Obituaries

Kerry and Cindy (Kepka) Jackson were married October 18, 1980. They are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year.

M. Lenora Howe, 77, Barnard, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, September 29, 2020. She was born October 17, 1942 to Charlie “Bud” and Viola (Adams) Dowlin in Beloit.

Emily Anne Wilkerson was born March 27, 1941, in Lincoln, Kan. to George William Medcraft and Marian Parsons Medcraft. Anne grew up on the family farm with her two sisters, Martha and Sarah, and her brother John. She went to school in Lincoln, graduating as salutatorian from Lincoln High School in 1959. She attended Fort Hays State College where she studied business and education.

Dean Ray Panzer, 89, was called home by his heavenly Father on Saturday, September 19, 2020 in Lincoln, Kan.

Leota Pauline (Allison) Hurlbut was born on March 12, 1920, to Jennie and Floyd Allison in a small house east of Luray in a blizzard. She told stories of it being so cold the family needed to cover the windows with blankets, to keep their little bundle warm inside their small home. Her brother Orlis was born when Leota was 3 years old. In her younger years, her family moved to Southern Osborne Country. Her school was located just 2 miles from her home and each day it was her responsibility to see that she and her younger brother, made it. She remembered more than one time when her brother’s ornery nature made them a bit late getting home. As the kids got older, they moved to Luray. Leota’s family were hard workers. While her father was working, her mother had a large garden and a herd of turkeys. Leota helped by keeping the house immaculate, a habit that stayed with her to the end. To her credit, even at such a young age this was probably a full-time job as that was the decade of the dust bowls. Leota told a story about one day when she and her family decided to go to Russell to visit family. They left first thing in the morning and since it was a beautiful outside, she left her window open just a crack for some fresh air. When her family walked back into their home later the weather had changed, there was a heavy layer of dirt covering everything. Leota graduated from Luray High School in 1939. She enjoyed high school and had many longtime friends. After graduation, she started working at the local grocery store.

Florence “Polly” White, 94, passed away Wednesday, September 9, 2020 in Ellsworth, Kan. She was born October 16, 1925 in Vesper, KS to Kyle U. and Loretta R. (Snavely) Swisher.

Lawrence “Shorty” Choitz, 90, passed away Saturday, September 5, 2020 in Wilson. He was born December 4, 1929 in Ellsworth to Emil and Dorothea “Dora” Choitz.

Gwendolyn B. Schoshke, 94, Brookville, passed away on Thursday, August 27, 2020. She was born October 6, 1925 near Beverly to Charles and Minnie (Gehrke) Pistora.