Kenneth R. Watts, 91, passed away July 16, 2019 at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit. He was born December 22, 1927 in Downs, the son of Melvin and Ruth (Caparoon) Watts.
He owned and operated B&W Service for nearly 50 years.
He is preceded in death by son, Ronald (2004), daughters, Kendra McAllaster (1991)and Kathy Grelle (2018), and grandson Kenneth Woodall (1994).
Mr. Watts is survived by his wife, Mildred; daughters, Sherry (Jerry) Knouf of Downs and Michelle Watts of Wichita, 15 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren; Half brother, Vance VanPelt of Osborne, and Half sister, Madie DeSantis of Sunland, CA.
Funeral service will be Saturday, July 20, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Downs. Visitation will be Friday, July 19, 2019 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the church. Memorials may be given to the Downs Carnegie Library and the Downs Care & Rehabilitation Center in care of Domoney Funeral Home, PO Box 127, Downs, KS 67437.
Phillipsburg resident Carol J. Werner passed away July 17, 2019 at the Smith County Hospital in Smith Center at the age of 79. She was born Oct. 24, 1939 in Phillips County, KS, the daughter of Roy & Hazel (Highley) Roth.
Survivors include her son Allen Stapel of Phillipsburg; her daughter Rhonda Gibson of Kirwin; one brother Neal Roth of Phillipsburg; 7 grandchildren & 4 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 22 at 10:00 a.m. in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Janet Reynolds officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 Saturday & noon to 9:00 Sunday at the funeral home with the family receiving friends from 7:00 to 8:00 Sunday evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to her great grandchildren’s education.
Judy Lynn Younger (Durham), 56, died July 13th 2019 at her home in Colby, Kansas. She was born April 26th 1963 in Colby, Kansas to August and Shirley (Hamm) Durham.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Linda Crouse and her niece, Natasha Barnett.
Judy is survived by her daughter, Holly Younger, of Hays, Kansas; her parents, August and Shirley Durham, of Colby, as well as two nieces and a nephew.
Cremation was chosen, and a celebration of life will follow in the next few months. In lieu of flowers or cards, the family would like donations made to the ASPCA in Judy’s name. Judy was an avid animal lover. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com
Randy Lee Kitzman, age 58, of Ellis, Kansas passed away July 16, 2019 at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City. He was born February 20, 1961 in Denver, Colorado to Marvin and Verta (Kornele) Kitzman. On August 16, 1980 he married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Ann Reilly in Lakewood, Colorado.
Randy had worked at Fort Hays State University as a carpenter. He enjoyed family time, fishing, camping, vacations and coaching all of the kids in various sports. He was active in Online AA Support Groups and was the President of the Classified Senate at FHSU. He was a member of Celebration Community Church in Hays.
He is survived by his wife, Patti of Ellis; a son, Joseph (Regan) Kitzman of Ellis; two daughters, Jamie (Sean) Linden of Collyer, KS and Erin (James) Hobbs of WaKeeney, KS; a brother, Ron Kitzman of Lakewood; a sister, Linda Olson of Lakewood and seven grandchildren, Reilly, John, Maggie and James Linden, Jensen and Sylus Hobbs and Michael Kitzman.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Celebration of life services will be 11 AM on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Celebration Community Church in Hays. Private family inurnment will be at a later date. Arrangements in care of Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Friendship Inn which is a hospitality home for families in Kansas City or to the Sepsis Alliance.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]
Shane Leroy Mullen, age 60, passed away on Tuesday, July 16, at his home in Oakley, KS. Shane made his memorable first appearance on September 16, 1958, being delivered by his grandmother, Mabel Linder, on his grandparent’s farm NE of Leoti, KS. Shane was the baby of the family, the son of Leonard and Sharon Mullen.
Growing up on a farm on Beaver Creek NE of Leoti, he spent his days hunting, fishing, riding his horse named “Pal” and later becoming involved in 4-H and high school rodeo.
In 1976, Shane graduated from Wichita County High School and married Kathy Appl. From this union, a daughter, Shala Rae, was born on August 22, 1977. They later divorced.
In 1982, Shane and his brother, Kevin, started K&S Trucking, and later he began custom harvesting and raising livestock. Shane had a deep love and respect for farming, ranching, and trucking and for the hardworking man. He knew that it took hard work and dedication to “get er done” and that “it ain’t easy being a big operator.”
On October 22, 1994, Shane married Cindy Miller in Windsor, CO. Their daughter, Katelyn Marie, was born on September 26, 1998. Shane and Cindy farmed and ranched in rural Russell Springs, then later moved to Oakley, KS where they operated Mullen Custom Harvesting and continued to raise a small black angus herd on their farm south of Oakley. Shane was also a crop insurance adjuster and later started Mullen Insurance Agency serving farmers in Western KS and Eastern CO.
