Sharon Kay (Minor) Noel, of Quinter, whose ever-present humor brightened the universe for all who knew and loved her, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday, July 7th, 2019 at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita, Kansas.

Sharon was born on July 29th, 1941, in Lindsay, California, to Doyle and Velma (Haney) Minor. She was a 1959 graduate of Taft Union High School. She also pursued her interest in the medical field by attending classes at Taft Community College in 1960.

Upon graduating high school, Sharon spent the summer in Kansas visiting family, which is where she met and fell in love with her husband, Jerry Ivan Noel. They married on March 29th, 1962. During their marriage, they had two sons, Vincent and Jay.

Though their relationship turned out to be less permanent than either of them expected, in 1984, Sharon traveled back to the west coast to help out her mother, Velma Minor. Because of her love for Kansas, she moved back in 2000 upon her mother’s passing. While second chances in love rarely happen, it did for Sharon and Jerry, and in 2001 they rekindled their marriage.

Between the time she spent on the west coast and the plains of Kansas, Sharon became well-known in the Gove County community for her bright smile and helping hand. She was a scout leader, teacher’s aide, and fulfilled her interests in the medical field by working and volunteering at the Gove County Medical Center Hospital and Auxiliary.

Some of Sharon’s favorite pastimes were playing bingo, crocheting beautiful hats, scarves, and blankets for her beloved family, competing on the ladies bowling team and indulging in Hallmark movies.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jerry; brother Jim Minor and sister Doylene Doughty.

She is survived by sister, Janis Stevens (Beaumont, CA); sons, Vincent & Tracy Noel (Gove, KS), Jay & Michelle Noel (SanTan Valley, AZ); Stepsons Jeremy & Karen Noel (Wichita, KS), John Noel (San Diego, CA); and 7 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 10 am, Saturday, August 10th, 2019 at the United Methodist Church of Quinter.

Memorials can be made to the Gove County Medical Center Auxiliary or the United Methodist Church of Quinter, and are in the care of Schmitt Funeral Home 901 S. Main Quinter, KS 67752.

Carl Russell Crable of St. Francis, age 60, passed away July 24, 2019 at the Cheyenne County Hospital. He was born April 3, 1959 in Pamona, California to Ralph W. and Thelma J. (Williams) Crable.

Carl attended school at LaVeta Junior Senior High School in LaVeta Colorado and attended college at the University of Phoenix where he earned a B.S. in Business. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Lori.

Carl is survived by his daughter, Jamie (Joe) Patton of Colby, KS; and 5 grandchildren.

Cremation was chosen, and no services are scheduled at this time. For information or condolences visit www.batemanfuneral.com

Cynthia Sheley, age 62, of Ellis passed away Thursday, July 25, 2019 at the Good Samaritan Society, Ellis. She was born February 16, 1957 in Hays, Kansas to Victor and Irene (Burgardt) Klaus.

She is survived by three daughters, Jennifer (Matt) Burton of Lago Vista, TX, Trisha Robinson of Fairbury, NE and Tamara (James) Harper of Norton; a daughter-in-law, Carlena Sheley of Norton as well as her grandchildren, Taylor and Shelby Noonan, Gentry Burton, Esme and Alayah Robinson, Ariana and Rylee Harper.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, David Sheley; two brothers, Vernon and Robert Sheley and a sister, Rose Hamel.

Funeral services are at 11AM Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis. Private family inurnment at a later date.

Arrangements in care of Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E. 17th Ellis, KS 67637

Neal D. Hudson, age 95, of McCook, NE passed away on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 at his home in Brookdale, McCook.

Neal was born February 6, 1924 on his grandparents’ Jessee farmstead north of Benkelman, NE to parents Jesse D. and Leona M. (Jessee) Hudson. In 1929 the family made their home on a farm in Hitchcock County near the Kansas Border. They later moved to a farm overlooking the Republican River Valley where Neal witnessed the flood of 1935 and remembered hearing the rushing flood waters from the house. Neal was a lifelong farmer. He grew up farming during the dust bowl in the Depression.

Neal attended a one room country school before graduating from Stratton High School with the Class of 1940. He was active in FFA and other AG related activities.

