JEFFCOUNTYNEWS.COM

Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008

Betty Hunt

    Betty Marie Hunt, 85, Lawrence, formerly of Meriden, died Oct. 24, 2008, at Brandon Woods Care Center in Lawrence.
    She was born Dec. 30, 1922, at Meriden, the daughter of Sterlin Richard and Eva Frances Cook Whitlock. She was a lifelong resident of the Meriden area before moving to rural Lawrence in 2002.
    Mrs. Hunt was a school bus driver in the Meriden school district for 22 years. She also helped her husband in operating Hunt’s Service Station in Meriden for many years as well as working as an Avon representative.
    She married Marion Kencell Hunt Dec. 6, 1941, at Topeka. He survives at the home.
    She is also survived by one son, Harlan Hunt, Meriden; one daughter, Phyllis Wheeler, Lawrence; 12 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
    She was preceded in death by a son, Curtis Hunt, a grandson, Robert Wheeler, four great-grandchildren, a brother, and a sister.
    Graveside services were Oct. 27 at the Meriden Cemetery.
    Memorials can be made to Heart of America Hospice or to Jefferson County Home Health and sent in care of the Barnett-Chapel Oaks Meriden Chapel, P.O. Box 331, Meriden, 66512.

Donald Werst
    Donald D. Werst, 72, Topeka, died Oct. 23, 2008, at a Topeka care center.
    He was born July 10, 1936, in Ozawkie, the son of Christopher and Clara Webster Werst.
    He had worked at Burgess Used Cars.
    Survivors include son, Richard Dean Werst, Topeka; a sister, Wilma I. Freeman, Topeka; and one granddaughter.
    He was preceded in death by sisters, Zelma Weber and Fern Collins, and son, Russell Lee Werst.
    Graveside services were Oct. 27 at the Ozawkie Cemetery.
    Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice Care of Kansas, 2900-H SW Oakley, Topeka, 66614.
    Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel was in charge of arrangements.


Jackie Craft
    Jacqueline Joyce Craft, Valley Falls, died Oct. 27, 2008, at the Jefferson County Hospice Care Facility at Winchester.
    She was born Aug. 4, 1936, at Jane Lamb Hospital in Clinton, Iowa, the daughter of Lester Jake and Margaret Mae Gladhill Humphrey.
    She was a graduate of Clinton High School.
    She married Charles Lewis “Chuck” Craft Nov.15, 1957, at Topeka. They owned and operated Craft Retail Liquor Store in Valley Falls. He survives of the home.
    Also surviving are one son, Brent (Julie) Craft; a daughter, Brenda Wilbur, Valley Falls; two brothers, Charles Humphrey, Dewitt Iowa, and Jake Humphrey, Lobelville, Tenn.; two sisters, Joan Pinkston and Marylin Kupfer, both of Clinton Iowa; half-sister, Darlene Lorenson, Clinton; four grandchildren, Chuck (Callie) Craft, Meriden, Maggie (Jeff) Cannon, Holton, Kate Craft, Topeka, and Derrick Wilbur, Meriden; one great-grandson, Cameron Craft; and a special niece, Joyce (LeRoy) Boyd, Valley Falls.
    Mrs. Craft was preceded in death by a sister, Betty VanDorn, and two half-sisters.
    She will lie in state after 2 p.m. with visitation from 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 2. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3, at Penwell-Gable Funeral Home, Mid Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave., Topeka. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery, Topeka.
    Memorial contributions may be made to Jefferson County Hospice.

Lawrence Rogers
    Lawrence Glenn Rogers, 72, Gilchrist, Texas, formerly of the Perry and Williamstown communities, died Oct. 22, 2008, at Memorial Herman Hospital in Houston.
    He was born Nov. 11, 1935, at Perry, the son of Jewell Lee and Iva Opal Winfrey Rogers. He had lived in Gilchrist since 1992.
    He was a U. S. Air Force veteran.
    He married Mary Alice Oeltjen June 20, 1959, at San Benito, Texas. She survives at the home.
    Also surviving are three sons, Cary Rogers, Gilchrist, Gary Rogers, Lawrence, and Craig Rogers, Houston; three daughters, Audrey Nagy, Oskaloosa, Allene Spencer, Cushing, Texas, and Stacy Munsch, Port Bolivar, Texas; one brother, Dale Rogers, Topeka; one sister, Rosa Lee Perron, Crowley, La.; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
    Lawrence was preceded in death by a son, Alan Dale Rogers, in 1966.        Funeral services were Oct. 25 at the First Baptist Church in Stowell, Texas.
    Graveside services were Oct. 28 at the Underwood Cemetery at Williamstown.
    Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society and sent in care of Barnett-Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, P.O. Box 416, Oskaloosa, 66066.

Carrol Whitebread
    Carrol Lea Whitebread, 61, Gladstone, Mo., formerly of the McLouth and Lawrence areas, Oct. 22, 2008, at the Woodbine Health Care Center in Gladstone.
    She was born Dec. 20, 1947, at Lawrence, the daughter of Wallace Henry and Bertha Jones Rogers.
    She was a 1965 graduate of McLouth High School and attended U.C.L.A.
    She worked as an electronic assembler for Kantronics and King Radio in Lawrence for many years, before retiring with disability in 1988.
    She married Glen Walter “Walt” Whitebread May 18, 1983, at Mission. He preceded her in death July 11, 2001.
    She is survived by three sons, Tom Nessbaum, Pensacola, Fla., Eddie Nessbaum, Branson, Mo., and Michael “Mike” Barnes, Warrensburg, Mo.; one brother, Bill Rogers, Lawrence; one sister, Terry George, Oskaloosa; and three grandchildren.
    Funeral services were Oct. 25 at Lawrence Funeral Chapel. Inurnment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Lecompton.
    Memorials can be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and sent in care of the funeral chapel, 3821 W. 6th Street, Lawrence, 66049.