OVERBROOK, Kan. – Opal Morine Ireland, 88, of Overbrook, Kan., passed away Friday, March 15, 2019, at Brookside Manor, Overbrook. She was born Nov. 6, 1930, at Dearborn, Mo., the daughter of William Albert Richey and Laura Catherine (Mauzey) Richey.

Morine grew up in the Kansas City area attending Wyandotte High School, Kansas City, Kan.

On Feb. 3, 1951, Morine was united in marriage to Robert Wendell Ireland, in Kansas City, Mo. Bob and Morine were an inseparable pair. Their life journey together sent them all over the country, living in Hawaii, California, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas. They settled in Overbrook in 1990, living in the area for the rest of their lives.

OTTAWA, Kan. – Wayne Graika, 62, passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Midland Hospice House, Topeka, Kan. He was born on March 3, 1957, in Hettinger, N.D., the son of John and Margie Onefeather Graika.

Wayne had lived in Anchorage, Alaska, Arizona and Colorado; he had lived in the Ottawa, Kan., community for the last several years. He worked in construction and roofing.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Mary Louise Hoy, 68, of Overbrook, Kan., passed away March 14, 2019, at her home. She was born Aug. 6, 1950, in Twin Mound, Kan., the daughter of Floyd Trout and Mary Alice (Schirmer) Trout.

Mary was a lifelong Osage County resident, graduating from Overbrook High School with the class of 1969.

On February 21, 1969, she was united in marriage to Lloyd Hoy Jr., at her parents’ home in Twin Mound. They just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Britta Sue (Browning) Whitaker, 59, passed away on Monday, March 11, 2019, at her home in Topeka, Kan. She was born on Dec. 13, 1959, in Topeka, the daughter of Richard and Marla Schultz Browning.

Britta grew up in Topeka, where she graduated from Washburn Rural High School in 1977. She had also lived in Bremerton, Washington, Kansas City and Gardner, Kan., before moving back to Topeka. Britta had worked in banking for many years and was a trustee officer. She was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Vassar, Kan.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Blenda Jo Godwin-Marion, 70, Topeka, Kan., passed away on March 7, 2019. She was born March 2, 1949, in Topeka, the daughter of William A. and Leila I. Snyder.

Blenda attended school in Highland Park and graduated from Highland Park High School. She attended college at Washburn University and received a degree from Kansas State University in education. She taught elementary physical education for more than 30 years for USD 501. Schools she taught at included Quinton Heights, State Street, Polk and Gage Elementary.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Ruth Pearl Hickey, 90, passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at her home in Osage City, Kan. She was born on Jan. 18, 1929, on the family farm near Olivet, Kan., the daughter of Arthur and Elva Stephens Jones.

Ruth grew up in the Olivet area and had lived in Lyndon, Kan., for many years before moving to Osage City in 1993. Ruth had worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield, in Topeka, Kan., and was a homemaker for most of her life.

ARVONIA, Kan. – David Thomas Booth, 70, of Roxboro, N.C., passed away Feb. 23, 2019, at UNC Hospital, Chapel Hill, N.C. He was born Dec. 18, 1948, in Emporia, Kan., to Lloyd and Helen (Moore) Booth.

Tom grew up on the family farm and graduated from Lebo High School in 1966. After graduation, Tom attended Fort Hays State University and completed a tour with the Air National Guard Air Force Reserves. Tom was an avid outdoorsman that loved hunting and fishing.

VASSAR, Kan. – Gary Dean Thompson, 81, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019, at his home near Vassar, Kan. He was born on May 2, 1937, near Michigan Valley, Kan., the son of Ernest and Eunice Warren Thompson.

Gary lived most of his life around the Michigan Valley community and had lived near Vassar for the last nine years. He worked for DuPont, in Topeka, for more than 30 years, and always farmed and raised cattle. He owned and operated Buzzard’s Pizza in Lyndon, Pomona and Osage City since 1991. He was a leader in 4-H for many years.

CARBONDALE, Kan. – Harry “Dean” Livingston, 84, formerly of Carbondale, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at Midland Care, Topeka, Kan. He was born June 18, 1934, in Carbondale, the son of Lemuel Leo and Ruth (McPhail) Livingston.

He was a 1952 graduate of Carbondale High School, where he wore number 10 as a member of the 1951 State Champion Basketball Team.

Dean owned and operated Diffley Truck Line, in Topeka. He later built, owned and operated Dean’s Drive-In, in Carbondale. He later owned and operated Reliable Transfer, in Lawrence and Ottawa, Kan., and Livingston Trucking, Bakersfield, Calif. He also owned and operated Dairy Queen No. 8, in Tucson, Ariz. 

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – John Henry Atchison, 88, passed away Monday, Feb. 18, 2019, at his home in Osage City, Kan. He was born Sept. 26, 1930, in Osage City, the son of John H. and Florence Gunterman Atchison.

John enlisted in the United States Army on May 8, 1952,  and served during the Korean War. He would receive an honorable discharge as a sergeant in May 1954.

CARBONDALE, Kan. – Jefferson “Jeff” Molloy, 87, passed away on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, at Stormont-Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan. He was born on Dec. 4, 1931, in Galt, Mo., the son of John and Della Hess Molloy.

Jeff grew up in Missouri and had moved to Kansas in 1954. He had lived in Carbondale, Kan., since 1971. Jeff worked for Firestone Tire in sales and service for many years.

