Leon Paul Hale 86 died Thursday, May 31, 2012 at Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, KS. He was born April 1, 1926 at Range, OK the son of Ira Jay and Maggie (Morris) Hale. He graduated from Hardesty High School in Hardesty, OK. He has been a longtime Liberal resident. He is the co-owner of Brier & Hale Music Co. for the past 57 years. He is a member of the Liberal Friends Churc...

Ben L. Pate, age 76, of Elkhart, Kansas died Wednesday, May 30, 2012, at Baptist St. Anthony Hospice in Amarillo, Texas. He was born February 26, 1936 on the farm near Elkhart, Kansas, the son of Herbert and Virgie (Lewis) Pate. Ben was a lifetime resident of Morton County. He graduated from Elkhart High School in 1953 and attended Kansas University and Fort Hays State College. Ben married Bar...

Bernard W. “Bernie” Dieker, age 86, of Ulysses, Kansas died Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital in Ulysses, Kansas.  He was born June 7, 1925 in Westphalia, Kansas, the son of Clement and Lena (Weber) Dieker. Bernie graduated from high school in Westphalia, Kansas. As a youth he was active in town team baseball as a pitcher. He moved to Lakin at the age of 18 and farmed....

Joe Stanley Coleman, Jr. “Junior Bug”, age 40, of Liberal, died Wednesday, May 23, 2012, in Harding County , NM . He was born September 29, 1971, in Dalhart , TX , to Joe Stanley and Dorothy Jean (Green) Coleman. He graduated from high school in Des Moines , IA , in 1989. He was employed by Double T Industries, as a swamper. Prior to that, he was employed as a truck driver for Ameriprid...

Phillip G. Post, age 70, died early Wednesday afternoon, May 23, 2012, at his Meade residence. He was born October 30, 1941, at St. Anthony’s Hospital, Dodge City, Kansas. Growing up he attended the Fowler, Dodge City, and Meade school systems, graduating from Meade High School in 1959. After his graduation, he attended Emporia State University, Emporia before returning to Meade County. A...

Beverly Ann Gauerke, age 63, died Saturday, May 19, 2012 at Woodward Regional Hospital in Woodward , OK . She was born August 2, 1948 at Liberal, KS, the daughter of Clifford and Lorena (Salley) McGlothlin. On January 13, 1968, she married Gerald A. Gauerke at Liberal, KS. He survives. She was a homemaker and family was very important to her. She was active with Girl Scouts and was a former B...

Kenneth George “Kenny” “Heavy” Johnson, age 60, died May 21, 2012 at Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, KS after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born May 4, 1952 in Tazwell , VA the son of Lloyd F. and Katherine (Rukvina) Johnson. He graduated from Liberal High School , Liberal, KS in 1970. He was general contractor for Johnson Construction. He had owned Heavy’s Sports ...

Isah Zear Baker 83, died Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at his residence in Liberal, KS. He was born Sept. 18, 1928 in Tillar, Ark the son of Fred Sylvester and Irene (Graham) Baker. He was a farmer in Tillar, Ark moving to Liberal in 1964 to help build National Beef Packing Plant. After the completion of National Beef he started working at National Beef in the Plant. He also has worked for Otto Me...

David Glenn White, age 60, died April 30, 2012 at JPS Hospital in Fort Worth, TX. He was born January 1, 1952 in Beaver, OK the son of Glenn Hubert and Donna Ruth (Phelps) White. He graduated from Liberal High School, Liberal, KS in 1970. He had resided in Enid, OK for 5 years, he then moved to Whitney, TX. He was self employed in the construction industry. Other survivors include Mother D...

John Clarence Ballard, age 91, died early Monday morning, May 21, 2012, at the Lone Tree Retirement Center, Meade, Kansas. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade, Kansas. ...