Winnie Ellis Passes Away

Maple Hill-Winnie L. Ellis, 87, passed away early Monday, February 7, 
2022, at a Topeka hospital.

She was born in Lola Township Cherokee County Kansas on November 9,
1934, the daughter of Paul A, and Beulah G. Craine Richards. Winnie was
raised in the Oswego community.

Winnie along with her husband Dean owned and operated the B&B Café,
Mr. D's and D& W Snack Bar all in St. Marys. She had worked at Nickerson
Farm's at Paxico and Rezac Sale Barn in St. Marys. While living in
Richardson, TX, she worked in the lunchroom at the local school. Winnie had
been an Avon representative and a Stanley/Fuller Brush Agent. She was a
member of the St. Marys Bible Baptist Church and the Maple Hill Senior
Center.

On July 25, 1956, Winnie was united in marriage to Marvin Dean Ellis at
St. Marys. He preceded her in death on March 15, 2019. She was also
preceded in death by her parents and two sisters Paula and LaDorna.

Survivors include two sons, Larry D. (Ellen) Ellis, Springfield, MO, and
Steven W. Ellis, Delia; her daughter, Lynette L. Muller, Manhattan, a brother,
JA (Pam) Richards, Des Moines, IA, and her beloved dog Kandi; 5
grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, February 12, 2022, at Piper
Funeral Home. Interment will be in Valley View Cemetery, St. Marys. Winnie
will lie in state and the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M
Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the
American Diabetes Association and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home. 714
Maple Street, St. Marys, Kansas 66536. To  leave online condolences go to www.piperfuneralhome.com.

Marvin Ellis Passes Away

Marvin Dean Ellis, 90, Maple Hill, passed away Friday, March 15, 2019 at the Rossville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center.

He was born February 15, 1929 at Soldier, the son of Roy J. and Dorothy C. Mallen Ellis. Dean grew up in the Soldier, Manhattan and St. Marys communities. He attended St. Marys High School. Dean served in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict.

Dean was a truck driver for Kincaid Truck Line in St. Marys. He owned and operated the B&B Café, Mr. D’s and D&W Snack Bar all in St. Marys. He managed the Nickerson Farm’s at Paxico. He was a district manager for Highway Oil. Dean cooked at Puffy’s in Maple and the St. Marys Sale Barn. He was a member of the St. Marys Bible Baptist Church, and was a member of the Maple Hill Senior Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Ronald K. Ellis.

On July 25, 1959 he was united in marriage to Winnie L. Richards. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include two sons, Larry D. (Ellen) Ellis, Springfield, MO, and Steven W. Ellis, Delia; a daughter, Lynette L. Muller, Manhattan; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren;

Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, March 21, 2019 at Piper Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Valley View Cemetery, St. Marys. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Marys Bible Baptist Church or the American Diabetes Association and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, Kansas 66536.

LaDorna Rae Smith Passes Away

    

    St. Marys—LaDorna Rae “Corky” Smith, 90, St. Marys, passed away Friday, September 24, 2021 at the St. Marys Manor.

     She was born October 31, 1930, in Lola Township Cherokee County, Kansas to Paul A. and Beulah G. Crane Richards.  She was raised in Oswego and graduated from Oswego High School in 1948.  She had lived in the St. Marys community since 1951.

     Corky was a member of the St. Marys United Methodist Church where she was very active.  She enjoyed helping with the annual Turkey Dinner.  Corky and her husband Jim loved to dance, play cards and spend time with their family and friends.  You could find them frequently on the dance floor at the Moose Lodge Lounge in Topeka.  You might catch them playing a round of golf at the St. Marys course where she was an active member.

    Corky loved her kid, grandkids and great-grandkids and was a wonderful mom, grandma, and mentor to them all.  She loved to cook and was famous for her delicious meals.  The family gathered often at her home and guests were always welcomed.  She was very talented and crafty as is witnessed by the comforter size afghans she crochedted for nearly all of her grandkids and gorgeous ceramic Christmas trees she made and painted for each child’s family.  She loved to swim and her grandchildren remember her teaching them to swim.    Flower and vegetable gardening were two of her favorite pastimes.  When the clubhouse was built at the St. Marys Golf Course she and other volunteers designed and planted the landscaping.  She served as a Girl Scout Leader for the  St. Marys’ troop when her girls were involved.

     Corky was a nickname given to her as a child and it fit her perfectly.  She loved to have fun, be ornery and make people laugh.  She was  always full of advice for anyone that would listen.  It would be hard to find a person she knew that didn’t have a story or two to tell about their relationship with her.

     She married James W. Smith on June 12, 1949 at Oswego.  He preceded her in death on June 2, 2004; she was also preceded by her parents, a sister, Paula Middelton and a son Gary Smith on October 31, 2012.

     Survivors include her son, Michael Smith (Sherry), St. Marys; three daughters. Linda K. Dohrman (Rick), Delia, Vicki S. Lightfoot, (Bobby), Blaine, and Donna L. Simecka (Alan), St. Marys; a daughter-in-law, Dona Smith, Maple Hill; her brother, J.A. Richards; her sister, Winnie Ellis, Maple Hill;  23 grandchildren, and 39 great-grandchildren.

     Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M. Friday, October 1, 2021, at the St. Marys United Methodist Church followed by graveside services at 3:30 P.M.at the Oswego Cemetery, Oswego, Kansas.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Thursday, September 30, 2021 at Piper Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Marys United Methodist Church and sent in care of the funreal home.  To leave online condolences go to www.piperfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of LaDorna Rae "Corky" Smith, please visit our floral store at Piper Funeral Home