Mary A. Mergen, 87, formerly of Salina, died Tuesday, November 29, 2016 in Topeka. She was born May 19, 1929 in Jewell, Kansas to H.W. and Edith (Rathbun) Varney. On June 27, 1953, she married Donald Mergen in Salina. She was a homemaker and longtime member of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Salina.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Aubrey Varney; and her husband, Don Mergen in 2006.
She is survived by two sons, Douglas (Susan) Mergen of Salina and Richard (Nancy) Mergen of Topeka; and a daughter, Carol Mergen of Topeka; a brother, Earl (Shirley) Varney of Jewell; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 3-6 p.m. Thursday, December 1, 2016 at Ryan Mortuary where a vigil service will be at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 2, 2016 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Salina, with Father Don Zimmerman as celebrant. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Salina.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Cathedral or Sacred Heart Jr./Sr. High Schools, in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th, Salina, Kansas 67401.
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James R. Shelton, 47, passed away Tuesday, November 29th, in Abilene. He was born February 4, 1969 in Tucson, Arizona, the son of Thomas James and Sharon Lea (Morgan) Shelton. Growing up in Tucson, James attended local schools, graduated from Catalina High School and attended the University of Arizona.
In 2008 he moved to Abilene to work for David Blair Kennels.
He enjoyed relaxing in nature and cheering on “his” Redskins.
James was preceded in death by his father.
He is survived by his mother, Sharon Lea Shelton of Tucson and a brother, David Lloyd Shelton of Midland, Texas.
The family has chosen cremation. A gathering of friends will be held 5:30 – 6:30 PM Monday, December 5th, at the Danner Funeral Home.
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Adeline Marie Bartunek, 94, died on November 29, 2016, in Salina, Kansas. She was born on February 1, 1922, in Lincoln County, Kansas, the daughter of John Alouis and Agnes Stehno Klema. She grew up in Kanopolis, Kansas, and graduated in 1940 from Kanopolis High School.
Adeline married William E. Bartunek in 1941, and they farmed in rural Ellsworth County near Black Wolf until his death on March 29, 1976. Adeline was a housewife and a great cook. She began making wedding cakes for friends and family in the 1950s. She moved into Ellsworth in 1976, and for twenty years continued baking special occasion and wedding cakes for others. In 2009, she moved to Salina, Kansas, where she resided until her death.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William E. Bartunek; daughter, Marilyn Jo Bettenbrock; parents, John and Agnes Klema; brothers, Victor, Rudolph, Richard, and Arthur Klema; sister, Mildred Katzenmeier; granddaughter, Jennifer Leigh Bartunek; and special friend, Joe Dolechek.
She leaves to mourn her passing two sons, William D. Bartunek (Donna), Salina, Kansas; David E. Bartunek (Mary Alice), Pueblo, Colorado; one brother, John Klema (Edna), Great Bend, Kansas; one sister, Shirley Krug, Spring Hill, Florida; one sister-in-law, Elsie Foran, Hutchinson, Kansas; eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, three great-great-granddaughters, and many other relatives and friends.
Visitation: 2-6 p.m., Sunday, December 4, 2016 at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth.
Funeral service: 10 a.m., Monday, December 5, 2016 at Parsons Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Ellsworth County Cancer Fund, c/o, Parsons Funeral Home, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, KS 67439.
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Edith “Kay” Catherine (Williams) Eggleston passed away on Saturday, November 26, 2016 at her home in Plainville, Kansas at the age of 94. She was born on May 17, 1922 in Plainville to the late Edward and Edith (McClay) Williams. She grew up in the Plainville area and graduated from Plainville High School with the Class of 1940. She went on to attend Business College for one year in Topeka, Kansas.
Kay’s life adventures took her to California and then settled in Nevada for 45 years before returning to Kansas. Her office, secretarial skills, and self employment kept her busy until retirement. Her travels during these years took her to Europe, Ireland, Russia, Alaska and 18 months in Africa.
She truly believed in “Busy Hands, Happy Heart”. Her love of sewing, knitting, crocheting and embroidery produced many beautiful creations. As an avid quilter, Kay was a charter member of both Truckee Meadows Quilters in Reno, Nevada and Crossroads Quilters in Stockton, Kansas. For 40 years, she made and donated quilts to various charities across the country, with over 100 given in the last ten years to Hospice of Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.
Kay is survived by her son Charles L. Kittrell and wife Pat of Mineral Bluff, GA; daughter Karen K. Sears of Plainville; sister Mary Stepp of Plainville; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Edith Williams; sisters Lois Macke, and Flora Wilbur; and son Francis Edward Kittrell.
Every stitch, of every block was given with love pouring from Kay’s heart, through her hands, to touch the lives of more people than can be counted, many of whom she never met. Although she will be greatly missed, our hearts will be encouraged, and we will stay wrapped in her warm and loving arms with every quilt she made.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, December 16, 2016 at Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home in Plainville. Inurnment will follow in the Plainville Cemetery. There will be no visitation.
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Marcellus “Mars” Phillip Resley, of Russell, Kansas, passed away November 24, 2016 in Carrollton, Texas at the age of 96 years.
He was born in Gorham, Kansas on October 13, 1920 to the late Raymond Resley and Clara Banworth Resley. Mars graduated from Russell High School class of 1939 before joining the United States Army. After basic training his was chosen for Officers Candidate School where he became a 2nd Lieutenant and went to flight school. He flew numerous missions while stationed in Europe. During his time with the 949th Field Artillery, he was surrounded in Bastogne, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. After he returned home he was in the Army Reserves and retired as a Major in 1980. Mars married his wife and dancing partner of 60 years, Mary Catherine Stecklein Resley, on November 22, 1945 in Wichita, Kansas and together they had three children. He worked at Gregwire’s Drug Store and retired after 50 years. Mars enjoyed playing golf, fly fishing, carpentry, and piloting. He made custom furniture for several people including the Catholic Church. He was also an active member of the VFW, Knights of Columbus and the Elks. He and his wife were avid dancers and loved Big Band music. He will be remembered for his willingness to help others frequently. Mars was a deeply devoted son, husband and father who will be remembered and missed by many.
Marcellus Phillip Resley is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Walter Resley and John Resley, and his sister Janice Johnson.
Mars is survived by his children; Victoria Schilling (Boulder, Co.), Jacqueline Resley (Nairobi, Kenya), and Joseph Resley (Jean) (Carrollton, Tx) his sister, Colletta Johnson (Salina,Ks), his granddaughters; Melissa Schilling, Inga Resley-Nostvik, Lindsey Eby (Matthew), and Blair Brown (Eric), his great-grandchildren; Julia, Conor, Cy, Wyatt, Mason, and Troy.
A Celebration of the funeral mass will be held 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, December 10, 2016, at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Russell, Kansas. Cremation has been selected by the family and Inurnment of the cremains will follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Russell. Military honors will be presented by the Russell V.F.W. Post #6240. A vigil service will be held at 7 P.M. on Friday, December 09, 2016, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the memorial service.