Thursday, April 30, 2009

Obituaries Archive

Michael Scott Jeffries

Michael Scott Jeffries, 21, Perry, died April 20, 2009, at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

He was born July 9, 1987, at Topeka, the son of George T. and Carolyn S. Pittman Jeffries.

Michael graduated from Perry-Lecompton High School. He was employed at the Hereford House, Pet World, and the University of Kansas.

Surviving are his parents of Perry; a sister, Rebecca M. Corazzin, Uncasville, Conn.; two brothers, James T. Jeffries, Topeka, and John D. Jeffries, Perry; his fiancee, Ashley Shoemaker, Perry; and grandparents, Harold and Maxine Pittman, of Missouri.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 25, at the Perry United Methodist Church.

Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel of Topeka is in charge of arrangements.

Michael Payne

Michael Eugene Payne, 57, Topeka, died April 21, 2009, at a Topeka hospital.

He was born Oct. 6, 1951, in Topeka, the son of Victor E. and Marjorie A. Heitman Payne. He graduated from Meriden High School in 1969.

He was employed by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for 39 years before retiring. He was a member of the United Steel Workers Local Union No. 307 and District 4 ABATE.

He married Darlene F. Allington May 14, 2005. She survives.

Other survivors include his children, Stefany C. Payne, Topeka, Ella M. Haverfield, Ft. Worth, Texas, Jeremy W. Payne, Joshua E. Payne, Ambrosia Z. Martinez, all of Topeka, and James D. Vincent of the home; six grandchildren; two brothers, Daniel G. Payne and William D. Payne, both of Meriden; and one sister, Kathie Slater, Meriden.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Mary C. Stilley.

Services were April 25 at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. Burial was in Meriden Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to ABATE of Kansas, Dist. No. 4, 610 Elm, Perry, 66073 or to Christian Cavalry Ministries International, P.O. Box 137, Grantville, 66429.

G. Roland Ross

G. Roland Ross, 91 Perry, died April 22, 2009, at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka.

He was born June 3, 1917, in Ozawkie, the son of Glenn and Alice Lowe Ross. He graduated from Perry Rural High in 1935 and was a member of Perry United Methodist Church and Masonic Lodge No. 415.

He was a farmer and also co-owned and operated Ross Brothers Construction and worked for Hamm Quarries as a quarry supervisor for 35 years.

He married Jean Bernice Bliss July 30, 1938. She preceded him in death Sept. 10, 2001. He then married Gladys June Schafer May 3, 2003. She survives of the home.

He is also survived by a son, James M. Ross, Osage Beach, Mo.; a daughter, Marilyn J. Rees, Grantville; stepsons, Calvin E. Schafer, Galena, Ill., Donald L. Schafer, Pacific, Mo., and Patrick B. Schafer, Perry; three grandchildren; seven stepgrandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister and a brother.

Services were April 27 at the Perry United Methodist Church. Burial was at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Perry.

Memorials can be made to the Perry United Methodist Church and sent in care of Barnett Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, PO Box 416, Oskaloosa, 66066.

Grace Lurvey

Grace M. Lurvey, 87, Delafield, Wisc., died April 22, 2009, at the Shorehaven Health Center.

She was born July 20, 1921, in Valley Falls, to Charles E. and Grace E. Olden.

She married LeRoy H. Lurvey Feb. 7, 1942. They had met while working at the St. Johns Military Academy in Delafield. He preceded her in death in 1976.

After his death, Mrs. Lurvey went to work at the Olympia Resort and was employed there for 25 years. In 2002, she moved to Hillside Senior Apartments in Delafield.

She was a member of the Delafield Presbyterian Church where she was a deacon, taught Sunday school, and sang in the choir. She was a 50-year charter member of the P.E.O. Chapter CU, a 50-year member of the Eastern Star, Oconomowoc-Hartland Chapter 13, and a charter member of the Legion Auxiliary in Delafield.

She was diligent in maintaining contact with 13 girls in her Sub-Deb Club from high school. They all continued to correspond with each other for over 70 years.

She is survived by two children, Barbara Harris, Las Vegas, Nev., and Robert Lurvey, Oconomowoc; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by a brother, Charles H. Olden, and a sister, Ruth E. Edgette.

Visitation will be held from noon until the 3 p.m. funeral service on Saturday, May 2, at the Delafield Presbyterian Church, 1851 N Genesee Street. Burial will follow at the Ottawa Cemetery.

Memorials can be given to the “Fund of Remembrance” at the Delafield Presbyterian Church, 251 N Genesee Street, Delafield, WI 53018.

Schmidt & Bartelt Funeral Home, Oconomowoc, is serving the family.

Doris Moore

Doris Mildred Moore, 90, Valley Falls, died April 25, 2009, at the Midland Hospice House in Topeka.

She was born Oct. 29, 1918, in Emerson, Neb., the daughter of Seth Thomas Blanchard and Mable Emma Wilson Allen.

Doris was a graduate of Emerson High School. She helped out on the family farm and was employed by the Kansas Department of Revenue as a secretary. She also worked as a professional seamstress.

