Ramon D. Hensley, 89, of Hutchinson, died March 22, 2019, at Hutchinson Health and Rehab. He was born June 22, 1929, to Clifford and Bernice (Rose) Hensley.

He is survived by: son, Steve Hensley, Prairie Village; daughter, Jeannine (Ronald) Shaffer, Prairie Village; sisters, Moynne Williams, California, and

Carol Sue Kaufman, Hutchinson; brothers, Clifford Eddy Hensley and Paul ‘Pete’ (Carolyn) Hensley, Hutchinson; and three grandchildren.

Ramon was preceded in death by: his parents; brother, David Joe Hensley; and sister, Janet Lynch.

Private family inurnment will be at Fairlawn Burial Park on Friday, March 29, 2019. Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, is in charge of arrangements.

Charlene (Hiett) Baker, 90, formerly of Hutchinson, died March 21, 2019, in Overland Park. She was born November 19, 1928, in Hutchinson, to Russel Harvey and Esther (Wolf) Hiett.

Charlene graduated from Hutchinson High School and Hutchinson Community College. She attended the Kansas City Art Institute. Charlene retired from the Hutchinson Public Library, where she worked in the talking books department. She was the first Miss Hutchinson, sponsored by the Navy Base. The same year, she was the second runner-up for Miss Kansas.

On July 29, 1950, she married Warren Richard Baker, in Hutchinson. He died December 14, 1975. Charlene is survived by: children, Linda Baker Nobles and husband John of Leawood, John R. Baker and wife Marlene of Hutchinson, Steven R. Baker and wife Shelley of Prairie Village; brother, William ‘Bill’ Hiett and wife Patti of Colorado; grandchildren, Jenna Nobles, Andrew Baker, Colin Baker, Abby Baker, Vanessa Baker; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Private family graveside service will be held in Laurel Cemetery, rural Haven. Friends may sign the book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday at Elliott Mortuary.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in care of Elliott Mortuary and Crematory, 1219 North Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Billy ‘Bill’ Ray Franklin, 83, passed away at his home on March 21, 2019. He was born to Alonzo and Alma (Hahn) Franklin, in Hutchinson, on January 20, 1936.  Bill graduated from Partridge High School in 1954, helping to earn the Quails a state championship in basketball during that time.

On August 27, 1955, he married his childhood sweetheart, Lola Mae Fornwalt, at Partridge Community Church, and spent over 60 years, both good days and bad, head over heels in love. Bill and Lola had two children, Debora Kay and Bill Eugene, and raised them both on the family farm in rural Partridge, where Bill was a dairyman and farmer for most of his life.

He was a member of Partridge Community Church. Bill was also an avid woodworker and genealogist, and took great joy in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by:  his parents; son, Bill E. Franklin; and brother-in-law, Bryan Tedder.

He is survived by:  his wife; daughter, Debora (Ray) Miller; daughter-in-law, Joann (William) Drummond, all of Hutchinson; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Anna Jean Tedder of Raymore, MO; and brother-in-law, Allen Hirst of Hutchinson.

Memorial service will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at Elliott Chapel, with Pastor Sheridan Irick presiding. Inurnment will follow in Pleasant View Cemetery, Darlow. Friends may sign the book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Elliott Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Partridge Community Church or American Heart Association, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Danny Wayne Graham, 61, of South Hutchinson, died March 21, 2019, in Wichita. He was born October 15, 1957, in Hutchinson, the son of Donald L. and Dorothy A. (Bell) Graham.

Danny graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1975 and attended Hutchinson Community College. He was a general sales manager for car dealerships in Kansas and Oklahoma for 43 years.

On December 6, 1986, Danny married Elizabeth Ann Berger in Hutchinson. She survives. Also surviving are: children, Tamara Young (Chad), Angela Graham, Tonya Lopez (Ernesto), Christina Graham, Matthew Graham; siblings, Jerry Graham (Debbie), Deanna DesMangles (Guy), Scott Graham (Teresa), Larry Graham; eight grandchildren; mother-in-law, Helen Engel; brothers-in-law, Mike Engel (Angie) and Eric Engel (Diana); and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Cremation has taken place and no services are planned. Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson, is in charge of arrangements.

Maria Magdalena (Väth) Davis, 88, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2019, at Brookdale Assisted Living in Junction City, KS.  She was born May 3, 1930, in Neubrunn, Germany, to Johann and Agnes (Dengel) Väth. Despite growing up in WWII Germany, she had many happy childhood memories growing up on a farm as the youngest of six siblings.

