February 18, 2004
The ADVOCATE
Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties
Volume 8, No. 14
Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown

Page 5, Column 2:

“Gerry Ann Getty
1950-2004
Funeral Mass for Gerry Ann Getty, 53, Ottawa, KS, was Monday, February 16, 2004, at Sacred
Heart Catholic Church, Ottawa, with Father Tod Ziegler officiating.  Family inurnment will be at a
later date.  Mrs. Getty died Wednesday, February 11, at the University of Kansas Medical Center,
Kansas City, KS.
Gerry Ann Getty was born July 21, 1950, at Seneca, KS, the daughter of Mathias and Marie
(Haug) Roeder.  She grew up on a dairy farm in rural Nemaha County, and had been a longtime
resident of Ottawa, living there since 1983.  Gerry graduated from Baileyville Benedict High
School with the Class of 1968.  She graduated from Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia in
1971.  In 1992, she received a Master’s degree from Kansas State University.  She was an
elementary teacher for 32 years, and taught in Overbrook, McDonald, Tipton, and Central
Heights, from where she retired in 2003.  She also taught adult classes at Neosho County
Community College satellite campus in Ottawa.
Gerry was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.  She was active in the local National
Education Association, serving as local president and chief negotiator, as well as being a delegate
along with her husband to several national conventions.  Over the course of her career, Mrs.
Getty received numerous awards, including Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, the 1995
Viking of the Year, the 2001 Outstanding Reading Educator from the Franklin County Reading
Council, and the 2002 Kansas Reading Association Professional Literacy Award.  She also
founded the Franklin County Reading Festival in 2000, which showcases national children’s
literature authors.
Gerry and Steven Getty were married October 3, 1970, at Seneca, KS.
Mrs. Getty was preceded in death by her parents, Mathias and Marie Roeder.
Gerry is survived by her husband, Steven, of the home; her sons, Brent Getty, Lawrence, KS, and
Marc Getty, Kansas City, MO; her brothers, Larry Roeder, Hiawatha, KS, Dan Roeder, Overland
Park, KS, and Dave Roeder, Washington, D.C.; and her sisters, Kathryn Roeder, Pittsburg, PA,
and Karen Underwood, Los Angeles, CA.
A Rosary was said on Sunday, February 15, at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home, followed by a family
visitation.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Franklin County Children’s Literacy Festival.
Dengel and Son Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.”

Page 5, Column 3:

“Edythe Kelley
1910-2004
Funeral services for Edythe Kelley, 94, Garnett, were Saturday, February 14, 2004, at 2:00 p.m.
at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel with Rev. Gary Benjamin officiating.  Interment was in
Lane Cemetery, Lane, KS.  Mrs. Kelley died Wednesday, February 11, at Golden Heights Living
Center, Garnett.
Edythe Kelley was born January 9, 1910, in Miami County, KS, the daughter of James and Laura
Mae (Matney) Stout.  She was raised in the Osawatomie area, and had lived in Garnett since
1973.  Edythe worked as a psychiatric aide at Osawatomie State Hospital from 1952-1977.
Edythe and Hiram H. ‘Hi’ Kelley were married November 23, 1927, at Garnett.  After their
marriage, they lived in Lane from 1954 to 1973, at which time they moved to Garnett.
Music was provided by Laura Parks, organist, and Scott Schulte, soloist.  Musical selections
included ‘Angels Among Us’ and ‘Let There Be Peace On Earth’.
Casketbearers were Leo Donohue, David Kelley, Bert Snyder, Cody Church, Roger Brummel,
and Joe Humbert.
Mrs. Kelley was preceded in death by her husband, Hiram, in October 1984; her son, James
Roland Kelley, in December 1984; her daughter, Laura Mae Stringham, in June 1984; her parents,
James and Laura Stout; two brothers and one sister.
Edythe is survived by her sons, Jerry H. Kelley and his wife, Shirley, Independence, MO, and Jack
D. Kelley and his wife, Beverley, Lenexa, KS; her daughter, Sara Jane Donohue and her husband,
Leo, Garnett; and 12 grandchildren.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the donor’s choice.
Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.”


“Harold A. Phares
1908-2004
Mass of Christian Burial for Harold A. Phares, 95, Garnett, was Tuesday, February 17, 2004, at
10:00 a.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church with Father George Matz officiating.  Interment was
in Holy Angels Cemetery.  Mr. Phares died Friday, February 13, at Anderson County Hospital.
Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.  A complete obituary will
appear later.”

Transcribed for 
Anderson County
Kansas
USGENWEB
By:  Lulu B. Nixon