Margaret A. Shauers, District 6, Great Bend, died March 17, 2012, at her home. Freelance author and novelist, Margaret published novels, short stories, poetry, and also non-fiction.
She worked as staff writer at Barton County Junior College in Communication Department, taught Creative Writing @ Barton County Community College. She also published in periodicals, particularly Sunday School children's material. Her funeral was held in Great Bend on March 20, 2012, at First Presbyterian Church. Margaret was active in KAC and held various position within the organization. She will be greatly missed. Margaret's memory page is available online.
4/13/2012
Dr. William "Joe" McFarland, District 1, Topeka, joined KAC in 2009, but passed January 27, 2012 at age 82. A 1951 graduate of Sterling (Kansas) College, he lettered in five sports. Joe was drafted into the Army from 1951 to 1953 and served 16 months in Korea. He later earned an M.A. degree at the University of Northern Colorado, and a doctoral degree at Indiana U
niversity. He also received honorary doctorates from Sterling College and Geneva College (Beaver Falls, PA) where he was President Emeritus. Many of his activities have been chronicled in his autobiography, My Time on the Clock; The Shaping of a College President(2008). The faith, fortune and foibles of the author are humorously presented in this informative and entertaining book. Joe officiated college and high school football games for over 50 years. He won Tri-State Senior Olympic honors in the javelin throw. Physically fit even in later years, he made his first parachute jump at age 70 and his second at age 80. He held a private pilot's license for 25 years, and he also claimed a hole-in-one in golf! Joe's obituary is available online. 2/2/2012
Irma Wassall, District 5, Wichita, passed away at on Juanary 26, 2012, the age of 103. She had been a member of KAC since 1936,and served as President of District 5 in 1955. Wassall was born September 23, 1908. More than 1,000 of her poems have appeared in newspapers, magazines, anthologies and her six collections of published poetry. Her first collection, Loonshadow, was published in 1949; her latest, The Ruby-Emerald Jungles, in 1999. She received the Kansas Governor's Art Award in 2001 at the age of 92. Her husband, Fred Wassall, was a painter. He died in 1970. Irma's obituary is available online. Her memorial service was held at Picadilly Market & Grille on Feb. 5, 2012. The Wichita Eagle published an article about Irma's life. A memorial has been established with the Kansas Authors Club in care of 400 S. Pershing, Wichita, KS 67218. 1/30/2012
Nell Nadine McLain, District 7, Satanta, passed Wednesday, November 23, 2011, at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City. Burial was in the Haskell County Cemetery in Sublette. Nell was a KAC member from 1990 to 2009, and served as secretary of District 7 from 1997 to 2000, and contest manager in 2003. Her literary interests ranged between fiction, poetry and various articles for county newspapers. One poem, entitled "While Picking the Last of the Cherries," originally published by Capper's Weekly in 1987, is reprinted in the KAC Yearbook, 2001.
