Marjorie Mae Curtis
Marjorie Mae Curtis passed away on Monday, June 25, 2012 at Hays Medical Center. Marge was 83 years old.
Marge was born on December 7, 1928 in Galatia, Kansas. She was the youngest child of Carl and Bertha Lebsack. In 1938 the family moved to Hays where Carl built a home at 406 Ash. She attended Picken Hall School and graduated from Hays High School in 1946. She graduated from Fort Hays Kansas State College in 1950 with a degree in music education. She was an accomplished violinist, singer, and pianist. She later earned a Masters degree in education.
In 1950, Marge married Donald Rex Curtis. They graduated from college and were married the same day at First United Methodist Church in Hays. Marge and Rex then moved to St. Francis, Kansas where they both taught. In 1953 they returned to Hays to work in the family oil business, Lebsack Oil Production, Inc. Marge taught kindergarten at Lincoln Elementary School and after her boys were born she started the Curtis Nursery School, a pre-school which she ran in the basement of her home on south Ash street for 27 years. Marge and Rex had two, sons Dr. Jeff Curtis of Hays, and Dr. John Curtis of Manhattan.
Marge was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church of Hays. She was a Life Member of the Fort Hays State University Alumni Association and was also active in Sigma Alpha Iota and PEO, Chapter EC.
Marge was preceded in death by her parents, and a sister Evaleen Mitchell.
Marge is survived by her husband, Rex and son Jeffery and his wife Connie, grandchildren Christian, Cathryn, and Carter all of Hays; son John and wife Laurie of Manhattan, and grandchildren Lindsey (Manhattan), Julie and Matthew Ott (Detroit), and Matthew and Andrea Curtis (Onalaska, WI), and great-grandchildren Tristen, Tanner, and Ava. She is also survived by her brother, Wayne Lebsack and wife Pat of Lyons, KS.
Marge enjoyed their cabin at Cedar Bluff Lake and trolling on the Double-J, their pontoon boat. She loved checking on her cows, the farm ground, and enjoyed spending time with her kitty “Snuggles” while watching the weather channel. She remained active in the oil business with her brother Wayne until the time of her death.
Visitation will be Friday, June 29th from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 20th and Pine. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, 2012, at the First United Methodist Church in Hays. Burial will be in the Fort Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Hays, Fort Hays State University Foundation, or Hays Medical Center Foundation. Condolences to the family at www.haysmemorial.com.
Riley L. Irwin
Riley L. Irwin, 79, died Tuesday, June 26, 2012 at Via Christie/St. John’s Nursing Home in Hays, Kansas. He was born on October 17, 1932 in Russell, Kansas to Russell and Gladys Irwin. He married Doris J. Williamson on December 31, 1954. He spent most of his life in Gorham, Kansas running a service station and doing construction. Riley was a devoted husband, loving father, father-in-law, and grandfather and was the most unselfish, kind, loving person you could ever know. He was a member of the Gorham Community Church and the American Legion.
Survivors include his children Randy and Marlene (Hays), Craig and Melissa (Hays), Troy and Denise (Lexington, Ky), Darren and Pam (Salina), sister Judy and husband Dallas Wise (Colorado), and sister Arlene and husband George Ralston (Mullinville), special friend Elda Heideman (Nebraska), 14 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife Doris, son Danny, his parents, brothers John, Paul, Max, and Marvin, and sister Bonnie.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 29, 2012, at the Gorham Community Church in Gorham. Burial will be in the Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Gorham. Friends may call at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 20th and Pine in Hays, Kansas on Thursday from 6 until 8 p.m. Memorials have been established in his name and memory with the Gorham Community Church or Via Christi/St. John’s of Hays Nursing Home. Condolences to the family at www.haysmemorial.com.