Estill,   The Rev. Dr. Earl Hoffman            2nd husband of Mary(?)Riddle, dh/Diane(Gill), 2nd husband of Mary Lee(Loutzenhiser)Linke, dh/Suzanne(Gordon)Gilbreath

Burial Date:  2020,  10/03            Age: 84                Lot: 289 E

Rev. Dr. Earl Hoffman Estill 84, of Lewisville, Texas, formerly of Sterling, Kansas, passed away September 27, 2020 at his home. He was born December 18, 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Earl H. Estill became the son of Thelma A. and Earl H. Estill. He lived in Philly and graduated from Bartram High School in June of 1953. He attended Muskingum College, New Concord, Ohio, for one year and then transferred to Sterling College graduating in 1957, a Master’s degree from Pittsburgh Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA, in May of 1960; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Austin Presbyterian Seminary, Austin, TX in June of 1982. He was ordained a Presbyterian minister in July of 1960. His survivors are his wife, Mary(?)Riddle; his former wife Suzanne(Gordon)Gilbreath, his adult children, Tim and wife Janice (Wichita, KS), Lynette Davids and husband Mark (Boley, OK), and Carol Vickery and husband Wade (Wichita, KS). He was blessed with three granddaughters and one grandson and in 2010 along came his only great-grandchild, a boy. One important move in his life was leaving Philadelphia and going west to Sterling, Kansas for three years of college. He left one of the major cities in the U.S.A. and stepped off a train into a community of about 2,000 people at 3:00 A.M. one day. Culture shock was immediate. No taxis, no buses, no trolleys and he did not know how to get to where he was going to live. Thankfully two boys from the college were there to meet him. Slowly he adopted Kansas as his home state as he enjoyed the people, the environment and the challenges of Kansas life. Most of his pastoral ministry was in Kansas. But when he would leave to go to another state it seemed that he always returned to the place he was calling “home”. He left Kansas and went to Texas in the spring of 2013. After his death on September 27, 2020 he was returned to Sterling for the final time. A joyful graveside service will be held at the Sterling Community Cemetery on Saturday, October 3, 2020 at 1:00 P.M. Please, no flowers. If you wish to send a memorial gift it should be sent to Sterling College and designated for the Chaplain Endowment in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling. In life Earl believed he was the Lord’s. In death he believed he would be the Lord’s. So whether he lived or died, Earl was the Lord’s. And as the reformer John Knox would say at the end of his sermons, “So be it.”

Carter, William Dean ‘Bill’       Son of Paul William Carter, Jr. and Samma Jean (Mark) Carter

Death Date: 2020,  02/28

Age: 54          Lot: 005 J  Crems

William Dean “Bill” Carter

February 21, 1966 ~ February 28, 2020 (age 54)

William Dean Carter, 54, of Lyons, died of natural causes February 28, 2020 while helping a friend. He was born February 21, 1966 in Honolulu, Hawaii, the son of Paul William Jr. and Samma Jean Mark Carter. Bill was an only child, so he enjoyed spending time with his extended family – grandparents, aunts, and cousins – growing up. He attended Sterling schools and followed in his father’s footsteps to become a semi-truck driver. Bill was quick to smile, loved to laugh, joke (not always cleanly or politically correctly), and help his friends and family. Bill was preceded in death by his mother Samma Jean Mark Carter, his and Daisy Dolezal Whitmore’s infant son Mark Dean Carter, his paternal grandmother Elizabeth Pauline Kelly, his maternal grandmother Eleanor Mark, his paternal grandfather Paul William Carter, Sr., and his father Paul William Carter, Jr. Graveside burial service will be at 3:00 P.M., Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at Sterling Community Cemetery. A celebration of Bill’s life will start at about 4 P.M. at Calvary Baptist Church, 212 S. 1st Street, Sterling, KS 67579. Memorials may be given to the William Carter Memorial Fund c/o Birzer Funeral Home, 214 West Ave S., Lyons, KS 67554.

Kelley, Bill Dean        husband of Candy(Cain)/ dh/Wilda Blue

Death Date:  2011,  09/18        Age: 76      Lot: 1184 H  Crems

Cremains  buried in 2024, 12/23

Married April 16, 2004

Bill’s cremains buried 2024, 12/23.   Part of his ashes were scattered at the Sterling, KS golf course.  Some were give to family.

Bill Kelley
LYONS – Bill Kelley, 76, died Sept. 18, 2011, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. He was born July 5, 1935, in Stafford County, the son of Raymond and Faye Jones Kelley.

