Lee Roy “Heavy” and Mary Ann Phillips died on Friday, September 22, 2023, due to a fire at their home in Emporia. Lee Roy was 88, Mary Ann was 85.
Lee Roy was born on October 31, 1934, in Emporia, the son of Will and Ovoilette Ruse Phillips. He spent 37 years at Didde Glasser as a foreman and later was a Red Tek Dealer for over 20 years.
Mary Ann was born on October 4, 1937, in Emporia, the daughter of Percy and Jessie Paulsen Jackson. She was a bookkeeper at Americus Building Material and self-employed with numerous restaurants and businesses.
Lee Roy and Mary Ann were married on May 23, 1954, in Americus.
Surviving family members include: sons Randy (Camala) Phillips of Nacogdoches, Texas, Rodney Joe (Tammy) Phillips of Vassar; and Ricky (Tina) Phillips of Emporia; daughters Kathy (Rodney) Shepherd of Emporia; and Debra (Steve) Long of Tribune; grandchildren Jay (Carrie) Reim, Derek (Julie) Helms, Amy Helms, Jerrod (Heather) Long, Cody (Hope) Long, Justin (Jana) Phillips, Amber (Weston) Brown, Collin Phillips, Dakota Phillips, Jenny (Jason) Brown, Josey (Jared) Faust, and Jordan (Durango) Blackford and seventeen great-grandchildren.
Lee Roy is also survived by his sisters Alice Barrett of Mission, and Marjorie Whitney of Hutchinson. He is preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter Hannah Ortega, brothers Ray Phillips and Robert Phillips; sisters Beulah Spillman and Rose Sluder.
Mary Ann is also survived by her brother Jim Jackson of Paola; sisters Patty Kayser of Topeka; Betty Grimmett of Emporia; and sister-in-law Gloria Jackson of Emporia. She is preceded in death by her parents, granddaughter Hannah Ortega, and brother Bob Jackson.
A memorial service took place at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church, Emporia. Visitation was held Friday, September 29, 2023, at the Cottonwood Friends Church of Emporia. Memorial contributions can be made to the Emporia Friends of the Zoo or the Messiah Lutheran Church sent in care of Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, Kansas 66801. Online condolences can be left at at www.robertsblue.com.
Nat and his twin brother, Neal, were born at home in Arkansas City on May 2, 1941 to Harold and Georgia (Lawson) Kinlund. They joined one older brother and three older sisters. Nat passed away at home in Longmont, Colorado, with family by his side on October 20, 2023. Nat lived... [More]
Marilyn Lee Angood, age 73, passed away at the Greeley County Hospital on Thursday, November 9, 2023. She was born on January 1, 1950, to Lawrence and Maxine (Carter) Lehman in Tribune, Kansas. Marilyn was born and raised in Tribune and returned home after spending thirty... [More]
Matthew James Campbell was born June 12, 1978 in Burlington, Colorado. He was the second of three children, and the only son to Roxanna and Dennis Campbell. Growing up working on a farmstead between Cheyenne Wells and Burlington, Colorado, Matt was never very far from... [More]
Thamer Mote, 92, of Weskan, Kansas passed away at Hope Springs in Sharon Springs on October 16, 2023. He was born on November 13, 1930 to Oris and Pearl (Cooper) Mote in Tolbert, Texas. After his couple years of military service, Thamer worked for various farmers and... [More]
Tommy J. Burton, age 60, passed away early Sunday morning, October 15, 2023, at the Fowler Residential Care Center, Fowler, Kansas. He was boron November 3, 1962, at Columbus, Kansas, the son of Leonard and Virginia (Aubert) Barkdoll. As a young boy, the family... [More]
John Vaughan, age 79, passed away on June 28, 2023. He was born October 21, 1944, to John Y. and Arla (Baker) Vaughan in North Dakota. John was the oldest of 4 children: Betsy (Randy) Graff, Vicki (Larry) Vondron, and Bruce (Cindy) Vaughan. Dorleen, age 73, passed away on August... [More]
Nate Lenny Ekhoff, age 78, passed away on Monday, September 25, 2022, at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City. He was born in Syracuse on February 14, 1945, the son of Walter & Berniece Becker Ekhoff. A resident of Scott City since 2019, moving from Loveland,... [More]
Leroy Harold Mai, age 87, passed away on Monday, August 14, 2023, at the Greeley County Hospital in Tribune. He was born to Emanuel and Madeline Bohl Mai in Greeley County on February 18, 1936. He was a lifelong member of the community. On October 25, 1976, he married Norma... [More]
Photo caption: Knox Mangan (#21) protects the ball as Marco Coello runs down the court. Photo by Adriana Evans. On Monday, November 20, the Junior High Jackrabbits made the short trip to Leoti to take on the Wichita County Indians. Unlike the Northwest Kansas... [More]
Photo Caption: Eighth grader Jeryn Stewart prepares to shoot a free throw during last Monday’s game against the Wichita County Indians. Photo by Trista Shafer. The Lady Jackrabbits took on the Wichita Indians on their home court last Monday, November 20. A Girls... [More]
Photo caption: Braxon Mangan takes the ball to the basket in Greensburg Monday night. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger. The High School Boys Basketball team will host the Stanton County Trojans this Friday night for their first official game of the season. Coach Gooch, now... [More]
Photo Caption: Coach Shafer talks to his varsity squad during Monday night’s Jamboree. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger. The Lady Jackrabbits eased into their season Monday evening at a jamboree in Greensburg as they faced off against the Kiowa County Mavericks and the... [More]
