Manchester, Kansas
Marius J. Bledsoe
82, passed away Saturday, April 9th, in Manchester. He was born May 10, 1933 near Vine Creek, Kansas, the son of George W. and Neoma M. (Stout) Bledsoe. Growing up in the area, Marius attended Mulberry Elementary School and graduated from Longford High School with the class of 1951. He was an Army Veteran having been a paratrooper serving in Europe. On November 27, 1955, Marius married Ruth Ayers. All of their married life was spent in Manchester. He had been employed by Shockey and Landis in Abilene for 20 years before opening the Abilene Appliance Center in 1976. She preceded him in death February 28, 1983. In 1985, he married Lois Carpenter. All of their married life was spent in Wichita and Salina. She preceded him in death in 2001. On November 5, 2008 Marius married Ruth Prater. All of their married life was spent in Manchester. Marius was a member of the Zion Brethren In Christ Church, V.F.W. and the Elks Lodge.
Survived by: Wife Ruth Bledsoe of Manchester
4 Daughters Wava (Ray) Marston of Abilene
Marla (Donovan) Stucky of Salina
Marilyn (Dennis) Marston of Abilene
Phyllis (John) Kreutzer of Ransom
Son Kelly (Teresa) Bledsoe of Palmer
4 Step-children
Patty Wisendanger of Salina
Freda Duncan of Salina
Cindy Shanahan of Salina
Rick Hannah of Salina
12 Grandchildren
Many Great-grandchildren
Funeral services 1:00 PM Wednesday, April 13th, at the Danner Funeral Home, interment will follow in the Keystone Cemetery. The family will receive friends 5:30 – 6:30 PM Tuesday, April 12th, at the Danner Funeral Home. The family suggests memorial contributions in his name be made to the Hospice of Dickinson County or Elsie Brooks Cancer Fund. They may be left at or sent in care of the Danner Funeral Home POB 758 Abilene, Kansas 67410.
Condolences: http://dannerfuneralhome.net/
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Sharon L. Graves, 73, Solomon, died Saturday, April 9, 2016. She was born August 17, 1942 in Sandusky, OH to Donald and Thelma Everett.
Sharon worked as an administrative assistant for Kansas Care and she was a homemaker.
Survivors include her sons John (Zhanara) Graves and Brett (Ivy) Graves; brother Jim Everett; sister Judy Schroeder; and four grandchildren Amber and Robert Graves and Adelina and Aleksander Graves.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.
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Kenneth Loyal Beach, 93, of Salina, passed away Wednesday, April 6, 2016. He was born March 11, 1923, in Reamsville to Gus and Libby Beach. He was married to Alice Simmonds on July 18, 1942.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and served on a destroyer in the Pacific. He retired from Farmland Industries in 1985.
He is survived by his wife, Alice, of the home; daughter, Janet Post, of Salina; son, Kerry (Willa) Beach, of Lexington, Mo.; six grandchildren, Kenneth (Pamela) Post, Kevin (Michelle) Post, Korey (Christina) Post, all of Salina, Jennifer (Andy) Truman, Alyson (Jesse) James, Jeremy Beach, all of the Kansas City area; 13 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
Kenneth was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and will be missed by his family and friends.
The family will have a private interment at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the Amvets National Service Foundation.
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Barbara June Catton, 75, of McPherson, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 8, 2016, surrounded by her family at McPherson Hospital. She was a homemaker and a wonderful cook who stayed busy taking care of her four children.
Barbara was born on June 3, 1940, in Wayne City, IL, the daughter of Rev. Jesse E. and Florence Glenn (Warren) Miller. She graduated from Wayne City High School in Illinois. On January 20, 1958, Barbara was united in marriage to Larry D. Catton in Springfield, IL. This union was blessed with four children: Kathy, Debra, Sondra, and Dean.
She attended McPherson Free Methodist Church and was a former member of Star General Baptist Church in Wayne City, IL where her father was a pastor.
Survivors include: her loving husband of 58 years, Larry of the home; children, Kathy Schulz and husband, Rick, of McPherson, KS, Debra Gray and husband, Gary, of McPherson, KS, Sondra Walker and husband, Roger, of McPherson, KS, and Dean Catton and wife, Christi, of McPherson, KS; ten grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Jesse and Florence Miller; two brothers, Lowell Miller and Lowelan Miller; and a sister, Yvonne Lowery.
Barbara lived for her family. Her children and grandchildren meant the world to her. Whenever she took a trip out of town, she would always buy for her grandchildren. The love Barbara had for her family was very apparent in everything she did.
The funeral service will be at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, April 13, 2016, at McPherson Free Methodist Church with Rev. Tom Mayse officiating. Burial will follow at McPherson Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Free Methodist Church in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.