HARLAN, KS – Doris Jean (Albrecht) St.Clair passed in her home at the age of 84 on January 15, 2017, after years of devoted care by her loving husband, Verlyn, and family. Verlyn’s love, patience and care for her was a true expression of God’s love and their love for each other.

Doris was born July 22, 1932, to Loyal and Mary Albrecht of Smith Center, Kansas. She graduated from Smith Center High School. She married Verlyn Lee St.Clair of Harlan, Kansas September 7, 1951. Verlyn and Doris were devoted to each other for 65 plus years. To this union, 8 children were born.

Doris was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother; supporting her family and friends at all special occasions and activities. As well as helping on the family farm in Harlan, Doris enjoyed a variety of employment history which included: Field Assistant for the Department of Agriculture, USDA Inspector, Home Health Aide, Home Trainer for Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas and working as a Paraprofessional in the school system. Doris received her nursing assistant certificate in 1986. She then went back to college, receiving her Physical Therapist Assistant from Colby Community College in 1988, finishing her career as a traveling PTA in Kansas and Nebraska. Doris had a special relationship with her patients, co-workers and various professionals.

As a couple, Doris and Verlyn were active in the Harlan and Smith Center communities. As members of the Harlan Church, many life-long friends were formed and Doris regularly met with her high school buddies from Smith Center. Doris was a “vocal” supporter of her children’s’ sporting events. This passion carried through to grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Special memories were created in the harvest field, at the lake, and during hunting season. Holidays were standing room only with the real Santa visiting on Christmas Eve—family was large, loud and fun. Doris had a quick wit, which could be heard in a traveling motorhome, on the back porch or across the field.

Survived by: husband Verlyn of Harlan, KS; son Steve St.Clair and Carla of Harlan, KS; daughter Mary Ann and husband Rick Kelleher of Fort Collins, CO; son Ron and wife Tracy St.Clair of Smith Center, KS; daughter Penny and husband Russell Hendrich of Portis, KS; son JR St.Clair and Sandy of Denver, CO; son John and wife Mindy St.Clair of Lincoln, NE; son Tracy and wife Michelle St.Clair of Lincoln, NE; sister-in-laws Karen Younger of Hays, KS and Michelle St.Clair of Kansas City, MO, as well as 20 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son Tony; sister Marilyn Saunders, brother-in-law Don St.Clair, mother and father Mary and Loyal Albrecht and mother and father-in-law Lee and Viola St.Clair.

Sue Ann (Werth) Leiker passed away at her home in Topeka, Kansas, on Saturday, January 21, 2017.

Sue was born in Severin, Kansas, to Ted and Mary (Dinges) Werth on January 22, 1952. She graduated from Hays High School in 1970.

Sue is survived by two sons, Curtis (Amanda) Leiker, Hays, Kansas and Cory (Amy) Leiker, Garland, Texas; two beautiful granddaughters, Amiah and Aftyn; mother, Mary Werth, Olathe; brothers, Dick Werth, Olathe and Jeff Werth, Paola; and sisters, Peggy Rohleder, Olathe and Karla Werth, Topeka.

Sue was preceded in death by her father, Ted Werth; and her brother, Kenny Werth.

Family will greet friends from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 25, at Dove Cremation & Funeral Service, 4020 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka. Sue will be cremated as she wished. Graveside services will be held in Hays at a later date.

Curtis Jake James of Selden, Kansas, passed away at his home on January 20, 2017 at the age of 62.

He was born in Hoxie, Kansas, November 4, 1954, to Jake Junior and Betty Nadine (Staubus) James. Curt attended Hoxie Grade School and graduated from Hoxie High School with the class of 1973. After high school, he attended Missouri Auction School and earned his diploma in 1979, Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland, Kansas and graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Telecommunications in 1994, and in 2001 he earned his Colorado Real Estate License.

On April 15, 1984, Curt married Vicki Nelson in Marysville, Kansas. They lived in Colorado for 30 years, sixteen of those years in Brighton, Colorado before moving back to Selden.
In the most recent years, Curt was a salesman, selling “treasurers”. He loved buying and selling them. He loved to visit with people and did not know a stranger. He was always very interested in and supportive of The VA and American Legion.

