Vivian J. (Thompson) Martinez - Morland (Class 1941)

              

Vivian June (Thompson) Martinez - Morland, 99, passed away on Saturday, December 23, 2023 in Whitewater, Kansas. She was born January 9, 1924, in Lincoln, Kansas, the daughter of Alfred Lorie and Gertrude Emma (Brumbaugh) Thompson.

Vivian was raised in Paradise, Kansas, where she was brought up on the family farm. While in her grade school years she and her best friend, Nadine, would ride their mule to school five miles each direction. Vivian was a basketball star from Paradise High School, where she graduated with the class of 1941. After high school, she made her way to Wichita, Kansas, where she went to work for Boeing Aircraft.

Vivian was united in marriage to Robert L. Morland, where they raised seven children in the Wichita area, then later she was re-married to the love of her life, Otis V. " Marty" Martinez on July 2, 1976.

Vivian enjoyed spending time with her family, traveling, playing cards, bowling, and loved to work in her yard planting flowers. She will always be remembered as a sweet, loving, elegant woman. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and her Wheat State Manor family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Robert & Marty; her children, Van Arthur Morland, Marilee Mae, and Michael Morland; her brothers, Lex Thompson, Arthur Thompson, Gerald Thompson, Roger Thompson, and Ronnie Thompson; and her sister, Joan McCall.

She is survived by: her children, Robert "Bob" Morland, DeeAnn Dickerson, Melody Brooks, Melonie (Frank) Mertes; her sister, Sue (Rod) Heitschmidt; her sister-in-laws, Joyce Thompson & Florence Thompson; 18 grandchildren, along with numerous great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 pm on Friday, December 29, 2023, with the Funeral Service being held 10:00 am on Saturday, December 30, 2023, both at Resthaven Mortuary, 11800 W. US-54 Highway in Wichita. Interment will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, in the Garden of Lord's Prayer.

Lucille Houser Shearer (Class 64)

 

Lucille Joyce “Lucy” Shearer, 77, of Paradise, Kansas, died on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at her home in Paradise.

Lucy was born on August 18, 1946, in Paradise, Kansas, the daughter of Lawrence and Della (Burger) Houser.  She grew up in Paradise and graduated from Paradise High School in 1964.  After high school, she graduated from Ft. Hays University with a degree in business.  She met, fell in love, and was united in marriage to Keiford Lee Shearer on June 27, 1975, in Norton, Kansas.  From this union, Lucy and Keiford were blessed with their daughter, Karen on March 2nd 1981.  Lucy taught school off and on for several years before going to work for the United States Postal Service in Paradise. She retired after serving as the Post Master for 22 years.  In retirement, she enjoyed watching the University of Kansas Jayhawks sports and Kansas City Chiefs, as well as, helping out members of the community however she could.  She also loved helping her husband take care of the family farm (anyone that knew Lucy, knew she loved her cats) and especially loved spending quality time with her family and grandchildren. Lucy would light up with the biggest smile when anyone asked her about her grandchildren. Anything that her daughter or grandchildren did, Lucy was proud of and would share with everyone even if it were the smallest of things.

Lucy was a great person that had a lot of love for God, the farm, and her family.

Surviving family include her daughter Karen Patton and husband John, four grandchildren Caleb, Logan, Kenzie, and Cameron all of Sellersville, Pennsylvania.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband (Keiford on May 25, 2012), and brother Randall Houser. A celebration of Lucy’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, December 22, 2023, at the Paradise Valley Grace Church in Paradise, Kansas.  Burial will follow at the Mt. Hermon Cemetery in Paradise.  Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Thursday, December 22, 2023, with family greeting guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Thursday evening.  Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.