12/2/2011
Ervin E. Grant, District 5, El Dorado, 86, died Sunday, August 21, 2011 at his home. Ervin was born and raised in El Dorado and attended school and community college there. He served in the U.S. Navy and attended St. Thomas University, University of Kansas, and University of Kansas Law School. He joined his father in the practice of law in 1951 and retired after 60 years just two weeks prior to his death. He joined KAC in 2007 and registered his literary interest in fiction novels, religion, short stories and biographical memoirs. Two years ago he began writing a weekly column in the El Dorado Times on the history of Butler County, and is also the author of two books -- Reawakening and Trials of a Small Town Lawyer. He was given the octogenarian award in 2010. His wife, Mary Jo Grant, also a KAC member, is a poet and non-fiction writer. Ervin's obituary is available in the El Dorado Times. 9/20/2011
Bertha Caroline Barfknecht Rayburn, District 1, Topeka, died July 12, 2011, at Brewster Place in Topeka. Born on April 25, 1916, in Pipestone, Minnesota, she lived to be ninty-five. A regular member of KAC from 1956 to 1995, she was reinstated from 2005 to 2008. Fiction was her favorite genre, and she served as President of District 1 in 1959. She received a masters degree in education as a reading specialist from Washburn University and worked as a substitute teacher in the Topeka area. She also served on the Topeka Literary Council. Bertha's obituary is available in the Topeka Capital-Journal. 7/15/2011 
Eleanor H. Bell, 82, of Topeka, passed away on Friday, May 6, 2011, at a Topeka care facility. She was born January 18, 1929, in Wichita. Eleanor was a KAC member from 1980 to 1990, and was D1 President in 1983. In addition to her publications in poetry and non-fiction prose, she was a well-known editor and lecturer. She spoke to KAC districts about writing techniques and how to become a published author. In addition to her many newspaper articles and poems, she authored Secondhand Rainbows, a collection of poetry and related essays. Her Flights Through Inner Space, originally published by Washburn University's Woodley Press in 1980, was reissued in an expanded and revised edition in 2000. Her obituary is posted on-line by the Topeka Capital-Journal. 5/12/2011
Wanda Bates, District 4, Manhattan, passed away on Tuesday, April 6, 2010. She was 95 and still writing up to a few months ago when she was hospitalized. Her obituary is available to read on-line. Wanda Molsberry was born in Clarksville, Iowa, and was a graduate of Iowa State University in Ames. She married Herbert Bates, later professor of chemical engineering at K-State. She was a KAC member from 1967 - 2010. She was twice D4 President, 1975 and 1976. Helena Dean Olson was the inspiration for her entering a KAC contest and later joining the Club. She wrote poetry, fiction and non-fiction. She hit her stride in light verse and feature articles and sometimes fiction. She published in Kansas Quarterly, Sketch (Iowa State University's English Dept.), and Kansas Review. 4/8/2010
Trudy McFarland, District 1, Topeka, 84, died on January 22, 2009. A native Topekan, Trudy was a good friend of Kansas Authors Club, attwnding the 2009 KAC Convention in Topeka in October, 2009, where she provided Ad Astra centerpieces for the banquet and shared them as door prizes at the end of the evening. Trudy majored in journalism in college and was an avid writer. Her story of her mother, Diary of a German War Bride, received the 2006 J. Donald Coffin Memorial Book Award of KAC and was recognized in Pen Woman, the national publication of NLAPW. Trudy was also active in the Write Stuff, a Topeka writers group. Her obituary appears in the Topeka Capital-Journal. 1/24/2010
Claire Willis Sorensen, District 5, Wichita, died Saturday, July 11,2009, in Wichita, KS. Born near Port Huron, Michigan, February 16, 1918, to Amos and Bertha Willis, she married Howard K. Sorensen in 1941. Claire served American Baptist missions in Haiti and Arizona, wrote five books, painted, and sang in church choirs. She is survived by her husband, Howard, their sons, Conner of Eschbach, Germany, Nathan, of Hamburg, Germany, and Garth of Miacatlan, Mexico; granddaughters, Cloudia Pawluk and Claire Meyler; grandsons Daniel and Philipp Sorensen, and three great grandchildren, Keith Andrew, Angela Faith, and Sarah Bethany Pawluk. services will be held at Prairie Homestead, 1637 May Avenue, Wichita, KS, at 2PM, Wednesday, July 15, 2009. Donations to Prairie Homestead or the American Cancer Society. 7/14/2009
Edith C. Coe, District 5, Wichita, died January 31, 2009. She was 91. Coe was a graduate of Clay County High School in 1934 and from Ottawa University in 1938, from which she received the Distinguished Service Award in 1977. She taught English in Ingalls, Kingman and Hutchinson between 1938 and 1946. Edith was a frequent public speaker and was active until recent years in a number of organizations including the Kansas Authors Club since 1970. Non-fiction and poetry were genres of most interest to her, and Edith won recognition for her literary works. She wrote a number of books including Hertzler Heritage (1975); Edith Rosine and Albert Lincoln Koeneke Their Lives in Poetry and Prose (1977); and The Way It Was (2001). Edith loved to write magazine articles, and she taught a memoir/biography class at the East Wichita Shepherd's Center. Her obituary appears in The Wichita Eagle. 2/4/2009
