CARBONDALE, Kan. – John (Jack) Wesley Ard, 85, died June 8, 2017, at his home in Carbondale, Kan., with his wife and other family members present. He was born Aug. 8, 1931, in Osage City, Kan., to Elmer and Marie Harper Ard.

John lived most of his life in Osage County, and attended school in Osage City. He worked at a salvage yard in Osage City, and at IBP, in Emporia, for a short time. He also ran the 56 Auto in Scranton, selling cars and salvage until retiring and working in the yard and garden at home. He loved to grow tomatoes and melons.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Martha Mack, 69, of Topeka, Kan., died June 21, 2017, at Stormont-Vail Hospital. She was born Oct. 11, 1947, in Topeka, the daughter of Lance and Joan (Houston) Mack.

Martha was a licensed practical nurse working at the Colmery O’Neil Veterans Administration Hospital; she retired after 24 years. She enjoyed sewing, but most of all she was happiest when spending time with her grandchildren.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Nancy R. Thurston, 61, of Osage City, Kan., ended her journey here on earth and gained her wings, June 15, 2017, at Osage City Nursing Center, Osage City, Kansas. She was born Nov. 12, 1955, in Emporia, Kan., the daughter of Raymond and Bonnie (Gardner) Lohmeyer.

Nancy attended Osage City Schools. She married Lynn Thurston in 1972. They later divorced. She worked hard to make a home for her two children, Michelle and Travis. Nancy was known for her quick wit, independence, her smile, and sense of humor.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Maxine Miller, 92, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at Lexington Park care facility in Topeka, Kan.  She was born Ruth Maxine Brecheisen on Dec. 1, 1924, near Lyndon, Kan., the daughter of Clarence and Hallie McCreight Brecheisen.

Maxine had lived all of her life near Lyndon until moving to Topeka in 2006.

Maxine was a homemaker all of her life and also drove the school bus for the Vassar, Kan., grade school, hauled water, and was an Avon representative. She was a graduate of Washburn University, studying history. She was a member of the Vassar United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school and was a member of the United Methodist Women.  She was a member of the Red Hat Ladies at Atria Hearthstone, in Topeka.

On Dec. 27, 1957, Maxine was married to Robert O. Miller, in Vassar.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Shirley Ellen Simmons, age 80, passed away peacefully Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kan., with her daughter, Vicky, and son, Doc, by her side. She was born on Feb. 6, 1937, in Bear Creek, Mo., in Cedar County. She was the daughter of Dewey and Gladys King, of Stockton, Mo.

She was a graduate of Stockton High School, where she was named the outstanding girl athlete. Shirley thoroughly enjoyed athletics, square dancing, gardening, people, and spending time on her farm north of Overbrook. She was a huge Cardinal baseball fan, loved the KU Jayhawks, and supported her kids’ sports teams.

In 1954, Shirley was united in marriage to Ulen Simmons. They had a daughter, Vicky Simmons. They separated after a few years. Later Shirley married Charles Simmons and they had three sons, Eddy, Steve and Terry “Doc”, and a daughter, Mary Simmons. She eventually separated from him.

Raising her five kids remained the most important part of her life. Family, friends, and serving the community were Shirley’s passion and delight. Her greatest love was spending time with all her grandkids and attending their sports events.

In the late 50s, Shirley owned and operated the Corner Café in Stockton. She later lived in Iowa and Lawrence, Kan., where she worked at Boyd’s Grill and Hallmark. In 1962, she opened Shirley’s Café in Overbrook, a self- supporting and fantastic place to eat. Shirley became an iconic woman in Overbrook. She had great people skills and her constant joking with customers was almost as good as a “Shirley’s Special Hamburger.” Shirley sincerely loved people and enjoyed teasing them. She was an excellent cook and prepared home-cooked meals for her family and friends. Her staff consisted of her five children, grandchildren, and many local people, including high school students in Overbrook. She retired after 50 years.

