Myrtle Belle (Drown) Briscoe, 92, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Monday, July 18, 2016 at Main Street Manor of Russell.

Myrtle was born September 29, 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of George Lester and Margaret Belle (Ross) Drown. She grew up in Jamaica Plain and Weymouth, Massachusetts. She graduated from Weymouth High School in 1941.

Myrtle was the manager of the Russell Elks Lodge for over 25 years. Before that, she was a waitress for many of the restaurants in the Russell area. She was a five time President of the Russell V.F.W. Post 6240 Ladies Auxiliary and a member of the Russell Regional Hospital Auxiliary. She loved to read, play cards, bingo, cross stitching and collect butterflies.

Surviving family include three daughters, Deborah Pickens (Larry) of Russell, Kansas, Kathy Norris (Shawn) of Las Vegas, Nevada and Becky Jamison (Dennis) of Buda, Texas; four sons, Gary Briscoe (Donna) of Gouverneour, New York, Wayne Briscoe (Kathryn) of Eudora, Kansas, Bill Briscoe of Preston, Connecticut, and Edward Briscoe of Leavenworth, Kansas; 18 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Bruce Briscoe, brothers, Donald Drown and William Drown; and four nephews.

Celebration of Myrtle’s Life will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, July 22, 2016 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary. Burial will follow in the Russell City Cemetery in Russell, Kansas. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM Thursday, July 21, 2016 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Memorials have been established with the Russell V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary and the Russell Regional Hospital Auxiliary. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.

Victoria, Kansas-Emery J. Rome, age 93, died Wednesday, July 20, 2016, at Via Christi Village Care Center Hays, Kansas.

He was born April 29, 1923, in Hays, Kansas to Peter J. and Sophie (Dreiling) Rome.

He was Deputy Clerk and Ellis County Clerk for over 25 years. He retired in the early 1980s.

He was a graduate of Victoria High School and attended a two year prep college at St. Joseph Military Academy. He was a veteran of the U S Army. He worked at Boeing in Wichita for a few years before making his home in Victoria. After his retirement he served one and a half terms as a Ellis County Commissioner.

He was a member of The Basilica of St. Fidelis, V.F.W Post #1751 and the Knight of Columbus all of Victoria, Kansas.

Survivors include one sister, Edna Stecklein, Hays, KS; one sister-in-law, Ann Rome, Overland Park, KS; ten nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Elmer Rome and wife, Dolores; Marvin Rome and wife, Vera; and Bernie Rome.

Services are at 10:00 A.M. Monday, July 25, 2016, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis Victoria, Kansas.
Burial in St. Fidelis Cemetery Victoria, Kansas with military honors by the Victoria V.F.W. Post No. 1751.
A vigil service is at 7:00 P.M. Sunday, followed by a Knight of Columbus and V.F.W. rosary all at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Sunday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Monday, at The Basilica of St. Fidelis.

Memorial to The Basilica of St. Fidelis. Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or via e-mail to [email protected].

Sandra (Tucker) Tollefsen, age 65, passed away on Friday, July 15, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was born on January 20, 1951 in Superior, Wisconsin.

For the last 20 years, Sandi led a quiet simple life in the Las Vegas area with Dave Voiss. Her passions were gardening, traveling, friends and family. She liked exploring new places and new adventures.

She was preceded in death by her father Harvey Tucker, her mother Lucille Lindsay, and her brother Charlie Tucker.

She is survived by her partner, Dave Voiss, and four daughters – Deb Vaagen of West Fargo ND, Dawne Striker of Athol ID, Jenny and Gene Copeland of Courtland VA, and Jacki and Aaron Dabbs of Post Falls ID and Dave’s sons – Steven and Kerri Voiss of Forest Lake MN and Ryan and Molly Voiss of Tulalip WA. Other survivors include one brother, Harvey and Brenda Tucker of Scott City KS, 2 nephews and 9 grandchildren.

Her final resting place will be Scott County, Kansas.

Vera Augustine, age 83, died Sunday, July 17, 2016, at her home in Hays, Kansas.

She was born August 6, 1932, in Hays, Kansas to Peter P. and Anna C. (Herl) Wolf. She married Harold E. “Gus” Augustine on August 18, 1953, in Hays, Kansas. He died March 17, 2016.

