Kelli Rae Royer
1977 – 2019
Kelli Rae Royer, 41, of Arrington, died Sunday, April 21, 2019 at her home.
She was born August 31, 1977 at Holton the daughter of George and Joyce Johnson Royer. She graduated from ACCHS in Effingham in 1995 and from the Highland Tech Nursing Program in 2013. Kelli had worked as an LPN at area nursing homes.
She was preceded in death by a son, Darian Campbell, and a sister, Halei Royer. Both were stillborn.
Survivors include a son, Zachary Campbell, two daughters, Brooklyn Royer and Alexys Campbell, and a close friend of the family, Cailyn Castillo, all of the home, her parents, George and Joyce Royer, Arrington, one sister, Tammi Parrott and husband Duane, St. Joseph, MO and a nephew, Austin Parrott.
Kelli will lie instate at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Holton where family and friends will meet from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Cremation will follow the visitation. Memorials are suggested to the Kelli Rae Royer Memorial Fund, to benefit her children, or Jackson County Friends of Hospice, and may be sent in care of the funeral home, PO Box 1034, Holton, KS 66436.
Larry Joe “LJ” Trant
1956 – 2019
Larry Joe “L J” Trant, 62, of Everest, KS died unexpectedly Thursday evening, April 18, at the Hiawatha Community Hospital.
L J was born December 29, 1956 in Horton, KS to Leo and Ina Trant. He grew up in Everest and graduated from Horton High School with the Class of 1974. L J continued his education at the Hutchinson Community College starting his career in broadcasting.
LJ’s Voice was an on air presence for several years with Multiple Farm Station Owner & Agriculture broadcaster Larry Steckline in southern and western Kansas, and enjoyed doing the morning show at station WNAD/WWLS 640 AM, in the Oklahoma City Market. LJ also worked in Salina and Pratt Kansas before starting his 32 year career in Kanzland. Over the years, L J has earned numerous awards through the Kansas Association of Broadcaster’s, including 4 First place awards in categories from News Reporting to Commercial Advertising.
In 2007 KNZA was named “Station of the Year” by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters. L J also enjoyed golf, water fowl hunting and fishing and although he has never had swimming lessons, would not hesitate to jump in a float plane and fly to a remote northern Canadian Lake to spend a week away from phones and computers.
Survivors include brothers; Leon Trant of Hiawatha, KS, Lee (Susan) Trant of Crescent, Iowa, sister; Betty (James) Taylor of Hutchinson, KS and niece Sarah Trant of Crescent, Iowa.
L J was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorial Services are planned for 1 p.m., May 2, 2019 at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center, 210 Lodge Rd, Hiawatha, with Pastor Blake Wyatt officiating.
Memorials are suggested in his name and may be sent in care of the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S. 7th St. Hiawatha, KS 66434.
Verla “Jean” Newton
1927 – 2019
Verla “Jean” (Hiskey) Newton, 92, passed away Friday, April 19, 2019 at her home in Wathena, Kansas.
She was born on March 5, 1927 in Murray, Iowa to Elroy & Hattie Belle (Palmer) Hiskey.
Jean married Roy Newton on September 29, 1945 at the courthouse in Troy, Kansas. They celebrated 67 years of marriage. Her husband, Roy passed away on March 28, 2013.
Verla Jean was a loving & devoted wife & mother. Loved sewing, baking & decorating cakes, & fishing on the river bank. Enjoyed all her grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all.
Verla Jean was preceded in death by her husband Roy Newton, her parents, brothers, Edward, Walter, Galen, and Wayne Hiskey; sisters, Florence Cunningham, Mary Iva Banks, and Marie Falkenbach, son-in-law, Leonard Snodgrass, grandchild Rynita Reiling, great-grandchildren Miranda Clary, and baby Hawkins.
Survivors: son, David (Kassie) Newton
Daughters, Barbara Cardwell, Carolyn (Ronald) Schultz, Dianna (Steve) Shellenberger & LaDonna Snodgrass.
Sister, Laura Ripper, 17 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchild & numerous nieces & nephews.
A special “thank you “ to St. Croix Hospice, Hiawatha, KS and her caregivers: Barbara Cardwell, Carolyn Schultz, Dianna Shellenberger, David & Kassie Newton and LaDonna Snodgrass. Also we want to thank Keen Age Center.
Service will be held at the Harman-Rohde Funeral Home, Wathena, Kansas at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, April 27, 2019 with granddaughter Rychelle Reiling-Mullins officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday evening April 26, 2019, at the funeral home, where friends may call after 9:00 AM Thursday. Burial: Bellemont Cemtery in Wathena, Kansas.
In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Croix Hospice, Hiawatha, KS.and/or Wathena EMS.