Constance J. “Connie” Thompson, 75, passed away March 4, 2019, at the University of Kansas Health System – Great Bend Campus, Great Bend. She was born October 24, 1943, at Great Bend to Joseph F. and Opal M. (Schroeder) Denney. Connie married Kenneth Lyle Thompson Jan. 8, 1960, at Great Bend.

Connie, a lifetime resident of Great Bend, was a homemaker and most recently worked for the USD 428 food service department. She was a gifted artist, especially enjoying crafts and painting.

Survivors include her husband, Kenneth of the home; two sons; Allen Thompson and Steven Thompson both of Great Bend; one daughter, Terri Fritz and husband Ken of Great Bend; seven grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Jerry Denney; daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Daryl Ferguson; and step father James Queen.

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, March 7, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home, with Rev. Kurt Spivey. Interment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Memorials may be directed to the Dementia Society of America, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Carrie Elizabeth Martin was born May 30, 1972 at St. Mary Hospital in Manhattan, Kansas and departed this life February 19, 2019 at Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colorado. She was the second child of Lewis and Karen (Super) Martin. Her older brother Michael welcomed her home.

Carrie attended Manhattan schools, and graduated from Manhattan High. While in high school She participated in basketball and cross country. She played softball in summer leagues. By helping coach younger girls on area softball teams, she encouraged many younger girls to be the best they could be but most of all to have fun at the same time. She continued her education, graduating from Kansas State University.

Carrie was well known for her instant smile, her loyalty to her family and friends and her quick wit. She was always willing to lend a helping hand to whoever needed a lift or a quiet talk. Carrie’s love of the mountains began on our many family and friend’s ski trips and numerous summers rock climbing in the Rockies. She loved her Kansas wide open spaces and the many opportunities it provided: sunrises, sunsets, rolling prairies, the farm and most of all the friendly people and always her family and friends.

However, the mountains continued to call to her and after college she moved there to begin her career as a UPS driver. She lived life to the fullest and looked forward to new adventures in every aspect of her life – always willing to go for it with gusto.

It was in Colorado where Carrie met Michael Parkhurst. She married Michael, her best friend, April 26, 2014 at Danforth Chapel on Kansas State Campus. She converted him to join her in being a fanatic KSU Wildcat and KC Chiefs Fan.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents: Leon and Maurine Super, W.H. and Elsie Martin; her uncles: David Super and Kenny Martin and her husband Michael Parkhurst.

She leaves to mourn her passing: her parents; her brother Mike; nephew Tag; nieces Merit and Gray Martin; other family, extended family and her many friends. We will always remember her for her zest for life, her ready laugh and smile. She will live forever in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers we would suggest a donation to Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue, Dillon, Colorado. For many reasons it was near and dear to her.

Wayne Holloway, 66, passed away on March 1, 2019. He was born July 21, 1952 in Merkel, Texas, the first born son of Marvin and Daphna Holloway. He graduated from Merkel High School in 1970 and served in the U.S. Army for 3 years.

He is survived by his daughter, Lindsay and Tyson Hoff; his grandson, Karsten; a new grandbaby due on his birthday in July, 2019; his siblings, Becky and Tim and close friends, Mark and Linda.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2019 @ 10:00 a.m. at Baalmann Mortuary, 109 N. 2nd St., Atwood, KS 67730 For condolence or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com

David Thomas Booth of Roxboro, North Carolina, passed away February 23, 2019, at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Tom Booth was born December 18, 1948 in Emporia, Kansas 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. It was his love of the outdoors and warm weather that took him away from Kansas, first to Texas and then to North Carolina. He always remained a loyal KU Basketball fan.

Tom is survived by two daughters, Jennifer (Steve) Bidwell of Mansfield, Texas and Jamie (Garrett) Shaddix of Wichita, Kansas and grandsons Jack and Henry Bidwell and Oliver Shaddix. He is also survived by his siblings, Cindy (jerry) Martin, Barb (Tom) Gurss, Mike Booth and Scott Booth. He was proceeded in death by his son Jeremy Booth and his parents Lloyd and Helen Booth.

Graveside services will be held March 16, 2019 at 2pm at Arvonia Cemetery, Arvonia, Kansas, followed by a lunch and fellowship at the Heidi Inn in Lebo, Kansas.

Walker’s Funeral Home of Chapel Hill is assisting the Booth family. Please express your online condolences by using the tab below.

Brady Douglas Whitis, 43, of Los Angeles, passed away February 22, 2019. He was born October 26, 1975 in Ransom, Kansas, the son of Richard Douglas and Kathleen (Legleiter) Whitis.

His life growing up was in La Crosse, Kansas, graduating from La Crosse High School. He then attended Fort Scott Community College with a scholarship in football. From there he attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to continue his education and was a four-year starter in football, graduating with a BS degree in marketing. His work history then started with Professional Marketing International in Kansas City, Missouri. He moved with the company to Linden, Utah and continued his life there until 2011. After that he moved many times and ended up in California.

He is survived by three beautiful daughters, Autumn, Olivia and Paige who live in Utah; parents, Doug and Kathy Whitis, of Salina; grandma, Dorothy McDermeit of Salina; plus other aunts, uncles, and their siblings.

Brady was preceded in death by his brother, Jamie Austin Whitis in 1996; grandparents, Madolyn and Gerald Whitis, Jerome Legleiter, and Clyde McDermeit; as well as, two uncles, Ronald Legleiter and Len Jo Legleiter, along with other family members that have gone before him.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 7, 2019 at Ryan Mortuary, Salina. Inurnment will be at a later date in La Crosse.

Memorials are suggested to the donor’s choice in Brady’s name.

Lifelong Goodland, Kansas, resident James Butler “JB” McClure III, 81, passed away on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Colorado.

JB was born on May 21, 1937 in Goodland, KS to James Butler McClure II and Pearl (Croner) McClure.  He was one of two children.  He grew up in Goodland and graduated from Sherman County Community High School in 1955.  He then went on and attended one year of college.

On November 30, 1958, JB married Judith Berringer at the Goodland United Methodist Church.  To this union three children Mitch, Mike, and Mark were born. 

After working for many years with his father at McClure Plumbing & Heating, JB and Judith purchased the business in 1970, and continued operating the business until his retirement.  JB served as President of the Kansas Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors Association – 1982-83.  He was also a member of the Goodland Masonic Lodge, a life member of the Goodland Elks Club, a board member for the Sherman County Historical Society, was on the Smokey Garden Committee, and was a member of Shriners.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his son Mark James, his brother Robert (Bob) McClure, Father in Law, Warren W. (Bill) Berringer, Mother in Law, Lois Berringer, Sister in Law, Diane Workman, Brothers in Law Warren Berringer and William Berringer, Sister in Law, Judy Berringer, and his nephews Martin McClure, Brook Berringer and great niece Tatum Lovgren .

He is survived by his wife Judith McClure of the home in Goodland, his two sons, Mitch (Jamie) McClure of Colby, KS, and Mike (Suzanne) McClure of Goodland.  He is also survived by five grandchildren, Lindsey (Zach) Peterson, Tanner (Gentry) McClure, Lincoln (Summer) McClure, Taylor McClure, and Scott McClure, eight Great Grandchildren, thirteen nieces and nephews, one Brother-in-law, Ernie Workman and a Sister-in-law,  Jan Berringer.

Memorial services for JB will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 10:00 AM MT at the United Methodist Church in Goodland with Pastor Zach Anderson officiating.  Inurnment will follow in the Goodland Cemetery, Goodland, KS.

Memorial contributions may be designated to the Sherman County Historical Society, the Goodland Masonic Lodge, or to the Goodland Elks Club; and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.

Service arrangements have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

Patrice L. Vagher, 63, died on Friday March 1, 2019 at St Catherine Hospital in Garden City. She was born on May 18, 1955 at Garden City the daughter of Bob & Patricia (Kunze) Salter. She married John Vagher on January 8, 1977 at Syracuse.

Patrice graduated from Syracuse High School in 1973 and attended Garden City Community College. She then went to Floral School in Denver. She moved to Colby and worked as a florist. In 1981, she and her husband moved to Lakin and to Garden City in 1994 where she was the secretary at Modern Radio and TV for 5 years and then started working as the secretary at Garden City Housing Authority and later became the Director. She retired after 16 years of service. She was a member of Cornerstone Church in Garden City and past member of Order of Eastern Star. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, and crafts such as making Christmas decorations and floral decorations. She was preceded in death by her Brother- Alan Salter and Grandparents- Willis & Ethel Salter and Art & Lula Kunze.

She is survived by her Husband- John Vagher of the home, Daughter- Shylah Joann Booker (Shane Hoover) of Syracuse, Parents- Bob & Patricia Salter of Syracuse, Sister-In-Law- Joyce Salter of Spearville and 3 Grandchildren- Kanyon Vagher of Garden City, Alize Vagher and Ki Vagher-Salter both of Syracuse.

Graveside Service will be at 2:00 PM CST Wednesday at Syracuse Cemetery in Syracuse with Pastor Ed Binns officiating. Memorials are suggested to Cornerstone Celebrate Recovery Program in care of Garnand Funeral Home. Friends may call from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Tuesday at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com