Obituaries

Jan 26, 2025

Donnis Mable (Cox) Knoettgen  passed away on Sunday, January 26, 2025 at the age of 98.  She was born on the family farm in rural Clay County Kansas on August 27, 1926 to George and Emilie (Peterson) Cox.  Donnis was their first of four children.

A 1944 graduate of Clifton Rural High School, she was the Washington...

Jan 24, 2025

William “Bill” Ham, III 53 died January 24, 2025, in Clay Center, KS.  He was born on June 28, 1971, in Santa Ana, California, the son of William Jr. and Louise (Baxter) Ham.  Bill spent most of his childhood in the Huntington Beach area of California. He also lived in Illinois and Abilene, KS.  Bill married Melinda Davies on...

Jan 22, 2025

Gary Gene Quillin, age 89, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, on January 22, 2025, in Clay Center, Kansas. Born January 18, 1936, in Portis, Kansas, the son of George and Vera (McIlvain) Quillin. Gary grew up in Downs and attended Downs school district. He was a graduate of Downs High School in 1954. Gary married Marlene Robinson...

Jan 18, 2025

Steven Nelson, 71 died January 18, 2025, in Clay Center, KS.  He was born on April 25, 1953, in Clay Center, the son of LeRoy and Elizabeth (Tomlinson) Nelson.  Steven was raised in Clay Center and was a graduate of the class of 1971from Clay Center High School.  Steven worked as a pipeline surveyor for many years.  He was...

Jan 16, 2025

Timothy A. “Tim” Mayo, 69 of Clay Center, Kansas, died on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at his residence.  He was born on July 24, 1955 in Broken Bow, Nebraska, the son of Frank and Dorothy (Reed) Mayo.

Tim grew up in Broken Bow, Nebraska and graduated from Broken Bow High School. He moved to Blair, Nebraska in...

Jan 15, 2025

Joseph Burchett passed away peacefully on January 15, 2025, in Wakefield, KS. Joe was born July 21, 1957, in Junction City, KS to William Dowell and Ruth Lucille (Halsey) Burchett. Joe was the youngest of four children. Older brothers Dowell and Virgil and sister Ramona.

The Burchett family resided in Junction City until 1968 then moved to...

Jan 9, 2025

Lorene Edith Peterson, 95 died January 9, 2025, in Leonardville, KS.  She was born on September 11, 1929, in Clay County, the daughter of Ernest and Julia (Marshall) Small. Lorene grew up on the farm with her parents and sisters. Lorene married Delmar R. Peterson on November 27, 1947.  She & Delmar raised their family on this family farm....

Jan 2, 2025

Larry Beck, age 72, died January 2, 2025, at the Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan, Kansas. He was born to Don and Bertie Beck on September 27, 1952, around the Waldo, Kansas area. Larry grew up in Waldo and graduated from Waldo High School. After graduation Larry enlisted in the United States Navy, serving six years. He then...

Dec 28, 2024

Ladonna Darlene Smoot (88) went to her heavenly father on December 28, 2024, in Hickory, NC. She was born on March 30, 1936, in Miltonvale, KS, the daughter of Arthur Arson and Eunice Leone (McNeil) Lavoie. Darlene was raised in the Miltonvale community and graduated from Miltonvale Rural High School in 1954. She married William Duane Smoot on February...

Dec 27, 2024

Sheri Henry, 75, of Clay Center, Kansas, died on Friday, December 27, 2024 at Advena Living of Clay Center.  She grew up in Clay Center.  Sheri worked as a clerk for American Express Travel and she spent time in Washington, D. C., San Antonio, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona before moving back to Clay Center in 2012.  She married Richard...

Dec 26, 2024

Francis P Johnsen, 84 died December 26, 2024, in Clay Center, KS.  He was born on July 23, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Francis and Bernadette Johnsen.  Francis was raised in the Chicago area.  He served as Air-Sea Rescue personnel for several years.  Francis worked in several professions, most recently on a farm in Minnesota.  He married...

Dec 22, 2024

Pamalyn “Pam” Marrone, age 74, died on December 22, 2024, in Clay Center, Kansas. She was born on August 18, 1950, in Salina, Kansas to Orrin J. and Wanda A. (Long) Fowles. Pam grew up in the Clay Center and was a 1968 graduate of Clay Center Community High School. She worked in a civil service position as a...

Dec 22, 2024

Mary O. Fowles, 95 of Clay Center, Kansas died Sunday, December 22, 2024 at the Clay Center Presbyterian Manor.  She was born on November 10, 1929 in Clay Center, the daughter of Ray and Lavina (Finlay) Milligan.  She attended the Hebron School and graduated from CCHS in 1947 and worked for Gamble’s in Clay Center.

She married...

Dec 19, 2024

Donald Dean Boyer, age 68, passed away on December 19, 2024, at Kansas University Medical Center after a year-long struggle with cancer. He was born in Junction City KS to Joyce (Boles) Boyer and Phillip Boyer.

Joining the Navy right out of high school, Don spent 4 years in the service. After the Navy, Don obtained a...

Dec 18, 2024

Meta Marie McNeil Wendelken, age 92 of Wakefield, passed away December 18, 2024, in the home she has lived in for 65 years surrounded by her family.

She was born on July 26, 1932, on a farm near Miltonvale to Emery Paul Eklund and Cora Elizabeth Rothfuss Eklund. She walked to Mont View country school with her...

Dec 18, 2024

Thomas “Tom” Cannizzo Sr., age 85, died December 18, 2024, at the Clay County Medical Center. He was born in Richfield Springs, New York on April 26, 1939, to Frank and Naomi (Hall) Cannizzo. Tom was raised in the Richfield Springs area. He joined the United States Air Force in October of 1959 and served until 1963. Tom married...

Dec 16, 2024

Steven Ray Bender, Age 76, living in Overland Park, Kansas passed away on December 16, 2024.  Steve was born on November 8, 1948, in Clay Center, Kansas, the son of Jack and Alice (Savage) Bender.  Steve graduated from Clay Center Community High School in 1966.  He then attended the Kansas State Teachers College, now known as Emporia State University...

Dec 14, 2024

Twila Mae Reed 89, died Saturday, December 14, 2024, in Clay Center, KS. She was born on January 1, 1935, in Clifton, KS. to Elwin and Gladys (Bloom) Nelson. She was number 8 of 18 children. She was raised in Clay Center by her grandparents Albert and Laura Bloom as she had asthma and needed to be near a...

Dec 11, 2024

Barbara Jean Britt, 76, died peacefully December, 11, 2024 at the Homestead Healthcare Center in Wichita, Kansas. She was born July 28, 1948 to Martin L. "Bud" Harris  & Esther "Marcene" Harris Walker. She grew up in the Broughton and Clay Center area, attending school in Broughton and later graduating from Clay Center Community High School.

Barbara...

Dec 8, 2024

Deanna Lynn Hess, age 56, passed away on December 8, 2024, in Clay County, KS. She was born on March 17, 1968, to Theodore and Beverly (Kincaid) Siemers in Osbourne, KS. Deanna lived in Luray, KS until moving to Wyoming. She attended schools in Wyoming until her freshman year when her family moved to Clay Center. Deanna was a...