On May 23, 1942, Neal married his lifetime partner, Shirley Y. Richards in St.Francis, KS. The couple was blessed with two children, Roger and Jean. The family made their home South of Stratton/Trenton where they continued to farm for over 60 years.

Neal was a member of the Stratton Church of Christ and a lifetime member of the NRA and Farm Bureau where he was active in both the county and state organizations. He also served on the Trenton Board of Education. Neal was a Nebraska Football Fan. His favorite times were spent showing his grandchildren the values of hard work on the farm and how those values related to everyday life. He enjoyed travelling with Shirley and the two of them share fond memories of a cruise to the Bahamas and of finding lost relatives and friends across the country.

Neal was preceded in death by his parents, brother Gaile Dunn; and son in law, Earl Ward.

Those left to celebrate his life include his wife of 77 years, Shirley Hudson of McCook; son, Roger (Deb) Hudson of Martell, NE; daughter, Jean Ward of Hays, KS; five grandchildren, Jennifer (Steven) Vanderpool of Pasadena, CA, Grant ( fiancé Chelsea Tyrie) Hudson of Dallas, TX, Chad (Cathy) Quick of Cincinnati, OH, Kyle (Paula) Quick of Oklahoma City, OK and Tisha (Nael) Samaha of Centerville, VA; ; ten great grandchildren; three great great grandchildren; three step grandchildren, four step great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1 PM, on Monday, August 12, 2019, at the Stratton Church of Christ in Stratton, NE with Pastor Randy Hayes, officiating. Burial will be held at a later date in Rose Hill Cemetery in Stratton.

Family and friends are invited to share memories and refreshments at the Grandview Community Center following the services

Memorial Contributions may be directed to the Stratton Church of Christ, 406 Baxter Street, Stratton, NE 69043.

It is with great sadness that the family of Mary Leora (Copelin) Speed passed away at the age of 92. She was born in Villisca, Iowa on June 25, 1927, and passed away on Saturday, July 27, 2019 at her home with her son and daughter by her side. She was a resident of the Sheldahl and Huxley communities from 1958-2015, at which time she moved to Larned, Kansas to reside with her daughter, Joan.

Mary was united in marriage in June of 1949 to Robert M. Speed, they later divorced. Together seven children were born.

Mary will be lovingly remembered by children Noel Speed, Joan Basgall, Vivian Valfre, Jane Sexton, John (Vicki) Speed and Gordon Speed. She will also be lovingly remembered by numerous grand, great grand, and great-great grandchildren.

Mary is preceded in death by daughter Joetta Flotho, granddaughter Jodi Bedore, John Sexton (Jane’s spouse), Gerald Basgall (Joan’s spouse), and Tessie Speed (Noel’s spouse). She is also preceded in death by parents John and Effie Copelin, siblings Darwin and Delbert Copelin (infant twins), Ruth Speed, Joe Copelin, and Lila Johnson.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 10, 2019, 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Sheldahl, Iowa. A private family inurnment will be at a later date. The family requests no flowers. Memorial donations can be made to the Sheldahl United Methodist Church, in care of Janice Halverson, P.O. Box 302, Slater, IA 50244.

Ivan Leon Mettscher, The Family Barber, joined his Savior in heaven on July 26, 2019 at the University of Kansas Health System – Great Bend Campus at the grand age of 91. Ivan was born on April 1, 1928 in Hudson Kansas. He was the son of Henry (Hank) George and Pearl (Clark) Mettscher. Ivan’s life professions included working for Hudson Dealer and Rivers Shoe Store in Larned. In 1951 he moved to Great Bend and worked for 10 years as a driller on oil rigs for several major oil companies.

With the desire to spend more time with his family he entered and graduated from Barber School in Wichita, Kansas. After working for the Uptown Barber Shop behind the Ralph Wallace Café for several weeks he was recruited by Clem Lang to work in the Family Barber Shop on North Washington. After three years Ivan purchased the shop and continued for 52 years as a Barber Stylist cutting and styling the hair of 3 and sometimes 4 generations of families. He loved people and used his time cutting their hair to get to know them. He never met a stranger and was always there when help was needed.

