Ronald “Ron” Wayne Gilliland passed away on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at his home in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 80. He was born on January 6, 1936 on the farm in Rooks County north of Zurich, Kansas to the late Harold “Ike” and Estella “Stella” (Bane) Gilliland. He graduated high school, went on to attend Fort Hays State College before serving in the United States Army. On December 26, 1958 he was united in marriage to Mary Lou Gaunt in Great Bend, Kansas. They were blessed with three sons, Phil, Todd, and Drew.

Ron was owner of Farm Implement & Supply Co., Inc. of Plainville, from which he retired, along with farming, which he took up in his later years. He loved his family, friends, and neighbors and was an avid supporter of the community. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Men, Isis Shrine, Masonic Paradise Lodge #290, and the Lions Club. He was a past member of the Rooks County Health Center Hospital Board which he served on for over 12 years, Boy Scout Leader, and Booster Club.

Ron enjoyed sports, especially Kansas University Basketball, Kansas City Chiefs Football, and Kansas City Royals Baseball. He liked being outdoors to enjoy an occasional hunt, was an avid golfer, and of course had his own “special way” of mowing the grass. But the time he cherished the most was spent with his family, most especially his grandchildren; from watching their sporting events, to holidays, or just being together for no special reason at all, his heart was happiest when he was with the ones he loved the most.

Ron is survived by his wife Mary Lou Gilliland of the home in Plainville; sons Phil Gilliland and wife Brenda of Concordia, Todd Gilliland and wife Tina of Plainville, and Drew Gilliland and wife Colette of Gold Hill, OR; brother Barry Gilliland and wife Donna of Plainville; sister Carolyn Metcalf and husband Don of Plainville; step-mother Lucy Gilliland of Plainville; grandchildren Ryan Gilliland of Topeka, Eric Gilliland of Concordia, Mallory Gilliland of Lawrence, Harrison Gilliland of Plainville, Rachel Gilliland of Plainville, and Mary Gilliland of Plainville, Ike Gilliland of Gold Hill, OR, Annie Gilliland of Gold Hill, OR, and Andy Brown of Plainville; and great-grandchildren Jack Gilliland, Nolan Gilliland, and Reed Gilliland.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ike and Stella Gilliland, and great-granddaughter Hattie Jo Gilliland.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Monday, November 28, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Plainville. Burial will follow in the Plainville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2:00-8:00 pm on Sunday at the funeral home with family receiving friends from 5:00-7:00 pm.

It is said of Masons that they ever meet upon the level, act upon the plumb, and part upon the square. Ron showed by daily example what it means to be a man of integrity and uprightness before God and man, full of love, compassion, and a willingness to help anyone in need. Although he will be greatly missed, we rejoice that he has now become a living stone, in that spiritual house, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Forrest Edward Davidson, “Mr. D” or “Woody”, 88, of Topeka, passed away Monday, November 21, 2016, in his home, after a three-year battle against lung cancer.

Forrest was born April 22, 1928, in Wichita, KS to Esther (Gantz) and Floyd Q. Davidson. As the son of a Congregational pastor, he grew up in Wichita, KS; Somanauk, IL; Kinsley, KS; Wellington, KS; and again in Wichita. He graduated from the University of Wichita with a Bachelor of Music Education degree with a Major in Voice and a Master of Music Education Degree with a Major in Voice.

Forrest married Gloria Fetters in 1948. He leaves five children. Forrest taught vocal music, music theory, and guitar, as well as private voice lessons and coaching tennis, in Hays, Manhattan, Topeka, and Salina, KS. He sang solos and directed church choirs in every town in which they lived. He sang lead roles in the Summer Musicals at KSU, with the Topeka Symphony Chorus, Salina Chorale, and Shawnee Chorale. He was on the Board of Directors for the Topeka Community Concert Association. He was a Life Member of the American Choral Directors Association, Life Member of the Phi Mu Alpha Symphonia, member of Kansas Music Educators Association, National Education Association, Music Educators National Conference, Phi Delta Kappa, and Lions Club. He was KMEA State Choral Chairman, ACDA District III President, received the Harry Robert Wilson Award from the Kansas ACDA in 1974-75 for outstanding contribution to the Choral Music Profession. He conducted four three-week European Concert Tours of high school choirs; directed and/or produced 35 Broadway musicals; and directed many major choral works. Forrest was inducted into the Kansas Music Educators Association Hall of Fame in 1993.

Forrest was a man of many talents, from teaching to building to singing to playing tennis. Mr. D taught at Hays High School from 1950-53; Manhattan High School from 1953-62; Topeka West High School from 1962-1979; Salina South High School from 1979-85; and Washburn Rural High School from 1985-1988. His hobbies in later years were playing golf and creating stained-glass windows of his own design.

Forrest was predeceased by his wife of 58 years in 2006; his parents; his brothers: George and John D; and is survived by his five children: Debbi Pierce of Sacramento, CA; Rick Davidson (Connie) of Shawnee, KS; Kathy Letch (Pete) of Topeka, KS; Jay Davidson (Val) of Overland Park, KS; and Steve Davidson (Erin) of Exeter, RI; his ten grandchildren: Kevin Davidson (Albina), Rebecca Neal, Andrea Ellis (Josh), Griffin Letch, Kaitlyn Davidson, Moriah Obermueller (Gordon), Gabriel Letch (Rachel), Alex Davidson, Taylor Davidson, and Cole Davidson; and nine great-grandchildren: Jackson Pierce and Violet Neal; Piper, Oliver, Penelope, and Theodore Ellis; Wynter and Hunter Davidson; and GP Obermueller; and special friend and companion Lois Watson of Scottsdale, AZ.

Visitation with family and friends will be on Friday, December 2, 2016, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Avenue in Topeka. A Celebration Service will be held in Forrest’s memory on Saturday, December 3, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at Countryside United Methodist Church at 3221 SW Burlingame Road in Topeka. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: American Cancer Society or American Heart Association, in care of Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel.

Ralph Lee Roth, age 86, passed away November 24, 2016. Visitation 1-8 with the family present from 5-7 Tuesday, November 29, 2016 and Funeral 2pm Wednesday, November 30, 2016 both at Smith Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Rd., Derby. Graveside service 1pm Thursday, December 1, 2016 at Holy Cross Cemetery, Pfeifer, Kansas. Survivors: wife, Dorothy Roth; children, Diane Schaffer (Marc) and Ted Roth (Shirley); brother-in-law, Sherman Zimmerman; three grandchildren; three step grandchildren; nine great grandchildren. Memorials to Holy Cross Charities, 1313 Steven Dr, Hays, KS 67601.