Obituary Listing

Feb 4, 2025

George "Pee-Paw" Swaney was a pillar in his community of Holton, Kansas.  He was a long-time farmer and crop adjuster. His days began before dawn and often did not end until the stars filled the night sky. He believed in the value of honest work and instilled this belief in his children, teaching them the importance of responsibility, respect,...

Feb 4, 2025

Jack Wayne Area, 76 of Topeka, KS passed away Tuesday, February 4, 2025, after battling Mesothelioma for nearly five years. He was born August 18, 1948, in Soldier, KS the son of Claude Ray and Blanche Arlene (Haber) Area. Jack graduated from Soldier Rural High School in 1966 and later served in the United States Navy on the U.S.S....

Feb 3, 2025

John Wayne Douglas, 64, Centralia, KS, passed away, Monday, February 3, 2025 at his home. He was born May 2, 1960 in Horton, KS the son of Morris D. and Neva N. (Seastrom) Douglas. He graduated from Jackson Heights High School in 1978. After high school, John attended Vocational-Technical School where he earned a welding certificate.

John...

Feb 2, 2025

Carol Rae Fenton, 73, of Holton, KS, passed away Sunday, February 2, 2025 at Midland Hospice House with family by her side. She was born November 26, 1951 in Topeka, KS, the daughter of George and Maurine (Crist) Bond.

Carol was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandma. She spent her career in education as a PE teacher,...

Jan 28, 2025

Topeka- Gunnar Anders Bror Garbo, 58, of Topeka, KS, passed away January 28, 2025 at the Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka. He was born November 17, 1966 in Topeka, KS. The son of David and Jean (Reynolds) Lytle.

A private family service is planned for a later date. Mercer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Family...

Jan 22, 2025

Julia Ann Tolin, 79, of Holton, KS, passed away Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at The Pines in Holton. She was born May 25, 1945 in Higginsville, MO, the daughter of Roy and Ruth (Brown) Garner.

Julia graduated from Eldorado Springs High School in 1963 and earned her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing at St. Luke's Nursing School. She...

Jan 20, 2025

Eugene "Gene" Frank Morris Jr., a resident of Holton, Kansas, passed away on January 20, 2025, at Holton Hospital at 79 years old. Born on July 3, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois, he was the son of Eugene Frank Morris Sr. and Kathleen Morris. Gene's journey through life included a memorable upbringing in southern Missouri, where he first honed his...

Jan 11, 2025

Ronald Lee Mulanax, 75, of St. George, KS, passed away Saturday, January 11, 2025 at his home. He was born May 21, 1949 in Omaha, NE, the son of Kenneth A. and Ernestine (Mulanax) Wilson.

After graduation, he proudly served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He ran the asphalt plant at LZ Last...

Jan 9, 2025

Barbara Jean Martin, 73, of Meriden, KS, passed away Thursday, January 9, 2025 at her home with family by her side. She was born November 18, 1951 in Topeka, KS, the daughter of Albert and Phyllis Edith (Offergeld) Sieve.

Barbara graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1969. She worked for Hallmark Cards and later at the...

Jan 9, 2025

Kevin James Foley, 67, of Valley Falls, KS, passed away Thursday, January 9, 2025 at his home, with family by his side. He was born December 13, 1957 in Topeka, KS, the son of Paul Eugene and Laura Jane (Hefty) Foley.

Kevin graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1976. He worked for Hamm Quarries for over...

Jan 8, 2025

Betty Gene Morrill, 92, of Camdenton, MO, formerly of Valley Falls, KS, passed away on January 8, 2025, in Osage Beach, MO. She was born November 4, 1932, in Kansas City, KS, the daughter of John and Alice (Moyer) Lee.

Betty attended school in Kansas City, KS. She began in her teenage years working for Westheight Coffee...

Jan 4, 2025

Glenn Ernest Oxandale, 97, of Wetmore, KS, passed away Saturday, January 4, 2025 at his home with family by his side. He was born September 30, 1927 in Wetmore, KS, the son of George Lloyd and Matilda (Linnewah) Oxandale.

Glenn graduated from Netawaka High School in 1945 and attended Topeka Technical College. He proudly served in the...

Jan 3, 2025

Lester Ray "Les" Crawshaw, 77, of Mayetta, KS, passed away Friday, January 3, 2025 at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka. He was born September 14, 1947 in Topeka, KS, the son of Woodrow Wilson Crawshaw, Sr. and Nora Mae (Teel) Crawshaw.

Les graduated from Maple Hill High School and attended Vo-Tech. He proudly served in the United...

Jan 2, 2025

Douglas Lee "Doug" Hufford, 66, of Lake in the Hills, IL, passed away Thursday, January 2, 2025 in Barrington, IL. He was born March 13, 1958 in Troy, OH, the son of Gerald and Glenda "Kay" (Cashman) Hufford.

Doug graduated from Holton High School in 1976 and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business at Kansas...

Dec 31, 2024

Carolyn Elaine Edwards, 87, Valley Falls, KS, died peacefully on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at Restwell Home Plus in Oskaloosa.

She was born at home on September 15, 1937, in Valley Falls, KS. The daughter of William Edgar and Dorothy (Jackson) Ferrell. Carolyn grew up on the family farm west of Valley Falls. She attended school at...

Dec 30, 2024

Walter LaCosta "Lee" Flowers, 91, of Overbrook, KS, passed away Monday, December 30, 2024 at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, KS. He was born October 29, 1933 in Mars Bluff, SC, the son of Lacy Lacosta and Sallie Pearl (Streett) Flowers.

He attended the Boys Industrial School; earning his GED during his military training. He proudly served...

Dec 27, 2024

James DeLost "Jim" Brese, Jr, 75, of Valley Falls, KS, passed away Friday, December 27, 2024 at ANEW Healthcare in Easton, KS. He was born September 13, 1949 in Holliday, KS, the son of James DeLost Brese, Sr. and Thelma Louise (Folsom) Brese.

Jim attended school in Bennington, OK.  He proudly served in the United States Army....

Dec 27, 2024

Elva Louise Ferrell née Koons, a devoted mother, grandmother, church lady, and friend, passed away peacefully on the afternoon of December 27, 2024. She was 98.

Elva was born on the family farm in Valley Falls, Kansas, on November 6, 1926. She was the seventh of eight children born to George and Mary Koons. Elva graduated from...

Dec 27, 2024

Baltie Mannell, 75, of Holton, KS passed away at her home in Holton on Friday, December 27, 2024. She was born May 23, 1949 in Hyden, KY, the daughter of Barry and Dora (Brown) Caldwell. She graduated in 1971 from Red Bird Mission School in Queendale, KY.

On June 24, 1978, Baltie married Stanley J. Mannell at...

Dec 25, 2024

Martie Ann "Tahgo" Mitchell, 53, of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Reservation, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, December 25, 2024. She was born to Gary and Voncile (Potts) Mitchell on July 7, 1971 in Holton, KS.  She was a proud member of Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and the Drum Religion.

Martie was a Royal Valley...