Macel Pearl Neaderhiser

age 89, departed this life on Dec. 10, 2015, at the Abilene Memorial Hospital. She was born on November 29, 1926, to Lawrence and Martha (Cheney) Neaderhiser near Manchester, Kansas. She first attended a one-room school taught by her oldest sister, Ava; then completed elementary and two years of high school in Manchester. Her junior year was at Longford high school and she graduated from Dickinson County High School at Chapman. Having taken teacher training in high school, she began teaching the year following graduation, the beginning of 40 years of teaching elementary children. Her first year was at a one-room school, where she had 15 students in all eight grades. Macel then began and completed her BS in Education at Marion College (now known as Indiana Wesleyan Univ.) in Marion, Indiana. Following graduation she taught at Chapman Elementary and at Garfield Elementary in Abilene. Macel felt led to be a missionary teacher in the Appalachians. She was the first missionary commissioned by Emmanuel Church in Abilene (then known as Emmanuel Evangelical United-Brethren Church). She served for fifteen years at Red Bird Mission School, Beverly, Kentucky. Following this she came home to Abilene to help care for her parents. For a time she managed the Good News Bookstore. Her final teaching years were for the Chapman School District teaching special reading.

At a young age Macel placed her faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior and began her life-long close relationship with Him. Her heart, so full of love, reached out to her students and all who knew her. Children were especially drawn to her. Many people remember her warm, beautiful smile. Macel was a talented pianist and organist for many years at Emmanuel Church in Abilene, where she was a member, and at Red Bird Mission in Kentucky. She was a Sunday School teacher wherever she was for many age levels. Macel and sister LouAnn had the privilege of going on two short mission trips with Campus Crusade for Christ to Ukraine.

Macel was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Hazel, who lived and died before Macel was born, sisters Ava Ferguson, Thelma Bowyer, and Velma Bennett. She is survived by a sister LouAnn Neaderhiser, with whom she has shared a home for many years, and who will miss her very much. Other family survivors include nieces Connie (Bennett) Cover, Ardith (Ferguson) Hinkle, Linda (Bowyer) Bilyeu, and Janet (Ferguson) Rousselot, and nephews Curtis Bennett, Stephen Bowyer, Chris Bowyer, and Daryl Ferguson. They and their families loved Macel dearly.
She will be greatly missed by Kevin and Sheri Johnson, of Concordia, and their children Joshua, Ashleigh and Addy, who are like adopted grandchildren. Macel loved the years of “baby sitting” these children and then keeping close ties as they grew up.
Many other close friends will miss her but rejoice that she is with her Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Funeral services will be held at Emmanuel Church on Monday, Dec. 14, 10:a.m. with Pastor Shane Britt officiating. Music will be provided by Pam Rothfuss at the organ. Following the service burial will be in the White Cloud Cemetery near Manchester. The Danner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be Sunday, Dec. 13, 3-4 p.m. at Danner Funeral Home.
Memorials can be made to Red Bird Mission School, Wycliffe Bible Translators, or Emmanuel Church and can be left at Emmanuel Church or left at or sent in care of the, Danner Funeral Home, POB 758 Abilene, Kansas.

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Linda Louise Butler-Woods, 75 of Salina, passed away, Tuesday, December 8, 2015. She was born August 5, 1940 in Hebron, Nebraska.

She worked for Dillard’s in Salina for 12 years as a sales clerk.

She was preceded in death by her father; Harold G. Richardson, her first husband; Robert E. Butler, a son; Tod E. Butler and a granddaughter; Hailey Butler.

Survivors include her mother; Dorothy S. Richardson of Belleville, three sons; Robert L. (Debbie) Butler of Oskaloosa, Jeff A. (Anita) Butler of McCracken and Ronald K. (Aurdra) Butler of Gypsum, two sisters; Kathy (Chuck) Gomer of Bella vista, AR and Corrine Meadows of Hastings, NE, two nephews, Mike (Raylene) Meadows of Hastings, NE and Charlie (Christine) Gomer of Johnson County, KS; one niece; Chris Bergman of Phoenix, AR; 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be conducted by Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, 10:00am, Saturday, January 2, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church, 2013 “M” St. in Belleville, KS.

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WHITEWATER – Jacquelyn Ann Converse, 87, of Whitewater, Kansas, passed away Dec. 10, 2015, at Susan B Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado, Kansas.  Jackie was born July 17, 1928, in Butler County, Kansas, the daughter of Ed & Fern (Ullum) Strasser.  She attended school in the Whitewater & Potwin areas. Jackie was a cosmetologist, graduating from Vernon’s School of Cosmetology in Wichita, Kansas. She owned and operated salons in Wichita and Missouri. Jackie was an avid flower gardener, was an animal lover and enjoyed shopping on the jewelry channel. Her Grandchildren thought she was a “fun” grandmother and loved her “big hair”.  Jackie and Jim Converse were married in St. Louis on November 29, 1971. They lived most of their married life in the Houston, Texas area. Upon retirement they moved to Whitewater, to be closer to family.  She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Chip Ellis; brothers, Floyd “Buddy” and Blake Strasser; sisters, Lorene Watts and Sandra Matzenbacher; and a great-granddaughter Faith Johnston.  She is survived by her husband, Jim of the home; a daughter, Julie Johnston and husband Joe of Albert Lea, Minnesota; her grandsons: Alex Johnston and wife Angie of Albert Lea, Minnesota; Blair Johnston and wife Emily of St Paul, Minnesota; and Chad Ellis of Cambridge, Wisconsin; daughter-in-law Robin Ellis of Chicago, Illinois; and her great-grandchildren: Hayden, Adler, Bryant, Maeve, Jameson and Nolan Johnston.  She is also survived by her sisters: Vicki Cook and husband Dick of Hutchinson; Sherry Edwards of Whitewater, and Candy Elting and husband Jim of Whitewater; her brothers: Dennis Strasser of Peabody; and Larry Strasser of Potwin; and her beloved Yorkie, “Alfie”.  Cremation has taken place. In Celebration of Jackie’s life, the family will receive friends and neighbors from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., Saturday, December 12, 2015, at Lamb Funeral Home, Whitewater.  A Memorial Fund has been established for Wheat State Manor, in care of Lamb Funeral Home, 120 S Main, Whitewater, KS, 67154.

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Billy G. Shaffer, 85, Washington, died Wednesday, December 9 at the Washington County Hospital.

Visitation: Monday, December 14, from noon until 8 p.m. at Ward Funeral Home in Washington. The family will receive friends 4 to 6 p.m.

Burial: Private Burial

Billy was born October 6, 1930 at Hennessey, OK to Clay and Zella (Sharp) Shaffer. He was united in marriage to Mary Ruth VanZandt at Odessa, TX on March 15, 1973. Billy was a Right Away Agent for Koch Pipeline, negotiating right of way contracts with landowners, and traveled throughout the United States. He also worked for A & R Pipeline and El Paso Pipeline. They moved to Washington in 1973. Billy then went to work building bins and storage tanks around the country.

In his younger years, Billy raised horses and was a Wagon Master for trail rides, he would take kids on trail rides from Odessa, TX to Pecos, TX. He also collected antiques.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ruth, Washington; sisters, Zella Marie Stevens, Kermit, TX, Carolyn Hungerford, Toledo Bend, TX; brother, Jessie Merle Shaffer, Hobbs, NM; and nieces and nephews.

A memorial fund is established and will be designated later. Contributions may be sent in care of Ward Funeral Home, 115 W. 2nd St., Washington, KS 66968.