All Obituaries

Mary (Gulli) Traffas died on Holy Saturday, April 20, 2019, in Pratt, Kansas early Saturday morning.  There was a full Pink Easter Moon, a symbol of rebirth, to light her way. She was born to Gertrude and Joseph Gulli on April 18, 1922. With her eight siblings, she grew up in Washington D.C., the political heartbeat of our country. She never lost her appetite for politics—both domestic and international. Two of her recent questions were, “So, what are the implications of...

  Mary Schmitz, born Mary Rose Rezac, 67, of Wakita Oklahoma passed from this world on April 16, 2019 at the Kiowa District Hospital. She was born the daughter of George and Helen (Bruey) Rezac on January 4, 1952 in Anthony, Kansas. Mary grew up and graduated high school in Caldwell, Kansas. She married the love of her life, Chuck Schmitz, on January 24, 1970 at St Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Caldwell, Kansas. They lived and raised their family in Wakita, Oklahoma, and Mary...

Carol Joan McGee was born to John D. McGee and Minnie Shellhammer McGee in Hardtner on May 28, 1942 and died on April 9, 2019. She grew up in Kiowa, where she was active in band and orchestra and was selected for the Wichita Youth Symphony. Carol received her BE and master’s degree from Emporia State University, where she was also very active in Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority. After graduation, Carol taught for several years at Seaman High School in Topeka before working for the Kansas...

Medford-Colleen Mae McClure, 86, of Medford, passed away Sunday, April 7, 2019 at Community Health Center in Wakita.  Colleen was born January 15, 1933 near Medford to Raymond Keller and Anna Allday Keller.  Colleen lived in Enid where she attended grade school and then moved to Oklahoma City as a teenager.  Colleen worked as a vault teller for seventeen years at Penn Square Bank in Oklahoma City, before moving to Medford to take care of her ailing mother.  Colleen...

Mary Weber Fagala was born September 3, 1932 in Aline, Oklahoma to Henry and Estella Weber. She graduated from Aline High School in Aline, Oklahoma. After graduating, she attended Oklahoma A & M for a short time. On December 24, 1950, she married Verlyn Fagala, and had two sons, Terry and Jerry. Mary worked for Pioneer Electric Company in Ulysses, Kansas. At age 70, after 40 years of service, she retired. After retiring, Mary worked part time at Garnard’s Funeral Home in Ulysses,...

 Verna Ruth Schanbacher, 91, of Cherokee, Oklahoma, passed away on April 3, 2019 in Wichita, Kansas.  She was born in Alfalfa County on May 16, 1927 to Delbert and Goldie Farabee and married to Duane Schanbacher on April 5, 1947. She is the loving mother of four, grandmother of thirteen and great grandmother of eighteen children.  In 1954, Duane and Verna Ruth moved to the farm north of Cherokee.  In 1985 they built their home east of Cherokee and continued to farm and...

Wanda Kay Schroeder Kiner was the youngest of six children born to Pete and Mary Helen Schroeder of Cleo Springs Oklahoma. Wanda was born in Fairview, Oklahoma on September 2 1951 and was welcomed into heaven on Monday March 25, 2019. She tirelessly cared for her father and mother in their twilight years and frequently reflected on the blessings of the relationship that grew out of the experience. Wanda was valedictorian of her class and attended Bethany Nazarene College. Wanda worked at...

Mary Jean Washburn, 88, went to be with the Lord Thursday, March 21, 2019 at Kiowa District Manor Nursing Home in Kiowa, Kansas.  Funeral service will be Friday, March 29, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Cherokee with Rev. Garry McNeill officiating.  Arrangements are by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Cherokee.  Burial will be at Cherokee Municipal Cemetery.  Viewing will be come and go on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. www.lanmanmemorials.com ...

Virgil Lee Reimer was born April 30, 1926 on the farm northeast of Medford to J.M. and Marie Reimer.  He was a member of the Mennonite Church.  He attended District 44 School.  Virgil went into the Army in September 1944 and trained at Camp Fannon, Texas in the infantry, then on to Camp Howes, Texas and then to Ft. Lewis, Washington.  He was transferred to the Medical Corps.  He was then sent to the South Pacific.  He came back to Seattle, Washington in 1947 and...

William Lee Hopkins May 28, 1942  -  March 19, 2019 Jet-Funeral service for William Lee Hopkins will be Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. at Lanman Funeral Home Chapel in Cherokee.  Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery with arrangements by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Cherokee.  Viewing will be Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.  www.lanmanmemorials.com  Facebook: Lanman Funeral Home Inc. Lee was born on May 28, 1942 to Loren Hopkins and...