By definition, obituaries report a death; this one reports a life!

Lillian Elizabeth McGuire Mowery, 86, of Salina, died Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012. Lillian Elizabeth McGuire was born Nov. 5, 1925, in a suburb of Chicago. Lil was the youngest of the McGuire clan, made up of her sister and brothers, Ruth Mary (Connors), J.J. Jr., Robert M., David W. and Andrew, and her parents, John Joseph McGuire and Elizabeth Lillian Woerner McGuire.

Diamond Lil (as she was nicknamed by all of “her boys”) lived in Chicago until the age of 6. During the late ’20s, Chicago was an exciting and turbulent city. The Saint Valentines Day massacre occurred not too far from the family home, and Lil’s father decided that he did not want to raise his family in that environment and eventually moved the family to St. Joseph, Mo.

Lil was raised in St. Joseph and attended Mt. Saint Scholastica Catholic High School across the river in Atchison, Kan. Make-up was a no-no in the school, so Lil and her friends would quickly spruce up after school in case they ran into some of the boys, only to then to remove it a short time later before arriving home.

Following graduation, Lil studied to become a blood technician, and while working at St. Lukes Hospital in Kansas City, she met Dr. William E. Mowery (spurred on by Bill Mowery’s brother-in-law) and they were later married. Lil’s travels took her to Washington, D.C., while her husband completed his surgical residency and on to Germany during the Korean conflict. The time in Germany included many excursions around the German countryside and Paris. Following Bill Mowery’s residency program and military service, they relocated to Salina, Kan., in 1955.

Lil’s life was full of activity. She was actively engaged with her bridge group and at one time had a national ranking. Lil was involved in establishing the library at Meadowlark Ridge Elementary School following the schools construction. Lil enjoyed the annual sojourn to Colorado Springs with her Colorado group for a week of golf and fun. In her early Salina years, Lil was an avid Salina Community Theatre performer under the direction of Charles Kephart. Lil also sang with the Salina Chorale and for many years sung in the Bethany production of the Messiah. Lil was a member of the Salina Presbyterian Church and spent many years singing with the choir.

Lil was a faithful Salina Central fan and religiously followed her son’s sports activities. Lil had a special place in her heart for her son’s high school buddies and on many Friday nights Willard, Bones, Crazy, Mike, Doak, Chris, Doug, John and others could be found at Lil’s apartment watching Friday Fright Night. A special place in her heart was also reserved for Markie (Mark), Robbie (Rob) and Gary, more of “her boys.” Annually, Lil planned and hosted a New Year’s Day feast and football watching event for “her boys.” Lil had a fondness for old movies and received many late night calls from her son during heated trivia games when a question had to do with an old movie or movie star. Many bets were won on, “I will bet my Mom knows the answer”!

Lil’s working career included many years with Warden’s Clothing store, and she retired from Designs by Cunningham at the ripe young age of 79 years.

She is survived by her son, William E. (“Trey”) Mowery, wife, Kim, and grandson, William E. (“Hunter”) Mowery IV, of Salina, Kan., as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, at First Presbyterian Church, Salina. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church and the family will receive friends during that hour at the church. Burial will be in the Gypsum Hill Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the church or the Salina Community Theatre.

“DON’T CRY BECAUSE IT IS OVER. SMILE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED.”

///////////////////////////////////////////////////

David Lance Hudson, 70, of Brookville, died Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. He was the firstborn of Paul and Ila (Withroder) Hudson, on Nov. 21, 1941, in the farmhouse of his parents in rural Reno County.

In 1944, the Hudson family moved to Wichita County near Leoti, where they established their farming and ranching operation.

At an early age, his desire for a horse became reality when his uncle, George Withroder, upon returning home from World War II, gave him his first horse. Rex was his best friend and companion, and for several years, the two were almost inseparable. During this time, Dave became an excellent rider.

He attended grade school at Beulah, north of Leoti, and high school at Wichita County Community High School, in Leoti. While in high school, he participated in football, basketball and track. Also, while in high school, he was a member of FFA, serving as an officer and was named a Star Farmer of Kansas in 1958. Although he participated and excelled in sports, his real love was for the rodeo life.

The opportunity to compete in high school rodeos was very limited, so he participated in area rodeos. As his riding skills increased, he began to enter rodeos all over the state of Kansas. While he was still in high school, he was able to compete at the Houston Stock show, but the highlight of the trip was the chance to go deep sea fishing. His senior year, he attended the National High School Finals in Sulphur, La., and came home with runner-up All round Cowboy award.

After completing high school, Dave talked his parents into purchasing a set of rodeo bucking stock from the Harrisions in Wallace, Kan. He devoted his time, over the next 20+ years to the operation of Hudson Brothers Rodeo Company, which he owned with his two brothers, Deone and Dale.

Dave strived to maintain a good set of bucking bulls, the bucking horses were his pride and joy and he was always on the lookout for the next great bucking horse.

Even after being out of the business 40 years, he could tell you details about any horse, where they were purchased, who had made the good rides on them and also the spectacular buck offs they caused. He enjoyed bucking the good cowboys off but was equally thrilled when the two would produce an excellent exhibition. He was extremely proud when some of their stock was allowed to perform at the National Finals Rodeo.

In 1964, Dave married Candyce Luther, of North Platte, Neb. This union produced three sons. With the demands of producing rodeos and raising a family, time was not available to compete at as many rodeos as he would have liked, but when he did, he was always a threat in every event he entered.

Dave was a member of the Leoti Masonic Lodge No. 340 of Leoti, for 49 years.

In 1974, Hudson Brothers Rodeo Company was purchased by Deone. Dave began to pursue other interests. He spent a few years working for Loretta Lynn’s Longhorn Championship Rodeo Company. One of Dave’s many passions was fishing. With fishing rather limited in Western Kansas, he moved to Brookville. It did not take Dave long to find the good fishing holes and frequent them often.

Upon his retirement from employment with Saline County, he could devote more time to his fishing. He was once heard to say he never intended to have anything so important to do that he could not stop and go fishing.

Dave will be remembered as a very caring and generous person and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Ila, and nephews, Aaron and Cole.

Survivors include three sons, Tom (Kim), of Bennett, Colo., Tyler (Deb), of Morrill, Neb., and True (Christy), of Lompoc, Calif.; two brothers, Deone (Connie), of Sharon Springs, and Dale (Janie), of Brewster; grandchildren, Curtis Orth, of Brookville, Chase (Kenda) Barker, of Brookville, Richard Mahaffee, of Richmond, Va., Brittany Hudson, of Bennett, Colo., Kory Hudson, of Bennett, Colo., Ashlee (Greg) Gompert, of Morrill, Neb., Tracer Hudson, of Hays, Samantha Schneider, of Tucson, Ariz., Sarah Hudson, of Lompoc, Calif., Chelsie DeHaviland, of Lompoc, Calif., and Kaity DeHaviland, of Lompoc, Calif.; great-grandchildren, Richard Jr. and Reggan, both of Richmond, Va., Haylee, of Morrill, Neb., and Brinlee, of Brookville; niece, Jill, of Lodge Pine, Neb.; nephews, Billy Joe, of Hastings, Neb., Cauy, of Brewster, and Caleb Hudson, of Hays.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N Eighth St, Salina, KS. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday, at Ryans. Burial will be in Brookville City Cemetery, Brookville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Brookville Volunteer Fire Department or Leoti Rodeo Club.