OVERBROOK, Kan. – Samuel Wallis, 44, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence, Kan. He was born July 6, 1975, in Riverside, Calif., the son of Fonzell “Wally” and Ellen (Dickinson) Wallis.

Sam grew up around the Overbrook, Kan., community, and graduated from Santa Fe Trail High School in 1993. He wrestled in high school and was an avid hunter and fisherman. Sam served in the United States Navy, during which time he was involved in several missions that are still top secret.

BARCLAY, Kan. – Brent Lewis Trueblood, 55, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020, at Stormont Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan. He was born Aug. 22, 1964, in Emporia, Kan., the son of Bill Trueblood and Shirley Betts.

Brent attended Osage City High School and graduated with the class of 1982. After high school he would begin his lifelong career in the agricultural world with John Deere schooling.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Lester L. Arb, 83, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, at the Topeka Center, Topeka, Kan. He was born March 4, 1936, in Lebo, Kan., the son of Harvey and Nellie Childers Arb.

Lester grew up in Lebo, had lived in Lyndon, Kan., for 47 years and had been in Osage City, Kan., since 2008. Lester was a self employed carpenter, roofer and painter. He was a member of the Euclid Lodge No. 101 A.F.&A.M. and the Osage County Historical Society, both in Lyndon.

SCRANTON, Kan. – Jerry Ray Myers, 79, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kan. He was born Oct. 3, 1940, in Harveyville, Kan., the son of Ray and Doris (Evans) Myers.

Jerry served more than 14 years in the United States Navy as a guided missile maintenance technician during the Vietnam War. He then served in the Kansas Army National Guard, at Forbes Field, Topeka, Kan. He was a member of the Scranton VFW, Scranton, Kan.

AUBURN, Kan. – Mildred “Darlene” Farrar, 86, Auburn, Kan., passed away Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, at Aldersgate Village Nursing Home. She was born Dec. 25, 1933, east of Carbondale, Kan., on the family farm, the daughter of Floyd “Pete” Vail and Wilma (Coultis) Vail.

Darlene grew up in the Carbondale area, graduating from Carbondale High School with the class of 1951. Darlene also lived in Wakarusa, Kan., and later moving to Auburn. Darlene worked as a certified nurse’s assistant for 18 years at Brookside Manor, Overbrook, Kan. She was a member of the Overbrook Christian Church.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Jose Pagan, 84, of Overbrook, Kan., passed away Feb. 9, 2020, at his home. He was born Jan. 25, 1936, in Ciales, Puerto Rico, the son of Jose Pagan and Consuelo Pagan.

Jose grew up in Puerto Rico, graduating from Ciales High School. Jose served his country in the United States Army from June 1955 to November 1962 attaining the rank of private 2nd class. During his military service Jose was a kitchen supervisor, eventually serving in Fort Riley, Kan.

LYNDON, Kan. – Dean Lee Burkdoll, 82, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kan. He was born July 29, 1937, near Lyndon, Kan., the son of Walter Dean and Georgene Neill Burkdoll.

Dean Lee lived all of his life near the Melvern and Lyndon communities. He graduated from Lyndon High School in 1955, where he was active in sports and FFA. He was a farmer and stockman all of his life. He had also worked at Goodyear for 13 years.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Richard W. Carlson, 47, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, at his home in Topeka, Kan. Richard William Carlson was born Feb. 20, 1972, in Emporia, Kan., the son of Richard Joseph and Janet “Susie” (Bolyard) Carlson.

He graduated from Osage City High School, Osage City, Kan., in 1990. He was working as a pest control exterminator in Topeka.

MELVERN, Kan. – Norma Patterson, 90, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, at Brookside Retirement, Overbrook, Kan. She was born on Jan. 10, 1930, in Olivet, Kan., the daughter of Earl E. and Mary (Elliott) Arb.

Norma had lived most of her life in the Melvern, Kan., community.

Norma taught for 41 years in elementary education. She began her teaching career at Plymouth School, a two-room rural school in Osage County. Later, Norma taught in Rice County and then at Melvern Grade School for 13 years.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Frank Bailey, Jr., 90, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, at Brookside Retirement, Overbrook, Kan. He was born on Jan. 27, 1930, in Mays Lick, Ky., the son of Frank and Margaret (Collins) Bailey Sr.

Frank grew up in Kentucky and Ohio, he lived in Topeka, Kan., for several years, and had lived in Osage City, Kan., since 1988. Frank served in the United States Air Force and then worked for the Topeka Fire Department for more than 25 years, retiring at the rank of captain.

LYNDON, Kan. – Louis Edwin Thomas, 83, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, at his home in Lyndon, Kan. He was born on May 14, 1936, in Ottawa, Kan., the son of Guy and Rachel (Wendorff) Thomas.

Louis graduated from Ottawa High School, Ottawa, Kan., in 1954 and joined the United States Marine Corps in 1955. He was honorably discharged in 1958 at the rank of corporal. Lou had been a salesman and had managed the Lyndon Thriftway for several years.

LYNDON, Kan. – Robert Niles Stout, 41, passed away Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, at Select Specialty Hospital, Kansas City, Kan. He was born Dec. 28, 1978, in Topeka, Kan., the son of John and Elsie Hursh Stout.

Bob had lived in the Lyndon, Kan., community all of his life. He graduated from Lyndon High School in 1997.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Marianne Haag, 89, passed away Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, at Health Care Resort, Topeka, Kan. Marianne Waterman was born Sept. 4, 1930, in Washington, Kan., the daughter of George William and Laura Ellen (Day) Waterman.

She graduated from Washington High School.

QUENEMO, Kan. – Loren W. Gray, 81, passed away on Friday, Jan. 10, 2020, at Morning Star, Ottawa, Kan. He was born on March 1, 1938, in Quenemo, Kan., the son of John and Lillian (Williams) Gray.

Loren had lived all of his life in the Quenemo community until moving to assisted living in Osage City and then Ottawa.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Max E. Heberling, 85, of Topeka, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, at Midland Hospice House, Topeka. He was born Oct. 5, 1934, in Topeka, the son of Eli and Lenora Heberling.

Max graduated from Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Kan. He served in the U.S Navy.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Edward James King, 88, of Osage City, Kan., passed away Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kan. He was born March 29, 1931, in Peterton, Kan., the son of David Thomas and Elizabeth Gasser King.

Ed attended Peterton Grade School and later graduated from Osage City High School with the class of 1948.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Loretta J. Massey, age 64, of Topeka, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, at Stormont Vail Hospital. Loretta was born Sept. 9, 1955. in Topeka, the daughter of Glenn and Lucille Holmes.

She attended Highland Park High School.

LAMPE, Mo. – Zane L. Wilson, Lampe, Mo., son of Jesse and Denzil (Tannehill) Wilson, was born March 14, 1946, in El Dorado, Kan., and departed this life on Dec. 27, 2019, at the age of 73.

Zane had been a resident of the Lampe area for three years, moving from Coolidge, Ariz., where he met his very best friend and partner, Juanita Gray. He was a Christian and member of Osage Methodist Church, but attended Lampe Baptist Church. Zane retired after 41 years with Hallmark Cards, Kansas City, Mo., as a machinist.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Bessie L. Bent, 87, Osage City, Kan., died Dec. 28, 2019, at Peterson Assisted Living. She was born July 13, 1932, in Atlanta, Neb., to Walter John and Gracie Ann Borden Lanning.

On Aug. 4, 1951, she married Curtis J. Bent, in Minden, Neb. They were the parents of a son and daughter. Curtis died in 1987.

AUBURN, Kan. – William “Bill” Birtell, 85, passed away Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, at Midland Hospice House, Topeka, Kan. He was born on Aug. 19, 1934, in Topeka, the son of Walter and Alta (Buchanan) Birtell.

Bill received his Doctorate in Veterinary Science from Kansas State University. He owned and operated Auburn Animal Clinic for many years, operated a hog farm operation, and was then a rural mail carrier until he retired.

LYNDON, Kan. – Mildred McCreight, 100, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kan. She was born on March 16, 1919, on the family farm near Vassar, Kan., the daughter of Vivian and Verna Redenbaugh Brecheisen.

Mildred grew up near Vassar and had lived in rural Lyndon, Kan., until moving into town. She graduated from Lyndon High School in 1937. She was a homemaker and farm wife and also worked as a CNA at Hilltop Nursing Home, Lyndon.