OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Mary C. Reid, 86, passed away Thursday, July 4, 2019, at Osage Nursing Center, Osage City, Kan. She was born Feb. 1, 1933, in Portageville, Mo., the daughter of George Washington (“Cap”) Stewart and Etta Lucy (Hart) Stewart.

Mary graduated from City of St. Louis High School in 1951. She married Mirl Qualls, in 1951. They moved to Bushong, Kan., and finally ended up in Barclay, Kan. They had four children. Later they divorced. Mary then married Wallace Reid, of Osage City. He preceded her in death. They had one son.

CARBONDALE, Kan. – William Bobby Gunnells, 76, of Carbondale, Kan. passed away peacefully at his home on June 27, 2019, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Bobby was born in Olar, S.C., on April 12, 1943, the son of Shelley Gunnells and Judith Hair Gunnells.

Bobby married his high school sweetheart Margaret “Maggie” Sheddan, on Aug. 21, 1965, in a church at Forbes Field, Topeka, Kan.

Master Sergeant Gunnells retired from the 108th Aviation Regiment after serving 27 years in the United States Army National Guard. After serving his country he went to work at the Walmart Distribution Center, in Ottawa, Kan., for 10 years. 

CARBONDALE, Kan. – Thomas H. Robison, 85, originally from Carbondale, Kan., and most recently of Topeka, Kan., died on June 25, 2019. Tom was born Oct. 23, 1933, in Topeka, the son of Willard and Ethel (Smith) Robison.

He attended Carbondale High School, graduating in 1951, and was a member of the state championship basketball team in 1951.

Tom married his high school sweetheart, Jean Dawson, on April 25, 1953, in Carbondale. Tom received a bachelor’s degree from Washburn University in 1958 and a master’s degree from Emporia State in 1963. He started his career as a basketball and football coach and taught high school chemistry and physics.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Mary Lou Stromgren, 73, passed away on Monday, June 24, 2019, at Stormont Vail Health, Topeka, Kan. Mary Lou Jones was born on April 6, 1946, in Emporia, Kan., the daughter of Glenn Wayne and Bernice (Standiferd) Jones.

She graduated from Lebo High School in 1964.

She was joined in marriage to Derald Wayne Stromgren, on Sept. 18, 1966, in Lebo, Kan. To this union, two sons were born, Brian and Kevin. For 40 years, Mary Lou and Derald owned and operated Stromgren’s Greenhouse, at Osage City, Kan.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Samantha Josephine “Josi” McGoyne, 21, of Overbrook, Kan., left this world to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, June 19, 2019, after a brief struggle with pancreatitis. She was born Jan. 14, 1998, in Lawrence, Kan., the daughter of Phillip and Vicki (Cloud) McGoyne.

Josi graduated from Santa Fe Trail High School in 2016 and earned her CNA license. Her specialty was working with memory impaired and dementia patients. Her sweet, loving personality made that a perfect fit, and she touched peoples’ hearts wherever she went.

LYNDON, Kan. – Ila Smoot, 70, passed away on Sunday, June 23, 2019, at her home in Lyndon, Kan. She was born on Aug. 8, 1948, in Topeka, Kan., the daughter of Clayton Ray and Beulah Basel. She was later adopted by Harry Anderson.

Ila was raised in Topeka until the family moved to Berryton, Kan., in 1959. She attended grade school and middle school in Berryton.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Alma Lucille “Lucy” Schiffelbein, 94, of Topeka, Kan., died June 20, 2019, at Rolling Hills Health Center. She was born Aug. 19, 1924, in Skidmore, Mo., the daughter of Roy and Grace (Straw) Fosdick.

Lucy married Worland Cox, of Blue Mound, Kan. She later married Alfred F. Schiffelbein, on Jan. 26, 1973, in Topeka. He preceded her in death on April 17, 2006. 

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Buddy Stuart Steinle, 84, of Osage City, Kan., passed away June 20, 2019, at home. Bud was born Jan. 7, 1935, in Burlingame, Kan., the son of Ernest and Anna Steinle.

Bud attended school in Burlingame, graduating in 1953. He was very athletic and participated in football, basketball and track during high school. Following high school he attended Emporia State University, graduating with a degree in business education. In June 1957, he joined the Army Reserve, serving six months active duty followed by six years in the Osage City Reserve Unit under the command of Capt. Earl Meyer. Following his return from active duty, he went to work for the state of Kansas in the Highway Right of Way Division.

VASSAR, Kan. – Leonard Elmore, 83, passed away on Thursday, June 13, 2019, in Topeka, Kan. He was born July 5, 1935, in Arkansas City, Kan., the son of Clarence and Gladys Leonard Elmore.

Leonard grew up in Wellington, Kan., and had lived in Topeka before moving to Osage County in 1970. He had lived near Vassar, Kan., for several years.

CARBONDALE, Kan. – Donald James Heronime, 87, passed away on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kan. He was born Sept. 17, 1931, to Gus and Elizabeth Urban Heronime, in Wichita, Kan.

Don attended several schools through his youth, and graduated from Plevna High School in 1951. He joined the U.S. Army immediately thereafter at the age of 17 and served for six years.

Don’s army career began at Fort Benning, Ga., for his initial training. He served two combat tours in Korea as an infantryman during the Korean War, earning the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars. Don was also stationed at Warner Kaserne, Munich, Germany.

