Curtis Eugene “Gene” Peacock, Jr, 91, of Emporia, passed away on June 26, 2019, after a brief illness, at Chase County Care and Rehabilitation Center, Cottonwood Falls.  Gene was born June 13, 1928 in Bowlegs, OK, to Curtis E. Sr. and Marie M. (Taylor) Peacock.  He spent his life immersed in rodeo and the cattle business.  By the time Gene was 15, he was competing in the bareback riding, bull riding and saddle bronc riding – he rodeoed from Washington State...

Virginia VanSickle Johnson, age 96, of Hays, Kansas passed away June 25, 2019 in Hays.  Virginia was born in Kansas City, Kansas to H.D. VanSickle and Ruth Bolte VanSickle.  They moved to Strong City, Kansas where she graduated from Strong City High School.  She worked at Kools Drug Store, Cottonwood, Kansas and the Chase County Courthouse. She married Gerald E. Johnson of Matfield Green, Kansas.  They had two daughters, Geralyn (Michael) Ament, Mesa, Arizona, and...

Ila Mae Whitlock, 96, died June 24, 2019, at her home in rural Elmdale. She was born October 16, 1922, in Harvey, to Ira and Anna (Jepson) Spencer. Ila Mae graduated from Fayetteville Arkansas High School in 1940 and attended the University of Arkansas for one year. Ila Mae was an active member of Elmdale United Methodist Church, taught Sunday School for over 25 years, was the delegate for annual conference for many years, and involved with United Methodist Women and Alpha Study Club. Ila...

James F. “Jim” Barr, 95, died May 28, 2019, at Morris County Hospital, Council Grove. He was born July 30, 1923, in Emporia, to Carl O. and Margaret (Drummond) Barr. Jim graduated from Elmdale High School, received 40 hours of Real Estate education at Emporia State University, and attended Reisch Auction School in Mason City, IA in 1947. Jim was a member of Elmdale United Methodist Church, 30 year member at the Masonic Lodge in Cottonwood Falls, life member of PRCA, NRA and...

Howard Louis Chapman Jr., 90, died May 24, 2019. He was born October 19, 1928, in Ellinor, to Howard Louis Sr. and Helen (McCabe) Chapman. Howard retired as an aeronautical engineer from NASA. He was an avid dog lover, especially his own dogs, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening. Howard is survived by: sons, Howard Louis Chapman III of Elmdale, Jeffrey Chapman of Boise, ID, Brett Chapman of Elmdale; daughter, Kelly Jo Chapman of McKinney, TX; grandchildren, Kodie Chapman, Dawson...

Herbert Lee Spain, Jr., 90, passed away May 11, 2019, at Newman Regional Health, Emporia and per his wishes, he was cremated. Jr. was born August 9, 1928, in Burns, to Herbert L. Sr. and Etta (Craig) Spain. He grew up on various ranches in the area while his father worked as a laborer. They moved to Fallon, NV, for Herbert Sr. to work on dam projects. Etta signed enlistment papers for Jr. to join the United States Navy in 1945 because he was underage. He served two years on the USS Arkansas...

Barbara L. Potter, 75, died April 22, 2019, at her home in Cunningham. She was born October 17, 1943, in Topeka, to Donald L. and Leona C. (Flowers) Thompson. Barbara was always smiling, a loving caregiver, and loved seeing the flowers and trees bloom in the spring. She enjoyed doing crafts, especially working with beads, and spending time with her family. Barbara was a retired waitress and lifelong homemaker. On October 27, 1971, she married Dan Potter in Cottonwood Falls. They shared...

Elsie Grace (Shehi) Bock, the daughter of George E. and Bertha (Sweany) Shehi, was born August 23, 1926, on the family farm near Fostoria, in Pottawatomie County and passed away March 31, 2019. She was the youngest of 9 children. Her parents; 3 brothers; and 5 sisters preceded her in death. Elsie graduated from St. George High School in 1944 and attended summer sessions at Kansas State University required to get a teaching certificate. She taught 3 years in rural schools in Riley and...

Carol J. Klamm, 83, died March 10, 2019, at Midland Hospice, Topeka. She was born February 19, 1936, in Emporia to Gerald and Pauline (Vaughan) Remy. Carol was an LPN, and worked from 1963-1968 at Stormont-Vail Hospital and from 1968-1989 at Santa Fe/Memorial Hospital. In 1995, Carol and Charley opened the Fiber Factory in Cottonwood Falls and it closed after Charley’s passing in 2017. Carol was a member of PEO Chapter BZ in Cottonwood Falls, Charter Member of PEO Chapter HC in...

Sharon (Brown) Cosper Hallum Sharon Hallum, 77, of Cottonwood Falls, Kansas died Monday, February 18, 2019 at Stormont-Vail Health in Topeka, Kansas. The daughter of James and Allene (Graham) Brown, Sharon was born August 6, 1941 in Strong City. She attended Strong City Grade and High School. Sharon drove a cattle truck in Texas for years and worked as clerk in the Dolly Madison Outlet Store in Emporia and at various retail stores in several towns. She attended both Baptist...