Shane was a member of the Butterfield Trail Historical Association and the Russell Springs Volunteer Fire Department. Shane was baptized the same day as his daughter, Katelyn. He was a member of the Winona United Methodist Church and later also a member of the Oakley United Methodist Church.
Shane’s surviving family includes his wife Cindy Mullen, Oakley, KS; two children, Shala (Kevan) Steele, Fredonia, KS and Katelyn Mullen, Oakley, KS; two grandchildren, Dillon Steele and Kinley Steele, Fredonia, KS; his mother, Sharon Mullen, Leoti, KS; three siblings, Rick (Patty) Mullen, Plainville, KS, Kandice McCabe, Pueblo, CO and Kevin (Kathy) Mullen, Leoti, KS
He was preceded in death by his father, Leonard Mullen.
There will be a visitation for Shane’s friends and family on Friday, July 19, 2019 at the Oakley United Methodist Church from 5-7:00 p.m. Funeral services for Shane will be held at noon on Saturday, July 20, at the Oakley United Methodist Church. Shane’s favorite desserts will be served at the church after the funeral service, with graveside services following at the Russell Springs cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Butterfield Trail Historical Association or the Oakley United Methodist Church, sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com
Iva Mae Triplett, 83, of Wakeeney KS, passed away July 5, 2019 at Hays Medical Center, Hays, KS. She was born in Ellis County on January 7, 1936 to Jacob and Ella (Schumm) Massier.
Iva was a 1954 graduate of Ellis High School. She was united in marriage to Leslie Eugene (Gene) Triplett on August 11, 1955 in WaKeeney, KS. They were married 43 years.
Iva worked as a laundry worker in Ransom, KS until the family moved to WaKeeney, KS in 1983. She then worked at the WaKeeney Hospital as a Certified Nurses Aide and Physical Therapy Aide until her retirement. She enjoyed gardening, puzzles and spending time with her family.
Iva was preceded in death by her father and mother Jacob and Ella Massier, her husband Gene Triplett and son Rick Triplett. She is survived by her four daughters, Debbie Schmale (Roger) of Salina, KS, Sandy Bostick and Karla Ghumm (Michael) of WaKeeney, KS and Dara Noll (Kip) Ness City, KS; ten grandchildren, Chanda Lunn, Chrissy Delimont, Sonya Lovesee, Tyson Triplett, Chelsea Dail, Matt Noll, Josh, Cody, Cameron and Devon Ghumm; fourteen great-grandchildren, Torrance, Taytum,and Tinley Lovesee, Rylee,Ansley,Breyer and Harper Delimont, Hudson and Walker Lynn, Addison and Josiah Lopez, Landyn Dail, Brantleigh and Briggs Ghumm; sister Betty Cain; and daughter-in-law, Korene Triplett.
Memorial service will be held 10:30am July 23, 2019 at Schmitt Funeral Home WaKeeney. Pastor Randy Gibbs of Bethlehem Lutheran Church will be officiating. Cremation has been chosen.
The family will receive friends the day of service, from 9am – 10am.
Memorial contributions may be given to the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association in care of Schmitt Funeral Home, 336 N. 12th WaKeeney, KS 67672.
Charles “Chuck” G. Arnold passed away Tuesday, July 16, 2019. The second of nine children to Simon “Sam” and Aldea (Plante) Arnold. Charles started his journey in rural Graham County on November 1, 1933. He was a farmer, house mover, military guided missile instructor, production man, gardener, and custodian. Through the years Charles wore many hats, but his favorite was being Grandpa/Uncle Chuck. Chuck also belonged to the Knights of Columbus and the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Charles married Jonnie C.L. Sledge on November 21, 1959 in Colby, Kansas. Chuck and Jonnie had four children; Anita (Ed) Sabatka, Loretta (Dave) Studer, Jeff (Cindy) Arnold, and Brian (Casey) Arnold. He had nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Family gatherings with his sisters Darlene (Gerald) Hutfles, Donna (Ron) Sis, Pat (Jim) Prochazka, Bertha (Kenny) Brungardt, Paulette (Ray) Gerver, Pauline (Kenny) Micek, Geralda (Jim) Keith, and brother Jim (Adeline), were always a favorite time.
Chuck was happily coerced into many shenanigans by his grandchildren who will miss him dearly.