In 1964 he joined the Noon Lions Club and was involved in establishing the first student scholarship at Barton Community College given by the club. He served on the Lions board and as Scoutmaster of Troop 150 sponsored by the Lions Club. His son Randall received his Eagle and Order of the Arrow awards while Ivan was Scoutmaster. Along with other scoutmasters and district scout executive Charles Gunn, Ivan helped establish the Cheyenne Scoutland south of Great Bend on the Arkansas River as the area Boy Scout campground and Camp Aldrich for the Girl Scouts from funding willed for the scouts in the Aldrich estate. Later Ivan was leader of only the second Boy Scout Explorer Post in Motorcycling in the USA.

Ivan served as President of Barton Lake and President of the Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corp Booster Club. Ivan loved his church family and spent many years serving his church, The First Church of the Nazarene in Great Bend, as Sunday school teacher, board member, and as an usher until 2017.

After retirement Ivan spent 17 summers in their fifth wheel in the South Fork Colorado Fun Valley Campground making friends from all over the USA. During this time he started wood burning and making canes and walking sticks from Aspen trees grown in the high country. Soon his canes were scattered across the nation and he took great joy in making canes for local friends.

Ivan dearly loved his family. They always came first. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, taking many road trips, including his longest trip to Jasper, Canada. He loved his Honda Gold Wing and never gave up sharing his joy of the road. He was a big fan of KU Basketball and the KC Royals and enjoyed watching their games on TV and in person. He enjoyed cars and working on them to keep them in top running order. In later years he became a great story teller sharing all his escapades in life.

Ivan spent his last 4 and a half years living with his daughter Vicky and son-in-law Norman on their wooded acreage working outside, enjoying the deer and the turkey that visited their pond by the house.

Ivan is survived by his wife of 69 years, Martha, brother Marvin Mettscher of Hutchinson, daughter, Vicky Dayton and husband Norman Dayton of rural Ellinwood, Grandson Ryan Dayton of Great Bend, Grandson Eric Dayton, his wife Nikki, Great grandson Liam Ivan Dayton and Great Granddaughter Loryn Linn Dayton all of Lawrence, Kansas, daughter in law Lisa Mettscher of Montrose, Colorado and granddaughter Randi Mettscher of Balmorhea, Texas. Ivan was preceded in death by his parents and son Randall.

A Memorial Service is scheduled for 1 PM, Friday, August 2nd, 2019, at the Great Bend First Church of the Nazarene, 4811 Broadway with Pastor Josh Foster officiating.

In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorials be given to the Nazarene Church, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Loren C. Janzen, age 82, passed away on Thursday, July 25, 2019 at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas. He was born on December 26, 1936 at the family home in Ellsworth County, Kansas, the son of Albert & Clara Schroeder Janzen. A resident of Scott County since 1947, he worked as a farmer.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Masonic Lodge, and Isis Shrine. Loren served on the following: Park Lane Nursing Home Board of Directors; Scott County Hospital Board of Directors; Camp Christy Board of Directors; Fort Hays State University Foundation Board of Directors; Chairman, Central Baptist Theological Seminary Board of Directors; American Baptist Churches USA General Board; American Baptist Churches USA Ministers and Missionary Board; Kansas Rural Crisis Ecumenical Council.

Loren graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1958 with a BA in Industrial Arts. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1958-1962.

On October 11, 1959 he married Sidney Harper in Scott City, Kansas. She survives.

Other Survivors include:

​Two Daughters
​Lori Aldag (Tom) of Wichita, Kansas
​​​​Stephanie Robinson (Mark) of Lawrence, Kansas

​Four Grandchildren​
Tessa & Levi Aldag
​​​​Corbin & Claire Robinson

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Keith Janzen; two sisters, Orla Herzog and Alberta Schreck.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at the First Baptist Church in Scott City, Kansas with the Pastor Kyle Evans and Father Don Martin presiding.

Burial will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas.

Friends may call from 11:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday at the Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.

Memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to the Stepping UpMinistries, Scott Community Foundation, or Camp Christy in care of Price & Sons Funeral Home.