Alan Ross

Alan E. Ross, age 76, of Hays, passed away Thursday, December 22nd, 2011 at Via Christi Medical center St. Francis campus in Wichita. He was born January 2, 1935 in Hays, Kansas to Frank and Andrea (Meier) Ross. He was a 1953 graduate of St. Joseph Military Academy in Hays. He married Wilma Schafer on February 11, 1956 in Hays.

Alan started his working career in the oil fields working various positions. Alan was also a Drug and Alcohol Counselor for many years and he was responsible for starting up the drug and alcohol unit at St. Anthony Hospital. He then became a truck driver for Williams Van Lines moving furniture. As a bus driver he worked for All American Tours as a tour bus driver driving throughout the country. He was a well known bus driver for TMP-Marian High School events and Fort Hays State University sporting events which he truly loved doing and being a part of the students life. He was also maintenance worker at TMP-Marian. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays.

He is survived by his wife, Wilma of Hays; a son, Brian Ross and wife Peggy of Baton Rouge, LA; a grandson, Mark Ross of Houston, TX. and a sister, Irene Hauser of Louisville, CO.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Mark Ross; a sister, Mary Ellen Fromm and five brothers, Norbert, Francis, Pete, Louis and Richard.

Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Tuesday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery.

Visitation will be Monday 4:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. and Tuesday 9:00 A.M. – 9:30 A.M. all at Brock’s North Hill Chapel 2509 Vine Hays, KS. 67601.

A parish vigil service will be Monday at 6:30 P.M. at he funeral home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Alan Ross Memorial Fund to be designated at a later date and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected].

James Lee Forsythe

Hays, KS – James Lee Forsythe, age 77, a native of Texas and longtime resident of Hays, Kansas, died December 16, 2011, at his son’s house in Russell, Kansas. He was born December 18, 1934, in Bransford, Texas. He was the son of Roy Theodore Forsythe and Irma Mae (Smith) Forsythe. He married Sherrill Kay (Zartman) on August 10, 1956. She died March 14, 2010. His ancestry is Scottish; the first Forsyths arrived in Orange County, North Carolina, in the 1780s.

James attended public school in Pleasant Run, Texas, and graduated from Grapevine High School in Grapevine, Texas. He earned his Associate Degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, his Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the University of North Texas, and his Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico. He served three years in the Texas Air National Guard, two years active duty in the Army, and eight years of inactive duty in the Army Reserves.

James worked more than ten years for Delta Airlines in Texas, and thirty-six years at Fort Hays State University. While at the University, he held several positions, including a Professorship in the History Department, Chair of the History Department, Dean of the Graduate School, and Vice Provost. James was the progenitor and federal grant writer behind Fort Hays State University’s drive to become a computerized, hi-tech campus, beginning in the mid 1980s. Unknown to most, FHSU was for a decade the most highly computerized university in the United States. He retired in December of 1999.

He wrote two histories of Fort Hays State University, and co-authored a book on the Volga German settlement of western Kansas. In his final months of life, he wrote a book detailing his upbringing in Texas.

He was active in various political organizations, was president of both the Western Social Science Association and the Kansas State Historical Society, and was a member of the Hays Sister Cities Board. However, his most enjoyable times were spent with students in the classroom.

James was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by three sons, James L. Forsythe Jr. and wife Rita Rae, Russell, KS; Garen David Forsythe and wife, Patricia Ann, Emporia, KS; Dana Sean Forsythe; two brothers, Calvin Forsythe, Paradise, TX; and Joe Forsythe, Euless, TX , five sisters Betty Bramlett, North Richland Hills, TX; Louise Evans, Alvarado, TX; Martha Bufe, Colleyville, TX; Jane Dethloff, Kennedale, TX; and Nancy Carroll, Kennedale, TX. He is survived also by four grandchildren: Ryan Tyler Forsythe, Hays, KS; Charissa Joann Forsythe, Ariel Annette Forsythe, and Kieran Richard Forsythe, all of Emporia, KS: one great-grandchild: Aidan Tyler Forsythe: two step grandchildren: Cristy Lea Dinkel and Craig Oren Atkerson, both of Hays, KS; two step great-grandchildren, Rylee Daven Atkerson and Reanna Renee Atkerson, both of Hays, KS.

The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2011, at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays 1919 East 22nd Hays, KS 67601. Pastor Benny Lowery will officiate. The funeral service will be followed by a brief graveside service and interment at Mount Allen Cemetery, Hays, Kansas, with military honors by the Hays V.F.W. Post No. 9076.

Visitation will be at Cline’s Mortuary of Hays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, and 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, at the mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society, the American Parkinson Disease Association, the Humane Society of the High Plains, and History Department Scholarships at Fort Hays State University. Condolences may be sent via e-mail to Cline’s Mortuary of Hays at [email protected].

Robert F. (Bob) Unrein

Victoria, Kansas – Robert F. (Bob) Unrein, age 72, died Friday, November 25, 2011, at his home in Victoria, Kansas.

He was born February 18, 1939, in Hays, Kansas, to Peter C. and Lucida (Schutz) Unrein. He married Rose Marie (Brungardt) on June 13, 1964 at Victoria, Kansas. He was veteran of the U.S. Army and served from 1957 to 1965. He was a sheet metal worker and worked at Charles Leiker Plumbing and Heating, Midland Inc., and 30 years for Glassman Corp. all in Hays, Kansas. He was a member of St. Fidelis Catholic Church and has lived in Victoria, Kansas since 1964.

Survivors include his wife, Rose Marie Unrein, of the home; one son, Robbie Unrein and wife, Brenda, Hoisington, KS; one daughter, Ramona Weigel and husband, Roger, Hays, KS; one brother, Pete Unrein and wife, Dorothy, Hays, KS; seven sisters, Jeanie Brungardt and husband, Larry, Victoria, KS; Polly Aucoin and husband, Richard, TX. Mary Lou Keizer and husband, George, NV; Anna Jennings and husband, Mike, MI; Velma Dinkel and husband, George, Brownell, KS; Lorie Ormsbee and husband, Alan, SC; Cindy Schoendaller and husband, Pat, Abilene, KS; three grandchildren, Grace Unrein, Raeleann Weigel, Rylan Weigel. He was preceded in death by his parents, and one sister, Theresa Unrein.

Services are 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, November 29, 2011, at St. Fidelis Catholic Church, Victoria, Kansas. Burial in St. Fidelis Cemetery Victoria, Kansas, with military honors by Victoria, V.F.W. Post No. 1751. Vigil service is at 7:00 P.M. Monday at Cline’s Mortuary 412 Main Victoria, Kansas 67671. Visitation is from 2:00 to 9:00 P.M. Monday and from 8:30 to 9:45 A.M. Tuesday all at Cline’s Mortuary Victoria, Kansas.
Memorial to St. Fidelis Cemetery Fund or Masses.

Condolences can be sent via e-mail to [email protected].

 

Brendan Lewis Young

Brendan Lewis Young, age 22, of Hays, passed away Monday, November 21, 2011 at his home in Manhattan. He was born September 20, 1989 in Hays, Kansas to Jeff and Ann (Molz) Young. He was baptized in the First Presbyterian Church of Hays and he graduated from Hays High School.

Brendan was working as a Graphic Artist at GTM in Manhattan while attending Kansas State University studying Graphic Design. He was an Artist, Musician, Athlete and Honor Student.

He is survived by his parents Jeff and Ann Young of Hays; a brother, Ethan Young of Los Angeles attending UCLA; a sister, Sarah Young of Hays attending FHSU and his maternal grandparents, Lewis and Agnes Molz of Deerfield, KS.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Jeff and Gwen Young and an uncle, Parker Young.

Visitation will be Sunday with the family present from 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. at Brock’s North Hill Chapel 2509 Vine Hays, KS. 67601. Private family funeral services will be held on Monday.

Memorials are suggested to the Brendan Young Memorial Fund to be designated at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the family by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected].

 

Lucille Staab

Lucille Staab, 90, Hays, died Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, at Good Samaritan Society, Hays. She was born Feb. 18, 1921, in Ellis County to John M. and Agnes (Spies) Younker.

She married Edwin Staab on May 21, 1941, in Ellis. He preceded her in death July 29, 1980. She was employed at Fort Hays State University in the housekeeping department for 26 years, and she was a waitress for 40 years, including many at Country Kitchen.

She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Ladies Auxiliaries, all of Hays. She enjoyed reading, embroidery and visiting with her customers as a waitress.

Survivors include a daughter, Pat Sauer and husband, Gus, Hays; a brother, Walter Younker, Hays; three sisters, Katherine Schmidt and Florine Sanders, both of Hays, and Twila Griffin, Weatherford, Okla.; a sister-in-law, Rita Younker, Plainville; two grandsons, Randy Sauer and wife, Niki, and Kevin Sauer, all of Hays; three great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Dylan Sauer and Courtny Sauer, all of Hays; and a great-great-grandchild, Kendall Schulte, Hays.

She was preceded in death by a son, Vernon Staab; and a brother, Clarence Younker.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Hays; burial in St. Joseph Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today and from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Saturday, both at Brock’s North Hill Chapel, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601.

A vigil will be at 6:30 p.m. today, followed by a combined VFW and American Legion Ladies Auxiliaries memorial service, all at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Hays Good Samaritan or Masses in care of the funeral home.

Condolences can be sent to the family by guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected].