Martin Keith Starling
October 23, 2009
Martin Keith Starling, 60, formerly of Shawnee, Kansas, passed away quietly last Tuesday morning, October 20, 2009, after a long battle with cancer near his home in Manassas Virginia. Mr. Starling was a devoted father, son, brother and friend who will be deeply missed by his family.
Mr. Starling was born October 10, 1949 in Denver, Colorado, the second son of Everett J. and Dorothy Starling. Mr. Starling was a graduate of Shawnee Mission North Class of 1966 and joined the United States Army shortly after graduation. Martin specialized in helicopter maintenance while serving in Vietnam, beginning a long career in the field of aviation. He received an honorable discharge from the Army and attended Northrup Institute in California to study aircraft maintenance.
After graduation Martin relocated to Wichita, Kansas to pursue a career building and maintaining aircraft, where he lived on and off for 25 years. Martin also lived and worked on various aircraft projects in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Seattle, Washington, Greensboro, North Carolina and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Martin had recently retired with 31 years of service to Boeing Aircraft Corporation but his career included working for various aircraft manufactures including Cessna Aircraft, Beechcraft, Northrup Gruman and Gates/Learjet. Most recently, Mr. Starling was employed as agent for the Federal Aviation Administration in Washington D. C.
Martin’s long career in aviation including working on the F-14 and F-18 fighter jets, the B-52 and Osprey helicopter/airplane, 767, 757, 787 passenger jets as well as Air Force One.
Martin enjoyed riding his motorcycle, fishing, shooting guns, taking photographs, working on cars, model airplanes, traveling spending time with spiritual pursuits, and caring for his youngest son, Peter, who is permanently disabled from Cerebral Palsy. He was also a member of the VFW Post 846, Overland Park, Kansas.
He is survived by his sons, James Starling, Anchorage, Alaska, Paul Starling, Goddard, Kansas, and Peter Starling, Wichita, Kansas; one grandson, James J. Starling of Anchorage, Alaska; and long-time companion and caregiver Janet McLaughlin of Manassas, Virginia. Other survivors included his mother, Dorothy Starling, Shawnee, Kansas; sister Rita Barker, Centennial, Colorado; brothers Everett L. Starling, Overland Park, Kansas, Thomas A. Starling, North Platte, Nebraska, John Q. Starling, Shawnee, Kansas and Daniel Starling, Brooklyn, New York.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to a trust fund set up to ensure care for Peter in the coming years. Please address any donations to the Peter Starling Irrevocable Trust, 2210 Sentry Drive, #2, Anchorage, Alaska 99507.
Visitation and Graveside Service
Visitation will be 7-9 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2009, at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. A graveside service will be Saturday, October 24, at De Soto Cemetery in DeSoto, Kansas.
Khoun Keomanivong
October 21, 2009
Khoun Keomanivong, 71, of Kansas City, Kansas, died October 21, 2009.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Visitation will be from 5-6:00 p.m., Friday, October 23, 2009 at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Funeral service will be from 1-3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at the chapel.
Gerald (Jerry) M. Sweet
October 21, 2009
Gerald (Jerry) M. Sweet, 61, Bonner Springs, Kansas, passed away Sunday, October 18, 2009, at the Olathe Medical Center.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Marcia; one daughter, Mary (Kirk) Gossage, Bonner Springs, Kansas; one son, Jerry M. Sweet Jr. (Linda), Kansas City, Kansas; one sister, Shirley Dyner, Kansas City, Kansas; two brothers, Harold E. (Maureen) Sweet, Kansas City, Kansas, John Sweet, Kansas City, Kansas; one granddaughter, Abigail M. Gossage,;and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family to help with funeral expenses.
Visitation and Funeral Mass
Visitation will be 9:30-11 a.m. Thursday, October 22, 2009, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church of Shawnee. Mass of Christian burial will follow at 11 a.m.
Jacqueline M. Fortney
October 21, 2009
Jacqueline M. Fortney, 72, of Mission, passed away Friday, October 16, 2009 surrounded by her loving family at St. Luke’s South in Overland Park, Kansas.
Jackie was born December 22, 1936 to the late George and Evelyn Phenicie in Kansas City. Jackie served as a fraternity mother for Alpha Gamma Rho house at Truman University.
She is survived by her sister, Sharon Phenicie, Stilwell, Kansas; her three daughters, Debbie Fortney, and spouse Warren Gould; Tammy and Michael Johnson, all of Paola, Kansas; and Cindy Fortney, Roach, Missouri; two grandsons, Cody Johnson and Shawn Gould; a granddaughter, Lacy Johnson; and a great grandson Joshua Greenleaf.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Reno Cemetery Association, 23182 Linwood Road, Linwood, KSansas 66052.
Celebration of Life Services
A celebration of Jackie’s life will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 24, 2009, at the Countryside Christian Church, 6101 Nall Avenue, Mission, Kansas 66202. Burial will follow in Reno Cemetery, Reno, Kansas.
Brian L. Scraggs
October 19, 2009
Brian L. Scraggs, 39, of Shawnee Mission, Kansas, passed away October 19, 2009.
