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Sgt. Jacob Lee Butler
(April 26, 1978 - April 1, 2003)
Sgt. Jacob Lee Butler, 24, Wellsville, stationed in Fort Riley, Kan., died Tuesday, April 1, 2003, serving in As-Samawah, Iraqi in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"Jake," as he was more commonly known, was born April 26, 1978, in Merriam, the son of James C. and Cynthia D. Aune Butler. The family lived in Merriam for several years and he attended South Park Elementary School. They moved to Wellsville in 1990. He attended the Wellsville schools and graduated in 1996 from Wellsville High School.
After high school, he worked for Nolkes Cash Saver in Wellsville and for SMH in Olathe before joining the U.S. Army in November 1998. After basic training, he was stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, as a cavalry scout for two years. He re-enlisted March 23, 2001, and was transferred to Fort Riley.
As a cavalry scout, Sgt. Butler was deployed to Kuwait in 1999 and again on his second tour from April to October 2002. In January, he went to the Mojave Desert in California for four weeks of desert training and then was deployed to Kuwait once more on March 2.
Sgt. Butler advanced into Iraq with his unit, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was killed when a rocket-propelled grenade hit his vehicle.
He was a proud member of the U.S. Army and was a loyal member of the Association of the United States Army.
His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with service star, the Good Conduct Medal and the Purple Heart, earned in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing and raising cattle, and loved spending time with his family and friends. He had a great fondness for his two nieces and nephew.
His maternal grandparents preceded him in death.
Surviving are his parents, James C. and Cynthia D. Butler of the home; four brothers, his twin, Joseph D. Butler of Olathe, and James C. Butler Jr. and Justin M. Butler, both of Wellsville, and Joshua M. Butler of Ottawa; and his grandparents, Robert J. and Nancy J. Butler of Baldwin City.
Services were Monday in the Wellsville Baptist Church. Military burial services were in the Wellsville Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Sgt. Jake Butler Trust Fund in care of Wilson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 486, Wellsville, KS 66092.
Eugene J. Schmidt
(March 25, 1927 - April 8, 2003)
Eugene J. Schmidt, 76, Kansas City, Kan., died Tuesday, April 8, 2003, in University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan.
Known as "Shine," he was born March 25, 1927, in Kansas City, Mo., and spent his entire life in Kansas City, Kan.
He was a warehouseman for Safeway for 42 years before retiring in 1992.
He was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church and a U.S. Army World War II veteran.
Survivors include a son, Mark Schmidt of Osawatomie; two daughters, Carolyn Bay of Edwardsville, Kan., and Janice Schmidt of Mission; six brothers and sisters; and one granddaughter.
Mr. Schmidt was cremated.
Mary Juanita Lewis
(June 4, 1915 - April 11, 2003)
Mary Juanita Lewis, 87, Overland Park, an Osawatomie native and former Paola resident, died Friday, April 11, 2003, in The Forum in Overland Park.
She was born June 4, 1915, in Osawatomie, the daughter of Dwight and Pearl Howell Brown. She grew up in the Fort Scott area, graduating from Fort Scott High School in 1932.
Mrs. Lewis worked as a private secretary for the Greyhound Bus Co. of Kansas City, Mo., and for the government.
She and Emmor J. Lewis were married Jan. 26, 1936, in Kansas City, Mo. They became the parents of three children and raised their family in Paola. They moved to Kansas City in 1977.
Her memberships included the Paola United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Order of the Eastern Star and the P.E.O. Sisterhood.
Her pastimes included sewing, needlework, quilting, cooking, bridge and volunteer work for P.E.O. She loved traveling. With her husband, she toured Israel, Egypt and many European countries, in addition to visiting her children and grandchildren in Libya, Brazil, Argentina and Columbia.
Surviving are her husband, Emmor Lewis; two sons, Jerry B. Lewis of Birmingham, Mich., and William E. Lewis of Topeka; a daughter, Linda K. Chartier of Overland Park; and three grandchildren.
Services were Tuesday in Wilson and Son Funeral Home in Paola. Burial was in Paola Cemetery.
