August 15, 2003 The ADVOCATE Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties Volume 7, No. 66 Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown Page 5, Column 1: “Jocelyn R. (Seward) Pickerill 1907-2003 Funeral services for Jocelyn R. (Seward) Pickerill, 95, Parsons, KS, were Thursday, August 14, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. at Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Parsons, with John Newell officiating. Interment was in Valley Cemetery, northwest of Parsons. Mrs. Pickerill died Friday, August 8, at 6:45 p.m. at Elmhaven West Nursing Home. She had been in failing health. Joycelyn R. (Seward) Pickerill was born November 16, 1907, near Goddard, KS, the daughter of John W. and Lena (Holwick) Glass. The family moved to Deer Creek, OK, when she was a small child. She grew up there and graduated from Deer Creek High School. On October 6, 1927, Jocelyn married Rev. Edward F. Seward, a minister in the United Brethren in Christ denomination, at Deer Creek. During his ministry, they served churches in the towns of Wichita, Haven, Parsons, Applegrove, IN, Collett, IN, Muncie, IN, Chanute, Fredonia, Garnett, and Sabetha. They retired and returned to Parsons in 1966. Rev. Seward died February 19, 1972. Jocelyn and Earl R. Pickerill were married in Parsons on May 18, 1975. He preceded her in death on October 8, 1989. Mrs. Seward was a well-known artist. She enjoyed all kinds of crafts. She had also cared for numerous foster children in her home. She was a member of the Otterbein United Brethren in Christ Church, northwest of Parsons. Mrs. Seward was also preceded in death by her son, Lawrence Seward, who lost his life in World War II; her daughter, Dorotha Bradbury; her grandson, Bruce Seward; her granddaughter, Carol Seward; her brother, Louel Glass; her sisters, Evelyn Storch-her twin, Bernice Packard, Dorothy Washburn, and Ruby Trollope; and her parents, John W. and Lena Glass. Jocelyn is survived by her sons, Edward Seward, Parsons, KS, Paul Seward, Wichita, KS, Richard Seward, Tacoma, WA, and Alan Seward, Billings, MT; her step-sons, Max Pickerill, Colby, KS, Don Pickerill, LaCrescenta, CA, Jerry Pickerill, Tulsa, OK, and Paul Pickerill, Topeka, KS; her step-daughters, Sally McGregor, Glendale, CA, Delores Heilman, Wichita, KS, Jeanette McKisick, Catoosa, OK, Grace Bolinger, Clinton, WA, and Judy French, Parsons, KS; twenty grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren. The family received friends on Wednesday, August 13, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Otterbein United Brethren in Christ Church, which may be sent to Carson-Wall Funeral Home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Carson-Wall Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.” Page 5, Column 2: “Bob D. Hermreck 1934-2003 Funeral services for Bob D. Hermreck, 68, Garnett, were Wednesday, August 13, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel with Lloyd Houk officiating. Interment was in Springfield Cemetery, rural Garnett. Mr. Hermreck died Sunday, August 10, at his home. Bob D. Hermreck was born October 12, 1934, at Scipio, KS, the son of Nick and Odelia (Bowman) Hermreck. He was a lifetime resident of Anderson County and was a 1952 graduate of Kincaid High School. Bob was a pipefitter/welder for Taylor Forge, formerly BEHM, until her retired on January 1, 1999. He was a member of Local 763 (441) Pipefitters Union. Bob and Ruth (Sloan) Milton were married on March 4, 1968, at Miami, OK. Mr. Hermreck was preceded in death by his parents, Nick and Odelia Hermreck; and his brother Jimmy Hermreck. Bob is survived by his wife, Ruth, of the home; his sons, Dennis Hermreck and his wife, Vicky, Modesto, CA, Walt Hermreck and his wife, Sara Seitz, Leavenworth, KS, and Lyle Hermreck and his wife, Monte, Parsons, KS; his daughters, Pam Cox and her husband, Steve, Garnett, and Darlene Lampe and her husband, Rick, Iola, KS; his brother, Bill Hermreck, Osawatomie, KS; his sisters, Ruth Zwiener, Garnett, and Sharon Brady, Ottawa, KS; his grandchildren, Heather Nilges, Haley Cox and friend, Zameer, Nicole Hermreck, Judd Hermreck, Paige Hermreck, and Justin Hermreck; and his great-grandchildren, Kaley Nilges and Kyler Nilges. Music was provided by Jeanine Zentner, organist, and Bill Craig, soloist. Musical selections included ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Precious Lord, Take My Hand’. Casketbearers were Jerry Grandon, Mike Kilet, John Wolken, Clyde ‘Slick’ Katzer, Bill McHenry, and Lou Wolken. Honorary casketbearers were Henry Ackman, Larry Lee, Jim Carey, Bobby Payne, and Max Ratliff. The family received friends on Tuesday, August 12, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.” “Leslie