Gladys Lela (Smith) Meek, 83, of Lyons, KS, passed away on Thursday, October 13, 2016, at Rice County District Hospital, Lyons. She was the Rice County Deputy Register of Deeds in 1970 and became Rice County Register of Deeds in 1973, an office she held until 2001.
Gladys was born on December 9, 1932, in McPherson, KS, the daughter of Ray A. and Mildred H. (Rump) Smith. She grew up on a farm 3 ¼ miles north of Inman, KS. She graduated from Inman High School. She also graduated from School of Airline Training in Omaha, NE. On June 29, 1952, Gladys was united in marriage to Luther E. “Gene” Meek at Groveland Christian Church.
She was a member of Groveland Christian Church, Christian Women’s Fellowship Love Group in Lyons, and International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials & Treasurers. She was a past President of Kansas Register of Deeds Association in 1977 and former elder and deacon of First Christian Church in Lyons. She was a volunteer for Rice County Hospice and Rice County Council on Aging. She was an avid traveler and toured all 50 States of the Union, approximately 60 different countries, and all seven continents.
Survivors include: husband, Gene of the home; sons, Dallas Meek (Caroline) of Frankfort, KY and Gary Meek (Doris) of Independence, MO; daughter, Lori Viramontez (Dave) of Lyons, KS; brothers, Howard Smith (Vivian) of McPherson, KS and twin brother, Glen Smith of Inman, KS; sister, Helen Regehr of Inman, KS; eight grandchildren, Derek Viramontez of Lyons, KS, Tyler Viramontez (Emily) of Wichita, KS, Andrew Meek (Taryn) of Blue Springs, MO, Priscilla Meek, Ethan Meek, Stephen Meek, Caleb Meek, and Esther Meek, all of Independence, MO; two great-granddaughters, Reagan Rose Viramontez and Adelyn Grace Viramontez, both of Wichita, KS.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Ray and Mildred Smith; and brother, John Smith.
The funeral service will be at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at First Christian Church, McPherson with Rev. Charles Kauffman officiating. Burial will follow at North Inman Cemetery. Visitation is from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Monday, Oct. 17, at Stockham Family Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Memorial donations may be given to Water for Life in Haita in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.
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Dorcas Brandt, 93, left this earth to go to her heavenly home on Friday, October 14, 2016. She lived her life sustained by her faith and daily devotion to her Lord and Savior. Born on February 19th, 1923 in Mifflintown PA to Harvey and Ruth Lauver, she attended public school until her senior year of high school when she transferred to Messiah Bible School. There she met the love of her life, Vernon Brandt, and they married on November 18, 1944.
In 1945, Dorcas and Vernon moved to the Abilene area, where she was a homemaker, mother, and saleswoman. Throughout the years, Dorcas worked as an Avon representative, at Royer’s, Sears, American Investor’s Life Insurance and, later in life, at Home Interiors. But her children remember most the many hours she spent trying to keep them in line; they though she had eyes in the back of her head.
Dorcas was a member of the Abilene Brethren in Christ Church, was active in the child evangelism program for over 50 years, and taught Sunday School. She was also a member of the Ladies Aid Society, volunteered at Abilene Memorial Hospital and Impact Sports, and was very active in Abilene’s Christian Women’s Club.
Dorcas was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years on September 4, 2005, her son Ron on May 5, 1980, six brothers, Ray, Boyd, Claire, James, Abner, and Asa Lauver. She is survived by her daughter, Sherilyn Pientka and husband Steve of Abilene, two sons, Daryl Brandt and wife Maria of Corpus Christi, TX, Doug Brandt and wife Cheryl of Beavercreek, OH, three sisters, Lois Meyer of Midwest City, OK, Esther Davis of Macungie, PA, Alma Shelley of Newton, KS, three brothers, Laban Lauver and wife Virginia of Chester, VA, George Lauver and wife Myrtle of Morrisville, PA, Rufus Lauver and wife Esther of McAlisterville, PA, nine grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be at 5-7PM on Monday, October 17, 2016 at Martin-Becker Funeral Home located at 414 NW Third Street, Abilene, KS. Funeral services will be at the Abilene Brethren in Christ Church located at 11th and Buckeye in Abilene, KS at 2PM on Tuesday, October 18, 2016 with internment at Bethel Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to Brethren in Christ Missions.
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DATELINE: Lyons, Kansas
NAME: Juan Carlos Reyes Sr.
AGE: 60 years
DATE OF DEATH: October 14, 2016
PLACE OF DEATH: Rice County District Hospital, Lyons, Kansas
DATE OF BIRTH: August 14, 1956
PLACE OF BIRTH: Burgos Tamaulipas, Mexico
PARENTS: Antonio Reyes and Maria Del Rosario Rodriquez
RESIDENCE: Lyons since 1990 formerly of Bay Town, Texas
OCCUPATION: He was a heavy equipment operator for Piping Technology.