He had worked as a sales manager for Winchester Packing Company for 25 years. Later he worked as Vice President of National Sales for Doskocil’s for 10 years. After retiring he had a lawn service business. He was a member of Sterling Assembly of God Church and the Sterling Golf Course. He served as an M.P. in the United States Army in Weirhoff, Germany.

He married Wilda Blue in 1956. They later divorced. He married Candy Cain April 16, 2004. She survives. Other survivors include: a son, Shawn Kelley (Cathy) of Hutchinson; four daughters, Lynn Sarkett (Daryl) of El Dorado, Kelly Phillips (David) of Shackleford, Va., Lisa McKinnis (Tim) of Lyons, and Janet Heter of McPherson; a brother, Bud Kelley (Joan) of Sterling, 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Bob and Ben Kelley; and two sisters, Betty Howell and Bernita Henks.

Cremation is planned. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Sterling Assembly of God Church, with Pastor Kendall Connor presiding. In lieu of flowers memorials to the church, in care of Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home and Crematory, Hutchinson.

Dvorak, Janice Arlene(Richardson)

Divorced wife of Joseph Warren Dvorak

Burial Date:  2020,    10/31            Age: 79             Plot: 293 J Crems

Death Date  2020,  02/03

Janice Arlene Dvorak

 

Gill, Doris Marie(Frederick)          wife of Lex Milburn

Burial Date:  2020, 07/11         Age: 92        Lot: 862 B

ris Marie Frederick Gill passed away on July 8, 2020 at Hospital District #1 of Rice County.  She was born October 23, 1927 to Walter and Vera Schroll Frederick.  Doris graduated from Sterling High School with the class of 1945.  She attended Sterling College where she earned a teaching certificate.  She taught school for several years in rural Reno and Rice Counties.  While in college she belonged to the “Masks & Wig” Club and starred in several plays put on by the club.  She also worked at the Sterling Hospital as a nurse’s aide.  On June 8, 1947, Doris and Lex Milburn Gill were married at the First Methodist Church in Sterling, Ks.  He died on March 10, 2006.  Survivors include children, Dan Gill of Lyons, Ks, Lance and Vickie Gill of Abilene, Ks, and Debra and Don Groth of Hutchinson, Ks.  Six grandchildren, Amanda Gill-Gentry of Boise, Id, Katie and Randy Purdue of Enterprise, Ks, Dustin and Jenna Huffman of Dayton, Oh, Andrew and Nicole Huffman of Bixby, Ok, Edie and Roger Perez of Bartlesville, Ok, Emilie and Michael Schulz of McPherson, Ks, Eleven great grandchildren, Madalyn Maw and Emma Gentry of Boise, Id, Charlie and Elsie Purdue of Enterprise, Ks, Cyndyl and Trystan Perez of Bartlesville, Ok, Payten and Tatum Schulz of McPherson, Ks, Ava Huffman of Dayton, Oh, and Jemma and Ezra Huffman of Bixby, Ok. Also, special cousins, Tom Frederick and Shirley of Alden, Ks, Raymond Frederick of Grand Rapids, Mi, Phyllis Fowler of Hutchinson, Ks, and Sister-in-law Phyllis Gill of Sylvia, Ks.  Doris was preceded in death by her husband Lex M. Gill, son, Ronald Todd Gill, son-in-law, David F. Huffman, parents, Walter and Vera Frederick, brothers, William “Bill” Frederick, his wife Louise of Seattle, Wa, and Victor L. Frederick and his wife Opal of Hutchinson, Ks.  Doris belonged to the First United Methodist Church of Sterling most of her life.  She belonged to the United Brethren Church of rural Sterling for several years when she was a child. At the Sterling Church, she sang in the choir and taught several children’s classes at various times for many years.  She belonged to the Lyons, Ks Chapter of Sweet Adelines.  She had a song for everything and enjoyed singing duets with an uncle.  She belonged to the Sterling Sorosis Club, the Sterling Country Club, where she played golf with the members of the Ladies Golf Association.  She also belonged to the Women’s Golf Association in Hutchinson, Ks at Carey Park, the Highlands, and Lyons, Ks. She especially loved spending time with her children and cooking their favorite foods for their many get togethers. She was an avid bridge player and “May-I” player.  She enjoyed seeing friends for “Coffee” at the Sterling Café to catch up on all the news.  She loved reading and discussing books with fellow readers.  Visitation will be from 9:00 until 11:00 A.M., Saturday, July 11, 2020 at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling with family present.  A private graveside service will be held at the Sterling Community Cemetery, Sterling, Ks with Pastor Amy Foster officiating.  Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church, Sterling, Sterling Public Library, Sterling Country Club, or Friendship Meals, in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.

