After living a very fulfilling life at the age of 95, Mary Lee Smith’s journey came to an end on Thursday, February 1, 2024. Mary Lee Smith was born on January 4, 1929, in Liberal, Kansas to loving parents Floyd Hook and Helen (Meyers) Hook. Mary attended several schools in western Kansas and Oklahoma while her father followed gainful employment in the area. After her parents settled in Baker, ...

Sublette - Sharon Hinkle-Murphy, 78, died February 7, 2024, at her home in Amarillo, Texas, She was born June 22, 1945 in Bucklin, to Glenn and Pauline (Petrowsky) Batman. A longtime resident of Haskell County, Kansas, Sharon was employed at the Haskell County Court House for 29 years, serving as County Clerk for 15 of those years. Sharon married Jim Hinkle on August 18, 1963 in Sublette. He...

Ila Marie Hittle was born to Rhea and Richard Sherbert on June 19th, 1950 in Clay Center, Ks. and passed away on January 27, 2024 at the Pratt Health and Rehab Facility, Pratt, KS. She discovered later that her actual biological father was Austin Mansfield, whom had married Rhea after she divorced Mr. Sherbert. Ila lived for a time in Concordia but then moved to Liberal, Ks. She married Jim Walto...

William "Bill" Ray Long, 68, of Satanta, KS formerly of Liberal, passed away on Saturday February 3, 2024, in Liberal, KS. Bill was born on December 14, 1955, in Beaver, OK to Kenneth and Marilyn (Stam) Long. He attended schools in Liberal and graduated from Liberal High School in 1974. He was awarded basketball scholarships at Amarillo, TX Jr. College and Seward County Community College in ...

Elsie Eileen Cottrell, age 93, passed away Wednesday morning, January 31, 2024, at her Meade, Kansas, residence. She was born July 15, 1930, at Dodge City, Kansas, the daughter of David Glenn Clark and Catherine Marian (Hinds) Clark Knott. John Verl “Jack” Knott was her stepfather later in life. As a young girl she attended school in Ulysses and later Plains, Kansas, graduating from P...

Eldon Eugene "Gene" Leonard, a loving person known for his dedication and hard work, passed away on January 31, 2024, at the Wheatridge Park Care Center in Liberal, Kansas. Gene was the son of Clarence Eldon and Orpha L. (Hankins) Leonard. He was born on January 17, 1951 in Hugoton, Kansas. Gene had a fulfilling career as the manager of the Stevens County Landfill and Noxious Weed Department. H...

MEADE, KS — Dorothy Jean (Specht) Blehm, age 83, passed away January 30, 2024, at the Minneola District Hospital, Minneola, Kansas. Dorothy was born in Meade, Kansas, August 8, 1940, to Lewis and Caroline Specht. She attended school at Sunny Dale (grades 1-4), Moundview (5-8), and Meade High School (grades 9-12). On September 21, 1958, Dorothy married the love of her life, Richard Henry ...

FOWLER - Evelyn Hildebrand, age 100 years, passed away on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. She was born on October 31, 1923 in Sterling, Ks. , the fourth child of Champ and Mary (Thompson) Myers. She grew up on a farm near Sterling and graduated from Sterling High School. After completing a teacher training course at Sterling College she taught school in Macksville, Ks. During WWII she worked...

Lula Bell Watson, 86, of Turpin, OK passed away on Sunday January 28, 2024 at Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, KS. She was born on January 26, 1938 to William and Iva (Harrison) Ingland at Liberal, KS. On March 2, 1957 she married Russell Watson at Liberal, KS; he preceded her in death. She was a graduate of Liberal High School; class of 1956. Lula worked with Southwestern Bell and...

Mary Irene (Brose) Sturges, age 76, passed away at Southwest Medical Center early Saturday, January 27, 2024, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on March 31, 1947, in Liberal, KS to Lillian Aleene (Harmon) and C.E. “Humpy” Brose. During her early childhood, she spent time with her family at her father’s business, Humpy’s News Stand. When not working at the news stand, she ...