Obituaries

Norma Bledsoe

2x7.5=$108.75 Imogene McDaniel

Norman Grundy of Eureka, died on Friday, March 15, 2024, at Ascension St. Francis Hospital, in Wichita, at the age of 77. He was born on Aug. 13, 1946, in El Dorado, the son of Herschell Ledger and Norma Olive (Denner) Grundy. He was raised in Climax and attended Severy schools, graduating from Severy High School. He later attended Emporia State University. On July 19, 1969, Norman was united in marriage to Sue Ann Ervin. To this union, two children were born: Lisa and Daniel. Norman managed the Severy Co-Op before purchasing S&N Propane in Big Cabin, Okla. Later they purchased the Bluestem Lodge and he helped operate it until his retirement in 2003. Sue preceded him in death on Nov. 11, 2002.

William Joseph “Bill” Colin of Eureka, died on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at Greenwood County Hospital, in Eureka, at the age of 77.

Richard Albert Maynard of Wichita, formally Garden City, went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, March 4, 2024. Richard was born on April 27,1961, to Nicholas Richard Maynard and Wanda May Stallings in Syracuse. Growing up in Eureka, spending his summers on the Finkenbinder Farmstead in Syracuse, with his siblings, uncles and cousins, are some of his fondest memories. Moving to Garden City in 1976, he attended and graduated from Garden City High School in 1979. While in Garden City, he met his beautiful wife, Tami. In 1980, he joined the US Army, where he proudly served in Indianapolis, Ind., Nurnberg, Germany, and Colorado Springs, Colo. He was honorably discharged in 1984 and left with a lifetime of memories and friendships.

William “Allen” Swisher, 92, of Piedmont, died March 6, 2024. He was born November 20, 1931, to Allen Russell and Anna (Schoneman) Swisher on the family farm, north of Piedmont. His mother was a nurse, who served as the community midwife. Allen was delivered by Dr. C.D. Baird, Eureka, who made house calls at that time. His father, born in Coffeyville, Kansas, was a miller, railroader and oilfield worker. Family lore placed him as the boy in the photograph looking through the wooden fence at the displayed corpses of the Dalton Gang after their botched raid on two banks in Coffeyville.

Joseph Earl Sampson, 52, passed away on March 4, 2024, in Eureka. He was born in Wichita, to Ronnie G. and Billie Joe (Taylor) Sampson on Feb. 4, 1972.

Clarence (Slim) Alvin Pettyjohn was born Aug. 19, 1931 to Goldie Carroll Pettyjohn and Albert Pettyjohn in Independence and passed away from this life Feb. 29, 2024. Slim grew up in Montgomery County, with his two brothers and went to grade school at Brewster School and then Grades 5-12 at Fredonia Schools. Slim graduated from Fredonia High School and enlisted in the Army and served in the Korean Conflict. After his discharge, he later married Donna Beth Morgan on July 6, 1957 and they were blessed with three children. Clarence worked at R & A Rural Electric, Telephone United Utilities, Cessna Aircraft, State Grain Inspection, Garvey Grain, Boeing Aircraft and Cookson Hills Childrens Home. Later in life, Slim and Donna started two successful businesses, The Swap Shop Antique Mall in Severy and Cleansed and Polished Cleaning Service in Wichita.

Martha Evelyn (Hellman) Strong of Eureka, died on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, at Greenwood County Hospital, in Eureka, at the age of 91.