December 1, 2006 The ADVOCATE Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties Volume 10, No. 92 Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown Page 5, Column 1: "Mary Jane Sutton Eye 1902-2006 Mary Jane Sutton Eye of 302 South Walnut Street, Garnett, KS, passed away on Monday, November 27 at the Trinity Nursing Home at the age of 104 years, 6 months, and 29 days. Teddy Roosevelt was president when Mary was born in Sutton Valley, east of Garnett, on April 29, 1902. She was the daughter of John Benjamin and Julia Paradise Sutton. Her mother died when she was just six months old, and her care passed to her paternal grandmother, Sarah Simpson Sutton, until her death seven years later. Her newly-wed aunt Maggie Fink then took her in and raised her as her daughter. She attended high school in Greeley, KS studying music and affirming what would be a lifelong connection with the piano. After her graduation in 1921, Mary attended Emporia State Teachers College and earned teacher certification. She taught public school for three years in the Pine Valley and Hickory Grove districts before marrying Boyd Franklin Eye, a physician practicing in Rantoul, KS, in 1924. He served the Veterans Administration for the bulk of his career, and the couple lived in a number of cities in the east and Midwest. Mary was a faithful church member wherever they resided, singing in the church choirs and teaching Sunday School classes for over 70 years. Her devotion to the Word of God resulted in her reading her Bible from cover to cover 28 times. Dr. Eye passed away in 1960, and Mary spent much of the next 15 years traveling. She toured Europe, Canada, and Mexico and visited the Holy Land three times. On one of those visits, she was privileged to play the organ in the Garden of Gethsemane. She moved back to Garnett in 1971 from Kansas City, MO and began to live a full life, touching the hearts of others. Her church home was the First Baptist Church in Garnett where she served as needed, particularly in the Sunday School and the music ministry. She had been the pianist for the Garnett Rotary Club since 1978. The club honored her with a Paul Harris Fellowship when she celebrated her 100th birthday. Mary was voted 'Honored Alumna for 2002' and was featured playing piano selections at the graduation for the Anderson County High School. She and Scott Schulte entertained in churches, nursing homes, and hospitals for over 25 years. 'She's the most genuinely good person I know,' said Scott. 'She's a religious person, and she practices what she preaches.' Mary leaves three children: Frank (and Mary Judson) Eye of Lake Park, GA, Byron 'Pete' (and Shirley) Eye of Lenexa, KS, and Launita (and Dan) Proctor of Shelby, NC; twelve grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; a sister- in-law, Vivian Fink of Lake Elsinore, CA; and a number of cousins, nieces and nephews. The funeral will be held on Saturday, December 2, at 10:30 a.m. in the First Baptist Church of Garnett with the Rev. Gary Benjamin officiating and Dr. Dan Proctor assisting. Burial will follow in the Wellsville Cemetery in Wellsville, KS. Music will be provided by Jon Covault, who will lead the congregation in singing 'Amazing Grace' and 'It Is Well With My Soul'; Scott Schulte and Pete Eye, who will present a medley of 'Moving Up to Gloryland', 'Whatever It Takes To Draw Closer to You, Lord', and 'Just A Closer Walk With Thee'; Susan Eye Wheeler, who will play the prelude; and Pete Eye, who will play the postlude. Casketbearers will be Paul Eye, John Eye, John Kliem, Jim Wheeler, Hank Fender, Steve Proctor, Dan Proctor, Chris Hendrix, John Greene, Craig Eye, and Paul Wachter. Honorary casketbearers will be Richard Bardsley, Charles Parks, Jon Covault, Scott Schulte, Mike Eyman, Jim Shmidl, Dan Fraker, Terry Solander, Harold Hermann, Carl Ulses, Dane Hicks, and Mike Wawrzewski. The family will receive friends on Friday, December 1, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Farris-Feuerborn Funeral Home at 219 South Oak Street, Garnett, KS. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, Garnett, KS or Grace Hospice, 9200 Ward Parkway, Suite 410, Kansas City, MO, 64114. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements." Page 5, Column 2: "Robert C. 'Bob' Converse 1934-2006 Funeral services for Robert C. 'Bob' Converse, 71, Lawrence, were Saturday, November 25, 2006, at Lawrence Free Methodist Church. Mr. Converse died Tuesday, November 21, at his home. Robert C. Converse was born November 26, 1934, at Kincaid, the son of Ralph and Leta (Porter) Converse. He attended most of his school years in Kincaid. He graduated from high school in 1952. Bob and Elizabeth 'Betty' Converse were married on August 23, 1974. They lived in Lone Star, KS, until 1988 when they moved to Lawrence. Bob worked as a truck driver for Reuter Organ for many years. He also worked for the Kansas Turnpike, Dillon's grocery stores, and most recently, he enjoyed driving for Crown Chevrolet. He was a member of the Abdullah Shrine and attended the Free Methodist Church in Lawrence. He was an avid fisherman. Mr. Converse was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; and his parents, Ralph and Leta Converse. Bob is survived by his daughters, Karen S. Potter of Overland Park, Connie M. Feurt of Lawrence, and Kathy D. Boyd of Baldwin City; seven grandchildren and eight great- grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Oncology Center and sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, KS, 66044, who was in charge of arrangements." "Theodore Coleman Denney, Jr. 1935-2006 Funeral services for Theodore Coleman Denney, Jr., 71, Garnett, are Friday, December 1, at 2:00 p.m. at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel. Interment is in Garnett Cemetery. Mr. Denney died Tuesday, November 28, at his home." Page 5, Column 3: "Pearl LaVaughn Saffer 1925-2006 Graveside memorial services for Pearl LaVaugh Saffer, 81, Garnett, were Wednesday, November 29, 2006, at Parker Cemetery, Parker, KS, with Rev. Gary Benjamin officiating. Mrs. Saffer died Saturday, November 25, at St. Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, MO. Pearl LaVaughn Saffer was born November 21, 1925, at Parker, the daughter of Edward and Josie (Wheeler) Henry. She grew up in the Garnett area. She later moved to Emporia before moving to Beatrice, NE, where she worked as a doctor's assistant. Pearl moved back to Garnett in 1981, later moving to Parkside Place Apartments where she lived until she passed away. She was a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary. Mrs. Saffer was preceded in death by her daughter, Beverly Henry in 1964; her parents, Edward and Josie Henry; seven brothers, Norman, Virgil O., Alfred, William D., George R., Lester, and Melvin Henry; and one sister, RubyTurner. Pearl LaVaughn is survived by her sons, Edward Saffer, Jr. of Pocatello, ID, and Frank Gillespie and his wife Aubrey of Yates Center; her daughters, Alice Marie Burnside and her husband Loyd of Idaho Falls, ID, and Natalie Lee and her husband Ron of Swan Valley, ID; her sister, Margie Kueser of Louisburg; 13 grandchildren and nine great- grandchildren. The family suggests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements." "Mark L. Hiner 1971-2006 Funeral services for Mark L. Hiner, 35, Weston, MO, are Saturday, December 2, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. at the Vaughn Funeral Chapel in Weston. Mr. Hiner died Tuesday, November 28, at his home. Interment is in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Weston. A complete obituary will appear in the next Advocate." Transcribed for Anderson County Kansas USGENWEB By: Lulu B. Nixon