OBITUARIES
Anna S. Basler
Sep 11, 2025
Anna S. Basler, age 89, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 11, 2025, in Emporia, Kansas, surrounded by her loving family.
Anna was born on March 18, 1936, in Lena, Louisiana, the daughter of Joseph and Felicity (Vercher) Salard. She was one of the youngest of twelve siblings. Anna graduated from high school in Cloutierville, Louisiana. In 1957, she married the...
Orvil "Lorin" Peres Jr.
Sep 10, 2025
,Orvil “Lorin” Peres Jr., age 71, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in Hartford, Kansas, surrounded by his loving family.
Lorin was born on December 5, 1953, in Emporia, Kansas, to Orvil and Audry Peres Sr. He graduated from Emporia High School and went on to build a life defined by hard work, loyalty, and deep love for his...
Carol Louise Hamman
Sep 10, 2025
Carol Louise Hamman, 81, of Kansas City, Kansas passed away on September 10, 2025.
Carol was born on June 23, 1944, in Emporia, Kansas, to Clifford “Edwin” and Marian McCormick Hamman. She spent her early months near Ottumwa, KS, before moving to the family farm south of Hartford, where she grew up. Carol graduated from Hartford High School in 1962. She...
Edith L. Voorhees
Sep 9, 2025
Edith Lorene (Hoyt) Voorhees, 103, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 at Presbyterian Manor in Emporia, KS.
Edith was born on February 15, 1922 in Lyon County, KS to parents Charles F. & Mary M. (Stewart) Hoyt. After graduating from Hartford High School in 1938, she attended the Kansas State Teachers College (ESU) in Emporia, KS. Edith taught in Shaw Creek...
Robert Wayne Basler
Sep 7, 2025
Robert Basler, 90, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 7, 2025, in Burlington, Kansas, surrounded by his loving family.
Robert was born on September 10, 1934, in Thayer, Kansas, the son of Leon and Dorothy Basler. He graduated from Bartlesville High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Robert proudly served...
Glen Eldon Hodges
Sep 6, 2025
Glen Eldon Hodges, 90, of Emporia, Kansas, passed away peacefully on September 6, surrounded by his family at his son’s home, which he had helped build.
He was born on April 13, 1935, in Lebo, Kansas, the son of Gomer Raymond Hodges and Eulalia Imogene Edwards Hodges. Glen grew up in Coffey County and graduated from Strawn High School in 1953....
Margie Louise Belt
Sep 4, 2025
Margie Louise Belt, 78, of Madison, passed away Thursday, September 4, 2025 at Newman Regional Health in Emporia.
She was born November 21, 1946 in Hutchinson, Kansas the daughter of Charlie L. and Emma Louise Ramsey Rush.
Margie attended Hutchinson High School and graduated with the Class of 1964. She married the love of her life, John Owen Belt on April 24,...
Dorothy A. Wyrick
Aug 28, 2025
Dorothy A. Wyrick, 80, passed away peacefully on August 28, 2025, at her daughter’s home in Colby, Kansas. She was born October 20, 1944 on the family farm near Hume, New York, the daughter of Merle and Marie Spencer Daley.
Dorothy was a dedicated professional whose career spanned various industries and states, notably including her tenure at Acme Electric in Cuba,...
Marvin Ronald Wright
Aug 12, 2025
Marvin “Ron” Wright, 79, of Emporia, Kansas, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.
Ron was born on June 30, 1946, in Emporia, Kansas, Ron was the son of Marvin and Verdene (Wiley) Wright. He attended Emporia State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration.
On July 21, 1968, Ron...
Joseph Eugene Quaney
Aug 8, 2025
Joseph Eugene Quaney of Burlingame, KS died on August 8, 2025 at his home in Burlingame, KS surrounded by his family. He was 92.Joe was born on March 3, 1933 in rural KS to Eugene J. and Anna (Heise) Quaney. He married Henrietta Heiman on February 11, 1961 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict, KS.He graduated from Washburn...