Elizabeth E. "Liz" House, District 2, Lawrence, died in Lawrence, Monday, January 5, 2009 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She was born May 11, 1912 in Jefferson County, Kansas. She attended Lawrence schools and was an operator for Southwestern Bell for 45 years, retiring in 1974. She was Kansas Authors Club's State Vice President in 1986, and State President in 1987/1988. Liz wore many hats during membership in KAC from 1975 to 2004. She consistently contributed her poetry to the Club's yearbooks. She was District 2's Treasurer from 1979 through 1986, then D2's President from 1987 through 1992. In 1985 Mrs. House chaired the State Writing contest. In her report she credited the many new members in the state to the non-member writing contests. She won an Achievement Award in 1992 and a Service Award in 1986. Her obituary appears in the Lawrence Journal-World. 1/28/2009
It is with great sadness that we must report the death of 
Beulah Lou Weber , District 7, Garden City, died May 8, 2008 in Garden City. She joined KAC in 2005 and she circled only the genre of poetry on her application for membership. Beulah earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Dakota Wesleyan University in 1958 and a Master of Arts from the University of South Dakota at Vermillion in 1971. Beulah held several jobs throughout her career; she worked at KORN-TV in Mitchell, SD and later for KXAB-TV in Aberdeen, SD. In 1969 she became Media Coordinator for the Vermillion, SD public school system. She held numerous other supervising, art design and teaching positions throughout her career. Beulah eventually located in Garden City, KS in 1992 where she was the Library Media Specialist at Abe Hubert Middle School before retiring in 1999. 10/29/2008
Frankie Kannard, District 2, Ottawa, better known to most of us as “Buster Jenkins,” passed away Sunday, June 29, 2008. Members will recall that Buster (his stage name) and his wife, Betty, professional musicians, entertained us at Sunday awards luncheons during the 2004 convention in Topeka and the 2006 convention in Junction City. Buster, who always displayed a keen sense of humor, was also the author of two books, an autobiography entitled Tougher ‘n a Boot and Tales from Woodson County. He requested private family services and was to be cremated. His obituary and a tribute were published in the Kansas City Star. 7/27/2008
Leona Mae Dillard, District 6, Hutchinson, age 87, died March 25, 2008, at her home in Hutchinson. She was born April 28, 1920, on a farm near Haviland, the daughter of Vernon and Mae Bryant Sneed. She graduated from Haviland High School and held a bachelor's degree in commerce a degree from Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia, and a master's degree fmm Columbia University, New York City.
Carol Anderson, District 2, Lawrence, died on Friday, July 13, 2007, after a long struggle with cancer. Carol was born in Newton and raised in McPherson. Her photography expertise, travels to Japan, and her interaction with the Kansas landscape inspired her to write Treasures From the Heartland, a book combining haiku poetry and her excellent photographs, taken in Kansas and Japan.
Julia Ann (Casad) Dagenais, District 5, Wichita, died at the age of 81 on March 31, 2007. Julia was a homemaker, teacher and social worker, a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She enjoyed a life of love, laughter and literature. Services will be held Tuesday, April 3 at 10:00 AM at Woodland United Methodist Church. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 that afternoon at Fairview Cemetery in Cheney, KS. Survivors include her husband of 60 years Ralph (District 5, Wichita), son John (Gail) of Culver City, CA, daughter Janet Brown (Mike) of Wichita and daughter Jane of Syracuse, NY., and five grandchildren. Julia Ann was born on September 4, 1925 at Wilsey, KS to Clair L. and Eula Imogene (Compton) Casad. She attended the University of Kansas, graduating Phi Beta Kappa on June 17, 1946, and marrying Ralph on that same day. She earned an M.A. in English from Wichita State University, 1969 and taught English in Andale and Wichita high schools. Julia was an Adjunct Professor of English at Friends University in Wichita. She was a published poet and author of a history of the Kansas West Conference of the United Methodist Church, past President of the Kansas Authors' Club, and was serving on the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Historical Society. She was a member of the National League of American Pen Women and the Scandinavian Society of Wichita. Memorials have been established with Woodland United Methodist Church and with Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. 
