OBITUARIES

Hartsel L. Storrer

Hartsel L. Storrer

May 28, 2025

Hartsel Lavern Norton Storrer was born on March 22, 1920 on a farm near Hartford, Kansas. Her parents, Archie and Joanna Norton, were in the process of building a house at the time. Hartsel's mother told the carpenter that he needed to get the house built as soon as possible as she was expecting her second child in March. Well,...

Shirley Mae Smulling

Shirley Mae Smulling

May 27, 2025

Shirley Mae Smulling, 93, passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Peterson’s Assisted Living in Osage City, Kansas

She was born October 19, 1931, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Kenneth and Edith Cinita Humphrey Anderson. Shirley attended Miller High School where she graduated with the Class of 1948. She later attended Colorado Women’s College, graduating on June 1, 1950.

Shirley...

Roy Eugene Hoobler

Roy Eugene Hoobler

May 25, 2025

Roy Eugene Hoobler, 93, passed away Sunday, May 25, 2025, at Life Care Nursing Center in Burlington.

He was born on October 28, 1931, Northwest of Madison, the son of Roy Elmer and Ina Pearl (McMurray) Hoobler. He attended Madison High School and graduated with the Class of 1949.

Roy was joined in marriage to Elwilda B. How “Willie” on December 9,...

Gerald Dean Cox

Gerald Dean Cox

May 25, 2025

Gerald D. Cox, 68, of Madison, KS passed away May 25, 2025.

He was born March 31, 1957, in Emporia, KS, the son of Walter G. Cox and Patricia Bullock Cox. Gerry graduated from Reading High School, where he excelled at several sports, including football, baseball, and track & field. He worked for several years at Wolf Creek Nuclear Plant. Gerry...

Helen Charlotte Wallace

Helen Charlotte Wallace

May 21, 2025

Helen Charlotte Wallace, 96, passed away Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at Homestead of Emporia.

She was born November 13, 1928, in Burlingame, Kansas the daughter of Carl and Goldie Seaman Luft. Helen attended Kingsdown High School and graduated with the Class of 1946.

Helen was joined in marriage to Bill Wallace on August 8, 1947, in Hutchinson, Kansas. They began their lives...

Bertha V. Williams

Bertha V. Williams

May 16, 2025

Bertha Volland Williams of LeRoy, Kansas passed away peacefully in Topeka, Kansas at Plaza West Healthcare & Rehab Center Friday, May 16, 2025 at the age of 95. Bertha resided in LeRoy, Kansas for most of her life and then at Aldersgate Independent/ Assisted Living. On December 21, 1946 Bertha married Doyle Williams. Their union produced two children, Gayla and...

Gayle Margaret Gomez

Gayle Margaret Gomez

May 16, 2025

Gayle Margaret Gomez, 75 of Emporia, passed away Friday, May 16, 2025 at Stormont-Vail Health in Topeka.

She was born February 20, 1950, in Lakin, Kansas, the daughter of Elmer and Margaret (Whittaker) Wilken. Gayle grew up in Lakin where she attended Lakin High School, graduating with the Class of 1968.

Gayle married Richard "Dick" Hamlin, Sr. in November of 1969 and...

Jerald Dale Crowell

Jerald Dale Crowell

May 9, 2025

Jerald Dale Crowell

“Spanky”

January 7, 1943 - May 9, 2025

Jerald was born on January 7th, 1943 during “the biggest snowstorm to ever hit Litchfield, Nebraska” to Evelyn M. Sickels and Roy E. Crowell. He & his older brother Donald were only 11 months apart. Roy, Evelyn, Donald, & Jerald moved to Emporia, Kansas when Jerald was only two weeks old. Six...

Annette Ratzlaff

Annette Ratzlaff

May 9, 2025

Annette Ratzlaff, 83. passed away Friday, May 9, 2025 at her home in Hartford.

She was born on March 3, 1942 at Poppylot Farm, Methwold Downham, Great Britain, the daughter of Herburt and Doris Palmer Mothersole.

Annette moved to Hartford, Kansas in 1961 and began a new chapter in her book of life. On July 28, 1972 she was joined in marriage...

Ralph Edward Jones

Ralph Edward Jones

May 3, 2025

With hearts full of love and sorrow, we share that Ralph Edward Jones passed away on May 3, 2025, at Newman Regional Health in Emporia, Kansas, peacefully surrounded by loved ones. After a gradual decline in health over the past year, his body grew weary and in its quiet surrender, he found rest.

Born March 22, 1942, to Duane and Thelma...