WICHITA, Kan. – Ronald “Ronnie” Holland, 78, passed away Saturday, June 3, 2017, after suffering a massive heart attack while attending an all-school class reunion in Hamilton, Kan. Ron was born on June 14, 1938, in Hamilton, the son of Elwood and Velma Crowell Holland.

Ron graduated from Hamilton High School in 1955. After graduation, he worked for several farmers and also on an oil drilling rig in the Hamilton area. He then served in the United States Army at Ft. Carson, Colo.

On June 1, 1958, Ron married Carolyn Birkholz, in Eureka, Kan. They moved to Topeka, Kan., and Ron worked as a plumber for several companies and then at Forbes Field. They became interested in raising registered Limousin cattle and in 1974 they moved to a farm just west of Lyndon, Kan. They spent the next 20 years building an exceptional registered Limousin herd and were very active in both the state and national associations. Ron was a member of the Kansas Livestock Association, the North American Limousin Foundation, served as beef superintendent at the Kansas State Fair from 1998 to 2012, and he was inducted into the Kansas State Fair Wall of Fame. During these years, Ron and Carolyn were very generous in providing scholarships on both the Kansas and national level for youth interested in the beef industry. Ron was also active in the Pomona Lake Ski Club, where he provided most of the ski equipment for the handicapped. He supported PBS and providing service dogs for the handicapped.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Regina (Jeanne) Katherine McKinnon. 85, of Topeka, Kan., died on June 3, 2017 at the Topeka Presbyterian Manor. Jeanne was born in Frankfort, Kan., on Feb. 12, 1932, the daughter of John Elmer and Anna Cecelia (Fox) Lolley.

Jeanne was employed as a clerk for the Hat Box, which sold women’s accessories prior to her retirement. She bowled on several bowling leagues, enjoyed traveling and RV camping, and ballroom dancing, and was an avid reader.

She was a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church.

Jeanne married William “Bill” McKinnon in Wamego, Kan., on March 17, 1950.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Eugene Robinson, 98, passed away on Friday, June 2, 2017, at Vintage Park, Osage City, Kan. He was born on Dec. 1, 1918, in Burlingame, Kan., the son of Fitzhugh and Lucille Griffin Robinson.

Gene, as he was known to all, grew up in Burlingame and had lived many years in the Kansas City area before retiring to Holiday Cove on Pomona Lake. He had been at Vintage Park for the last several years.

Gene served with the United States Army in the 28th Division during World War II, in Europe. He worked for the Santa Fe Railroad as a brakeman and conductor for 38 years. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge 18, of Ottawa, Kan., a life member of the VFW post in Ottawa, and American Legion Post 125, Lyndon. Gene had been a member of the Vassar United Methodist Church, Vassar, Kan., and he was a founding member of the Vassar Polecats bluegrass music group.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Elizabeth Miller, 96, passed away on Friday, June 2, 2017, at Presbyterian Manor in Topeka, Kan. She was born on Oct. 22, 1920 in Lyon County, Kan., the daughter of Charles and Nellie Thomas Gilliland.

Elizabeth had lived in Lyndon, Kan., for 56 years before moving to Topeka in 2005. Elizabeth was a homemaker most of her life, but she had worked at Boeing in Wichita during World War II, at Smitty’s Dress Shop, in Lyndon, and she was the Lyndon city treasurer for two years. She was a member of the Lyndon United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women, where she held several offices, and Eastern Star. She had also been a member of several bridge clubs, which she enjoyed.

On July 8, 1942 Elizabeth was married to Lee Edward Miller, in Emporia, Kan. 

EMPORIA, Kan. – Keith L. Smulling, 84, formerly of Osage City and Miller, Kan., passed away June 2, 2017, at his residence in Emporia, Kan. He was born April 30, 1933, southwest of Miller, the son of Wilbur Byron and Anna Mabel (Long) Smulling.

He graduated from Miller High School in 1951.

He was joined in marriage to Patricia “Patsy” J. Guy on Feb. 14, 1954. The couple traveled all 50 states together.

Keith worked in water and gas maintenance for the city of Osage City for many years. He also loved raising cattle. He was a faithful Kansas basketball fan to all the area teams and most importantly the Kansas Jayhawks.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Judith L. Pickens, 76, passed away Monday, May 29, 2017, at her home at Osage City, Kan. Judith Lucille Peek was born Sept. 21, 1940, in Topeka, Kan., the daughter of Charles O. and Helen G. Peek. She graduated from Highland Park High School in 1958.

She was united in marriage to Richard Ora Pickens on Dec. 21, 1958, in Topeka. They met on a blind date set up by their friends.

Judy was a homemaker, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved to play bingo, but most important was her family, they always came first. She was a member of the American Legion Post 198 Auxiliary.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Janice Woods, 64, of Overbrook, Kan., passed away on May 29, 2017. Janice’s parents, father Kenneth Powlas from Wisconsin and mother Margaret from Oklahoma, met at Haskell. Janice was born Nov. 12, 1952, in Kansas City, Mo.

Janice graduated from Turner High School in 1970. She attended Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence, Kan., and received a BS in education.

She married Mike Downs in Kansas City, Kan. She raised her family at Louisburg, Kan. Janice and Mike were married for 25 years. She later married Guy Woods in 2002. She and Guy moved to Hohenwald, Tenn., for a couple of years. Guy’s poor health resulted in them moving near his family at Fairfax, Mo., north of St. Joe, Mo. After Guy died she returned to Lawrence and then on to Olathe, Kan., and finally Overbrook to live at Brookside Manor, near one of her sons.

READING, Kan. – Kenneth E. Newton Jr., 69, Reading, Kan., passed away Saturday, May 27, 2017, at Emporia Presbyterian Manor, Emporia, Kan. He was born April 18, 1948, in Emporia, the son of Kenneth E. and Helen Marie (Geraghty) Newton Sr.

Kenneth graduated from Reading High School in 1966.

Kenneth was joined in marriage to Mary Ann Jones on July 11, 1970, in Emporia.

Kenneth owned and operated Newton Oil Company and also worked as an auctioneer and woodworker. He was a member of the Lions Club, Jaycees and Eagles, and was a Reading City Council member. He volunteered with 4-H woodworking.

VASSAR, Kan. – Gerald Scheid, 98, passed away Friday, May 19, 2017, at Midland Hospice House, Topeka, Kan. He was born on May 16, 1919, near Vassar, Kan., the son of Henry and Edna Kraft Scheid.

Gerald had lived all of his life around the Vassar community.

He was a farmer and stockman, and had worked for the Kansas Forestry Department planting trees around the Pomona and Melvern lakes. He had also worked at Pomona State Park and then for Rural Water District No. 3. He started the Vassar 4-H in 1938, was a community leader for over 60 years, member of the Vassar and Lyndon school boards, State of Kansas 4-H Family of the Year in 1987, and a member of the Vassar United Methodist Church.

On May 2, 1944, Gerald married Belva Jane Bowman in Pomona, Kan. To this union six sons were born.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Thomas Orde Sapp, 49, passed away Friday, May 12, 2017, at St. Francis Hospital, Topeka, Kan. He was born Dec. 19, 1967, in Emporia, Kan., the son of Thomas Francis and Connie Jo (Crocker) Sapp.

He was a car washer at Branine Motors, Osage City, Kan.

Tommy will be forever remembered by his mother, Connie Jo Gilliland, of Osage City; two brothers, Kenneth Sapp, Burlington, Kan., and Paul Allen, Osage City.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Carol Ann (Northcott) Fischer, 75, of Overbrook, Kan., passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2017, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook. Carol was born on Jan. 17, 1942, in Emporia, Kan., the daughter of Clarence Russell Northcott and Esther Fern (Baxter) Northcott.

Carol grew up in the Waverly area and graduated from Waverly High School with the class of 1959. She moved to the Overbrook community in 1963 with her husband, Cliff. She was a lifelong homemaker.