She was a school bus driver at USD #489 for ten years and retired in 2005. She was a care giver for the Reed Center in Hays, worked as a nurses aid and a physical therapy assistant at the old St. Anthony Hospital. Vera was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. She enjoyed working on the families genealogy, camping, spending time with her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Survivors include two sons, Tim Augustine, Terry Augustine and wife Christy, all of Hays, KS; one daughter, Carmen Fukasawa and husband Yoshi, Wichita Falls, TX; seven grandchildren, Ashley, Courtney, Aubrey, Chelsey Augustine; Yoshihisa Fukasawa and wife, Sarah; Asami Shook and husband, Brad; Kenji Fukasawa and wife, Leigha; four great grandchildren, Ava Fukasawa, Noah Fukasawa, Grace Fukasawa and Kinsley Shook; one sister-in-law, Rita Wolf, Hays, KS.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son, Harold Augustine Jr.; one great grandson, Jacob Fukasawa; one brother, Lavern Wolf; one infant sister, Mary Ann Wolf.

Memorial services will be at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, July 23, 2016, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas, 67601. Inurnment will be at St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Schoenchen, Kansas.

The family will receive friends from 11:30 to 1:00 P.M. Saturday at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.

Memorial to Alzheimer’s Association of Central & Western Kansas. Condolences can be left by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or via e-mail to [email protected]

Nathan Thomas Sams, born at home on December 30th, 1984 was the 5th of Garry and Gail Sams’ children. He passed away Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at the age of 31.  He and his surviving three sisters were home schooled as his parents finished the house they were living in northwest of Idaho Springs, Colorado. By the time he was old enough to appreciate his unique situation, the job was done. It was Nathan’s dream to build his own home with his own two hands as he had seen his parents do. Another dream was to ride broncs and win a belt buckle with his name on it. That he did, after they moved to Park, Kansas in 1999.

He was well known for mastering a number of skills. Nathan sold fine quality custom hand made saddles and tack, including holsters for the Cowboy Action Shooters. When Nathan wasn’t busy working leather, he was training horses or riding for the Jamison Hereford Ranch among others. He dabbled in woodworking and carving. He was a member of the Park Rodeo Association and was an amateur radio operator, KC0GGJ. In 2012 he went to work for KDOT. He was the strong back that kept the Sams’ farm running and his horses were his treasured companions.

Nathan’s desire was to let the light of his Lord Jesus Christ shine through his every action. “Preach Christ, and if you must, use words.”

He was preceded by two grandfathers, one grandmother, an uncle, a sister, and a niece. He is survived by his parents, a grandmother, three sisters, an aunt and an uncle, many nieces and nephews, and a large number of friends.

Memorial services will be 3:00 p.m., Saturday, July 23, 2016 at the Dunkard Brethren Chruch, Quinter.  Gordon Jamison will officiate.  There will be no visitation as cremation was chosen.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Faith Comes By Hearing.  Donations to the organization may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS  67752.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.schmittfuneral.com.

Geraldine Mildred Davey, age 101, of Moscow, KS,  passed away Friday, July 15, 2016 at Via Christi Village, Hays, KS. She was born September 12, 1914 in Green Bay, Wisconsin to Frederick and Mary Louise (Jansen) Hebert. She was married to Alan Davey who passed away in 1982.

She was a homemaker and hairdresser and had lived in Moscow, KS, for 44 years moving from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. She was a member of St Helen Catholic Church in Hugoton, KS, Moscow Women’s Federated Club, and served as the secretary for the Moscow Senior Citizens Center for several years. She enjoyed china painting, gardening, and spending time with many grandkids.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Ronald Davey; a daughter, Carol and husband Coleman “Pudge” Downing; a granddaughter-in-law, Lori Downing; 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

She is survived by a daughter-in-law; Sachie Davey ( Ronald deceased); four grandchildren; Alan Downing and wife Diane of Hays, KS, Scott Downing and wife Lonna of Moscow, KS, Gregg Downing (Lori deceased) of Guymon, OK and Christina Wolbert of Las Vegas, NV; eleven great grandchildren, Beth Simon, Marc Downing, Beau Downing, Dack Downing, Abbey Gonzalez, Jessica Downing, Paul Downing, Andrache’ Warnsley, Aidan Davey, Paige Wolbert and Donovan Wolbert and ten great-great grandchildren, Gracie Gonzalez, Ahearn Downing, Emma Downing, Kade Simon, Maggie Downing, Jordyn Simon, Coleman Downing, Breck Simon, Olivia Gonzalez and Karver Warnsley.

Funeral Services to be held Wednesday July 20, 2016, 10 a.m. at St. Helen Catholic Church, Hugoton, KS. Rosary to be at 9 a.m. preceding Mass. Burial following at Moscow Cemetery. Father Francis Khoi will conduct services.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Moscow Senior Center.

