Merrell Dewayne Jones, age 82, of Hot Springs, Ark., passed away January 11, 2024, at CHI St. Vincent Hospital following complications from a severe stroke.

He was born August 9, 1941, in Dunklin County, Mo. (Allen's Island). He was the only child of Roy and Effie Minor Jones; he grew up on his father's cotton farm in the bootheel of Missouri.

Merrell graduated from Holcomb High School in May 1959. After an early life-long fascination with airplanes and helicopters, he joined the United States Air Force on September 8, 1959.

Willa M. Hair, 93, passed away on January 19, 2024, at the Cedar Village Care Center in Ness City, Kansas.  

She was born on June 14, 1930, in Ransom, Kansas, the daughter of William and Ruth (Stull) Snodgrass.

Willa was a homemaker and farmwife. She married Orville Hair in Brownell, Kansas on September 19, 1948. He died on August 6, 2017.

She was a member of the Ransom Methodist Church and Young at Heart Senior Center in Brownell.

Mark Edward Thummel, of Plainville, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2024, at Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, at the age of 70.

Mark, better known as “Thummel," was born on October 14, 1953, to John and Ruth (Hoff) Thummel in Hays, Kansas. Mark grew up in Plainville with his parents and eight siblings. Mark’s sense of humor and orneriness shone through even at a young age. You know Mark would be behind it if mischief was to be had.

Donald L. “Don” Leikam, 81, Russell, formerly of Hays, passed away Thursday, January 18, 2024, at HaysMed.

He was born on February 25, 1942, in Hays. He was the son of Joseph “Joe” and Kathleen (Marquardt) Leikam. On February 19, 1962, he was united in marriage to Shirley Augustine in Hays, and they were married 48 years before she preceded him in death on June 26, 2010.

Don was a skilled truck driver who worked in the oilfields primarily as a water hauler and an over-the-road driver who transported freight across the United States.

Marvin Jackson, 87, of Stockton, passed away Tuesday, January 16th, 2024, at Parkview Care Center in Osborne.

He was born to Alfred (Jack) and Rosena (Hunter) Jackson on September 19, 1936, in Stockton. He attended school at Webster until it closed and then in Stockton, where he graduated from Stockton High School.  

On August 30, 1958, Marvin was united in marriage to Beverly Jean Helm in Stockton. They spent all 50 years of their marriage on a farm west of Stockton, raising cattle, hogs, and wheat.

Linda Lea Groff, of Stockton, passed away on January 14, 2024, at the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, at the age of 69.

She was born on February 1, 1954, to Lee Wildrex and Mildred (Spargo) Walker in Stockton.

Linda attended school in Stockton and worked as a cook and bartender. She married James Groff on March 2, 1991, in Plainville. Together, they enjoyed fishing and frequenting casinos.

Kevin Stanley Morin, 61, passed away on January 11, 2024, at his home in Wichita.

He was born on December 19, 1962, in Plainville, Kansas. Kevin was a loving husband, father, grandfather, big brother, and son.

Barbara (Taylor) Mullen, affectionately known as Barb, age 73, of Dodge City, Kansas, passed away on January 6, 2024, after a brief illness.

Lois B. (Johnson) Abbott, 87, of Ellis, passed away on December 19, 2023, at HaysMed.

Born on January 25, 1936, in Hollis, Arkansas, she came to Wichita in 1953 and married Clarence H. Abbott in 1962.

Allan Joseph LeRock, of Plainville, passed away on January 6, 2024, at his home, at the age of 73.

He was born on March 7, 1950, to Garth William and Clara Agnes (Hrabe) LeRock in Stockton, Kansas.

Allan grew up in Plainville and graduated from Plainville High School in 1968. In 1968, he met Sheryl at the Rooks County Fair. Together, they attended Fort Hays State University and were married on June 6, 1971, in Alton, Kansas. He worked part-time at C.O. Mammels and later worked for Gary’s Western Auto for many years.