Frances Louise Parker, 95, peacefully passed away in the care of Harry Hynes Hospice, Wichita, Kansas in Saturday, August 12, 2017.  Frances was a devoted, loving mother and grandmother.  She enjoyed bringing the family together at her home in Hays, especially during the holidays.  She was always quick to smile and her sense of humor brought smiles to others.

She was a lifelong resident of Hays and Ellis County, before moving to the Wichita Catholic Care Center. Frances was born March 16, 1922 at her parents’ farm in Buckeye Township, Ellis County.  Frances was one of the few surviving great grandchildren of Jacob “Schulmeister” Schmidt, a leader in the establishment of the German-Russian immigrant community in Catharine, Kansas.  She married Edward L. Parker on January 5, 1942 in St. Severin Church. Soon he was called to serve in World War II. During the War, Frances volunteered at the USO providing support for soldiers on the home front while taking care of their young baby and home. After the War, Frances and Eddie were active in veterans’ organizations throughout their lives.  Eddie suffered a fatal heart attack in 1967 and Francis was once more on her own. She was a long-time hostess at the Vagabond Restaurant in Hays.  She was a member of The Daughters of Isabella, and the VFW Auxiliary.

Frances was one of 12 children born to Raymond A. and Dorothy Leikam Schmidt. Surviving are her, daughters Mary Beth Allen (Leon Jacobs) and Karen Herrman (John O’Loughlin), sister, Lillian Bennet, grandchildren; Karl, Tom, Cristi, David, Anne and Corey, 15 great grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren.  Her daughter, Bonni Goldsberry and son, Stan Parker preceded her in death, along with her grandson Andrew Herrman, her parents and brothers Clarence, Marcellus, Elmer, Ben, Alfred, Dan and Willard and sisters, Martina Maska, Mary Esther Munk, and Annabelle Lietz.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, August 18, 2017 at 10:00 A.M. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Hays. Inurnment will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2017 from 6-8 P.M. A Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary service will be at 6:30 P.M., a Daughters of Isabella Rosary will be at 6:45 P.M., followed by a vigil at 7:00 P.M. all being held at the Brock’s Keithley Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 2509 Vine St., Hays, KS 67601.

​Memorial contributions can be made in Frances’s loving memory to Thomas More Prep-Marian, Hays, KS. Contributions can be left or mailed to the funeral home.

Share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit Frances’s memorial webpage at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com.

Scott M. Clark, 42, Hays, passed away on Monday, August 14, 2017 in an accident in the 1400 block of 160th Ave.

He was born March 4, 1975 in Hays the son of Jim and Kathy (Ulmer) Clark. He graduated from Hays High School in 1993 and from Fort Hays State University with a BS in Biology in 1998. He was a cub scout with Troop 101 and worked for the FHSU Dairy Farm while he was in college. He also worked for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, Hillside Veterinary Clinic, Lomato’s Pizza, Heartland Tank Service, and was a lifeguard for many years at Hays pools while in high school.

He was an avid, lifelong Kansas City Royals and Chiefs fan, and he loved music, animals, hunting, fishing, playing cards, football, and being with his friends. He was an avid outdoorsman and often remarked that Sunday was his hunting day. He enjoyed bowling, softball, dart league, grilling, and was “Coach Clark” for many years with the Hays Football Association Gamblers football team. Scott’s dog was his faithful companion, going everywhere and doing everything with him.

Survivors include his parents; Jim Clark and wife Corrine of Hays and Kathy Clark of Hays, two brothers; Jason Clark and wife Theresa of Hays and Brad Clark and wife Amber and their two children, Sam and Nick Clark, all of Kansas City, Kansas, a step-grandmother; Karen Thompson of Hutchinson, Kansas, his dog Cheyenne, and numerous Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; Dean and Erma Ulmer and John and Phyllis Clark.
A Celebration of Scott’s life will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 19, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church, 305 W. 7th Street, with Reverend Michael Rose officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday from 5:00 pm until 8:00 at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, and from 10:00 am until service time on Saturday at the church.

Memorials are suggested to the Hays Football Association Gamblers football team or to the Western Plains Animal Refuge, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Rickie Owen “Rick” Covalt, 65, of Lee’s Summit, MO passed away August 11, 2017 from cancer.

Visitation will be Thursday, August 17, at Langsford Funeral Home from 11:30-12:30pm, service at 12:30, and burial to follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Disable American Veterans.

Rick was born June 5, 1952 in Norton, KS, the 4th child and the 1st son of Roy Isaac and Beryl Arlene Montgomery Covalt. He spent his years in the Studley, KS area, graduated from Hoxie High School and attended Goodland Vo-Tech, before joining the US Air Force in January 1973. He served honorably for 26 years before retiring in January 1999 at the rank of SMSGT. He then worked as a CAD Designer for SPX Cooling Technologies for 15 years. Rick married Natalia Shevchenko on February 22, 2003.

He enjoyed fishing and most all sports, especially golf, was a skilled woods craftsman and made many furniture and decorative items, and was a member of the VFW. He is preceded in death by his parents; paternal grandparents, William and Myrtle Covalt; and maternal grandparents, Herbert and Leta Montgomery. Survivors include his wife, Natalia, of the home; daughter, Victoria Shevchenko; grandson, Alex Shevchenko, Overland Park, KS; brother, Galen Covalt, Hill City, KS; sisters, Beverely (Robert) Haley, Salina, KS, Carla (Robert) Chadwick, Oakley, KS, and Judy (Wayne) Connelly, Cabor, AR; best friends, David and Kathie Rogers; numerous nieces and nephews; an uncle; and two aunts.

Richard “Dick” Siegrist, 90, died August 13, 2017, at his home. He was born February 22, 1927, in Hutchinson, to Melvin ‘Shorty’ and Frances (French) Siegrist.

Dick graduated from Partridge High School in 1945. He served in the United States Army during World War II and was a member of the Nickerson Masonic Lodge #43. Dick retired as a farmer and stockman.

On January 7, 1951, he married Evelyn Mae Loeppke in Hutchinson. She died October 26, 2007.

Dick is survived by: daughters, Jennifer Scofield (Bill) of Wichita; Janet Hilgers (Rich) of Sterling; grandchildren, Julie Hanschu (Shamus Partain), Randy Hilgers; Ricky Hilgers (Cindy); great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Evelyn Hanschu, Leigha and Lucas Hilgers; and brother-in-law, Glen Loeppke (Roxanne) of Shell Knob, Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law, Gene and Loren Loeppke.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday, August 18, 2017, at Elliott Chapel, Hutchinson, with Pastor Shelby Crawford officiating. Burial will follow in Partridge Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the family present from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Elliott Mortuary. Memorials may be made to The Salvation Army or Salem Community Church of the Brethren, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.