Rosalyn Lane
Aug 4, 2025
Rosalyn Lane, 55, of Emporia, Kansas, passed away at her home on Monday, August 4, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on September 19, 1969, in Herington, Kansas, Rosalyn was the cherished daughter of Jim and Rita (Corcoran) Hay. She graduated from Pratt High School in 1988 and went on to earn an associate degree from Pratt Community College. Rosalyn...
John Ralph Wheeler
Aug 2, 2025
John Ralph Wheeler, 68, of Emporia, Kansas, passed away on the morning of Saturday, August 2, 2025, at the Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita, surrounded by love.
Born on July 22, 1957, in Emporia, John was the beloved son of Ralph and Evora Rees Wheeler. He grew up in a home built on hard work, honesty, and a deep appreciation for...
Bobby Gene Schmidt
Aug 1, 2025
Bobby G. “Bob” Schmidt, 80, passed away on Friday, August 1, 2025, after a month-long struggle from a fall. Bob died during palliative care at Stormont-Vail Hospital.
Bob was born May 11, 1945, in Newton, Kansas, the son of Ted Reimer and Agnes (Hiebert) Schmidt.
He was joined in marriage to Myrna L. Sheegog on December 21, 1968, in Pratt, Kansas. They...
Tracy Lynn Cathcard Lang
Jul 30, 2025
Tracy Lynn Cathcard Lang, 69, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
She was born, March 24th, 1956, in Ottawa, Kansas to Orville and Lila (Minskimons) Beaty. She grew up in Ottawa and attended Ottawa Schools.
Tracy was married to Harry Cathcard, to this union two...
Joseph Robert Merlenbach
Jul 22, 2025
Joseph Robert Merlenbach, 77, passed away Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at Stormont-Vail in Topeka.
He was born July 30, 1947 in Taylorville, Illinois, the son of William Frank Merlenbach and Minnie Mae Taylor. Joe’s family moved to St. Louis, Missouri where he attended High School and graduated with the Class of 1965.
On November 8, 1965, he entered the United States Army...
Duane Lawrence White
Jul 22, 2025
Duane Lawrence White, 71, of Waverly, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at Midland Hospice House in Topeka.
He was born July 21, 1954, in Emporia, Kansas the son of Willis Warren and Mary Joan Rudolph White. He attended Melvern High School and graduated with the Class of 1973.
Duane attended Colby Community College before taking a job on a Ranch...
Marcia D. Cornelius
Jul 18, 2025
Marcia Dean Cornelius, 90, passed away Friday, July 18, 2025 at Presbyterian Manor in Emporia. She was born on August 13, 1934, in Emporia, Kansas, the beloved daughter of Vernie and Neva Hunt Longhofer. Raised in a close-knit and faith-filled family, Marcia lived a life rooted in love, humility, and quiet strength — touching the lives of all who knew...
Janice M. Smerchek
Jul 15, 2025
Janice M. Smerchek, 68, of Osage City, Kansas, passed away, July 15, 2025, at Life Care Center in Burlington, Kansas
She was born November 25, 1956, In Emporia, Kansas the daughter of Samuel D. Rhoads, Jr. and Kathleen “June” Knight Rhoads. Samuel and Kathleen divorced. Kathleen later married George E. Newton. Together, they raised a blended family.
Janice attended schools at Burlingame...
Carol Campbell
Jul 11, 2025
Carol Campbell, age 83, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, July 11, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born on November 2, 1941, in Atchison, Kansas, the daughter of Troy Sr. and Beatrice (Andrews) Routon.
On March 20, 2004, Carol was united in marriage to Richard Campbell in Miami, Oklahoma.
A devoted homemaker, Carol dedicated her life to caring...
Betty Joan Hughs
Jul 7, 2025
Betty Joan Hughs, 73, passed away Tuesday, July 7, 2025, at University of Kansas-St. Francis Campus.
Betty Joan Clough was born June 3, 1952, in Topeka, Kansas and was the daughter of Rev. Jack Ferguson and Beatrice Mae (Womack) Clough. She graduated from High School in Gallatin, Missouri. Betty was an aspiring artist who loved God and her family with all...
Subscribe
Subscribe to get alerts on new obituaries
365 Days of Grief Support
Sign up for one year of grief messages designed to offer hope and healing during difficult first year after a loss