LYNDON, Kan. – Eloise McGeeney, 89, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, at her home in Lyndon, Kan. She was born on June 15, 1929, in Hiawatha, Kan., the daughter of James and Eva Nigus Jones.

Eloise had lived in Hiawatha for many years before moving to Lyndon. She had worked as a beautician, was owner and bookkeeper of Carpenter Drug Store with her husband Glenn, and had worked for the Brown County Treasurer’s Office. She was owner and bookkeeper of McGeeney Furniture and McGeeney Moving & Storage with her husband Bob. She then worked as a comptroller at Lire Inc. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Hiawatha and attended the Lyndon United Methodist Church.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Jimmy L. Schirmer, 68, of Overbrook, Kan., passed away Feb. 10, 2019, at home surrounded by his family. He is the son of George and Amelia Schirmer.

He is survived by his brother, John G. Schirmer and wife, Sharron, of Overbrook; sister, Elizabeth Schlink, Overbrook; loving nephews, John G. Schirmer III, Joseph L. Schirmer and Charles J. Schlink, all of Overbrook; loving nieces, Tina M. Schlink and Christy M. Schlink, both of Overbrook; great-niece, Caitie Schlink, Overbrook; and a special nephew, Catis L. McMillan, Carbondale, Kan.

He was preceded in death by his parents; half-brother, Frank Schirmer; and several half-sisters.

A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, at the Overbrook Cemetery, Overbrook.

Memorial contributions may be made to Great Lakes Caring Hospice, and sent in care of Greenwood-Roberts Funeral Home, PO Box 268, Overbrook, KS 66524. Condolences may be left at www.lamb-roberts.com.

LEBO, Kan. – Gurney “Jerry” G. Bartley, 67, passed away Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, at the University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kan. He was born July 29, 1951, in Rock Springs, Wyo., the son of Robert and Madgel Knight Bartley.

He attended Lebo High School, Lebo, Kan., and graduated with the class of 1969. Following high school, Jerry worked at IBP, in Emporia, Kan. In the early 1970s he enlisted in the Kansas Air National Guard, serving with the 190th Air Refueling Wing at Forbes Field. In the mid 1980s he began a career as a truck driver.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Gary S. McClung, 82, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, at Stormont Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan. He was born on May 23, 1936, in Lawrence, Kan., the son of Milton and Vera (Stephens) McClung.

He graduated from Baldwin High School, Baldwin City, Kan. He had attended the University of Kansas. Gary served our country in the United States Air Force. He worked on the farm and was a carpenter and contractor, and retired as a physical plant supervisor at the University of Kansas.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Wanda Paxton, 96, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, at St. Francis Hospital, Topeka, Kan. She was born on Nov. 13, 1922, in Miller, Kan., the daughter of Ira and Helen Hoglund Smith.

Wanda grew up around the Miller community and had lived in Osage City, Kan., for many years. After graduating from Miller High School, Wanda worked as a nanny in Virginia. She then worked in the security division of the War Production Board during World War II. She had worked as a receptionist for the Osage City medical clinic for more than 48 years. She was a member of the Osage United Methodist Church, TOPS, and the Sunshine Club.

TOPEKA, Kan. – William “Bill” Donald Linden Jr., 69, of Topeka, Kan., passed away Jan. 26, 2019. He was born Aug. 14, 1949, at Emporia, Kan., the son of William Donald and Nathalee (Harrison) Linden.

Bill graduated from Overbrook High School, Overbrook, Kan., with the class of 1967. He excelled at sports in his school years and was an avid Jayhawk, Chiefs and Royals fan. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

OVERBROOK, Kan. – Norman “Node” Gerisch, 95, passed away on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019, at Stormont-Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan. He was born on July 7, 1923, in Richland, Kan., the son of Charles and Kathrine Sheetz Gerisch.

Norman lived most of his life around the Richland and Overbrook, Kan., communities. He was a farmer all of his life and also was a dozer operator in construction. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Richland and Overbrook for 74 years and the Arab Shrine for many years.

OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Earnest Wheeler, 83, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, at Osage Nursing Center, Osage City, Kan. He was born on June 29, 1935, in Guthrie, Okla., the son of Henry and Ethel Casey Wheeler Sr.

Earnest lived in Arkansas City, Kan., for many years and had lived in Osage City since 1997. Earnest worked as a mechanic for General Electric Aircraft, in Arkansas City. He was a member of the Salt Creek Lighthouse Assembly of God Church, in Lyndon, Kan.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Arden Haldeman, 77, of Topeka, Kan., passed away on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. He was born December 16, 1941 in Wichita, Kan., the son of Atwood and Helen M. Randel Haldeman.

Arden graduated from Topeka High School. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served three tours of duty in Vietnam. He later worked at Goodyear, the State of Kansas Records Annex, in North Topeka, and he retired after working for Shawnee Heights USD 450 for more than 20 years.

SCRANTON, Kan. – Dorothy Evarts, 89, passed away on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, at Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, Kan. She was born on Jan. 28, 1929, in Sparks, Ga., the daughter of Leonard and Jewell Hunter Lott.

Dorothy grew up in Georgia and had lived in Scranton since 1957.

Dorothy was a homemaker and her hobbies were quilting, gardening, canning, cooking Southern food and spoiling her nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.