He is survived by his sons Brian (Casey) Arnold of Plainville, KS, Jeff (Cindy) Arnold of Staplehurst, NE; daughter, Loretta (David) Studer of Atwood, KS, sisters, Donna (Ron) Sis of McCook, Pat (Jim) Prochazka of Atwood, Bertha (Kenny) Brungardt of Victoria, Paulette (Ray) Gerver of McCook, Pauline (Kenny) Micek of Atwood, and Geralda (Jim) Keith of Hill City; brother Jim (Adeline) Arnold of Colby.
Chuck is preceded in death by his parents Simon and Aldea (Plante) Arnold, his wife Jonnie, daughter Anita, and sister Darlene Hutfles.
Mass and Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville. Visitation will be on Friday from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home and from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the church with a Parish Vigil and Rosary Service at 7:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Sacred Heart Catholic School and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 320 SW 2nd, Plainville, Kansas 67663.
Phillipsburg resident, Carol J. Werner, passed away July 17, 2019 at the Smith County Hospital in Smith Center at the age of 79. She was born Oct. 24, 1939 in Phillips County, Kan., the daughter of Roy and Hazel (Highley) Roth.
Survivors include her son Allen Stapel of Phillipsburg; her daughter Rhonda Gibson of Kirwin; one brother Neal Roth of Phillipsburg; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, July 22 at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, with Pastor Janet Reynolds officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to her great-grandchildren’s education.
Shane Leroy Mullen, age 60, passed away on Tuesday, July 16, at his home in Oakley, Kan. Shane made his memorable first appearance on Sept. 16, 1958, being delivered by his grandmother, Mabel Linder, on his grandparent’s farm northeast of Leoti, Kan. Shane was the baby of the family, the son of Leonard and Sharon Mullen.
Growing up on a farm on Beaver Creek northeast of Leoti, he spent his days hunting, fishing, riding his horse named “Pal” and later becoming involved in 4-H and high school rodeo.
In 1976, Shane graduated from Wichita County High School and married Kathy Appl. From this union, a daughter, Shala Rae, was born on Aug. 22, 1977. They later divorced.
In 1982, Shane and his brother, Kevin, started K&S Trucking, and later he began custom harvesting and raising livestock. Shane had a deep love and respect for farming, ranching, and trucking and for the hardworking man. He knew that it took hard work and dedication to “get er done” and that “it ain’t easy being a big operator.”
On Oct. 22, 1994, Shane married Cindy Miller in Windsor, Colo. Their daughter, Katelyn Marie, was born on Sept. 26, 1998. Shane and Cindy farmed and ranched in rural Russell Springs, then later moved to Oakley, Kan., where they operated Mullen Custom Harvesting and continued to raise a small black angus herd on their farm south of Oakley. Shane was also a crop insurance adjuster and later started Mullen Insurance Agency serving farmers in western Kansas and eastern Colorado.
Shane was a member of the Butterfield Trail Historical Association and the Russell Springs Volunteer Fire Department. Shane was baptized the same day as his daughter, Katelyn. He was a member of the Winona United Methodist Church and later also a member of the Oakley United Methodist Church.
Shane’s surviving family includes his wife Cindy Mullen, Oakley, Kan.; two children, Shala (Kevan) Steele, Fredonia, Kan. and Katelyn Mullen, Oakley, Kan.; two grandchildren, Dillon Steele and Kinley Steele, Fredonia, Kan.; his mother, Sharon Mullen, Leoti, Kan.; three siblings, Rick (Patty) Mullen, Plainville, Kan., Kandice McCabe, Pueblo, Colo., and Kevin (Kathy) Mullen, Leoti, Kan.
He was preceded in death by his father, Leonard Mullen.
There will be a visitation for Shane’s friends and family on Friday, July 19, 2019 at the Oakley United Methodist Church from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral services for Shane will be at noon on Saturday, July 20 at the Oakley United Methodist Church.
Shane’s favorite desserts will be served at the church after the funeral service, with graveside services following at the Russell Springs cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Butterfield Trail Historical Association or the Oakley United Methodist Church, sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748.
Louene Daisy McBride, 104, Overland Park, formerly of Hays, died Monday, July 15, 2019 at Homestead of Overland Park.
She was born July 12, 1915 in Hesston, Kan., the sixth of seven children born to Ara H. and Hattie May (Boyer) Steele.
With her siblings, she would help on the family farm in Halstead.Every Sunday, she would bake cookies and the boys would play baseball.Louene graduated from Halstead High School in 1934 and soon began nurses training at Halstead Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1941.
Louene was a United States Army nurse, serving at Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver, Colo., during World War II.In 1943, she met and married Paul McBride.He preceded her in death in 1964.