DATE OF MARRIAGE: June 26, 1982
PLACE OF MARRIAGE: Lyons, Kansas
SPOUSE: Threasa Lasater
SURVIVORS: wife, Threasa, of the home; 4 sons, Juan C. Reyes Jr. and children Kingston and Leighton of Lyons; Anthony J. and Tara Reyes and son Jameson of New Bern, North Carolina; Joseph M. Reyes of Lyons; Adrian C. Reyes of Lyons; niece, Alexis Lasater of Hays, KS. 3 brothers, Antonio Reyes Rodriquez, Mexico; Jorge Martinez, Lyons; Roberto Reyes Rodriquez, Mexico; 6 sisters, Alama Benavides, Mexico City, Mexico; Sylvia Reyes Rodriquez, Mexico; Leticia Banuelos, Denver, Colorado; Juanita Guajardo, Mexico; Blanca Rodriquez, Mexico; Concepcion Cavazos, Lyons
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: his parents
SERVICES: 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons
OFFICIATING: Rev. Joel Grizzle
BURIAL: Lyons Municipal Cemetery
VISITATION: 2:00-7:00 P.M. Monday with family receiving friends from 5:00-7:00 at Birzer Funeral Home in Lyons.
MEMORIAL: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Juan Carlos Reyes Sr. memorial fund in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.
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Patricia L. Bird of Esbon, Kansas, was born May 27, 1938, to John and Letha (Parker) Cochran, at Esbon, Kansas, and grew up on the family farm, and died Friday, October 14, 2016, at the Salina Regional Health Center, Salina, Kansas, at the age of 78 years, 4 months, and 17 days.
She attended country schools in rural Jewell County and graduated from Esbon High School in 1956. On May 27, 1956, Patricia married Delbert Bird at the Ash Creek Church, Esbon, Kansas. They were blessed with two children – Rex and Ramona.
Patricia was a housewife and mother many years. Patricia continued her education when her children were older. She graduated from Cloud County Community College and Hastings College with an Elementary Education degree. She taught in Harlingen, Texas; Fowler, Kansas; and Albion, Nebraska.
She loved her family and enjoyed having them for a visit and family dinners. She enjoyed time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her pastimes were crossword puzzles, genealogy, reading, and grandkids’ sporting events, 4-H activities and fairs. She was involved in her church and with church activities.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents and one sister – Lorraine Bissell.
She is survived by her husband, Delbert of the home; one son and one daughter – Rex and wife, Rhonda Bird of Belleville, Kansas; and Ramona and husband, Mark Tiemeyer of Morrowville, Kansas; six grandchildren – Ryan and wife Jacee Bird of Ashland, Nebraska, Regina Bird of Minden, Nebraska, Aaron and wife, Jamie Tiemeyer of Marysville, Kansas, Alec Tiemeyer of Washington, Kansas, and Andrew Tiemeyer of Morrowville, Kansas; three great-grandchildren – Blake and Alaina Bird and Henley Tiemeyer; two sisters – Camelia Gates of Republic, Kansas and Carole Smith of Hastings, Nebraska; and a host of other relatives, friends and students.
A celebration of life service will be (was) Monday, October 17, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., at the Northbranch Friends Church of Rural Burr Oak, Kansas, with Pastor Jonathan Harkness officiating. Interment will be (was) in the Prairie Home Cemetery, Esbon, Kansas. Visitation will be (was) Sunday, October 16, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the mortuary. A memorial Fund has been established and will be designated at a later time. Online condolences can be left at www.melbymortuary.com. Melby Mortuary, 402 H. High Street, Mankato, Kansas 66956, was in charge of arrangements.
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Ronald Dean Headley, 87, of Russell, Kansas and
formerly of Ellsworth, Kansas, passed away on October 09, 2016, at his home in Russell.
Ron was born in Carneiro, Kansas on November 24, 1928, the son of Lowell and Mary (Sneath) Headley. He grew up in Ellsworth county and attended local schools. He enlisted in the United States Army on December 06, 1946, in Ft. Riley, Kansas. He recived the WWII victory medal and Army of occupation medal. After serving his country he came back to Ellsworth, Kansas, and worked most of his adult life farming and ranching. He met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Mary Ann Evans in 1976. He loved being on the farm and in the fields and enjoyed spending most of his time outdoors doing chores around the farm and tending his crops and cattle. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his wife and family.
Surviving family include his sisters Shirley Kempke of Ellsworth, Kansas and Dolores Headley of Nicoma Park, Oklahoma; step daughters Billie Beck and husband Rodger of Russell, Kansas and Deborah Proseus and husband James of Salina, Kansas and step son Dennis Zimmerman and wife Myrlene of Bella Vista, Arkansas; step grandchildren Tamara Harris of Russell, Joel Cleavenger and wife Marcia of Salina and Janet Daniels of Columbus, Georgia and Michael Clark of Salina and many nieces and nephews and great grandchildren and close friend Art Miska of Russell.
Ron was preceded in death by his wife on March 15, 2012, parents, brother Rance Headley, brother-in-law and friend Floyd Kempke.
A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation has been selected by the family and there will be no public ceremony or visitation. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the arrangements.