Gartman, Thomas Lee

Husband of:  Lois A (?) Porter, Patricia (?) Strausburg, Genie(Doubenmier)

Death: 2017,  05/29               Age: 75                 Lot:    ?         Crems not buried as of 8/10/2020

Thomas Lee Gartman

Thomas Lee Gartman, 75, of Hutchinson, died Monday, May 29, 2017, at Via Christi on St. Francis Campus, Wichita. His death followed a brave and determined struggle to survive and continue to be with his wife, Lois.

Tom was born in Austin, TX, on October 30, 1941, the firstborn child of Thomas B. and Mattie Lee Gartman. Tom’s father was a heavy industry carpenter in the oil refining industry. He worked long and hard in a very dangerous environment. Young Tom described his parents as the best people in the world; a loving, diligent father who loved sweet Mattie Lee and his four children.

The family lived and worked in Corpus Christi, TX, during Tom’s elementary and high school years. Tom worked while attending high school and college, leaving school to join the United States Air Force. Tom specialized in radio and communications, serving in Viet Nam, Formosa, Norway, and various bases in the United States during his 13 years of service.

Tom was a 38-year proud member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Throughout his life, Tom quoted the steps of AA and credited the organization with the success of his entire life after he gained sobriety with the help of their members.

Tom’s first marriage was to Genie Doubenmier. He and Genie were married for 22 years until her death. His second marriage was to Patricia Strausburg of Hutchinson. Pat was a widow with a large family and had worked in the aircraft industry and then later became a registered nurse. Pat was a skilled quilter with quilting friends from all over the world. They were happily married for five years until her death in July 2014. In January 2016, Tom met Lois Porter and it was “meant to be” from the start. They married on October 1, 2016. Throughout the eight months of their marriage, Tom and Lois were constantly together, enjoying family and home. During these months, Tom suffered many days of illness and struggle, but was constant in his love and enjoyment of marriage. Tom’s death was a triumph over suffering, as his life was a loving and caring gift for the people he loved. Lois survives.

A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, with Pastor Wayne Pittman presiding. Friends may sign the memorial book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday at Elliott Mortuary. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

McConnelee, Rev. Charles William ‘Bill’

Husband of Carladel ‘Carla'(Mershon)

Burial Date:  2020, 08/08        Age: 81         Lot: 1205 G

Pastor Bill McConnelee, 81, died July 30, 2020, at Thorne Care Center, Hutchinson. He was born January 11, 1939, in Minden, NE, to Rev Fredrick John(1900-1977)and Anna (McKee) McConnelee(1904-1985)

Bill graduated from Franklin High School in Portland, OR, and Sterling College, in 1961. He graduated from the University of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA, in 1965. Bill served as a Presbyterian pastor for 54 years, serving in the states of Washington, Texas, Arkansas, and Iowa. He also served in Sterling, and in Western Kansas, including Dodge City and Jetmore. Bill retired after serving the Lyons Presbyterian Church. As a young child, Bill enjoyed being in 4-H and raising hogs. After retirement, he enjoyed reading and traveling.

On August 9, 1962, Bill married Carla Mershon, in Hutchinson. They shared 48 years of marriage, prior to her death on October 4, 2010.

Bill is survived by: children, Carl McConnelee (Cindy) of Bedford, VA, Cathy Pohlman (Aaron) of Hutchinson, Cynthia McConnelee Smith (Scott) of Seattle, WA; seven grandchildren; and a brother, Daryl McConnelee.

He was preceded in death by his parents, also a baby brother Donald John 1933-1933.(#143586598)

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 8, 2020, at First Presbyterian Church, 201 E. Sherman Street, Hutchinson, with Pastor John Chastain officiating. Burial will follow in the Sterling Community Cemetery. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday at Elliott Mortuary, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501

Amend, Larry Dean

Married Erick Richards/dh/Raemona Y. Howard

Death: 2019,  04/01              Age: 69          Lot: 895 A

As of 8/10/2020 Larry’s cremains were not buried here.

