Donald Eugene “Donnie” Brown, 72, died Sept. 28, 2016 in Salina, Kansas. He was born July 3, 1944, in New Cambria, to George Kelsey Brown and Mable Josephine (Gruber) Brown.
He is survived by: his two brothers, Erwin of Salina, and Raymond of New Cambria; children Marc and Ella Brown of Salina, Kelly and Jeanie Brown of Edmond Okla., Missy Brown Clemence of Salina, and Donnie Brown of New Cambria; grandchildren, Kaylee, Jenna, and Stephan; and one great-grandchild, Xander.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and granddaughter, Jessica Clemence.
He was a pillar of the hotrod and racing community having founded and managed Brown Automotive in New Cambria and later in Salina, Managed Salina Speedway, founded and promoted KLMA and OLMA racing at multiple race tracks within the region. Earlier in life he was known for being a record setting racecar owner, driver, and master mechanic, having earned hundreds of racing wins. He lived nearly his entire life in New Cambria.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3, at Peace Lutheran church, New Cambria, with burial following at Highland Cemetery, New Cambria. There is a reception at the church after graveside service. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Ryan Mortuary, Salina.
Memorials can be sent to Peace Lutheran Church in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 North Eighth Street, Salina, Kansas 67401.
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Major Michael David Gregory, 62, of Junction City, passed away Tuesday, September 13, 2016 in Wichita. He was born September 15, 1953 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Michael served his country with pride. His first enlistment was in the Marine Corp from 1971 until 1973, where he received his first, of three, honorable discharges. His second enlistment was in the United States Army from 1974 to 1977. Michael’s final enlistment started in 1980 in the United States Army. He achieved Commander
of Ft Bragg, North Carolina and retired in 1995, as a Major.
Michael not only served his country in service, but he led the people of his community in Herington, KS. He served two terms as a City Commissioner and then gave two more terms as the Mayor of
Herington.
He was preceded in death by his father, David W. Gregory.
Michael was blessed with the most wonderful children and grandchildren that God has ever given man; Scott and wife Jodi Gregory, Michael Gregory, Michelle and husband Zack Tupper,
Jason and wife Megan Gregory, and Catherine Gregory; he was also survived by his beloved grandchildren; Maeve, Wyatt, and Simon Gregory, Ethan and Patience Gregory, William Tupper, and Lorelei Gregory. Michael is also survived by his mother; Berdean V Bryant.
A graveside services will be held at 1:00PM, Friday, October 14, 2016 at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery, Manhattan.
Online condolences: Roselawn at www.roselawnsalina.com
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Council Grove – Martha Corrine Belt, 73, of Council Grove, Kansas passed away September 26, 2016, at Diversicare of Council Grove.
She was born December 18, 1942, in Reece, KS, the daughter of Dennis and Erma (Peebles) McDaniel. She married George Belt on November 7, 1959.
Martha was a member of the Council Grove Community Church. Along with her husband George, she was the owner of “George’s Drive In Market”, “G & M Auto Parts Store” in Strong City and “MarCor Sales”, a parts and tools wholesale distributor. Martha worked as a bookkeeper for “S & S Oil Company” in Emporia and later, after doing the work she loved, retired from Tri County Telephone Company in 2007.
Martha enjoyed being “on the go” with her loving husband and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be sadly missed by all.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband George on March 9, 2015, son Tony Belt, granddaughter Nicole Belt, and brothers Dennis, Dale and David McDaniel.
Martha is survived by her daughter Gale Young and husband Dan, of Council Grove; son Todd Belt, of Emporia; 7 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; brothers, Paul McDaniel, of FL and Marvin McDaniel, of Augusta; and sister Mona Rowland and husband Bill, of Augusta.
Cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be held at 11:00am, October 14, 2016, at Comisky Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Community Christian Church and may be sent in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, PO Box 273, Council Grove, KS 66846.
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Mariruth Thomas, happy-go-lucky grandma, die-hard Oklahoma State fan and creator of the world’s best sugar cookies, died Sept. 28, 2016, at Via Christi Hospital in Manhattan, Kan. She was 74.
Born Mariruth Harrison on Jan. 6, 1942, in Oklahoma City, she was the daughter of Ronald and Mary Hoshall Harrison. She was raised on the family farm northwest of Kingfisher, Okla., and was a 1960 graduate of Kingfisher High School. Mariruth always felt blessed to have grown up when and where she did, with a loving Christian family and friends.
In 1963, she married Don Nye; they later divorced. She married Henry Thomas on New Year’s Day 1996, and they lived in Clay County, Kansas, where she enjoyed living in a peaceful, rural area surrounded by family, friends and neighbors. The couple moved to Clay Center in 2013.
Mariruth worked in the Payless ShoeSource Corporate Headquarters in Topeka for more than 13 years, then worked several years at the Creative Hairdressers Corporate Headquarters in Falls Church, Va. She later was the voice of Morganville Elementary for 9 ½ years, where as school secretary she greeted callers on the phone in a cheerful, singsong voice.
She was a member of the Hayes United Methodist Church, transferring membership to the Clay Center United Methodist Church when Hayes closed. Family meant everything to her, and she loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, cousins and friends. Mariruth also enjoyed traveling, reading, photography and baking for her family.
Mariruth was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Marjorie Harrison. Survivors include her husband, Henry W. Thomas, Clay Center; son Troy Nye and wife Machelle of Sand Point, Idaho; daughter Natalie Nye of San Antonio, Texas; stepson Tracy Thomas and wife Judy of Leawood, Kan.; stepdaughter Teresa Quandt and husband Greg of Peachtree City, Ga.; and stepdaughter, Terri Thomas of Olathe; grandchildren, Donte’, Dylan and Ciera Jabines; Matthew, Lindsay and Joshua Quandt; and Justin and Nathan Thomas; and great-granddaughter Zaylah Longoria of San Antonio, Texas.