Maria completed her education in Neubrunn, then left her small village for nearby cities.  She met Jeff ‘Tuffy’ Davis, Jr. while they were both at a carnival with friends, when he was stationed in Germany with the United States Army.  They married on September 27, 1963, in Freiberg, Germany.  She then came stateside with him and became a homemaker.  They settled in Hutchinson after Jeff left the military, and they lived there happily, celebrating 54 years of marriage until his death on September 8, 2018.

Maria is survived by:  daughter, Anja Hightower and husband Brett of Manhattan, KS; sisters, Lioba Bukatsch and Rosa Stock, both of Germany; and numerous nieces and nephews in Germany and the United States. She was preceded in death by:  her husband; parents; brothers, Karl Väth and Ludwig Väth; and sister, Gertrude Burkhart.

Cremation has taken place.  Memorial service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 30, 2019, at Elliott Chapel, Hutchinson, with Pastor Betty Pinkston officiating.  Friends may sign the book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday at Elliott Mortuary.  Private family inurnment will take place in Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson.

Memorials may be made to the Maria Davis Memorial Fund, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS  67501.

Mark Louis Rassette, 66, of Hutchinson, beloved husband, father, and friend, passed away peacefully March 20, 2019, at Hospice House, Hutchinson. He was born June 8, 1952, at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Hutchinson, to Louis and Virginia (Lenager) Rassette.

Mark attended Faris Elementary School, Central Junior High School, and Hutchinson High School. He received his bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Religion from Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, and later earned a master’s degree in History from Wichita State University.
Mark’s passion for history, the arts, and social justice led him to a career path which included a position with the Reno County Museum, many years as Director of the Hutchinson/Reno Arts and Humanities Council, and a role as the Executive Director of the Hutchinson Art Center. He was also actively involved in the Hutchinson chapter of the NAACP.

Mark was a man of many talents. He utilized his green thumb serving as the head groundskeeper at Hutchinson Community College, teaching horticulture classes there, and landscaping his own yard to share its beauty with neighbors, friends, and family. Mark also had a culinary gift. His joy was to prepare food for others in good times and bad, and his barbeque skills were legendary.

On February 17, 1995, Mark married Gail Diane (Black) Hayes in Hutchinson. They shared 24 years of marriage. She survives. Also surviving are: sons, Joseph Hayes, Hutchinson, Matthew Hayes, daughter-in-law, Erica; grandchildren, Braden and Avery, all of Louisville, Kentucky; sister-in-law, Linda Perrin, Hutchinson; nephews, Clint Perrin, Hutchinson, and Nick Perrin, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and his faithful Boxer, Lola. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A celebration of Mark’s life and legacy is being planned and will be announced at a later date. Friends may sign his memorial book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday at Elliott Mortuary.

Memorials are suggested to the Mark Rassette Memorial Fund for a memorial garden created by Prairie Hills Nursery and Landscaping that will be established in Mark’s backyard, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Mark’s generous spirit will live on in the hearts and minds of those who were blessed to have known him.

Noel L. ‘Cubbie’ McCubbin, 83, of Hutchinson, died March 19, 2019, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was born October 14, 1935, to L. C. and Maurine (Willis) McCubbin.

Noel graduated from Pretty Prairie High School in 1954. He was a retired agricultural salesman in feed and pharmaceuticals. Noel was a member of the Hutchinson-Reno Masonic Lodge #124 A.F. & A.M. and he attended Salt City Cowboy Church. He served in the Kansas Air National Guard for eight years.

Noel is survived by: daughter, Sharla Clark and husband Kent, Hutchinson; son, Keith McCubbin and fiancée Denise Green, Hutchinson; grandchildren, Andy Clark (Carmen), Krista Johnson (Chris), Justin McCubbin (Katie), Taylor Sumner, Hunter McCubbin; great-grandchildren, Natalie, Aubrey, Erin, Kacen, Josie, and one on the way in May; brother-in-law, Bud Wiard, Broken Arrow, OK; and former wives, Marge Kirby, mother of Sharla and Keith, and Luan McCubbin. Noel was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Charlotte McCubbin and Carolyn Wiard.

Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Monday, March 25, 2019, at Elliott Chapel, with Pastor Montie McFerrin officiating. Masonic rites will be conducted by Hutchinson-Reno Masonic Lodge #124 A.F. & A.M. Burial will follow in the Lone Star Cemetery, Pretty Prairie, with military honors conducted by the Kansas Army National Guard Military Funeral Honor Guard. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 1 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m., at Elliott Mortuary.

Memorials may be made to Salt City Cowboy Church, South Hutchinson, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.