Margaret J. Henby
1924-2017

Hiawatha native Margaret J. Henby 93, of Decatur, IL passed away at 9:50 p.m., Thursday, November 30. 2017, in Heritage Manor Nursing Center, Mt. Zion.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, December 8, 2017, in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hiawatha, Kansas. Rev. Nancy Tuma, of the First Presbyterian Church in Hiawatha, will officiate. Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Hiawatha, KS will be assisting the family with services. Memorials may be made to the Golden K (Kiwanis) of Decatur Scholarship Fund.

Mrs. Henby was born March 29, 1924, in Hiawatha, KS the daughter of Tonie and Emilie (Hansen) Torkelson. She married Wendell F. Henby on January 1, 1947. He preceded her in death on February 26, 2014. Mrs. Henby was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church where she served on the Board of Deacons of the United Presbyterian Women. She had served as the Past President of the All States Club and was a former member of South Side Country Club and the Decatur Genealogical Society.

Surviving are her niece: Phyllis Grzywinski of Bartlett, IL; nephew: Larry Cannon of Omaha, NE; niece: Doris Hawkins of Richfield, MN; nephew: Glenn (Jane) Boyd of Duncanville, TX; niece: Edwina (Steve) Glass of Lawrence, KS; niece: Peggy Antonson of Newberg, OR; nephew: Bernard Torkelson of Buckley, WA; special friends: Stephen (Susan) Rayhill of Mt. Zion, IL; and Sharon (Kevin) Peabody of Taylorville, IL.

Aubrey Conaway
1941-2017

Aubrey Conaway 76, of St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, December 5, 2017 in a Saint Joseph, health care center. He was born December 2, 1941 in Maysville, MO, son of the late Mary and Robert Conaway. He graduated from Benton High School 1961 and attended Highland Junior College. He worked as a Maximum Security Guard at the Missouri State Hospital, retiring after 20 years of service. He loved St. Louis Cardinals baseball and Chicago Bears football, and he was a Christian. Survivors include, two brothers, Mickey and Gale Conaway both of St. Joseph, MO, nieces, Kelley Schuckman, and Stacey Conaway, nephews, Kevin and Kyle Conaway, and 11 great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7:00 pm, on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at Rupp Funeral Home, with Rev. Greg Smith officiating, The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday at the Rupp Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to the American Heart Association or American Diabetes Association.

Robert E. Puckett Sr.
1932-2017

Elwood, Kansas – Robert E. Puckett Sr., 85, formerly of Troy, Kansas passed away peacefully at his home in Elwood, Kansas on December 4, 2017.

Robert was born on May 2, 1932 to Sylvester Ralph and Lena (Mozingo) Puckett in Ravenwood, Missouri.

Robert served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

He married Helen Marie Duncan on January 4, 1955 in Troy, Kansas. They were married for 53 years. She preceded him in death on November 29, 2008. During their marriage they lived in California and Minnesota before moving back to Troy in 1970. Robert worked many factory jobs, but, started as an over the road truck driver in 1963 and for over 45 years that was his career of choice. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, going to the casino and his two favorite bars, First and Last Chance and The Neighborhood.

He was also preceded in death by his parents, wife, sisters, Margaret, Cora, Donna and brothers, Bill, James and Spud.

He is survived by two Daughters; Joann Smith (Dennis) of Elwood, Kansas; Rebecca Franken (Mike) of Topeka, Kansas. One son, Robert E. Puckett Jr. of Elwood, Kansas.

Four Grandchildren; Wendi Smith (Chris Miller) of Elwood, Kansas; Jeff Smith of St. Joseph, Missouri; Caitlyn and Colton Franken of Topeka, Kansas. Six Great-grandchildren; Trenton & Kassydee Smith, Raini Smith and Sunni Smith-Miller, Miranda and Tsali Franken. Sisters, Joyce, Anna and Connie. Brothers, George, Jerry, Larry, Raymond, Hubert and Ralph Curtiss. Niece, Carol Sigrist, who helped with his care and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral Service: 11:30 A.M. Saturday, December 9, 2017.

At the Harman-Rohde Funeral Home in Troy, Kansas.

Visitation: 6:30-8:30 Friday evening at the funeral home, where friends may call after 9 A.M. Friday.

Burial: Mount Olive Cemetery, Troy, Kansas.

Memorials: St. Croix Hospice, Robert Puckett Memorial Fund or the Elwood United Community Church.

Shirley Jean Walsh
1931-2017

Shirley Jean Walsh 86, of Saint Joseph, Missouri, passed away Monday, December 4, 2017 at Mosaic Life Care Hospital. She was born September 30, 1931 in St. Joseph, MO, daughter of the late Fannie and G.A. Ancy McCoy. She graduated from Benton High School and worked in the banking industry for over 40 years, with the Bank of St. Joe, Stockyards Bank, and retiring from the First Bank of Missouri as assistant Vice President and Branch Manager. She enjoyed playing cards, and dominos, with her family every Saturday night, going to the Casino, camping and birds especially Cardinals. Shirley was very active in the community as a member of the South St. Joseph Progressive Association, South Side Fall Festival Committee, (which her and husband Jack were the Grand Marshalls of the Parade in 1996), and the South Side Business and Professional Women’s association. She was a former member of the former King Hill United Methodist Church, and attended Wesley United Methodist church and Immanuel Baptist Church. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Joseph “Jack” Michael Walsh, son, Mike Walsh, granddaughter, Jamie Walsh-Holliday, sister Donna Whittington, 1/2 sisters, Helen Johnson, and Tea Burnett, and brother, Galen “Bud” McCoy. Survivors include, son, Kevin (Brenda) Walsh, Saint Joseph, MO, niece Suzi Adams, who helped care for her, granddaughter, Jennie (Jordan) Beaver grandsons, Joseph and Johnathon Walsh, numerous, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 am, on Friday, December 8, 2017 at Rupp Funeral Home, with Rev. James Barnett officiating, The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Interment will be at the King Hill Cemetery. Memorials are requested to the Immanuel Baptist Church.

Denise Louise Bottorff
1961-2017

Denise Louise Bottorff, 56, Platte City, MO, passed away Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at North Kansas City Hospital, Kansas City, MO.

Denise Louise Coffey, was born on January 16, 1961 in Atchison, KS. Denise attended schools in Atchison and graduated from Emporia State College with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Denise owned and operated her own accounting firm prior to becoming the accountant for Hull Lumber Company in Weston, MO. Denise loved riding motorcycles with her husband, Scott.

Denise and Scott W. Bottorff were married on July, 30, 1983 at the First Presbyterian Church in Atchison.
Survivors include her husband of 34 years, Scott, of the home in Platte City, daughters, Tabatha (Brett) Davis, Platte City, and Jessica (Travis) Tanksley, Granbury, TX; granddaughters, Bailey and Rylee Davis; her mother, (Dorothy) Louise Winters, Atchison; sister, Janet (Gary) Kottman and Susan (Mark) Falk, mother-in- law, Glenda Bottorff, sisters-in-law, Gayle Theurer and Linda Bottorff, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Brad and Kim Bottorff; and several nieces and nephews.

Denise was preceded in death by her father(s)-in-law, John Winters and Bob Bottorff, brother-in-law, Mark Bottorff; nephew, Kyle Falk; grandparents, Lucille Coffey, James W. and Dorothy Irene Hammond.

Family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, Sunday, December 10, 2017 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, 800 Kansas Ave, Atchison, KS. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Private Family burial of the cremated remains will be at a later date. Words of comfort and remembrance may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.