Obituaries

Jack D Shaefer, Jr., 72, of rural Hiawatha, passed away after a brief illness, at his home on November 14, 2024. Jack was born May 24, 1952, the oldest of two…

Harold Amos Neher, 97, a beloved resident of Rural Hiawatha, passed away peacefully at his home sur­rounded by family, on November 13, 2024. Born March 7, 1927, on the family…

  David A. McQueen, 79, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2024, at Kaiser Hospital in Walnut Creek, CA surrounded by family. David was born in San Francisco, California, on May…

Judy Mirlene Long, 81, of Topeka, passed away Wednesday, October 30, 2024. She was born August 15, 1943, in Bentonville, Arkansas, the daughter of Kenneth Mirl and Dena Ruth (Scantlin)…

Russ Robertson, 71, of Lawrence, KS passed away peacefully, on August 28, 2024, with his wife by his side. Russ was born September 27, 1952, in Hiawatha, KS to Harold and Betty (Hill) Robertson. He leaves behind his wife Robin, their two daughters Erin Ramirez (Carlos) of Olathe, KS and Anna Luckey (Chris) of Kansas City, MO, four granddaughters (Addison Given, Iyla Given, Juniper Luckey, Violet Luckey), and one grandson (Juju Ramirez). Survivors also include his sister Peg Suther of Frankfort, KS, and brother John Robertson (Jane) of Omaha, NE, ex-soninlaw Eddie Given of Olathe, KS, as well as nieces and nephews. Russ’ life was filled with music, photography, laughter, and road trips. He was loved and will be missed. No services are planned.

Charles Alfred Edwardson Sr., 65, of Wichita, Kansas formerly of Jackson County, Kansas, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, at his home. He was born on December 26, 1958, in Horton, Kansas the son of Alvin and Pearl “Maxine” Smith Edwardson. After high school, Chuck moved to Wichita, Kansas, and became a certified Arborist. In 1979 he started his own company Alfred’s Superior Tree Service and owned and operated his business in Wichita, Kansas for forty-five years until his passing. Chuck loved his job and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. He was the first TCIA Accredited Certified Arborist in Wichita and the second in Kansas. Chuck was a member of the Tree Care Industry Association, the Kansas Arborist Association, the International Society of Arboriculture, and the Certified Tree Care Safety Professional Association. In 1977 he married Vickie Bridges in Hoyt, Kansas, and they were later divorced, he then married Bonnie Velte in 1996 in Wichita, Kansas, and they were later divorced and then he married Tammie Kopetzky in 2012, and they were also later divorced. Survivors include a son, Charles Alfred Edwardson Jr. of Wichita, Kansas; two daughters, Serena Hanson and Suni Lynn both of Wichita, Kansas; sister, Roberta Cavin of Hiawatha, Kansas; two brothers, Alan Edwardson of Arcadia, Florida, and Anthony Edwardson of Atchison, Kansas, and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, September 13, 2024, at the Zion Lutheran Church northeast of Everest, Kansas where the family will greet friends from 10:00 A.M. until service time. Burial will be at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery. A special message may be sent to the family atwww. dishon-maple-chaney.com

Richard S. Pryor was born in Clay County, Missouri on December 20th, 1935, to Ted R. & Ruby S. Pryor. He grew up on the family farm with his two older brothers, Ted William “Bill” & Charles F. “Bud.” Richard attended Liberty public schools and graduated as president of his class in 1953. The death of his mother during his college years profoundly changed his life’s course. After two years at William Jewell College, Richard was offered a job at a local bank, which led to his lifelong career in banking. In 1957, following the family tradition of military service, he volunteered for the Army and spent most of his service in France on an Ordnance Depot. During this time, friends started calling him Dick, a name that stuck for life. Dick returned to First National Bank in Liberty in 1959. That fall, he met Linda, a new English and speech teacher at Liberty High School. They married on July 10th, 1960. Dick pursued further education, earning an AA Degree from Longview College, a business Degree from Columbia College, and graduating from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. He became a bank officer before 21 and joined the National Bank in North Kansas City in 1961. In 1969, at 33, he was offered the Presidency of the Thornton National Bank in Nevada, Missouri, where the family lived for four years. In 1973, Dick became CEO and part-owner of the Bank of Jacomo in Blue Springs, Missouri. Under his 20-year leadership, the bank and its holding company grew to two charters with six locations in five towns. Dick was actively involved in his communities. He served on city councils, chambers of commerce, school boards, and hospital boards in various cities. He was instrumental in founding St. Mary’s Hospital in Blue Springs and establishing a junior college branch campus there. He was named Citizen of the Year in 1980 and Business Person of the Year in 1992 in Blue Springs. Dick and Linda were staunch supporters of higher education. Dick serv

Joyce Marie (Haggard) Hon, 79, of Liberty, Miss ouri passed away peacefully surrounded by family and close friends in Kansas City Hospice House at North Kansas City Hospital on September 1st after having been hospitalized for two months following an acute illness. Joyce was born in Kansas City, Missouri on September 23, 1944, to John Haggard, Jr. and Jewel Rose (Claunch) Haggard. She was a life-long Kansas City northlander, graduating from Park Hill High School in 1962. She married her high school sweetheart Jerry Lee Hon on August 11, 1962. They recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary together. Alongside Jerry, Joyce carried on the legacy of her parents, working and co-owning the family business Haggard Hauling and Rigging, Inc., before retiring after 29 years of devoted service. She concluded her career at William Jewell College, working in the business office, Provost’s office, bookstore, and finally the alumni office, retiring in 2008. Joyce was a skilled craft enthusiast, especially talented in needlepoint, quilting, crocheting, and cardmaking.