Reed Funeral services for Leslie Reed, 50, Garnett, are pending and will be announced later by Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel. Mr. Reed died early Wednesday morning, August 13, 2003, at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Topeka, KS.” Page 5, Column 3: “Larry Ray Decker 1940-2003 Funeral services for Larry Ray Decker, 62, Garnett, were Tuesday, August 12, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel with Pastor Lee Bahney officiating. Interment was in Holy Angels Cemetery. Mr. Decker died Saturday, August 9, at Olathe Medical center, Olathe, KS. Larry Ray Decker was born October 31, 1940, the oldest child born to Martin and Mary (Rowley) Decker on a farm near Kincaid, KS. He lived in the Kincaid area until age five when his family moved to a farm west of Colony. He attended Colony High School and graduated with the Class of 1958. In June, 1959, Larry married Bonnie Culler. They raised two children, Connie Jean and Garry Ray. They later divorced. On February 19, 1989, Larry married Bernice Welsh Stahl in Las Vegas, NV. He moved to Garnett, where he lived until his death. Larry worked various jobs until 1963, when he moved his family to Colony and joined the family farming operation. In the 1980’s he worked water line construction and lived in several Midwest states. While living in Garnett, he worked for the Kansas Department of Transportation until his failing health forced him into retirement. During his retirement he drove the Head Start school bus. Larry enjoyed his retired life. He liked to fly remote-controlled airplanes. Later, he took an interest in collecting and restoring mopeds. He and Bernice were often seen driving around Garnett together. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Larry was instrumental in overseeing improvements and reorganizing the Colony Rural Fire Department. He was always available to lend a hand to those who needed it. In the early 1980’s, he worked many long hours to make certain the City of Colony had an ample supply of city water. His neighbors knew they could rely on Larry to help out by simply fixing what needed to be fixed. Larry was a former member of the Colony Masonic Lodge. Mr. Decker was preceded in death by his father, Martin Decker; and his brothers, Leon Decker and Kerry Decker. Larry is survived by his wife, Bernice, of the home; his mother, Mary Decker, Colony, KS; his sister, Fran Hoggatt and her husband, Jerry, Wichita, KS; his daughter, Connie Thompson and her husband, Rick, Kincaid, KS; his son, Garry Decker and his wife, Paula, Welda, KS; his grandchildren, Blake Thompson and his wife, Hannah, Lee’s Summit, MO, Erin Thompson, Kincaid, and her fiancé, Justin Zook, Nicholas Thompson, Kincaid, and Jenna and Luke Decker, Welda, KS; his nephew, Jeff Hoggatt and family, Wichita, KS; his niece, Jana Burke and family, Wichita, KS; his step-sons, Richard Stahl and family, Ottawa, KS, and Russell Stahl and family, Garnett; and his step-grandchildren, Ethan, Jessica, and Jacob Stahl, all of Garnett. He also leaves behind many family members and friends. Music was provided by Jeanine Zentner, organist, and Bill Craig, soloist. Musical selections included ‘Precious Lord, Take My Hand’ and ‘How Great Thou Art’. Casketbearers were Bill Goodell, Paul Stephens, Mike Weldin, Dale Hastert, LeRoy Teter, and Charles Ray Welsh. Honorary casketbearers were Sheldon Caudell and Clark Schainost. The family received friends on Monday, August 11, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Colony Fire Department, which may be left in care of the funeral home. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.” “Carol Harvey Valentine Stark 1935-2003 Private committal services for Carol Harvey Valentine Stark, 68, Garnett, will be held at a later date. Mrs. Stark died Thursday, August 7, 2003, at Anderson County Hospital, Garnett. Carol Harvey Valentine Stark was born July 19, 1935, at Spring Hill, KS, the daughter of Harold and Bernice (Dillon) Harvey. Carol was an excellent restaurant manager and enjoyed working with arts and crafts. Mrs. Stark was preceded in death by her son, David Valentine; and her parents, Harold and Bernice Harvey. Carol is survived by her sons, Mike Valentine, Raleigh, NC, Randy Valentine, Lake of the Ozarks, MO, Greg Valentine, Topeka, KS, and Scott Valentine, Chandler, TX; her daughters, Tracy Katzenberger, Longmont, CO, and Jennifer McIntyre, Holden, MO; her brother, Jay Harvey, Ithaca, NY; and her sister, Evelyn Armitage, Overland Park, KS. She is also survived by her caretaker and best friend, Ken Ritter. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.” Transcribed for Anderson County Kansas USGENWEB By: Lulu B. Nixon