Mrs. Wiley worked at the Santa Fe Railway offices in Topeka, retiring in 1976 after many years. She was a member of the Rail Workers Union. She was a 1929 graduate of Oskaloosa High School.

She married Lew Wiley in 1942. He preceded her in death March 10, 1975.

Survivors include one sister, Lola Ross, Perry.

She was preceded in death by three brothers, Leo Hiebsch, Victor Hiebsch, and Gene Hiebsch; three sisters, Lucille Hiebsch, Mildred Robertson, and Mary Edmonds. Graveside services were Feb. 6 at the Pleasant View Cemetery in Oskaloosa.

Memorials can be made to Jefferson County Hospice and sent in care of Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, P.O. Box 416 Oskaloosa, 66066.

Della Kelley

Della Ruth Kelley, 87, Lawrence, died Feb. 4, 2009, at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She was born Nov. 22, 1921, in Hugo, Okla., the daughter of Thomas Elvin and Mary Doty Southerland.

She worked for the Gould National Battery Factory in Leavenworth for 26 years, retiring in 1977.

She was a member of the Baptist Community and the Eagles Ladies Auxiliary No. 56 in Leavenworth.

She married Douglas C. Kelly Dec. 5, 1965. They were divorced in 1982.

Survivors include two sons, Clarence E. Alexander, Leavenworth, and Douglas D. Kelley, McLouth; a daughter, Ruth “Carol” Silver, Lawrence; one brother, William L. Southerland, Los Osas, Calif.; one sister, Nora DeJacimo, Leavenworth; three grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one Grandson, Anthony “Tony” Alexander, a Grandson-in-law, David Swaggerty, and a Daughter-in-Law, Carolyn K. Alexander.

Graveside services were Feb. 8 at the McLouth Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to the great-great-grand children’s education fund and sent in care of the Lawrence Funeral Chapel, 3821 W. 6th St., Lawrence, 66049.

Sylvester Bartkoski

Sylvester “Sam” Bartkoski, 72, Tonganoxie, died Feb. 9, 2009, at his home.

He was born Oct. 17, 1936 in El Dorado Springs, Mo., the son of Joseph and Gladys Vickers Bartkoski.

He retired in 1995 as a pipefitter for Proctor and Gamble, Kansas City. He married Doris Tingle-Behymer in McLouth Aug. 21, 1987. A daughter, Kathleen Bartkoski, preceded Sam in death in 1967.

He is survived by four sons, Anthony Bartkoski, Gardener, and David Bartkoski, Mark Behymer, and Fred Behymer, all of Tonganoxie; seven daughters, Diana Beach and Donna Bartkoski, Tonganoxie, Susan Talbott, Wichita, Sharon Mathia, Topeka, Vickie Petrie and Linda Durkes, McLouth, and Cheryl Bryant, Oskaloosa; two brothers, Paul Bartkoski, Kansas City, and Tim Bartkoski, El Dorado Springs; 41 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Tonganoxie. Private burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Tonganoxie.

Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association.

Quisenberry Funeral Home, Tonganoxie, is in charge of arrangements.

Opal Parker

Opal Louise Parker, 98, Emporia, formerly of Ozawkie, died Jan. 28, 2009, at Emporia.

She was born May 2, 1910, at Joplin, Mo., the daughter John and Oma Sitton Marrs. She had lived in the Ozawkie Community many years before moving to Emporia in 1988.

She was a member of the Ozawkie United Methodist Church and attended the Grace United Methodist Church in Emporia. She was a member of Mount Pleasant Grange, the Lakeside Garden Club of Ozawkie and the Emporia Senior Citizens.

She was a 50-plus-year member of Order of Eastern Star Chapter No. 62 in Oskaloosa.

She married Dale L. Parker Dec. 13, 1930, at Topeka. He preceded her in death Nov. 24, 2001.

She is survived by one daughter, Janice Jensen, Council Grove; two grandsons; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Way of the Cross United Methodist Church of Ozawkie. Burial will be at the Ozawkie Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to the church or to the Emporia Senior Center and sent in care of Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, P.O. Box 416, Oskaloosa, 66066.

Ray Tarwater

Ray E. “Zeke” Tarwater, 81, Meriden, died Feb. 6, 2009, at the Midland Hospice House in Topeka.

He was born Aug. 7, 1927, at Grantville, the son of Ira and L. Hortense Long Tarwater. He was a lifelong resident of the area.

Mr. Tarwater worked as a truck driver for Frito Lay Co. in Topeka, retiring in 1990 after nine years. He formerly worked for the C.C.& F. Grain Elevators in North Topeka.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving from 1945 to 1946. He was a member of the Meriden Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 10815 and the Ozawkie American Legion Post No. 225.

He is survived by a son, Gene Tarwater, Meriden; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial services were at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at Barnett-Chapel Oaks Meriden Chapel.

Memorials can be made to Midland Hospice and sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 331, Meriden, 66512.

Evelyn Boatright

Evelyn L. Boatright, 88, Topeka, formerly of Meriden, died Feb. 8, 2009, at Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka.

She was born Nov. 8, 1920, at Rock Creek, the daughter of Orville Howard and Mary Helen Allen Lincoln.

She was a lifelong resident of the Meriden area.

Mrs. Boatright was a homemaker. She had formerly worked at the Forbes Field in Civil Service during World War II.

She was a member of the Grace Baptist Church in Topeka, the Shawnee and Auburn Granges and the Pleasant Hill Home Extension Unit. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 225 in Ozawkie.

She married Joe Ryon Boatright Nov. 4, 1945, at Topeka. He preceded her in death Feb. 2, 1991.

Mrs. Boatright is survived by one daughter, Mary L. Boatright, Topeka; two sons, Joe Boatright, Meriden, and Phillip Boatright, Topeka; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, Richard “Rich” Boatright, and a granddaughter, Dorie Boatright. Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Barnett-Chapel Oaks Meriden Chapel. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral chapel. Burial will be at Meriden Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to Evelyn Boatright Memorial and sent in care of the chapel, P.O. Box 331, Meriden, 66512.

Ivan Clare

Ivan Clare, 85, Meriden, went to be with the Lord Feb. 10, 2009, at St. Francis Hospital.

He was born at Ozawkie Oct. 23, 1923, to Michael and Ethel Funk Clare.

He graduated from Ozawkie High School. He farmed in the Ozawkie area until he retired 1988. His hobbies after retirement were square dancing, traveling, trapping and coon hunting.

He was a beloved father and grandfather.

He married Freda Clark in Ozawkie in 1952. They were divorced. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Lori Clare; a sister, Marjorie Durgin; and a brother, Walter Clare.

He is survived by one son, Eddie Clare, Meriden; three daughters, Linda Everhart, Topeka, Regina Brown, Valley Falls, and Darla Clare-Chew, Allen, Texas; a sister, Mildred Norris, Topeka; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren; and traveling and square dance companion, Leota Martin, Meriden.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Rock Creek Bible Church, at the junction of K-4 and K-92 highways. Visitation will be 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Barnett-Chapel Oaks Meriden Chapel. Burial will be at Ozawkie Cemetery.