Obituaries

Bernadine P. Gray, 89, La Crosse, Kan., died Sunday, March 18, 2018, at Locust Grove Village, La Crosse.

Mrs. Gray was born July 29, 1928, in Ellsworth, Kan., the daughter of Edward and Ruth (Peters) Staeber.  She was a 7-year resident of Rush County, Kan., moving from Fredonia, Kan. A graduate of Lorraine High School, Lorraine, Kan., she was the head librarian at the Fredonia Public Library, Fredonia, before her retirement.

She was a member of the First Christian Church, Fredonia.

On Aug. 17, 1948, she married Ted Gray at the First Baptist Church, Lorraine. He preceded her in death May 4, 2009.

Survivors include: one son, James J. Gray, Topeka, Kan.; one daughter, Ruthanne Crawshaw (Ron), McCracken, Kan.; two grandchildren, Jeffrey Crawshaw (Billie), La Crosse, and Paula Greenway, WaKeeney, Kan.; three great-grandchildren, William Greenway (Theresa), Michael Greenway, and Stephanie Greenway; and one sister, Ann Seymour (Ed), Rochester, N.Y.

Donald J. Hunter passed away on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Wilson Care and Rehabilitation Center in Wilson, Kansas at the age of 86.
 He was born April 22, 1931 in Ellsworth County, Kan. to Harold and Harriete (Krupp) Hunter. He grew up in the Wilson area and graduated from Wilson High School with the Class of 1949. On Oct. 14, 1952 he was united in marriage to Eleanor Peirano at the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wilson. They were blessed with a son, Roger.
Donald began driving a tractor at the age of 10 years old and never stopped until he was 82. Although he spent some time working in the oilfield, farming was truly his life. He did several odd jobs around town with carpentry work and other things, and even helped with the annual Czech Festival Parade, but his true passion was being on the farm, and working the land, usually raising wheat and milo. He was a member of the St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.

Helen F. Homeier, 96, of Wilson, passed away March 14, 2018 in Ellsworth.

Helen was born Aug. 13, 1921 to William and Mildred (Vagua) Hunter in Ellsworth.

She is survived by son, Larry (Pam) Homeier of Salina; daughter, LaVonne (Claude) Shawley of Linwood; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

The funeral service is at 11 a.m. Monday, March 19 at the Immanual Lutheran Church in Wilson.

Memorials may be made to the Immanual Lutheran Church, in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, PO Box 533, Wilson, Kan. 67490.

Online condolences at www.plumeroverlease.com

Elbert Paul Buttenhoff, 90, of, Lincoln, Kan., died Wednesday, March 14, 2018, in Lincoln. He was born Feb. 28, 1928, in Lincoln, to August and Maria (Behrens) Buttenhoff.

Kathryn 'Anne' Breckenridge McGhee Grothusen, 91, of Ellsworth, Kan. passed away March 7 at Alma Manor in Alma, Kan., after a brief bout of pneumonia. She was surrounded by her sons.

Anne was born Feb. 4, 1927 in Woodston, Kan. to Cecil and Gladys Breckenridge. Anne married Charles McGhee while they were college students at KSU. Their union was blessed with three sons, Charles Michael, Patrick Allan and David Richard. After college, Anne was a public school teacher until 1970 and then a counselor at KSU.

Rodney Jim (Jimmie) Holmes, 91, affectionately known as Coach by his many former students, passed away on Sunday, March 11, 2018 in Little River. He was born in Gillette, Wyo. on Aug. 28, 1926 to Elizabeth (Springer) Holmes and Rodney James Holmes. He graduated from Geneseo High School in 1944 and entered the U.S. Navy where he served for two years as a nurse. On July 27, 1947, he married Leona Ontjes in Fredrick. Jimmie attended Hutchinson Community College and Sterling College, where he earned his teaching certificate. He taught and coached in Coolidge, Bloom, Hanston, Sylvia, finally returning to Geneseo, Kan., where he retired in 1988.
He belonged to the United Methodist Church and the American Legion, both at Geneseo, and was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge and past worthly patron of the Eastern Star of Geneseo and Lyons.

Chester Charles Nily passed away March 1, 2018 in Wilson, Kan. at the age of 93. He was born May 15, 1924 in Hunter, Kan. to the late Charles and Ida (Seehafer) Nily. On Nov. 27, 1949 he married Deloris Greiner in Hunter. She passed away in 2008.

Chester is survived by his children, Donna Curtis, Connie Nily, and Robert Nily and wife Pilar.

There are no services planned. Memorials are suggested to the Wilson Senior Center and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 610 24th St., Wilson, Kan. 67490.

Mary T. Barta passed away Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018 at the Great Bend Regional Hospital in Great Bend, Kan. at the age of 83. She was born on Aug. 19, 1934 on the family farm in Ellsworth County, Kan. near Wilson, to the late Emil and Rose (Mattas) Podlena. She lived in numerous Kansas towns, but spent most of her life in Great Bend. Although she graduated from Brown Mackie School of Business, she devoted her life to family and friends.

On Oct. 18, 1954 Mary was united in marriage to Clarence Barta at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wilson. Her Catholic faith was one of her greatest passions. Born without a middle name, she took the name “Theresa” at her confirmation, and used the initial “T” her entire life. She faithfully attended St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great Bend and was a member of the Altar Society.

Tracie Sue Bolton, 50, of Tyler, Texas, passed away Saturday, March 3, 2018 in Memphis, Tenn. She was born Nov. 2, 1967 in Chandler, Ariz. to Franklin Johnson and Dixie (Hine) Jones.

Tracie is survived by her sons, William Cody Bolton of Lafayette, La. and Franklin Tanner Bolton of Ellsworth, Kan.; husband, William Glenn Bolton of Tyler; mother, Dixie Jones (Earl) of Ellsworth; father, Franklin Johnson (Karen) of Tyler; two sisters and one brother; and many beloved cousins, aunts and uncles. She is also survived by Bella, her Cocker Spaniel, who she cherished greatly.

Tracie was preceded in death by her grandmother, Dorothy Hine.

Tracie’s immense love for all of her family and dear friends will never be forgotten.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth, followed by the service at 2 p.m. Burial will take place at Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery.

Condolences may be left at parsonsfh.com

Terrolynn E. (Nye) Hurley, 71, passed away March 1, 2018 at Hays Medical Center. She was born April 25, 1946 in Colby, the daughter of Harold and Joyce Nye.

Terri lived in Oakley, Garden City and Topeka where she graduated high school. In the early years she worked as a police and juvenile officer. She was employed later by the Great Bend Public library for 34 years before she retired. She was united in marriage to Arthur Hurley July 13, 1996 at the First Baptist Church in Great Bend. Terri and her husband have been resident of Holyrood for many years. Terri is now happy living with the Lord.

Survivors include husband, Arthur, of the home; brother, Ronald Nye, of Oklahoma City, Okla.

Visitation will be from 1-9 p.m. Monday, March 5.

Service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 6, at the United Church of Christ in Holyrood with pastor Debra Rains officiating. Burial will follow at St. Paul Cemetery.