“I’ll see you in the sky above, in the tall grass, in the ones I love. You’re gonna make me lonesome when you go.” - Bob Dylan
Naturalist, bluesman, and songwriter Kenneth Lee Brunson died on Saturday, November 2, 2024. His wife, Lee Ann, was by his side.
Ken was born to Ruth Fern Morris and Theodore Reuben Brunson on January 1, 1950, as the first New Year’s baby in Russell County, Kansas.
Robert Jay Schamel, 89, formerly of Stockton, passed away on December 1, 2024, in The Woodlands, Texas, where he was living with his son, Kevin.
He was born on May 23, 1935, to Harry and Esther (Junker) Schamel in Indianola, Neb. He married Doris Allacher on December 4, 1960, in Herndon, Kansas. They were blessed with two children: Kevin and Kaylyn.
Geraldine “Gerri” Wehrli, formerly of Stockton, Kansas, passed away on November 26, 2024, at the Phillips County Retirement Center in Phillipsburg, Kansas, at the age of 95.
She was born on November 8, 1929, to James “Jim” and Bonnie (Montgomery) Lantz in Claremore, Okla. She was married to John L. Wehrli on August 14, 1947, in Russell, Kansas. He passed away on September 4, 2018.
Gregory L. Overlease, 68, of Ness City, formerly of Stockton, Norton, and Dresden, passed away on Saturday, November 30, 2024.
He was born August 14, 1956, in Oberlin, Kansas, the son of Cecil and Ramona Overlease.
He graduated from Scott City High School in 1974, attended Vo-Tech school in Goodland, and studied carpentry. He was united in marriage to Annette Spresser on May 10, 1980, in Leoville. He worked in construction for 30 years, successfully owning and operating Overlease Construction.
Darwin Max Odle, 86, of Grand Island, Neb., passed away Thursday, November 28, 2024, at his home with his son Bruce by his side.
Graveside services will be on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 11 a.m. in Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Stockton. Pastor Ted Stapleton will officiate. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 3, 2024, from 4-6 p.m. at Curran Funeral Chapel. You are encouraged to sign Darwin’s guestbook at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under his obituary. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family.
Mary Louise (Fellers) Pennington, 97, a longtime resident of Graham County, passed away November 24, 2024, in Broomfield, Colo.
Mary Lou was born on August 9, 1927, in Hays, the fifth of six children to Harvey Webster Fellers and Mary A. (Dague) Fellers.
Mary Lou graduated from Hays High School in May 1945, four months before the end of World War II. She enrolled that fall at Fort Hays State College where she developed her lifelong passion for English literature and grammar.
Ruby Ellen McAdoo Smith Coleman, age 77, of Norman, Okla., passed away on November 19, 2024.
She was born August 8, 1947, in Stockton to Stewart Leslie McAdoo and Josie Edna McAdoo (Vanhoutan). She is the seventh of 11 children.
Ruby went to school in Russell her whole life. She went to Fossil Creek School and graduated from Russell High School in 1966. She met Keith Smith in 1965 and married in 1966. They had four daughters. They later divorced. She met and married Donald Coleman and had one daughter in the marriage. They later divorced.
Edna M. (Dibble) Taylor-McCall, formerly of Woodston, passed away on November 22, 2024, at HaysMed in Hays at the age of 99.
She was born on September 24, 1925, to Arthur Neil and Euphamie (Brittain) Dibble in a stone house west of Alton on the 1871 homestead of her grandparents, George Riley and Amanda Melvina (Arnold) Dibble. She was the last surviving child and number ten of eleven children born to Arthur and Euphamie.
Jack Danforth Mock, Plainville, passed away on Friday, November 22, 2024, at the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville at the age of 94.
He was born on November 13, 1930, in Turkville, Kansas to the late Albert and Charlotte (Stein) Mock. On July 25, 1948, Jack was united in marriage to Betty (Burkholder) in Plainville. Jack and Betty were married for 69 years, and from that union, they were blessed with five children.
