (Jack Knudson). They all preceded him in death. JB spent his early childhood on...

Mar 19, 2021

Emery LaVerne Hart, 77, of Grinnell, died Friday, March 19, 2021, at Hays Medical Center. He was born October 21, 1943, in Solomon, KS, to Solomon and Minnie (Seward) Hart. Emery graduated from Hoxie High School in 1962 and attended Fort Hays State University, where he lettered in football and wrestling, graduating in 1967. On August 8, 1965, Emery married...

Mar 19, 2021

Vicki Lynn Cox was born June 16, 1948 in Wray, Colorado, to Beulah and Ron Ashliman of Idalia, Colorado. Vicki’s father, Ron, was a decorated veteran of World War II, and managed a fuel delivery business in the Idalia area. Vicki attended elementary school in Idalia, continuing with school in Denver and Greeley, graduating there in 1966. Older brothers Lance...

Mar 17, 2021

Alden “Hank” Ames Olson was born on July 15, 1930 to Ames and Bertha (Bourn) Olson, in Ludell, KS. He passed away on March 17, 2021 at the Good Sam center in Atwood, KS, at the age of 90. He attended the Ludell school until high school. Later he attended Rawlins County High School where he graduated in 1948. Hank...

Mar 17, 2021

Louise Asbridge, 83, of Oakley, passed away March 17, 2021, at her home. She was born April 3, 1937, in Rural Ellis County, KS, to Leo and Rosa (DeChant) Schoenberger. Louise married Rex Asbridge on December 6, 1957. To this union was born seven children, Kathy (Terry) Dunn, Karen (Bill) William, Herbert Dwayne (deceased), Rex Junior (Mary), Charles, Loretta (DeWayne)...