Obituaries

May 8, 2026

Teri Lynn (Denton) Werner began her life on December 19th, 1954 in El Dorado and she departed this Earth with grace, dignity and strength on May 8th, 2026. Born to Butch and Billie Denton, she spent her early years growing up in El Dorado. She loved to be surrounded by friends, doing everything from camping and water skiing to random...

May 8, 2026

Hays – Tobias “Toby” Andrew Taylor, 36, passed away May 8, 2026 in Hays.

He was born April 16, 1990 in Great Bend, the son of Ray Allen and Beverly Ann Dechant Taylor.

He was a lifetime area resident until moving to Hays in 2009 where he was an equipment operator. He was of the catholic faith and enjoyed model aircrafts and...

May 8, 2026

Larned – Alice Jane Van Cleave, 78, passed away May 8, 2026 at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, Larned.

She was born December 6, 1947 in Ogallala, Nebraska, the daughter of Milford and Salomae (Mae) Cuba Krajewski. A longtime resident, Alice was a professional house cleaner for 30 years.

She attended school in Ogallala, high school at St. Patrick’s in Sidney, Nebraska and...

May 1, 2026

Jetmore - Evelyn Esther Burns, 98, passed away May 1, 2026 at Hodgeman County Health Center - ISB, Jetmore.

She was born on April 13, 1928, in rural Hodgeman County, the daughter of Fred and Lydia Miller Ehrlich.

A lifetime area resident, she was a stay-at-home mom who was also a cook for the schools. Max and Evelyn owned and operated Patchen...

Apr 28, 2026

Mark Andrew Fraser, 73, passed away peacefully on April 28, 2026. He leaves behind a lifetime of memories shared with family and friends. He was born on August 27, 1952, in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Mark dedicated much of his life to caring for others through his career with Continental Airlines, where he worked as a flight attendant from 1977 until his retirement...

Apr 27, 2026

Larned - Joan Slagle was born on October 30, 1933, the second child of Ray and Ida Vogel.

Joan worked for approximately eighteen years as a Court Services Officer based out of Larned, Kansas, serving an area that covered six counties. Outside of her career, Joan loved to travel—she enjoyed going on cruises, taking snow‑skiing trips, and visiting family out of...

Apr 14, 2026

Larned - Mary Sue Hunter, 71, passed away April 14, 2026 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.

She was born in Wichita, Kansas, on May 30, 1954, daughter of Kenneth and LaVonne Butts Tefft.

A longtime area resident, moving from Lawrence in 1976, she worked as a music therapist at Larned State Hospital for...

Apr 8, 2026

Hays – Evan Scott Graham, 33, of Larned, Kansas, passed away April 8, 2026.

He was born August 11, 1992 in Great Bend, Kansas. Growing up he attended the Presbyterian Church in Larned and enjoyed hunting and trap shooting. Evan was a skilled and hardworking man who took great pride in working with his hands, especially in...

Mar 22, 2026

Garfield - Anna-Maria Bernardes Basom, professionally known as Anna-Maria B. Cool,  died at home on March 22, 2026.  She was born in Harrisburg, Pa., on August 22, 1956, to Marilia (Bernardes) Coleman and Harry Coleman, who had met, and wed, in Brazil. She grew up in the suburbs of Harrisburg, and after graduating from high school in 1975 entered...

Mar 19, 2026

Jane Devore, 68, passed away March 19, 2026 at McPherson Health and Rehab.

She was born June 14, 1957 in Wichita, the daughter of Donald Clayton and Ruth Ann Henderson Martin.

A longtime Larned area resident, she was of the Christian faith. She grew up on a dairy farm by Zook, KS.  The youngest of...

Mar 19, 2026

St. Joseph, Missouri  - Darin Lee Hinnergardt, 58, passed away March 19, 2026 at his home in St. Joseph, Missouri.

He was born December 8, 1967 in Larned, Kansas.  The son of Stanley Ben and Nadine Faye Gross Hinnergardt.  Darin grew up on the family farm, rural Burdett, lived many different places through the years, while serving...

Mar 19, 2026

Larned – Virginia Lee Fox, 91, passed away March 19, 2026 at Via Christi Village, Hays.

She was born in Stafford County, Kansas, in 1934, the daughter of Ralph and Beulah Dark Cubbage.

A longtime area resident she was a member of Larned United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, and a longtime member of American...

Mar 18, 2026

Pawnee Rock – James F. Ritchie, 89, passed away in his home on March 18, 2026,

Born December 8, 1936 in Versailles, Missouri son of Ora Jackson Sr. and Ruth Maxine Stafford Ritchie.

James was a Christian as well as a member of the American Legion. He served in the Airforce then returned home to...

Mar 12, 2026

Larned – Gabriel "Gabe" Allen Mull was born April 5, 2013 in Manhattan, Kansas. He died March 12, 2026 at his home in Larned.

A big heart with a smile to match, that was our Gabe.

He loved sports, the outdoors, helping on the farm or with the cattle, and gaming. Gabe's ornery side and...

Mar 11, 2026

Jetmore - Frank R. Gibbs, 91, passed away at Hodgeman County Health Center, ISB in Jetmore.

He was born April 28, 1934 at his family farm in Southeast Hodgeman County, son of Jasper and Emma C. Anderson Gibbs.

Frank was a lifetime area resident and member of Jetmore Methodist Church. He attended country schools, graduating...

Mar 4, 2026

Wichita – Chester Lowell Reed, 96, passed away March 4, 2026 at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, Wichita.

He was born September 26, 1929 in Grand Island, Nebraska, the son of Earl and Laura Frazier Reed.  A longtime Jetmore resident, later moving to Wichita, where he worked at Cranmer Grass Farming Inc.

Mar 2, 2026

Donald K. Dreese, 72, passed away March 2, 2026 surrounded by family at his home in Larned.

He was born February 18, 1954 in Great Bend to Anna Mae Walker and Kenneth Dreese.

A lifetime area resident, he was a crane operator and superintendent for L & M Contractors for over forty-seven years. He was...

Feb 26, 2026

Melburn Eugene Stude, "Possum", 97, passed away February 26, 2026 at his home in Garfield.

He was born December 2, 1928 on the family farm in Garfield to Fred and Lena Blume Stude.

A lifetime Garfield resident and farmer he was a member of the United Methodist Church, Garfield. He was a board member for...

Feb 22, 2026

Paula was born December 6, 1966 in Larned, the daughter of Stanley and Judy Smith.

Paula Smith-Davis passed away peacefully on February 22, 2026 after her third courageous battle with cancer.

Paula will be remembered for her favorite things including Minions, Precious Moments, and Faceless Angels.  She spent her free time shopping and attending Renaissance...

Feb 18, 2026

Gail Ann Schmidt, 81, passed away February 18, 2026 at Kenwood Plaza in St. John.

She was born July 11, 1944 in Pawnee County, Kansas; the daughter of Elmo and Mary Sooby Gleason.

A life time Pawnee County, Barton County and Stafford County resident, she held many clerical jobs throughout her life.

She...