Brian is survived by his wife Kimberley Scraggs; his mother Janet Scraggs; his brothers, Jeff and wife Kim and Steve and his wife Wendy Scraggs; and by his extended family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Brian’s memory to Countryside Christian Church, 6101 Nall Avenue, Mission, Kansas 66202.
Visitation and Memorial Service
Friends and family may call Friday, October 23, 2009, from 6-8:00 p.m. at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at Countryside Christian Church, Mission, Kansas.
Charles Albert Jolitz
October 18, 2009
Charles Albert Jolitz, 61, passed away peacefully October 18th, 2009.
He was born on May 13, 1948, in Lincoln, Nebraska, being the oldest of three children to Roberta and William Jolitz. He was a 1966 graduate of University Nebraska High School. In the early 1970s he attended University of Nebraska and Ohio State University. Charles was very atheltic, being runner-up in the Mr. Ohio bodybuilding contest and a A.A.U champion. From 1969-1970 he was involved in the Ohio State Track & Field team. He was also a brilliant man; an avid reader and loved sci-fi. He was a beloved son, brother, and father.
He is survived by his parents, Roberta and William Jolitz; his siblings Evan Jolitz and Martha Willey; and his two daughters, Alyssa Marlee Jolitz & Kelsey Anne Jolitz.
The drawing of Charles, as remembered by his loved ones was drawn by his daughter Alyssa.
Memorial Service
A memorial service honoring his life will be held at the family home in Roeland Park, Kansas on October 24, 2009, from 11 am – 3 pm.
Wesley Howard Fry
October 17, 2009
Wesley Howard Fry, 96, Lenexa, Kansas passed away on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at Delmar Gardens of Lenexa.
Wesley was born in Labette County in Southeast Kansas as the first child of Albert and Grace Fry. His first eight years of schooling was in a one room rural grade school. He moved to Coffeyville and graduated from Field Kinley High School. He attended Coffeyville Junior College and received an associate engineering degree. In 1935, he married Elizabeth Harris. This union had one son, Kenneth Wesley Fry. After 38 years of marriage, Elizabeth preceded his in death in 1974. He began his working career for a steel fabrication plant. At the onset of World War II, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri and worked as a supervisor for the Darby Corp. building landing craft for the Navy. After the war ended, he worked as an estimator and field superintendent for Miller Brothers Construction Co. In 1959 he helped start Ace Excavating, Inc. and served as President and CEO until 1977 when he retired. During this period he held membership in Associated General Contractors of America and also Heavy Construction Association of Kansas City.
In 1946 he moved to Lenexa. He served on the City Council for eight years and was Mayor of Lenexa 1957 to 1959. In 1950 he was a member of the organizing committee for the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce and served as the Charter President in 1950-51. He later was a director of the Chamber and served as Vice President in 1975. In 1977, the Chamber and the City of Lenexa honored him for “Industry Leadership of the Year”.
He was a 60 year member of the Lenexa United Methodist Church where he was a past president of the Fisherman’s Club and served as a trustee and deacon. He was a 60 year member of the Lenexa Masonic Lodge where he served as master of the Masonic Lodge in 1953. He was a 60 year member of the Scottish Rite of Abdallah Shrine Temple where he was a charter member of the Shrine Motor Patrol, serving as director and president several years. He was an active rider in all parades and Shrine functions for over thirty years. He served as Worthy Patron of the Eastern Star in 1954 and 1961. He was Watchman of the Shepherd of the White Shrine in 1974. He had been a member of the Royal Order of Jesters for 25 years.
He was a member of the Lenexa Rotary Club, was a Paul Harris Fellow and served as President in 1983-84. During his year as president he helped organize the 4-Way Speech Contest using debate students from the Shawnee Mission and parochial high schools in this area. This proved to be very popular and in 1997 the Lenexa Rotary Club honored his by renaming the contest “The Wesley H. Fry Rotary Scholarship”. This was an honor of which he was extremely proud.
He is survived by his wife, Mabel, whom he married in 1976; one son, Kenneth Fry, of Merriam, Kansas; daughter-in-law, Mary Sue Fry, Lenexa, Kansas; three grandchildren, Kevin Fry, Lenexa, Kansas, Nicole Gupta and her husband, Mohan, Chicago, Illinois and Janeane Werner, her husband, Scott, Shawnee, Kansas; one step-son, Lawrence Dobbels and his wife, Judy of Mission, Kansas; five step-daughters, Rose Huff, Lenexa, Kansas, Loretta Randall, Olathe, Kansas, Joanne Gerfen and her husband, Warren of Shawnee, Kansas, Jane Claar of Lenexa, Kansas and Christine Sharp and her husband, Mike, of Shawnee, Kansas; 19 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister Maxine Erwin of Coffeyville, Kansas. His only brother, Norman, preceded his in death in 1996.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions to the Abdallah Shrine Crippled Children’s Transportation Fund or charity of your choice.
Funeral Service and Visitation
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 22, 2009 at the Lenexa United Methodist Church; burial in the Johnson County Memorial Gardens. Friends may call from 6-8 pm Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee, where a Masonic Service will be at 7:00 pm and Rose Ceremony immediately following.