Photo caption: Jackrabbits Alden Stum, Jamir Yanez (35), Tristen Evans, and Knox Mangan play defense during last Thursday’s B game in Atwood. Photo by Adriana Evans. The Junior High Jackrabbits traveled to Atwood on Thursday, November 16, to take on the Rawlins County... [More]
Photo Caption: 2022 Greeley County graduate Myla Reynolds, left, puts the ball up against senior Iliany Yanez at Saturday night’s Red and White scrimmage. The Greeley County High School basketball teams will tip off their seasons Monday, November 27, with a jamboree... [More]
Photo caption: Charlize Shafer played tight defense against the Rawlins County Buffaloes Thursday. Photo by Trista Shafer. The Lady Jackrabbits traveled to Atwood on Thursday, November 16, to take on the Buffaloes. B girls The B girls started off their game... [More]
Yanez plays in all-star game in Colby Greeley County Schools senior setter Iliany Yanez played in a regional All-Star game in Colby Saturday. She was on the team coached by Greeley County Schools Volleyball Coach Jordan Stewart. Six teams took part in the day’s play. ... [More]
Photo caption: Around 80 community members attended last Wednesday’s Thanksgiving Carry-In Dinner hosted by the Senior Center. Photo by Karlyn Woelk. The Greeley County Senior Center hosted a Thanksgiving Carry-In Dinner on Wednesday, November 22, in celebration... [More]
Photo caption: Evan, Jennifer, Layton (not pictured), Julia, and Lincoln Hopkins were awarded the 2023 4-H Family of the Year at last Tuesday night’s Achievement Banquet by Todd Schmidt. Photo by Christina Marquardt. Submitted by Todd Schmidt, Greeley County Extension... [More]
Photo caption: The Angel Tree is now located in the GCHS Clinic lobby. Clinic employee Kellee Kleymann smiles in the background. Courtesy photo. Submitted by Greeley County Health Services Greeley County Health Services (GCHS) is hosting the annual Angel Tree to ensure... [More]
Photo caption: Governor Laura Kelly announced via video at the recent Kansas Tourism Conference that WenDee Rowe, project manager at the Kansas Sampler Foundation, was the 2023 winner of the Governor’s Tourism Award. The award was announced during a general... [More]
We would like to thank everyone to stopped by our booths at recent community events. Congratulations to Noah Weaver, who won the vintage candy drawing (Sorry, Dr. Scheffe!) We are preparing for Christmas and hope you can visit us this Thursday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. or on the... [More]
Photo caption: A trace of snow dusted cattle at the Hopkins farm south of Towner Saturday afternoon. The weekend after Thanksgiving brought colder temperatures and the season’s first snowfall to Greeley County. Though Thanksgiving Day was the warmest... [More]
Photo caption: Two horse-drawn carriages, operated by the Engelbrechts of Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, took Greeley County residents on rides from 4-7 p.m. Friday evening. The carriages are sponsored by First Farm Bank. Photo by Sheryl Crotinger. Tribune’s Christmas Open... [More]
Shop at local participating merchants through the holiday season and enter to win one of twelve prizes of $100 in Greeley County Bucks. For each $10 spent in a participating business from Friday, November 17 thru Wednesday, December 20, shoppers will receive one ticket.... [More]
Guest Editorial by Representative Jim Minnix, 118th District Last session, the Kansas legislature signed HB 2350, also known as the Human Smuggling Crime bill. This bill created the crime of human smuggling and defined the crime as follows: intentionally transporting, harboring,... [More]
by James Marquardt Greeley County 4-H Member This week is National 4-H week. Some may ask what 4-H is. By definition, 4-H is an organization that is “engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development.” The reason... [More]
Editor’s Note: This is the first in what we hope will become regular commentary by longtime local Duane Schneider. Around town, many people call Duane by the nickname Brains. At 78 and ½, he’s eager to share some of the stories and his reflections on Greeley... [More]
I am addressing members of the community, what I am requesting is BACK UP, for a fallen officer.  My father was Chief of Police, Leoti, Kansas. His name was Carl A. Simons, he was murdered in the line of duty on 5-25-1976. You may be asking “why would I be wanting... [More]
Those who access the paper through our website gcrnews.com have likely noticed a new look and layout to the space. A couple of changes will soon accompany this redesign. 1. We will occasionally post additional photos to the website. There is a limited amount of... [More]
It seems the session has hit cruise control. Everyone is settled into their committees, the routine seems to be flowing, etc. Committees have been back at work for a couple of weeks, reviewing the work of the Senate. Unfortunately, for the Water Committee, the Senate... [More]
The window on one of the team vans read “One town. One team. One dream.” This weekend at the KHSHAA 1A-Division II Championship at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, those words held exceptional meaning as a sea of red cheered on the Jackrabbits... [More]
By: U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) Originally printed in the Topeka Capital-Journal This Congress, I will continue serving veterans as the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Traveling across our state, I have had the opportunity to hear... [More]
©2023 Greeley County Republican. Powered by Pluto Sites.