All Obituaries

Obit and Memorial Service Date to Follow

Maria Ruiz-Vera of Englewood, Kansas died on January 13, 2023 in Garden City, Kansas. She was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico on January 7, 1931 to Juanita and Francisco Ruiz. She was raised in the mountains (Sierra) of Calvillo,  Aguascalientes where she loved riding horses and helping her family. She loved to share stories of her adventures in the mountains. She married Antonio Vera in 1955 in Tabasco, Zacatecas. They moved to Gate, Oklahoma in 1981. She missed the mountains and warm...

Willa Dean Johnson, was born to F. Everett and Kathryn DeMoss on July 19, 1929 in Laverne, Oklahoma and left this earth to her heavenly home on January 8, 2023 at the age of 93. She graduated as Valedictorian from Laverne High School with the Class of 1946 and then attended Northwestern College in Alva. On February 4, 1949, Willa married the love of her life, Frank William “Johnny” Johnston.  Willa worked at various secretarial jobs in Kansas, Colorado,, Texas and...

Gary Morgan Bedell was born on February 24th, 1954 in Beaver, OK to Earl and Vona (Ward) Bedell. Gary was the second of four children. He was raised on the family farm, South of Slapout, OK. Through his life on the farm he worked alongside his father, who taught him the love of farming and ranching. Gary worked as an over-the-road truck driver for many years. He retired from his job as a heavy equipment operator at Beaver County in 2018. Anyone who knew Gary, knew the pride he took in his...

Donald Lee Firth, Sr. left this life in his home on Monday, December 26th, 2022 at the age of 53. He was born in Harper County, in Laverne, Oklahoma to Fay and William (Billy) Ray Firth, Jr. He loved fishing, camping, knives, fixing things and his dogs. He was joined in marriage to April Wiggins and to this union they had 3 children. He worked on a dairy, for the county and raised dogs. Donnie and April separated and he started kenneling. He loved his kids, family and all...

Russell Louis Barby Jr, also known as Shorty of Laverne, Oklahoma, formerly of Knowles Oklahoma was born on August 3, 1947, in Beaver County, Oklahoma to Russell Louis Barby Sr. and Goldie Ruth Baysinger Barby.  Russell passed away on December 20, 2022, at his home with his family by his side. Russell was married to Sherry Lynn Dotson Barby on November 18, 1978.  They had one daughter Sara Rose Barby and one son Ben Russell Barby.  Russell graduated high school in 1965 from...

Lovella Helen Thiessen was born on October 23, 1936, to Elizabeth (Schierling) and Cornelius Thiessen in Hutchinson, Kansas. She went home to be with the Lord on December 16, 2022. Lovella’s early education happened in country schools, being the only one in her grade during those years. When Lovella was eleven, she trusted Christ as her Savior and claimed 2 Peter 3:9 as her verse. She dedicated her life to full-time Christian service when she was a freshman at Central Christian High...

Guy Marion Harvey was born on December 31, 1932, in Shattuck, Oklahoma.  He left this earthly life for eternal life last Thursday, December 8th, at the age of 89 years. Dad always told us that “I was the last good thing that happened in 1932.”  We celebrated his birthday every New Year’s Eve with family and friends.  This year would have been his 90th.   Dad grew up here in Laverne with his parents, Marion Harvey and Eileen Bunker Harvey, and his...

Jackie Loretta Saunders, 86, of Ashland passed away on December 8, 2022 at her home with her loving companion Scooter, her dog.   Jackie was born in Vega, Texas on July 27, 1936 to Jack & Mary Steward. She married Hubert Milton Saunders in 1954 and raised four children.  Jackie worked at Borden, Inc. for 30 years in Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas.  After her retirement she worked with her son, Harold, at his business in Lubbock. In January 2010, she moved to Ashland,...

Maria Luisa Rosales was born on January 29, 1963. She was one of 11 to be born to Jose and Juana Herrera Cisneros. She loved working on her flower beds and had a passion for crocheting. She created many scarves, clothes and baby blankets for her grandkids. She loved to cook for her kids and enjoyed having them all together at home. She loved spending time with her kids and grandkids. She and Pedro Rosales were married for 38 years and had 4 children together; Sonya, Roy, Elizabeth and Kay....