 

Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601.

Condolences may be sent by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected].

Gerald Lee Nix, age 84, passed away on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at the Maemar Manor in Victorville, California. He was born on February 7, 1932 in Liberal, Kansas, the son of Bert and Golda Logston Nix. A resident of Tribune, Kansas since early 1971 until he moved to Victorville, California in 2006. He was a Teacher, Coach, Bus Driver and a Boy Scout Leader.

Survivors include his Two Sons – Gerry & Judy Nix of Tribune, Kansas, Lyndal & Karen Nix of Victorville, California, One Sister – Delores Haight of Rolla, Kansas, Thirteen Grandchildren, Nine Great Grandchildren and One Great Great Grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his Parents, One Daughter – Revonda Nix, Three Brothers – Don Nix, Carl Nix and Harold Ray Nix.

Funeral Services will beheld at the First Baptist Church in Tribune, Kansas at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 18, 2016 with Pastor Shannon Schneider presiding.

Memorials may be given to the Boy Scout Troop #37 % Price & Sons Funeral Home in Tribune, Kansas.

Interment will be in the Greeley County Cemetery in Tribune, Kansas.

Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. Until 8:00 p.m. Saturday and 1:00 p.m. Until 8:00 p.m. Sunday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Tribune, Kansas.

Sharon Kay Dechant, age 64, of Hays, passed away Friday, July 8, 2016 in Hays. She was born September 24, 1951 in Hays, Kansas to Nicholas and Rosella (Kuhn) Dechant.

Sharon was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and was an avid cat lover.

She is survived by three brothers, Jim Dechant (Marty) of Hays, Larry dechant (Joan) of hays and Nick Dechant Jr. (Vinda) of Munjor; two sisters, Twila Schribner of Santee, California and Janice Schmidt (Keith) of Hays.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Private family services will be at a later date with inurnment at St. Francis Cemetery in Munjor, Kansas.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected].

Darrell Earl Sutor passed away on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at Redbud Village in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 95. He was born on August 1, 1920 just 3 ½ miles southwest of Zurich, Kansas, on Rooks County Section 5-10-19, to Earl and Eliza (Rogers) Sutor. That particular quarter of ground was owned by his grandmother Martha Sutor, and when Darrell was 5 years old the family moved ½ mile west of Zurich so he could start walking to school. Darrell was almost 7 when his sister Darline was born and in 1931, the family moved to Section 21-10-19 which was four miles south of Zurich. Both farmsteads were owned by the Sutor brothers.

Darrell graduated from Palco High School in Placo, Kansas with the Class of 1938 and went on to attend Fort Hays State College for one year. The Sutor brother’s estate sale took place in 1938 where Darrell’s father purchased the main ranch headquarters. The family moved to the ranch and Sutor Hereford Farms was born. On May 14, 1943 Darrell was united in marriage to Joy Jennings in Plainville, out in the yard of his uncle Rev. A.W. Dick, who officiated the ceremony. Darrell and Joy then made their home ½ mile north of the ranch on Section 12-10-20.

At the start of World War II, Darrell went at least twice to Stockton, Kansas to get his physical and was sent home both times by the doctor, because a few boys needed to stay in order to help feed those that went. During that time, with the shortage of men at home, German Prisoners of War were hired to work in rural areas that posed minimal security risk. So it was that a large crew of POW’s came to build the sale barn on the ranch headquarters.

To say that cattle ranching was their life would be an understatement. After the war, Linda, Darla and Lorna were born as the ranch continued to expand. As newlyweds Darrell and Joy went by boxcar to Bellville, Kansas to the Republic County Fair with the show cattle. Joy didn’t much care for riding with the cattle so she didn’t go again. In 1961 Kansas Senators Bob Dole and Harry Darby, along with Kansas Governor John Anderson, Jr. all attended the much celebrated Centennial Sale with a large party held in the ranch house when the sale was over. In 1966 the Champion Hereford Bull, in the newly built Houston Astrodome, was none other than SHF True Onward 44. Through the Hereford business, Darrell knew people from all over the country.

Darrell was a lifetime member of the American Hereford Association, the Kansas Hereford Association and the Kansas Livestock Association even serving as President of the KHA in 1963. He served on the Western Cooperative Board for forty years, the Pleasant View Cemetery Board for many years, was a long time Board Member of the Rooks County Free Fair, and was active in both the Plainville and Palco United Methodist Churches.