Curtis is survived by his mother, Betty N. James of Hoxie, Kansas; brothers, Tom E. James and wife Gayle of Lenora, Kansas, Richard James and wife Elaine of Goessel, Kansas; sisters, Janice Rae Hoss and husband Von of Parks, Nebraska, Janet Kay Wade and husband Gary of Hoxie, Kansas, and Jana Lea Herl and husband Bill of Hoxie, Kansas; and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father Jake Junior James and infant brother Robert Steven James.

An Informal Celebration of Life for Curt, with Stories, Lies, and Lunch, will be held Friday, January 27, 2017, at 11:00 A.M. at the Christian Fellowship Church in Hoxie, Kansas. Come and share your memories of Curt at this time. There will be a private family inurnment. Memorials are suggested to Phillipsburg Hospice and may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. On-line condolences may be left at www.mickeyleopold funeral.com.

Curt loved life and lived it to the fullest never slowing down or looking back. He enjoyed being a seller of “Treasurers”. He loved his family, friends, and neighbors and enjoyed the time he spent visiting with them. His memory will live on in our hearts and thoughts for all time to come.

Phyllis Evelyn Birrer Frary, 100, of Cazenovia, passed away Sunday.

She was born in Grainfield, Kansas on December 20, 1916. She was the daughter of Edward and Matilda Birrer. Phyllis received her B.A. degree in English Literature from the University of Kansas at Lawrence in 1940.

Phyllis taught school at Wallace, Kansas for two years and was a bookkeeper at the Grainfield COOP elevator for a short time before uniting in marriage to Rev. Arthur Frary on December 10, 1944. As minister and wife, they served churches in Colorado and then in Kansas, at Alma-McFarland-Paxico, Howard, Haviland, Wichita Waco Church, and Rose Valley and Downs. They retired after 42 years to make their home in Salina, Kansas.

God blessed them with a daughter, Sherilyn (and husband David), granddaughter Shannon and grandson Morgan, and a son, Deryl (and wife Janice), granddaughters Dominique and Vanessa.

In her later years, she moved to Cazenovia, New York to live with her daughter and family. Phyllis was a member of the Manlius United Methodist Church. She loved people, God’s beautiful creation, music, poetry and writing.
Her husband, Arthur and son, Deryl preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter and grandchildren in Cazenovia, New York, and her son’s wife and granddaughters in Denver, Colorado.

To loved ones, she would quote Miller: “Only one life, so live it well, And keep your candle trimmed and bright. Eternity, not time, will tell The radius of that candle’s light.”

May each life cast a bright light!

Mary Frances Goetz, 87, Tucson, Arizona, formerly of Hays, died Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at her home in Tucson.

She was born June 27, 1929 in Hays, Kansas the daughter of Mathew and Mary Catherine (Gross) Dinges. She married Ernest J. Goetz on August 1, 1948. He preceded her in death in 1975.

Mary Frances loved reading and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She would exercise daily and played volleyball with her friends at her independent living community. She was a Red Hat Society Member and a devout Catholic, and she supported both church and community charities.

Survivors include two daughters; Janelle McDonald and husband Allan of Portland, OR and Connie Austin and husband Steve of Tucson, AZ, a sister; Ann Triplett of Conway, MO, six grandchildren; Carly Austin of Phoenix, AZ, Jeremy Austin of Tucson, AZ, Adam Austin of Tucson, AZ, Tyler Austin of Tucson, AZ, Logan McDonald of New York, NY, and Amelia McDonald of Portland, OR, and six great grandsons.

She was preceded in death by her parents, six brothers; Marvin Dinges, Paul Dinges, Linus Dinges, Robert Dinges, Leonard Dinges and Fred Dinges, and a sister; Lucille Dinges.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, 215 W. 13th, with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 am until service time and a rosary will be at 9:30, all at the church.

Memorials are suggested to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, Hays, KS 67601. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.