She was a member of the Jefferson Assembly of God Church, Meriden.

She married Henry W. Moore. They were divorced.

Survivors include two sons, Dan Moore, Ozawkie, and Don Moore, Valley Falls; a daughter, Lynn Howell, Boise, Idaho; three brothers, Harold Allen and Roy Allen, both of Valley Falls, and Tom Allen, Helendale, Calif.; and five sisters, Eunice Osburn, Cathedral City, Calif., June Brown, Austin, Texas, and Lois Kientz, Evelyn Allen, and Patsy Frommer, all of Valley Falls; six grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by an infant son, Wynn Moore, a granddaughter, Roslyn Burns, and four brothers, John Allen, Donald Allen, Richard Allen, and Lloyd Allen.

Services were April 28 at the Jefferson Assembly of God Church in Meriden. Burial was at the Ozawkie Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to the Jefferson Assembly of God Youth Mission Fund and sent in care of the Barnett-Chapel Oaks Meriden Funeral Chapel, PO Box 331, Meriden, 66512.

Karen Sue Shell

Karen Sue Shell, 69, Aberdeen, WA, passed away Friday, April 24, 2009 at the family home in Central Park surrounded by her devoted family. Karen fought ovarian cancer valiantly and without complaint for four years.

Karen was born on November 21, 1939, to Earl and Mabel Abramson in Arrington, Kansas, joining two older brothers.

She graduated from Atchison County Community High School in 1956 and later attended the University of Kansas for two years, the genesis of her devotion to all things Jayhawk.

On August 31, 1958, she married Charles Henry Shell in Valley Falls, KS. Chuck and Karen celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary this past year.

In 1970, Karen and Chuck relocated their family from Kansas to Washington State, residing in Spokane, Bellingham and finally Aberdeen in 1980.

Karen returned to college in 1986, graduating from Grays Harbor College and ultimately the University of Washington at age 48. Karen worked at many banks throughout her career, but upon graduation from UW, she was employed by the Washington State Department of Revenue for 15 years, retiring in 1997.

Upon retirement, she and Chuck RV’d extensively throughout the United States, including memorable trips to the East Coast, Mexico and Alaska. Karen spent many hours quilting graduation gifts for her grandchildren. She also loved the outdoors — favorite activities included gardening, clamming at Washington beaches, oystering on Hood Canal and even fishing with Chuck on the Washington coastline.

Surviving family members include her husband, Charles Shell of Aberdeen, WA; children Pamela (Mike) Rasanen, Bellevue, WA, Kimberly (Dan) Martin, Issaquah, WA, Timothy Shell (Lynn Hunt), Ridgefield, WA, Patrick (Lisa) Shell, Aberdeen, and Samuel Shell, Lincoln City, OR.; brothers Orville (Darlene) Abramson, Aurora, CO and Carson (Elaine) Abramson, Hiawatha, KS; and grandchildren Karina and Peter Rasanen, Ty, Paige and Alison Martin, and Helen Shell.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 2, at the Valley Falls United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Friday, at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society and sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, 810 Broadway, Valley Falls, KS, 66088. Online condolences are at mercerfuneralhomes.com

Paid obituary

Helen Beaver

Helen Marie Beaver, 74, Cohoes, N.Y., formerly of Perry, died April 26, 2009, at Troy, N.Y., after a brief illness.

She was born March 10, 1935, at Mosby, Mo., the daughter of Othie Lee and Mary Jane Thompson Hughes.

She had lived in Cohoes since 2003, moving from Perry.

Mrs. Beaver was a hair dresser in Perry for many years. She worked at K-Mart distribution center in Lawrence, where she retired.

She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, chapter No. 431 in Perry, and the China painting Association.

She married Eugene “Gene” E. Beaver Dec. 2, 1956, at Paola. He preceded her in death Jan. 15, 1999.

Survivors include two sons, Dave Conway and Mike Conway; one sister, Jeanie Smith, Shawnee; and one grandson.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 1, at Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Oskaloosa. Burial will be at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Perry.

Memorials can be made to the American Diabetes Association and sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 416, Oskaloosa, 66066.

Eileen McQueary

Eileen McQueary, 83, Phoenix, Ariz., died April 21, 2009, at the Hospice of the Valley in Phoenix.

She was born July 28, 1925, in Topeka, where she lived until she moved to Phoenix, Ariz., 19 years ago.

She donated the land to the Rock Creek Bible Church to build the church where it stands today.

She was preceded in death by her parents Guy and Grace Peck, her brother Wallace Peck, and her husbands, Clarence Brown, Edward Moorehead, and John McQueary.

She is survived by a son, Kirby Brown; four grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

She was employed by the Santa Fe Railway and the state of Kansas Retirement Division. She was also a long time volunteer at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.

A memorial service will be held at Rock Creek Bible Church, Meriden, at 3 p.m. Friday, May 1.

Memorials can be made to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, Ariz., 85014.

Arrangements were entrusted to Advantage Colonial Chapel, Phoenix.

Obituaries Archive