Patrick Kay, 49, of Downs, passed away Friday, April 10, 2015. He was born April 9, 1966 in Washtenaw, Michigan, a son of Gary and Norma (Neighbors) Kay.

Patrick was a self-employed carpenter. His love was carpentry and wood. He took so much pride in his work and was very meticulous.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his Fiancée, Nancy Newlin of Downs, Kansas; son, Robert Rexroad of Charlotte, North Carolina; daughter, Renee Honeycutt of Durham, North Carolina; sisters, Michelle German of Fr. Lauderdale, Florida, Jenny Borgeson of Detroit, Michigan; two grandsons, Lliam Rexroad and Paxton Honeycutt; aunts and uncles, Patrick and Kathy Neighbors of Novi, Michigan, Nancy and George Neuman of SOP Lyon, Michigan, Mark and Jayne Cryderman of Milford, Michigan, Robert and Carol Neighbors of Shelby Township, Michigan, Jeanette and Kenneth Chisham of Lenora, Kansas; special friend, Terry Chisham of Lenora, Kansas; Nancy’s family, Stanley and Janice Horinek of Salina, Kansas, Vicki and Monti Frank of Salina, Kansas, Dixie and Mark Bowersox of Chandler, Arizona.

No service is planned at this time. Cremation has taken place.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

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Jolene E. “Jo” Funk, of Salina, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 11, 2015, at the age of 66, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born May 28, 1948, to Eli and Ethel (Laas) Diehl in Salina and was raised on a farm in northeastern Ellsworth County.

She attended her first seven years at Mulberry School, a one-room country school; Brookville Grade and High School (Ell-Saline); graduated from Bethany College with a B.A. in biology and teaching; and received her master’s degree in adult and occupational education from Kansas State University.

She taught science at Ell-Saline, Salina South and Salina Central high schools for five years, and then started a 34-year career with Salina-Saline County Health Department as a Registered Sanitarian. Jo found great satisfaction working in environmental health, covering Ellsworth, Lincoln, Ottawa and Saline counties, inspecting restaurants, water wells, septic systems, lead and radon in homes, and many other health issues. Helping people and working with contractors was a great joy. She also served twice as president of Kansas Environmental Health Association and worked with many state and local agencies and committees.

Jo was also active outside of work. She was a 4-H leader when her children and grandchildren were involved and led both children to national awards. She received two national awards, and the 4-H club also received a national award. Her competitive spirit and her husband led her to a shooting sport, cowboy action shooting, where she was twice the women’s state champion. More rewarding were the friendships that developed while competing. For 10 years, she served as a volunteer Saline County Reserve Deputy, transporting prisoners, serving papers and patrolling the county.

Loving the outdoors, Jo also camped, hiked and hunted quail, pheasant, dove, turkey and deer. She would sometimes whisper an aside to someone that the deer antlers and mounts at home were hers, not her husband’s. She spent more than 15 years as a state and federal wildlife rehabilitator. Jolene was also an avid crocheter and later, a knitter. Rare was the time you would see her without some project in her hands. Even handwork became competitive when she entered work each year in the Ottawa County Fair, Tri-Rivers Fair and Kansas State Fair. Numerous Best-of-Show’s and Sweepstakes were won. Each Christmas, family and friends received homemade items, and much handwork, sewing, and machine embroidery were given away, donated or sold.

Jo enjoyed cooking, canning and baking, often having a dessert or vegetable dish in hand for work, students at K-State Salina Engineering and Baja Team, family gatherings, or cowboy events. Jo also loved singing, especially harmony. At different times, she sang in Bethany College Choir, Lindsborg’s Messiah Festival, Sweet Adelines, church choir, and Christmas cantatas, most often as a tenor. Church was very important to Jo, it was where she felt most at peace. Over the years, she served as Sunday School teacher, superintendent, taught at Vacation Bible School, sang in choir and cantatas, served on church committees, and twice served six-year terms on the church council.

On Feb. 1, 1969, Jolene was united in marriage to W.R. “Pat” Johnson. To this union two children were born, Matt and Tammy Johnson. They later divorced. She married Gary Funk on Jan. 12, 1990. He brought two sons, Alan and Craig, to the marriage. Preceding her in death were her father, Eli, and stepson, Craig. Left behind are her husband, Gary, of the home; mother, Ethel, of Brookville; son, Matt (Reese) Johnson, of Escondido, Calif.; daughter, Tammy Johnson, of McPherson; granddaughter, Maggie Johnson, of Escondido; brother, Henry (Liz) Diehl, of Brookville; niece, Mary (James) Fisher, of Eudora; nephew, Jeremy (Meghan) Diehl, of Brookville; mother-in-law, Juanita Alexander, of Cherryvale; stepson, Alan (Carla) Funk, of Culver; four stepgrandchildren; eight stepgreat-grandchildren; and nieces; nephew; aunts; uncle; cousins; and friends.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina, with a time for remembrance and comments from anyone at a Celebration of Life from 7-8 p.m. the same day. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at Assaria Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at Prairie Mound Cemetery, Ellsworth County.

Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, Assaria Lutheran Church or Kansas Environmental Health Association Scholarship Fund, in care of Ryan Mortuary.