Obituaries

Jan 9, 2024

Spearville – Lawrence "Larry" James Hornung, 72, died January 9, 2024 at Hays Medical Center.  He was born on October 5, 1951 in Spearville, the son of Andrew James and Elsie Elnora (Allen) Hornung.

Larry was a lifetime resident of Spearville, graduating from Spearville High School in 1969.  After graduation, he went to work for a local...

Jan 8, 2024

Ford – Wesley Lane Hefner, 77, died January 8, 2024 at St. Catherine's Hospital in Dodge City.  He was born on December 9, 1946 at LaJunta, Colorado the son of Marshall Lane and Dorothy (Fowler) Hefner.

Growing up Wes spent his summers helping his grandfather on the family farm east of Ford, Kansas and with his cousins...

Jan 6, 2024

Dodge City - Margie L. Combest, 72, died January 6, 2024 at Via Christi in Wichita. She was born on October 20, 1951 at Spearville, the daughter of Corwin and Margaret (Kramer) Schawe.

Margie was born and raised in Spearville and was a graduate of Spearville High School. After graduating she went to work for Cimarron Insurance...

Jan 6, 2024

Dodge City – Mary Eloise "Ellie" Lopez, 64, died January 6, 2024 at Harry Hynes Hospice in Wichita, Kansas.  She was born on April 9, 1959 at Palmer Lake, Colorado the daughter of Aurelio and Guadalupe (Carmona) Lopez.

It was no secret that Ellie's greatest treasure was her family. She would do anything for her children. She...

Jan 3, 2024

Montezuma - Jennifer Lyn (Zimmerman) Martinez was born on June 21, 1975, to Maurice Carl & Jima Lynne Zimmerman in Corpus Christi, Texas. She passed away in the early morning hours of January 3, 2024, at her home in Montezuma, Kansas.

Jennifer grew up in Corpus Christi with three younger sisters. She attended Flour Bluff schools until...

Dec 27, 2023

DODGE CITY – Jeffrey D. Lopp, 76, died December 27, 2023 at Dodge City, KS. He was born on November 18, 1947 at Dodge City, the son of Bill J. and Phyllis E. (Jones) Lopp.

A lifelong resident of Dodge City he graduated from Dodge City High School. Jeff served in the US Army as a drill...

Dec 27, 2023

SSG James Clifton Pool, USA, Retired, 73, passed away December 27, 2023, in Fort Dodge, Kansas. He was born September 15, 1950, in Gilmer, Texas to Clifton and Zorene (Byrd) Pool.

James grew up in Big Sandy, Texas with his aunt and uncle, Dorotha Byrdand Dale Willis. He was a 1969 graduate of Big Sandy High School....

Dec 26, 2023

Dodge City – Martha J. Mink, 77, died December 26, 2023 at Reflection Living Center in Dodge City. She was born on June 25, 1946 at Ashland, Kansas the daughter of Ivan and Viola (Mull) Hulstine.

She married Steve Mink on June 15, 1985 in Ashland, Kansas, he survives. Martha worked as a school teacher for many...

Dec 26, 2023

After a long battle with illness, Sondra, born December 22, 1940, passed away peacefully on December 26, 2023, near Rio Verde, AZ with her son Brad at her bedside. She and Brad celebrated her 83rd birthday on December 22 and, as was her fondest wish, they were together on her final Christmas Day.

She graduated from UMKC...

Dec 26, 2023

Montezuma - Our dear sister and auntie, Grace Ann Nightingale, was born on November 20, 1966 to John and Ella Mae (Koehn) Nightingale at Chickasha, Oklahoma. She peacefully departed this life on December 26, 2023, at her home in Montezuma.

"Gracie" was the youngest of four siblings and was a happy child. As a small child she...

Dec 25, 2023

My wife and our stepmom, Annie Arie Wengerd Unruh Smith was born February 5, 1946, to Solomon and Emma Wengerd of Belleville, Pennsylvania. She slipped quietly away in the early hours of Christmas morning, December 25, 2023, with loved ones by her side. The week leading to her passing she spent in Garden City, in the hospital. She went...

Dec 18, 2023

Dodge City - Norma (Ridgway) Avritt, Wishon, 78, died December 18, 2023 at her home in Dodge City. She was born on November 8, 1945 at Dodge City the daughter of Harmon and Wilma (Jones) Ridgway.

She worked at Walmart and the Ford County Sheriff's Office for several years and later went to work for Manor of...

Dec 4, 2023

Sublette - James Dallas Morris, 89, died December 4, 2023, at the Satanta District Hospital.  He was born on February 16, 1934, in Jerome, Iowa the son of James and Esther (Day) Morris.

James spent his childhood on the family farm near Plano, Iowa where he attended school.  His junior year of high school, he moved to...

Dec 1, 2023

Garden City - Pamela Sue Kells, 72, died December 1, 2023, at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City.  She was born on August 19, 1951, in Montezuma, the daughter of Paul and Evelyn (Meyer) Brown. As a child, Pam moved from Montezuma to Sublette with her family.  Pam was a 1969 graduate of Sublette High School where she developed...

Nov 28, 2023

Dodge City - Louise Janet Dowling passed away peacefully at her Dodge City home on November 28, 2023. She was born on February 21, 1932, the daughter of Ford and Nola (Justice) Fullerton.

Louise spent most of her life on their family farm, south of Dodge City. During that time, she was very active in helping to...

Nov 26, 2023

Our dear mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Wanda Mae (Koehn) Schmidt was born to Emil and Eva (Koehn) Koehn on July 2, 1931 in Montezuma. She peacefully went to her reward after a brief illness on November 26, 2023, reaching the age of 92 years.

Mom grew up on a farm north of Montezuma as the second...

Nov 25, 2023

Isaac James Koehn was born November 22, 2023 to us, Rick and Tamra. He surprised us, arriving on his angel brother's first birthday!

He was beautiful, with dark hair and features from both of us. We knew our time with Isaac would be short due to him having the same genetic disorder his brother had. We are...

Nov 24, 2023

Dodge City - Cody Dean Ceniceros (Schauvliege), 17, died November 24, 2023 in rural Ford County.  He was born on July 15, 2006 at Dodge City, the son of Roxanne and Jorge Ceniceros.

Cody loved to fish, be outdoors and gaming. He had many collections of currency, gems, and crystals. He enjoyed hot summer days out on...

Nov 22, 2023

Ft. Dodge - Bradley Ernest Smith, 66, died November 22, 2023 at St. Catherine Hospital, Dodge City. He was born on September 6, 1957 at Kansas City, Missouri the son of Ernest Leroy and June (Morehead) Smith.

Brad was a resident of the Kansas Soldiers home at Ft. Dodge and US Navy Veteran.

He is...

Nov 20, 2023

Dodge City - Deloris A. Donnelly, 93, died November 20, 2023 at Presbyterian Manor of the Plains, Dodge City.  She was born on June 18, 1930 at Palco, the daughter of Jake and Jennie (Hagen) Aust.

Deloris married Phillip E. Donnelly on May 15, 1950 in Hays. He preceded her in death on February 10, 1987. They...