Richard Jay Winsky, III

Richard Jay Winsky, III

May 2, 2025

Richard J. Winsky, III, passed away Friday, May 2, 2025 at his home in Americus.

Richard Jay Winsky, III was born October 16, 1950 in Newton, Kansas, the son of Richard and Delois (Warnke) Winsky, II. He graduated high school from Newton High School.

He was joined in marriage to Nancy Thompson on January 24, 1984, in Emporia. Together, they welcomed five...

Joyce Elaine Beardsley

Joyce Elaine Beardsley

May 2, 2025

Joyce E. Beardsley, 88, passed away on Friday, May 2, 2025, at Presbyterian Manor in Emporia.

Joyce Elaine Watts was born on May 18, 1936, in Emporia, Kansas, to Daniel and Neva (Clementson) Watts.

Joyce earned her bachelor’s degree from Emporia State Teachers College and later pursued a Master’s in Secondary Education at Texas Western. She also attended the University of Georgia.

On...

Reta Ruth Hampton

Reta Ruth Hampton

May 1, 2025

Reta R. Hampton, age 91, passed away Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Flinthills Care and Rehab Center in Emporia.

Reta Ruth Ambrose was born on December 15, 1933, to Norman and Nellie Mae (Brizendine) Ambrose. She was the third of seven children.

She joined William B. Hampton Jr. in marriage on August 1, 1952. To this union they were blessed with two...

Daryl Clayton Knight

Daryl Clayton Knight

Apr 30, 2025

Surrounded by loved ones, Daryl C. Knight, 94, passed away peacefully at his home in rural Lebo on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

Daryl Clayton Knight, the son of Walter F. “Rip” and Mary Evelyn (Baker) Knight, was born November 1, 1930, at his parents’ home in the rural Key West community near Lebo. Daryl entered the world several weeks prematurely and...

Ruby L. Stewart

Ruby L. Stewart

Apr 26, 2025

Ruby Lucille Stuck Stewart of El Dorado KS, formerly of Hamilton Ks. was promoted to Heaven April 26, 2025, at Homestead of El Dorado, she was 87.

Ruby was born the daughter of Earl & Alice Gulick Stuck on May 2, 1937, on her parent’s farm near Aline OK. Ruby started her education at Lone Star country school until it closed....

Janet Sue Colstrom

Janet Sue Colstrom

Apr 24, 2025

Janet S. Colstrom, 84, passed away Thursday, April 24, 2025, at KU Health System- St. Francis in Topeka.

Janet Sue Graham was born March 27, 1941, near Scranton, Kansas, the second daughter of Edward and Davenna (Harris) Graham. She grew up on a farm in “Possum Hollow”. If you asked where she was from, she would say, “Possum Holler”.

She worked very...

Bobby Gus Randolph

Bobby Gus Randolph

Apr 22, 2025

Bobby Gus Randolph, of Madison, KS, passed away on April 22, 2025, at Newman Regional Health in Emporia, Kansas. He was born on November 1, 1941, in Burnsville, North Carolina, the youngest son of Wilkie and Ada Randolph. He spent his childhood in Burnsville, attending school and graduating from Cane River High School. Bobby dedicated his life to his family...

Diane Dee Harrison

Diane Dee Harrison

Apr 19, 2025

Diane Ziegler Harrison, a loving mom, grandma, sister, aunt, cousin and friend was reunited with husband Mark on April 19, 2025 after passing away suddenly, but peacefully at her home.

Diane was born on October 21, 1952 to Arthur Deloss Ziegler and Vivian Lucille (Shunk) Ziegler and spent her life in Madison.

Survivors include her only child, Jason (Marcie) Harrison, grandchildren Kortnie...

Jill Chaffain Brozek

Jill Chaffain Brozek

Apr 19, 2025

Jill Chaffain Brozek, a devoted wife, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, Mimi, and friend, passed away on April 19, 2025, at her home surrounded by her most treasured gift, family.

Jill was born on March 21, 1971, the daughter of Earnie Chaffain and Peggy Ervin Chaffain where she grew up in Hartford, Kansas.

Surviving family members include her husband, Mike Brozek of the...

Shirley Viola Truelove

Shirley Viola Truelove

Apr 16, 2025

Shirley Viola Schotte Truelove, 88, passed away Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at home in Munford, Tennessee.

She was born October 22, 1936, in Aliceville, Kansas, the daughter of Rudolf August and Esther Ann Roscher Schotte. Shirley attended Burlington High School and graduated in 1954.

She married Dale Allen Truelove on February 20, 1955, in Burlington, Kansas. Shirley and Dale spent the early...