Darrell is survived by daughters Linda Sutor of Smolan, Darla Moore and husband Charlie of Modoc, and Lorna Pelton of Palco; grandchildren Jessica Hall and husband Kelly, Heather Renier and husband Dan, Dana Pieper and husband David, Kevin Moore, Shellie Collins and husband Colby, and Chan Pelton and wife Amanda; 12 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandson; and one sister-in-law.

Darrell was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Eliza Sutor, wife of 71 years Joy, step-mother Luella Sutor, sister Darline Marcotte, sister-in-law Alberta Stull, and three brothers-in-law Harold Marcotte, Max Stull, and Clive Felderman.

It has been said the Cattleman’s Motto is: “If it’s not yours, don’t take it. If it’s not true, don’t say it. If it’s not right, don’t do it.” Darrell lived every day of his life, teaching us by example, how to work hard and be thankful for what we have, and how to love one another through everything we say and do. Not just because it’s right, but because it’s the only way a true cattleman should live.

Funeral Services are 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 18, 2016 at the United Methodist Church in Palco, Kansas with burial to follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Sunday with family receiving friends from 4:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested in lieu of flowers to Redbud Village or Rooks County Free Fair and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd, Plainville, Kansas 67663. Condolences may be left for the family at www.plumeroverlease.com.

John Joseph Cody, longtime resident of Hays, KS, died on July 11, 2016, at the age of 91.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Dorothy Casto Cody, and their three children, Loren Shaiken and husband Mark of Denver, CO, Andrea Russell of Lake Oswego, OR, and Graham Cody and his wife Renee Lauber of Madison, WI. John also leaves behind 3 grandchildren, Zachary Shaiken, Ethan Russell, and Rowan Cody.

John was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 6, 1925 to Joseph Edward Cody and Ellen Langstaff Cody. He was the oldest of 6 children. His brother, Edwin Cody, and his sister, Eileen Keeler pre-deceased him. Surviving siblings are Evelyn McLean of Bethpage, NY, Genevieve Cody, of Brooklyn, NY, and Ellen Butler of Twinsburg, OH.

After living at his parent’s home until graduating from St. John’s University in Brooklyn NY, John’s professional life swung between art and science. As he described it, he chose “the most scientific form of art” when he became a medical illustrator after attending Johns Hopkins University’s Art as Applied to Medicine program in Baltimore, MD. In 1951 he then worked as staff artist on a scientific expedition in the jungle of Trinidad with famed naturalist, William Beebe. There began John’s love of traveling, which continued throughout his life.

Upon return to the States, he took a job as a medical illustrator in the Pathology Department at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock, AR. While working there he met Dr. Dorothy Casto, who was completing a pediatric internship at the same hospital, and who became his wife in 1955. They had been married only months, when John, at age 30, decided that he wanted to go to medical school, and Dot agreed to support him to do so. He received an MD from the University of Arkansas Medical School in 1960. At that point he decided to pursue what he considered “the most artistic form of medicine” and become a psychiatrist. John completed a residency at the Menninger School of Psychiatry in Topeka, KS, and became a psychiatrist in 1964.

After a year at Larned State Hospital, John took a job as the first psychiatrist and medical director of the newly established High Plains Mental Health Clinic in Hays in 1965. Soon thereafter he became the executive director of the clinic.

He only expected to remain in Hays for a couple of years and then move back to the East Coast. That never happened because the family fell in love with Hays, and the family settled into the old limestone house built in 1867 that was the first house built in Hays. The Cody’s remodeled the house to incorporate an art studio above the garage, where John, an artist and author, could pursue his creative outlets.

John enjoyed many creative pursuits throughout his life. He wrote several books, including biographies of poet Emily Dickinson, composer Richard Wagner, and medical artist Max Broedel; art books on the topics of foreshortening, and anatomical drawing; and a coffee table book of his own paintings of the great silkmoths called “Wings of Paradise.” John loved working in his studio, painting his large, lovely, detailed, watercolor moth paintings that earned him the reputation as the “Audubon of moths,” referencing the bird artist, James Audubon who was an early influence in his art work. Some of John’s paintings have been donated to Fort Hays State University, and can be periodically viewed at the Sternberg Museum in Hays.

Cards may be sent to Dot Cody at Cedar View Assisted Living, 2929 Sternberg Dr., Hays, KS 67601. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hays Arts Council, 112 E. 11th St, Hays, KS 67601 or the High Plains Mental Health Center, 208 E. Seventh, Hays, KS 67601. Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601 is in charge of arrangements. Condolences can also be sent via e-mail to [email protected].