Visitation from 3-8pm Friday with family greeting friends 5-7pm at Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Clay Center United Methodist Church. Memorial to Clay Center Public Library or Clay County Animal Rescue and Education Center c/o the funeral home.
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Hillsboro -E. Martin Rhodes, 81, died September 27, 2016 at Salem Home in Hillsboro. He was born July 18, 1935 to George and Ruth (Boydston) Rhodes at Lindsay, Oklahoma. He married Fran McKinzie May 29, 1955 at Ft. Cobb, Oklahoma. Survivors include: wife, Fran Rhodes of Hillsboro; daughters, Sherrie (Ruben) Lovato of Amarillo, Texas, Donna (Kirby) Fadenrecht of Hillsboro, Janet (Ted) Jones of Houston, Texas; 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Celebration of Life Service will be 2:30 p.m. Friday, September 30, 2016 at The Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church in Hillsboro with Pastor Brian Allen officiating. Private family interment. Family will receive guests from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at The Hillsboro M.B. Church. Memorials to Kids Connection in Lieu of Flowers Please in care of Jost Funeral Home P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, KS 67063. Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com
Life Sketch taken from the Funeral Bulletin
Ellis Martin Rhodes was born on July 18, 1935 in Lindsay, Oklahoma to George W. Rhodes and Ruth (Boydston) Rhodes. He went home to the Lord on September 27, 2016. He was the oldest of five children – Mary Ruth (Sue) Newton, George Rhodes, David Rhodes, and Daryel Rhodes – all of whom predeceased Martin. Martin married Frances (Fran) Lou McKinzie on May 29, 1955 in Fort Cobb Oklahoma Baptist Church.
Together with Fran, Martin has three daughters – Sherrie (Ruben) Lovato, Donna (Kirby) Fadenrecht and Janet (Ted) Jones; he has eight grandchildren: Nathan (Leigh) Lovato, Elise (Ryan) Canode, Seth (Kate) Lovato, Risa Fadenrecht, Macy (Kayla) Fadenrecht, Parker (Lauren) Jones, Bailey (Joel) Wilpitz, McKinzie (Richmond) Howard, and has eight great grandchildren with two more coming in December.
At the age of 15, Martin accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and savior, and continued to serve the Lord in his own quiet and unique way. One specific way he intentionally served was in his care for widows. Martin also used his woodworking skills as a ministry in the various congregations of which he was part throughout the years. In the 1970s he constructed the baptistry for Western Plateau Community (MB) Church in Amarillo, TX. Most recently, he constructed many of the mailboxes for the Hillsboro MB Church and built toys for Kids Connection.
As a young man, Martin’s pastor asked him to fill the pulpit for a Sunday night service. With his typical brevity, Martin led the congregation in several songs, wholeheartedly shared the gospel for about five minutes, and then promptly sent the crowd on their way. As was his way, Martin relied upon few words to convey succinct messages. Many who knew him can attest to this gift.
Martin’s first eight years of school were spent in the one-room school at Purdy, OK. According to his recollection, Martin spent one year at the top of his class until a new girl enrolled; with two now in his graduating class, he fell from first place to second! After graduating from the one room school in Purdy, Martin went on to attend high school in Fort Cobb, OK. It was at Fort Cobb that he met and fell in love with his future wife, Fran!
A man of many talents and interests, and a lifelong learner, Martin pursued a variety of careers, all of which he approached with his tireless work ethic. In Amarillo, TX, he worked in hospital engineering, primarily overseeing the myriad electronic systems being implemented in the 1960s and 1970s. For these electronic certifications he took correspondence courses and for his many pursuits he spent countless hours teaching himself the necessary skills. For several years, Martin owned a ServiceMaster franchise. Following his years as a franchisee, ServiceMaster solicited his expertise in developing engineering best practices for their hospital accounts nationwide. Martin was a licensed pilot and a licensed electrician. He was responsible for at least five patents, several of which went on to be marketed worldwide – including the light technology used to treat neonatal jaundice.
Throughout his career, Martin was able to merge his hobbies into career opportunities, namely through his love of woodworking. He built custom cabinets and furniture for numerous homeowners in his various communities. For his wife and each of his daughters he built a grandmother or grandfather clock. Such clocks grace the homes of a number of other acquaintances – one was even built as a down payment for the home he and Fran purchased for their young family. He delighted in building toys for his grandchildren – intricate dollhouses for his granddaughters, semi-truck-shaped toy boxes for his grandsons, and doll furniture for his great-granddaughters. Martin blessed many with his creativity and generosity in this area.
Beyond all the tangible legacies he leaves behind, it is his intangible legacy – his brilliant storytelling, his compelling laugh and his ability to incite laughter in those around him – that will be missed most dearly. Stories of his mischievous childhood, tall tales of all kinds, and “punny” one-liners frequently left his audience in stitches.
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Elmer Mermis, 86, of Russell, Kansas, died on Thursday, September 29, 2016, at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha, Kansas.
The funeral mass celebration of Elmer’s life will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, October 05, 2016, at St. Mary’s Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell, Kansas. Burial will follow the funeral mass at St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery in Walker, Kansas. Vigil and Rosary will be held at 7 P.M. on Tuesday, October 04, 2016, at the Catholic Church. Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on Tuesday, October 04, 2016, at the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.