Frances Marion Clauer
October 17, 2009
Frances Marion Clauer, 94, Lenexa, Kansas, passed away Friday, October 16, 2009 at the Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Merriam, Kansas.
Frances was born January 14, 1915 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Irvin O. and Susan (LeFevre) Dittmar. On November 19, 1942, Frances married Lester J. Clauer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Robert, Donald and George Dittmar and grandson, Eric Price. She is survived by her husband, of 66 years, Lt. Col. Lester Clauer, ret.; daughter, Cynthia (Terry) Price, Kansas City, Kansas; son, Ronald (Nancy) Clauer, Brighton, Michigan; sister-in-law, Eleanor Tietgen. Muskego, Wisconsin; four grandchildren, Katherine, Christian, Jonathan Clauer and Scott Owens; and seven great grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may made to either Atonement Lutheran Church, 9948 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66212 or the Shriner’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, c/o Abdallah Shrine, 5300 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66204.
Memorial Sevice
Memorial service will be 2:00 pm, Monday, October 19, 2009 at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee. Inurnment will be 11:00 am, Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at the Fort Leavenworth Cemetery.
Dr. Hugh Robert Bailey
October 17, 2009
“It is finished and the strong man sleeps” – Christina Rossetti
Hugh Robert Bailey, 62, was born November 20, 1946 to George Ralph and Janet Commeree Bailey of Emporia, Kansas. He graduated from Emporia High School, University of Kansas and University of Kansas Medical School. He completed his dermatology residency in Galveston, Texas and relocated to the Kansas City area where he began private practice. He married Dr. Janet E. True and had two children, Dr. Jolie Bailey (Scott Sustek) of San Angelo, Texas and Kelly Bailey (Molly Sherwin) of Elk Grove, California. He later married Mary Barton Peterson and raised two daughters, Shannon Bailey Seal (Matthew Seal) of Matthews, North Carolina and Sarah Bailey (Greg Gavin) of Charlotte, North Carolina. He practiced dermatology in the Kansas City area for more than 31 years. He was past President of the Missouri Dermatological Society, as well as a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, the Kansas City Dermatological Society, and the American Medical Association.
Hugh was a man of many interests; he was a musician, a garden railroad aficionado, and a lover of antiques, water gardens, genealogy and animals. He was a member of the National Studebaker Club and one of his proudest possessions was his 1947 Studebaker pickup truck. He was an active member of the Kansas City Garden Railroad Society. Hugh and Mary were named Pet Connection Adopters of the Year in 2002. Their home in Overland Park has been a featured stop on tours of garden railway society and water garden society. He was a fan of all KU sports but was a special fan of the KU basketball team, holding season tickets for many years.
Hugh’s patients will attest that he was a kind and caring man and his children and grandchildren will remember him as a loving, witty man, a master of puns and silly rhymes and sometimes really bad jokes. Hugh led the many family sing-alongs with his guitar, often making up his own words to whatever was being sung. He enjoyed his years singing in the choir of the Southridge Presbyterian Church.
Hugh Bailey is survived by his wife, Mary, his four children and his 6 grandchildren: Eiley, Mia, Devyn and Jon Wiley Sustek, and Madelyn and Cora Seal. He is also survived by his three sisters, Joan Bailey, Theresa Bailey (Maryanne Brush) and Marilyn Bailey (David Pratt) and his brother Alan. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Linda.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Pet Connection 5918 Broadmoor Street, Mission, Kansas 66202 or to the National Brittany Rescue and Adoption Network, www.nbran.org.
Memorial Sevice
There will be a memorial service for Hugh on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 2 p.m. at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 11100 College Boulevard, Overland Park, Kansas.
Alice E. Richardson
October 16, 2009
Alice E. Richardson, 90, Shawnee, Kansas, passed away Friday, October 16, 2009 at Shawnee Gardens Nursing Center.
Alice was born August 4, 1919 in Shawnee, Kansas to George M. and Leona (Callahan) Haas. She was a graduate of St. Joseph High School. Alice married Oliver A. Richardson on June 15, 1940 in Shawnee. She retired from TED Manufacturing in 1984. Alice enjoyed cooking, crocheting, fishing and was an avid Royals fan.
Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Oliver A. Richardson on March 12, 2000; her daughter, Janet L. Jacobi on February 2, 1982; sister, Helen Zimmer; and brother, John Haas. Survivors include four children and their spouses, Carolyn (Roger) Starrett, Leesburg, Florida; Mike (Johnell) Richardson, Lawrence, Kansas; Tom (Terri) Richardson, Lenexa, Kansas; and Joyce (Paul) Soetaert, Shawnee; two sisters, Mary Henke, Shawnee, and Irene Smeltzer, Apopka, Florida; sister-in-law, Jane Sherman, Shawnee; six grandchildren, Andy (Tiffany) Starrett, Amy Dickenson, Jennifer Gross, Kara (Jason) Spurling, Jill (Rob) Aldredge and Kate (Aaron) Martin; 12 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lupus Foundation.
Visitation and Funeral Service
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 21 at St. Joseph Catholic Church; burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee, where a Rosary Recitation will be at 6:00 p.m.