LYNDON, Kan. – Ruby Lewis, 91, passed away on Sunday, June 9, 2019, at her home in Lyndon, Kan. She was born on March 19, 1928, in Branson, Mo., the oldest daughter of Oscar and Francis Beckwith Rhamy.

Ruby lived in southern Nebraska before moving to Lyndon, where she has lived for the last 60 years. Ruby was a homemaker, and then worked as a clerk in the Lyndon Post Office. She then worked at the distribution center in Topeka and later served as postmistress at the Leroy, Kan., and Scranton, Kan., post offices.

MELVERN, Kan. – George Donald Rice, 95, passed away on Thursday, June 6, 2019, at Midland Hospice House, Topeka, Kan. He was born on May 9, 1924, in Maxon, Kan., the son of Fleming and Goldie Sutton Rice.

Don, as he was known, had lived most all of his life in the Melvern, Kan., community. He served in the United States Army in World War II in the European Theater. He worked for the Santa Fe Railroad as a clerk and then as a yardman. He was a member of the Melvern American Legion Post 317 and the 40 & 8 group, and was a Melvern city councilman and a volunteer on the Melvern Fire Department. 

URBANA, Mo. – Richard Eugene Traphagan, 59, passed away June 1, 2019, at his home in Urbana, Mo. He was born Oct. 4, 1959, in Topeka, Kan., the son of William Traphagan and Ivadel Woodyard Martin.

Richard grew up in the Scranton, Kan., area and attended Santa Fe Trail High School. He later moved to Baxter Springs, Kan., and had lived in Urbana for the past five years.

NEWKIRK, Okla. – Sandra Vergil Cline, longtime Newkirk, Okla., resident and former Newkirk librarian, died Tuesday morning, June 4, 2019, at her home. She was 90.

The daughter of Virgil Vere and Emily Jeannette (Adams) Sherrod, Sandra was born Dec. 20, 1928, in Garber, Okla. A short time later the family moved to Perry, Okla., where her father was employed by the Perry Daily Journal. Her sister, Juhree, and brother, Kim, were born there. At the beginning of World War II, the family moved back to Newkirk where both parents were raised, and the children were welcomed too.

LEBO, Kan. – Eric Eugene Johnson, 61, Lebo, Kan., died at his home on May 30, 2019.

Eric was born on Feb. 15, 1958, at Ottawa, Kan., to Leon Johnson and Sharon Lee (Gragg) Johnson.

Eric graduated from Melvern High School, Melvern, Kan., in 1976. He spent most of his life as a construction welder and mechanical maintenance technician, both here and abroad.

LYNDON, Kan. – Tanya Trego, 61, passed away on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at St. Francis Hospital, Topeka, Kan. She was born on July 15, 1957, in Henrietta, Okla., the daughter of Carl and Analou Baker Higgins.

Tanya had lived in Lyndon, Kan., for the past 30 years. She had worked at Ned Hiatt’s RV Sales for several years.

CARBONDALE, Kan. – Elaine Ratcliff, 67, passed away Sunday, May 26, 2019, at her home in Carbondale, Kan. She was born Feb. 2, 1952, at Wheaton, Mo., the daughter of Jess and Clydene Kaster Lemons.

Elaine received her bachelor’s degree from the Alaska Computer Institute. She was the senior operator in the call center at the Topeka Veterans Administration Hospital.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Wayne O’Brien, 82, passed away on Monday, May 27, 2019, at St. Francis Hospital, Topeka, Kan. He was born Jan. 4, 1937, in Ottawa, Kan., the son of Andrew and Thelma Snethen O’Brien.

Wayne lived most of his life in the Overbrook community. He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957. He worked at DuPont, in Topeka, until his retirement. He was a member of Grace Community Church, Overbrook, and the Topeka Ski Club since 1984. He was a faithful KU fan and followed his kids and grandkids to their sporting events and concerts.

VASSAR, Kan. – James ‘Jim’ Heisler, 71, passed away on Friday, May 24, 2019, at his home at Lake Pomona, near Vassar, Kan. He was born Oct. 2, 1947, in Eureka, Kan., the son of Leland and Winifred Wryauch Heisler.

Jim grew up around the Eureka community and had lived at Lake Pomona for many years. He had worked in steel production for many years.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Ervin Gailey, 92, passed away on Monday, May 20, 2019, at Osage Nursing Center, Osage City, Kan. He was born on May 23, 1926, in Rocky Comfort, Mo., the son of Arthur and Ella Routhon Gailey.

Ervin grew up in Gentry, Ark., and had lived in Siloam Springs, Ark., before moving to Osage City in 1960.

Ervin owned and operated Gailey’s Cleaners, at Osage City, from 1960 to 1990. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was a member of the Osage City American Legion and the Salt Creek Lighthouse Assembly of God Church, Lyndon, Kan.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Benny J. Brouhard, 58, of Osage City, Kan., passed away at his home on Sunday, May 19, 2019. He was born Dec. 19, 1960, in Topeka, Kan., the son of Francis L. and Barbara Wood Brouhard.

He was raised in Topeka and lived there until moving to Osage County 20 years ago. He enjoyed hand working on knives and target shooting. Earlier in his life he enjoyed hunting. Benny also liked to spend as much time with his family as possible. He was known for his engaging personality and ability to give everybody a hard time.