Obituaries

Oct 22, 2024

Karen Ruth Gilbert entered this world on December 30, 1946 and left us on October 22, 2024. She was a wonderful mom, grandma, and a friend to many. She enjoyed playing board games, cards, piano, as well as singing karaoke and dancing. She loved all types of animals; specifically cats or dogs that would sleep on her lap for...

Oct 19, 2024

Lowell Wayne Culley passed away Saturday, October 19, at the age of 78 at the Clay County Medical Center.  He was born in Kansas City, Missouri on September 21, 1946, the only child of James Frank Culley and Martha Alyce Tanner Culley who predeceased him.

Wayne graduated from Shawnee Mission North High School in 1964. He attended...

Oct 12, 2024

Joseph L Gonzales, 86 died October 12, 2024, in Clay Center, KS.  He was born on May 29, 1938, in Watsonville, California.

Joe was a veteran of the US Air Force and served for 8 years. He was last stationed at Schilling Air Force Base in Salina, KS where he met his wife Mary A Landoll of...

Oct 8, 2024

Judy C. Werner, 85, of Wakefield, Kansas died on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at her residence.  She was born on April 11, 1939 in Clay Center, Kansas, the daughter of Verlyn and Ruth (Sickles) Case.  She grew up in Clay Center and graduated from CCCHS in 1957.

Judy worked for the American Royal in Kansas City for...

Sep 30, 2024

Connie Kaye Newsome, 79, passed away September 30, 2024, in Wakefield, Kansas.  She was born in Concordia, Kansas, on July 24, 1945, to Gyla (Martin) Brownell and Russell Brownell.  Connie attended grade school at Sherman School, a small rural school north of Morganville, Kansas, and other schools in Baker City, Oregon, Sumas, Nooksack, and Ferndale, Washington. Connie graduated from...

Sep 30, 2024

Hazel Katharina Gill, age 102, died September 30, 2024, at the Linn Community Nursing Home in Linn, KS. She was born in the Garfield Township, rural Clay County, on September 26, 1922, to August and Engle (Kucks) Kahrs.  Hazel attended the Ross School until the 8th grade. She married Fredrick Gill on September 26, 1938, they shared 70 wonderful...

Sep 24, 2024

Martha Rundle, age 86, died on September 24, 2024, at Advena Living Center in Clay Center, KS. She was born to Dan David “D.D.” and Elsie (Springer) Jackson on February 19, 1938, in Clay Center. Martha attended Clay Center schools and graduated from CCCHS in 1956.  She married Harlan Rundle on October 7, 1956. They had 3 children. Martha...

Sep 21, 2024

Lloyd Winfield Wickersham, age 82, died on September 21, 2024, in Kansas City, Kansas. He was born on September 13, 1942, in Columbus, Kansas to George and Hatti (Simmons) Wickersham. Lloyd attended Cherokee County grade school until eight grade. He attended Crane Junior High in Topeka for one year and finished his schooling at Topeka High School, graduating in...

Sep 19, 2024

Paul “Taylor” Meek, age 87, passed away at his home in Clay Center, KS on September 19, 2024. He was born to Fred and Nell (Trechsel) Meek on October 20, 1936, in Clay Center, KS. Taylor attended Idana Grade School and graduated from Clay Center High School. He joined the United States Navy after high school and served his...

Sep 19, 2024

LaVerne Marcene Carpenter, 93 of Clay Center, died peacefully Thursday, September 19, 2024 at the Leonardville Nursing Home in Leonardville, Kansas. She was born August 17, 1931 in Clay County, Kansas to Josiah and Lavina (McNeal) Reed. LaVerne grew up on a farm south of Clay Center and attended school at Mount Vernon, later graduating high school from Clay...

Sep 18, 2024

Ruth Fasse was born on February 26, 1919, in Wakefield, Kansas to John Henry and Ethel (Shandy) Fasse.   She, along with her two younger brothers, Dean and Gail Fasse, grew up on the family farm. Ruth attended Victor 1st-8th grade and Wakefield High School 9th-12th.  She planned to be a schoolteacher.

At age 16, Ruth met her...

Sep 14, 2024

Kevin Cordray, 57 died September 14, 2024, in Salina, KS. He was born on July 4, 1967, in Greencastle, IN, the son of Carl and Marian (Bryant) Cordray. Kevin served in the US Army until his retirement. He married Rochelle Perry on July 30, 1988, they made their home in Wakefield. Kevin was a member of the Wakefield VFW and...

Sep 12, 2024

Noah Matthew Peters, infant, was stillborn on September 12, 2024.  He was the son of Aaron and Chelsie (Wright) Peters.   Noah was preceded in death by his Great-grandmother, Diane Carlson, Great-grandparents, Elmer and Lorene Peters and Great-grandparents Paul and Audrey Pfizenmaier.

Survivors include

Parents; Chelsie and Aaron Peters

Brother: Kamden Peters

...

Sep 10, 2024

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved father, James Albert Koonce, on September 10, 2024. He was a devoted son, brother, husband, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, and cherished friend to many.

Our father served in the United States Army and retired from McFarland Energy in Hollywood, California. After retiring...

Sep 2, 2024

Sandy L Parsons, age 82, went to be with her Lord on September 2, 2024, at her home in Wakefield, Kansas. She was born on January 5, 1942, in North Platte, NE, the oldest daughter of John and Ella Leeds. Sandy attended grade & high school in Tryon, NE. She was married in 1958 and became the proud mother...

Aug 28, 2024

Ben Burgess Witty, 79, of Wakefield, passed away on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at Stormont-Vail Health in Topeka, Kansas.  He was born on May 6, 1945 in Parsons, Kansas, the son of Lyle Edward and Wilma Greenway (Hiatt) Witty.

Ben grew up in Parsons and graduated from Parsons High School in 1963.  He received his Associates degree...

Aug 26, 2024

Galen Robert Haas was born on Nov. 8, 1951, in Concordia, KS to James Robert and Frances Wilmetta "Willie" Dunlap Haas. He passed unexpectedly on Aug. 26, 2024, at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka KS.

Galen grew up in the Vining and Clifton communities and attended the Clifton Schools graduating in 1969. He married JoDee Branfort on...

Aug 26, 2024

Sheryl Kay Gaines, 60 of Clay Center, passed away on August 26, 2024 at the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. She was born on October 5, 1963 in Plainville, Kansas to Max Keith and Melva Lorraine (Smith) Gaines.

Sheryl lived with her parents and siblings (sister Sharon Rae, and brothers Jerold Max and Ronald Leroy) on...

Aug 23, 2024

Doris Lorraine (Gatlin) Warren, 94 died August 23, 2024 in Clay Center, KS.  She was born on June 5, 1930 in Friend, KS, the daughter of John and Margaret Hattie (McGuire) Gatlin.  Doris was raised and attended school in the Friend community. She moved to Garden City where she met and married Larry Salyer.  She became a stepmother to...

Aug 21, 2024

Emma (Mina) Purling-Burkett, 97, of Clay Center, Kansas passed away Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at the Liberty Place of Clay Center.

She was born Emma Wilhelmina Ingrum October 9, 1926, in Clay Center, Kansas, the daughter of Clyde and Anna Suden Ingrum.

Mina was a homemaker and devoted mother. For many years she worked as...