She lived in Hays for over 50 years and was a nurse at Hadley Hospital.Louene was active in the First United Methodist Church, but most of all she was devoted to her family, helping and supporting them with their respective interests in music, football and going to Kansas City Royals games.
As an avid card and game player, Louene was a member of several bridge and canasta clubs.She loved to work on jigsaw puzzles, help make scrapbooks, and was a lifelong fan of any Kansas sport with KU and K-State basketball and KC Royals baseball being her favorites.She will be fondly remembered and deeply missed.
Survivors include her son-in-law; John Bundy of DeSoto, two grandchildren; Brent Bessey of Shawnee and Kim Erickson and husband Scott of Valley Falls, six great-grandchildren; Tyler Bessey, Hunter Bessey, Gracie Bessey, Sophie Bessey, Courtney Henney, and Jonathan Henney and fiancé Ashlyn Bartling, numerous nieces and nephews, and many adopted loved ones and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband; Paul, her daughter; Mary Margaret Bundy, a step-son; Jerry McBride, five brothers; Alva, Eldo, Wayne, Floyd, and Bob Steele and a sister; Zella Crandall.
Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 26, 2019 at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine St., Hays, Kansas.Burial will follow in Fort Hays Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until service time on Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the ISIS Shrine Circus or Amedisys Compassionate Care Hospice of Kansas City.Condolences and memories of Louene may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com.
Nancy Ann Stewart, born Nancy Ann Scheimo on October 20, 1955, went home to be with the Lord on July 9, 2019 following a long battle with lung cancer and neuropathy. She passed away peacefully at home in the presence of family.
Nancy confessed Jesus Christ as her savior and was baptized in 1965. As an adult later in life, she renewed this affirmation of Christ.
While she was born in Princeton, Minnesota, her family moved several times during her childhood, as her father was a pastor. In Minnesota she lived in Minneapolis, Spring Lake Park, and Ridgefield. In 1959, her family moved to Norton, Kansas, for the first time. They then moved to Goodland and Hays, also in Kansas, and then to Denver, Colorado, where Nancy graduated from Lakewood High School in 1973.
After graduation and while still in Denver, she worked at Parker Drilling Company and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department. While Nancy enjoyed both jobs and gained valuable knowledge and experience, she needed a change and decided to try her luck in California. By the time she decided to leave, her parents had moved back to Norton and in 1983, she moved back in with them. She also joined the church her parents had helped create and build, the Full Gospel Church (now Cornerstone Church), which she considered “her church” thereafter. In 1984 she gave birth to her son, Justin. In the years following she worked as a bookkeeper at Norton Sheet Metal and the Andbe Home and was able to purchase and make a lovely home for her and her son.
In March of 1997 she married Delmer Stewart and later that year, gave birth to her daughter, Kristin. She continued work as a bookkeeper for C&R Western Construction and then Western Pest Control, but her time after was mostly spent as a mother and homemaker.
Nancy loved her family more than anything in this world. Anyone who knew her well realized that she’d sacrifice anything for her kids and loved nothing more than devoting her time to family. She was raised in the teachings of the Bible, which helped her in the journey of life to find her own walk with Jesus. Her kids benefited from this as she always did her best to instill in them those same teachings.
While she may not have thought so herself, everyone knew how personable Nancy was, making friends with just about anyone. She loved visiting and chatting with people from all walks of life, no matter how well she knew them. Music was usually flowing through her head; she could often be found humming or “jamming out” to rock and hair band music or praising Jesus with modern/contemporary worship music . . . anything from Beach Boys to Led Zeppelin to Aerosmith to Fleetwood Mac to Newsboys to Casting Crowns and everything in between.
Nancy is preceded in death by several aunts and uncles.
Survivors include her husband, Delmer Stewart; son, Justin Scheimo and daughter, Kristin Stewart; parents, Ron & Sylvia Scheimo; brother, Tom (and Hope) Scheimo; sister, Debbie (and Samuel) Pessoa; nephews, Eric (and Eun Hee) Scheimo and Daniel Pessoa; nieces, Sarah Scheimo and Elizabeth Pessoa; as well as one grandniece, Julia.
The family will conduct a memorial service on Thursday, July 18th, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. in the Cornerstone Church, Norton, KS, with Pastor Rob Mohr officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institution of Hays c/o Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, P. O. Box 563, Phillipsburg, KS 67661.
Kenneth R. Watts, 91, passed away July 16, 2019 at the Mitchell County Hospital in Beloit. He was born December 22, 1927 in Downs, the son of Melvin and Ruth (Caparoon) Watts.