A founding member of Grace Community Church at Overbrook, Carol was also a member of Gideons International Auxiliary. Carol was the church piano player at the churches she attended for 55 years. 

LYNDON, Kan. – Daisy Lucille (Kunkel) Schneider, 99, passed away on Thursday, May 11, 2017, at the Osage Nursing Center. She was born on May 14, 1917, at Scranton, Kan., the daughter of Otto and Elizabeth Harrison Kunkel.

She grew up in Scranton, and had lived on a farm near Lyndon, Kan., and has lived in Lyndon since 1971.

Daisy was a homemaker and had worked as an aide at Hilltop Nursing Home, Lyndon. She was a member of the Vassar United Methodist Church, Vassar, Kan.

On August 21, 1935, Daisy was married to Fredrick Schneider, in Lawrence, Kan.

Daisy was preceded in death by her husband, Fred, on Oct. 2, 1982; her parents, Otto and Elizabeth; three sisters, Margaret Haas, Helen Griffin and Ruby Schneider; and an infant brother.

Daisy is survived by her son, Larry (Mary Ann) Schneider, of Lake Oshawno, north of Carbondale, Kan.; daughter, Betty (Bennie) Warren, Lyndon; and seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Paul Crouch, 68, Topeka, passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2017. He was born Aug. 6, 1948, in Topeka, Kan.

He was raised at Burlingame, Kan., and moved to Topeka when he was 15. Paul was drafted into the U.S. Army and served and received the Purple Heart for wounds he received in battle during the Vietnam War. He returned home to Topeka and began working at Seaboard Allied Milling. Cargill bought the mill and he continued working there until he retired in 2011. He attended Gage Park Baptist Church after originally moving to Topeka and Faith Lutheran Church in later years. He enjoyed fishing. He will be remembered as a loving and caring husband, father, brother and grandpa.

He was married to Duranna Rannebeck on May 4, 1969.

POMONA, Kan. – Marilyn Miller, 81, passed away on May 4, 2017, at the Ottawa Retirement Village, Ottawa, Kan. She was born on Aug. 16, 1935, in Garnett, Kan., the daughter of Hubert “Slim” Feuerborn and Maude Bowman.

Marilyn grew up in Garnett, had lived in Ottawa, Vassar, Kan., and Pomona, Kan.

She graduated from Ottawa High School. She worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 23 years, and was the postmistress in Pomona until she retired in 1992. She was a member of the PTA and Booster Club in Pomona. A member of the National Association of Postmasters of the U.S., she was northeast district president, vice-president, secretary-treasurer and state editor. She was one of four original founders of the Don Marrs Cancer Research Scholarship at Kansas State University, and a past member of the Ottawa Business and Professional Women Organization.

MELVERN, Kan. – Duane Young, 88, passed away on Sunday, April 30, 2017, at Sunset Manor, Waverly, Kan. He was born on April 7, 1929, on the family farm southeast of Melvern, Kan., the son of Vincent and Agnes Andre Young.

Duane lived all of his life near Melvern, and graduated from Melvern High School in 1947.

Duane was a farmer and stockman all of his life. He had also worked at Osage Products for a time, and was a field assistant for ASCS (Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service), in Lyndon. He was a member of the Melvern United Methodist Church.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Margaret L. Morehead, 95, a lifelong resident of Osage County, passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at Vintage Park at Osage City, Osage City, Kan. Margaret Lucille Regenold was born Aug. 2, 1921, in Osage County, the daughter of William M. and Eva (Harrison) Regenold.

She graduated from Osage City High School in 1939, and attended business school in Topeka. She lived in Topeka and worked in the office at Morrell’s Meat Packing Plant until marrying Winston and moving back to the Osage area in December of 1945.

She was joined in marriage to Winston W. Morehead on Feb. 24, 1945, at her parents’ home on the Regenold family farm. He preceded her in death on Dec. 13, 1999.