Dorothy M.Ternes, District 5, Wichita, died March 29, 2007, at the age of 76. Dorothy was a homemaker, secretary, teacher, and author. Dorothy was a former employee of USD 259, Friends University, and The Wichita Art Museum. Dorothy was preceded in death by parents, Timothy and Anne Marie (Bales) Jordan. Survivors include her husband, Phillip; son, Stephen (Melissa) Ternes of Wichita; daughters, Jeanne Trainer of Broken Arrow, OK, Carole (Douglas) Van Amburg of Goddard, Barb (Dennis) Newell of Emporia, Margie (Rick) Cartwright of Wichita; brothers, Jim (LaVonne) Jordan of Wichita, Gary (Kathy) Jordan of Ottawa; sisters, Cecile (Chuck) Carlson of Omaha, NE, Celeste Jordan of Grand Haven, MI; 20 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren. Memorials established with Bishop Carroll Catholic High School Building Fund, 8101 W. Central, Wichita, KS 67212 and Scleroderma Foundation, 300 Rosewood Dr., S-105, Danvers, MA 01923. 
Leland R. "Bob" Johnson Sr., District 5, Wichita, died March 22, 2007 at the age of 88. Johnson was a retired architect, engineer, writer, inventor and WWII veteran. Born Dec. 24, 1918 in Washington, Pa., to Rev. Luther R. and Martha (Warford) Johnson, Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Gwynne. Survivors include his children, Leland R. Johnson Jr. (Rose) of Goddard, Douglas R. Johnson (Christi) of Denver, Colo., Susan G. Elmore (Eldon) of Camp Verde, Ariz., Margaret E. Johnson of Wichita; four grandchildren;and four great-grandchildren; Bob graduated with a bachelor's degree in Architecture and a degree in Architectural Engineering from the University of Kansas in 1942, where he was a Summerfield scholar. He served in the US Navy aboard an LST in the Pacific during WWII. He was active in numerous civic organizations, including Toastmaster's International, Caldwell Elementary PTA, Kansas Author's Club, a retired engineers group, and the Wichita Astronomical Society. He published two books and was a frequent contributor of letters to the editor of the Wichita Eagle. Memorial service was held on March 31, 2007, Prairie Homestead Chapel, Wichita. 
Beverly Ann Lyons, District 2, Fulton, died on December 15, 2006. Following cremation, services will be held at the Lyons Farm in Fulton because, as was stated in her obituary, that is when "prairie meadow starts turning green and the prairie flowers begin to blossom." Memorial contributions in Beverly's name may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and sent to the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 West Wall Street, PO Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Online expressions of sympathy may be emailed to expressions@konantz-cheney.com 12/27/2006
Laurence H. Harshbarger, District 4, Junction City, passed away Saturday, August 12, 2006, at Geary Community Hospital. Funeral services and burial will be at a later date in Glidden, IA.
Edna Ferguson, District 1, Topeka, passed away on June 19. Edna was a member of both Kansas Authors Club and the Write Stuff writers' group. She had been working on memoirs of her childhood, growing up on a farm, which were filled with warm humor and fascinating accounts of hardships and adventures. Her wit and grace will be missed. Her obituary was in the 6/22/2006 Topeka Capital-Journal. No services are planned. 6/20/2006
Her writing includes poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction; and people in her community have read her letters to the editor in the Junction City Daily Union. She served as  President of District 4 in 2000. She was State Chair of the Centennial Book Committee in 2003 and 2004, and edited Our Way With Words, a book of members’ writing published in honor of the Kansas Authors Club Centennial in 2004. She will be missed by her many friends in Kansas Authors Club. |
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