Obituaries

Feb 27, 2022

Marsha Poppe Koster was born on June 3, 1955, in Marion, Kansas, and passed to her heavenly home on February 27, 2022. She was in the company of her loved ones as she left this world.

Marsha had many outstanding qualities. She first exhibited these skills as an athlete at Centre High School as she led the...

Feb 19, 2022

Donald R. “Don” Hatfield, 95 of Clay Center, died Saturday, February 19, 2022 at the Clay Center Presbyterian Manor.  Don was born on September 30, 1926 in Clay Center, the son of Nellie (Fitzgarrald) Hatfield and Edward Thomas Hatfield, the next to the youngest of 8 siblings; 3 boys and 5 girls.

Don attended Lincoln and McKinley...

Feb 18, 2022

Luella “Lu” Christine Klataske, 87 died February 18, 2022, in Hutchinson, KS.  She was born on February 18, 1935, in Marshall County, KS, the daughter of Herman and Marie (Niemann) Gerdes.  Lu was raised in Marshall County and was a graduate of Hanover High School.  She married Norman Klataske on July 30, 1955.  Lu worked as the bookkeeper for...

Feb 16, 2022

MSG Vigilio “Virgil” Garcia (U.S. Cav, RET) was born April 18, 1948, in San Antonio, TX to Vigilio Santos and Lupe Garcia.  The oldest of three children he grew up in Torrance, CA and graduated from Narbonne High School in 1966.  Virgil was a lifelong soldier. He joined the Air Force and became a crew chief, serving from 1968...

Feb 10, 2022

Wesley “Carleen” Martin, 68, entered peacefully into eternal rest on Thursday, February 10, 2022 at her home in Clay Center, Kansas.

Carleen was born on July 13, 1953 in Chillicothe, Missouri, the daughter of William and Virginia (King) Simpson. She spent her formative years in Marysville, Kansas. On November 27, 1970, she was united in marriage to...

Feb 10, 2022

Evelyn Billera, 88 died February 10, 2022, in Clay Center.  She was born on May 18, 1933.  Evelyn married Vincent Billera on April 17, 1955.  They lived in New York before moving to Clay Center in 1999.  Vincent and Evelyn volunteered at Apollo Towers Senior Center, service noon meals for many years.  Vincent preceded her in death on February...

Feb 4, 2022

Constance D. “Connie” Swenson, died Friday, February 4, 2022 at the Clay Center Presbyterian Manor.  She was born August 13, 1928 in Clay County, the daughter of Lemue and Minnie Close.

Connie graduated from CCCHS in 1946.  She married Lloyd Swenson on February 16, 1947 and he preceded her in death in 2019 after 72 years of...

Feb 3, 2022

Vernadell Yarrow, 83 died February 3, 2022, in Clay County, KS.  She was born on July 27, 1938, in Clay County, the daughter of Laurence and Clara (Mabie) Slingsby.  Vernadell was raised in the Garfield Center community.  She was a graduate of CCCHS Class of 1956.  Vernadell married Larry Yarrow on April 21, 1957, they made their home and...

Jan 27, 2022

Roxanne Allison (Howe) Gilbert, age 63, died January 27, 2022, in Clay Center, Kansas. She was born September 6, 1958, to Bonnie O’Conner in Carlstead, Minnesota. Roxanne grew up in several different areas but spent most of her childhood in Clay Center. She moved to Topeka for several years as an adult and made her way back to Clay...

Jan 27, 2022

Douglas Ray Avery was born on March 17, 1957 to Wayne and Bernice (Liby) Avery in Clay Center, KS. He died on January 27, 2022 at          KU Medical Center in Kansas City, KS.

After graduating from CCCHS in 1975, Doug was a very hard worker.

He worked for Alsop Sand Company in Oklahoma, Midwest Roofing...

Jan 26, 2022

John Steppe Jr. age 83, died January 26, 2022 in Wakefield, KS. He was born May 2, 1938, to John and Margie (Eckel) Steppe, Sr in Clay Center, Kansas. John was raised in the Wakefield community and was a Wakefield High School graduate.  He served in the Army National Guard.  John farmed near Wakefield his entire life.  He was...

Jan 23, 2022

Carl Ray Affolter, 94, of rural Morganville, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2022 at his home with his family present.  Carl was born on December 10, 1927 in rural Morganville to Earl and Celia Gonser.  At the age of 3, Carl was adopted by his maternal grandparents Jacob and Elizabeth Affolter due to the death of his mother....

Jan 18, 2022

Teresa Lynn Burger passed away Tuesday, January 18,...

Jan 12, 2022

Ray Basart, 62 of Clay Center, died January 12, 2022.  He was born on November 14, 1959, the son of Elvin and Florence (Anderson) Basart.  Ray grew up and attended school in Clay Center, graduating from CCCHS in 1978.  He worked at Big Lakes and Orr’s Furniture City.  Ray then worked as a welder for Hutchinson/Mayrath for 43 years. ...

Jan 10, 2022

Lulu Lee Brooks passed away peacefully Monday, January 10, 2022, at Holiday Resort Health and Rehab in Salina, Kansas. She was 94 years old.  She was born June 11, 1927, to Lewis and Maggie (Wachsnicht) Alexander at their home in Goshen Township north of Green, Kansas. She was the second of four children.  She was preceded in death by...

Jan 9, 2022

Marion Rex Fuller, the son of Kenneth and Elisabeth Trott Fuller, was born on March 15, 1938 in Miltonvale, Kansas. He entered his heavenly home from Clay County Medical Center, Clay Center, Kansas on January 9th, 2022 at the age of 83. Rex graduated from Miltonvale Rural High School in 1956 and from Miltonvale Wesleyan College in 1958 with...

Jan 5, 2022

Darwin "Buck" Knox, age 86, passed away January 5, 2022, in Clay Center, KS.  He was born August 16, 1935, at a farm just east of Parallel, Kansas.  At age five the family moved to Clifton.  He earned the nickname Buck at a young age after shooting a buck rabbit.  Buck graduated from Clifton Rural High School in 1953...

Jan 4, 2022

James (Jim) Edgar Beck, 71, passed away January 4, 2022 in Founders Crest care center in Wichita, Kansas.  He was born June 26, 1950 in Enid, Oklahoma to Audrey (Yager) Beck and James (Jim) Paul Beck.  He was a 1968 graduate of Arkansas City High School, a 1972 graduate of Emporia State University, and a 1995 graduate of the...

Jan 2, 2022

Billie Swenson, 96, of Clay Center, died January 2 at the Clay Center Presbyterian Manor.  She was born on March 25, 1925, the daughter of Julius Spires and Lilly Bell (Prosser) Altman.

Billie grew up in Johnsonville, S.C., where she graduated from high school.  She attended business school in Asheville, N.C.  She married Eugen Swenson on October...

Dec 30, 2021

Daniel Joseph Dreher, 59, of Clay Center, died December 30 th 2021. He was born on November 12 th , 1962, the son of JoAnn and Lyle Dreher.

Dan grew up in Topeka, KS. In 1994, he married his wife Rayleen. They went on to have two children, Josie and Jillian which were his pride and joy....