Memorials may be made in her name to P.E.O. Missouri Chapter IC in care of the funeral home, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS 66071.
Olettia T. Hankins Griffel
SEPT. 11, 1911 - JUNE 14, 2003
Olettia T. Hankins Griffel, 91, Richmond, Kan., a former Osawatomie resident, died Saturday, June 14, 2003, in Ransom Memorial Hospital in Ottawa.
She was born Sept. 11, 1911, in Etterville, Mo., one of the five children of Charley and Flora Hankins Templeton. She grew up in Etterville where she attended school..
In 1930 she married Earl Thomas and they became the parents of a son. They lived in Waverly, Kan., and she worked as a seamstress. He died in 1948.
She and Jim Griffel were married Feb. 14, 1955, in Alma, Mo. They cared for and raised Tamera West from the age of 5.
Mrs. Griffel worked at the Kelling Clinic in Waverly until her retirement. She moved to Osawatomie from Waverly in 1995 to be closer to her son. She had been a resident of the Richmond Care Center for the past two years.
She enjoyed sewing, cooking, flowers and gardening.
She was a member of the Lutheran Church in Waverly.
Two brothers and a sister also preceded her in death.
Surviving are a son, Fred Thomas of Lane; her brother, Nile Templeton of Marshall, Mo.; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Tamera McCasland of Eunice, N.M., whom she raised, also survives.
The family received friends Tuesday in Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie. Graveside services were today (Wednesday) in Grand Pass Community Cemetery
in Grand Pass, Mo.
Memorials may be made to the care center.
Viola A. Huggins Hill
OCT. 7, 1924 - JUNE 11, 2003
Viola Ann Huggins Hill, 78, Garnett, died Wednesday, June 11, 2003, in Anderson County Hospital Long Term Care Facility in Garnett after a lengthy illness.
She was born Oct. 7, 1924, in Kincaid, Kan., the daughter of Forman Frank and Neva Mary Miller Huggins. She attended local schools and was a graduate of Kincaid High School.
After earning a teaching certificate from Pittsburg State University, she taught at various country schools for several years.
She and Paul Hill of Garnett were married April 5, 1946, in Ottawa. They made their home near Garnett and became the parents of two children.
Mrs. Hill was a bookkeeper for Hill and Sons TV and Refrigeration Repair. She also worked as a bookkeeper for Stockebrand Motors in Garnett. Later, she purchased and operated The Hobby Shop in Garnett.
After the death of her husband, she moved to Gas, Kan., and worked in various positions in the Iola area. She then moved to Wichita where she worked as a clerk in the Wichita Police Department until retiring in 1990.
Following her retirement she returned to Gas to live near her daughter, Sharon Bauer, until her health required full-time nursing care.
Others preceding her in death included her brother, Forman Huggins.
Survivors include her daughters, Sharon Bauer of Gas and Anita Jackson of Wichita; two sisters, Doris Hill of Kodiak, Alaska and Fern Wolken of Garnett; a brother, Leo Huggins of Kennesaw, Ga.; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were Saturday in the Garnett Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel in Garnett.
Memorials may be made to Midland Hospice in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 408, Garnett, KS 66032.
Mary Alberta Kellerman
DEC. 12, 1921 - JUNE 11, 2003
Mary Alberta Kellerman, 81, Garnett, died Wednesday, June 11, 2003, in Anderson County Hospital Long Term Care Facility in Garnett.
She was born Dec. 12, 1921, in Harris, Kan., the daughter of Sam and Betty Beahm Heck.
On June 21, 1941, she and Kenneth Kellerman were married in Douglas County, Kan. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church of Garnett.
Those preceding her in death were her husband, who died Jan. 24, 1983, and a sister, Ruth Leora Lybarger.
Survivors include three sons, Darrel Kellerman of Ellinwood, Kan., Dennis Kellerman of Chanute, Kan., and Terry Kellerman of Harris; a sister, Vera Funderburgh of Garnett; and seven grandchildren.
Services were Saturday in Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel in Garnett. Burial was in Bethel Cemetery
in Westphalia, Kan.
