Nancy M. Griffin, 67, died February 25, 2020, at her home. She was born February 23, 1953, in Wichita, to David and Hazel (Walker) Mercer. Nancy graduated from Chase County High School in 1971, attended Kansas State University and graduated from Emporia State University in 1975. Nancy grew up in the Homestead area and loved living in the Flint Hills and Chase County. Her strong faith was important to her and she was a very active member of Cottonwood Falls United Methodist Church and United...

Barbara J. Wells was born December 21, 1930 in Hillsboro and went to Heaven to be with her husband Harold Kip Wells Tuesday, February 4, 2020.  Barbara graduated from Elmdale High School in 1948. On August 5, 1948, she married Harold Kip Wells. After Kip graduated from Washburn Law School, they moved to Kansas City. Barbara was a stay at home mother who devoted herself to her family, her church, and many volunteer organizations. After Kip retired from his law practice in Overland Park,...

Jerry Dean Drummond, 78, died February 3, 2020. Jerry was born November 26, 1941, in Elmdale, to Donald W. and Hazel M. (Counsellor) Drummond. Jerry graduated from Elmdale High School. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He worked as an assembler for over 30 years at Didde and 15 years as a corrections officer at Chase County Jail. Jerry loved spending time outdoors and fishing but his biggest joy was spending time with his grandchildren and watching them play...

Barbara Jean Fosdick, 92, died January 31, 2020, at Chase County Care and Rehabilitation, Cottonwood Falls. She was born April 19, 1927, in Madison to Louis W. and Bessie (Neiman) Thornton. Jean loved spending time with her family and her animals. She married Melvin “Chuck” Burright on June 6, 1945 and they later divorced. She married Harry Sarg June 1, 1974 and he died February 1978. On June 1, 1985, she married J.R. “Bill” Fosdick in Liberal. They shared 26 years...

Maxine Wambsganss, 94, of Silver City, IA, passed away at her home on Wednesday, January 15, 2020.   Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at the Elk Community Cemetery in Elmdale, KS.   Loess Hills Funeral Home in Glenwood, IA and Brown-Bennet Alexander Funeral Home in Cottonwood Falls, KS are caring for Maxine and her family. Betty Maxine Wait, daughter of Edmond Roy and Mabel Edna (Summerville) Wait was born on July 22, 1925 in...

Marjorie “Marge” A. Gibb, 93, died January 10, 2020, at St. Luke's Living Center, Marion. She was born October 24, 1926, in Newton to William B. and Ida Mae (Harless) Pringle. Marge graduated from Elmdale High School in 1944. She was a member of Elmdale United Methodist Church. On March 24, 1947, she married Harold E. “Doug” Gibb in Hutchinson. He died November 14, 1985. Marge loved being a homemaker and spending time with her family. She also enjoyed bird...

Raymond Hotzel, 58, died January 8, 2020, at his childhood home in Emporia, KS.  Ray was born April 19, 1961, in Emporia, KS the son of Carl and Charlene (Lenninger) Hotzel. Ray was an avid lover of nature throughout his life.  Ray attended Sacred Heart Elementary School and graduated from Emporia High School in 1979. He was a dedicated employee of The City of Emporia for 38 years.  Ray is survived by his soulmate, Angel; his mother, Charlene Hotzel of Emporia; brothers,...

Louis Lee Larsen, devoted husband, cherished father and grandfather, and faithful friend went peacefully to meet his maker January 7, 2020, at home in Springfield, Ohio. He was 91 years old. Lou was born in Marion County, Kansas, on December 13, 1928, the second of six children of Julius Lee Larsen and Edna Rowland Larsen. He graduated from Burns Kansas High School in 1946. The next year the family moved to a farm between Emporia and Adair on Rural Route 2 in Lyon County where Lou worked...

Ralph E. Bradley, 83, died January 1, 2020, at Newman Regional Health, Emporia. He was born May 27, 1936, on a farm near Prescott to Benjamin B. and Mabel E. (Self) Bradley. During the summers Ralph worked for O.E. Kaufman, a farmer in western Kansas. Ralph graduated from Mound City High School in 1954, Fort Scott Junior College in 1956, Emporia State University in 1959, and University of Kansas in 1967 with his Master’s Degree in Education. Ralph was a high school teacher and...

Dale Crofoot Wealand, age 78, of Elmdale and lifelong resident of Chase County, died Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, at Ascension-Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. He was born Jan. 27, 1941, in Wichita, to Howard and Helen (Crofoot) Wealand. He was raised in Cedar Point and attended school there, graduating from Cedar Point High School in 1959. He married Bonnie Mitchell on July 7, 1962 in Florence. They later divorced. To this marriage were born two daughters: Kerry and Amy. He...