Watkins, Lynda Kay(Milligan)Thornhill

wife of Charles Thornhill/divorced wife of Laurence E’Larry’Watkins

Death Date: 2020, 07/09       Wichita, Sedgwick County, KS

Burial Date:  2021,  07/26        Age:  76             Lot: 863 A  Crems

Death Date: 2020,  07/09

Lynda Kay Milligan Watkins, 76, died peacefully at her home in Wichita, surrounded by her family, on July 9, 2020. Lynda was born to S.W. “Pat” Milligan and Fern R. (Cunningham) Milligan in 1943 in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where her father was a foreman on the Manhattan Project. She was the second of four children. She grew up in Belleville and Augusta, Kansas, where she studied piano (already accompanying her school choir in the eighth grade) and played clarinet in the marching band. She attended Sterling College, where she met and married Laurence Watkins, and earned a degree in Christian education in 1964. After her graduation, Lynda and Larry lived in Louisville, Kentucky, where she worked for the state’s department of rehabilitation, then Richmond, Virginia, where she completed a master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation from Virginia Commonwealth University within days of giving birth to their first child, Alisa. The family later settled in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where their son, Andrew, was born. Over the next two decades in Fredericksburg, Lynda served in a variety of roles as a professional musician. She was the music director for the Fredericksburg Theatre Company for fifteen years, directed children’s music and the handbell choir at The Presbyterian Church, where she was also a member, and was the organist for Temple Beth Sholom for more than ten years. She served as accompanist for the Fredericksburg Singers and a number of other college, high school, and community productions and was the guest organist for several area churches. For her brother’s wedding, she surprised him by learning and playing the famous Toccata from Charles-Marie Widor Symphony for Organ No. 5. She also maintained a private piano teaching practice. Following her divorce and her son’s high school graduation, Lynda moved to Wichita, Kansas, where her mother lived, and earned a master’s degree in church music from Friends University. She served as organist for First United Methodist Church, Dellrose United Methodist Church, and Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church, and accompanied several productions at Northeast Magnet High School. She also sang with the Wichita Symphony Chorus. She worked for a number of years at Galichia Medical Group. In 2009, Lynda married Charles Thornhill, a retired associate professor. Lynda and Charles were members of Calvary United Methodist Church, where they were faithful members of their Sunday school class and served as greeters. Lynda loved a good cup of Earl Grey tea and a good book. She also loved cats, chocolate, and crosswords. She gave great hugs and was a warm, patient, and supportive friend, sister, and mother. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. Lynda is survived by her husband, Charles Thornhill; her daughter, Alisa Watkins; her son-in-law, Tony Burch; her grandchildren, Bronwen and Ethan; and her son, Andrew Watkins, all of Wichita; her siblings, Dr. Ralph Milligan (Rosanne) of Austell, Georgia; Dr. Donald Milligan (Linda) of Mission, Kansas; and Jane (Milligan) Davidson (Ken) of Hutchinson, Kansas; as well as six nieces and nephews. A private family service and interment will be held at Sterling Cemetery in Sterling, Kansas.

Amend, Lola Mae(Martin)              Wife of Robert Dwain Amend

Burial Date: 2020,  06/25              Age: 93             Lot:  402 1/2  A B

(402 A, Space B)

Lola Mae Amend, 93, of Sterling, Kansas, passed away June 21, 2020 at Wesley Towers, Hutchinson. She was born January 11, 1927 in Welda, Kansas, the daughter of Wilson and Christianna Brubaker Martin. Lola graduated from Welda High School, Welda, Kansas, with the class of 1946. She resided in Sterling for most of her life, having lived in Leadville, Colorado for seven years. Lola was a homemaker. She was a member of the Alden Baptist Church, Alden, Kansas, and Red Hat Society, Lyons. She enjoyed playing tennis, sewing, reading, fishing and river rafting. Lola was a sweet lady with kind loving eyes. On September 7, 1951, Lola was united in marriage with Robert Dwain Amend in New Mexico. He preceded her in death on March 29, 1999. She is also preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Harold, Frank, Dale, Edgar, and George Martin; and sister, Edna Kratzer. Lola is survived by her five children, step-son, Donald Amend of Larned, KS, step-daughter, Marlene Buck and husband Herschel of Georgetown, TX, son, Mickel Amend and wife Jolene of Marysville, WA, son, Danny Amend of Arlington, KS, and daughter, Linda Shook and husband Earl of Hutchinson, KS; brother, Kenneth Martin of Lawrence, KS; sisters, Ella Thacker and husband Richard of Lecompton, KS, Velma Pretzer of Garnett, KS, Elsie Menefee of Wichita, KS, Marietta Martin of Wichita, KS, and Sarah Hartpence of Keller, TX; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, June 25, 2020 at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling with Pastor Michael Gray officiating. Burial will be at Sterling Community Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the funeral home, with family present from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Memorials may be given to Hospice of Reno County or a Charity of your choice in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling.