Deaths and funerals

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Feb 14, 2003 by Capital-Journal

Shirley North

Robert Billings

LAWRENCE --- Services are pending at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence for Robert G. Billings, 65, Lawrence. He died Thursday, Feb. 13, 2003, at his home.

Among survivors is his wife, the former Beverly Smith, at home.

Mr. Billings was a Lawrence businessman and former golf coach at The University of Kansas. He directed The University of Kansas Office of Student Financial Aid in the 1960s and developed an area west of Lawrence that he named after his parents, Alva and Margaret Billings.

Mr. Billings also was a partner with John McGrew and Mel Anderson in the development of more than 3,000 acres that now is home to Alvamar Country Club.

He was honored in 1984 by Baker University as Lawrence Business Person of the Year, in 1989 by the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas as Kansan of the Year.

Mr. Billings graduated from high school in Russell in 1955, where he was co-captain of the football team and named Kansas High School Basketball Player of the Year in 1955. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics, business and political science at The University of Kansas in 1959 and was a guard on the KU basketball team that played in the NCAA finals in 1957. He earned All Big Eight Conference honorable mention honors in 1958 and 1959 and received the Forrest C. Allen award in 1959, given to the KU senior athlete with the highest academic standing.

Mr. Billings was a Summerfield Scholar at KU, a member of Phi Beta Kappa and student body president in 1958.

Mr. Billings had served on The University of Kansas Alumni Association board of directors, the KU Athletic Corp. board, the KU Endowment Association Board of Trustees, the KU Women's Athletic Advisory Board and the KU School of Business Board of Advisors.

He was a member of the Williams Athletic Fund and the KU Endowment Association's Chancellor's Club as well as a volunteer for the Spencer Museum of Art and the Kansas Union Memorial Corp.

Joshua Buckman

OZAWKIE --- Joshua D. Buckman, 19, Ozawkie, died Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2003, in Topeka.

Services will be announced by Parker-Price Mortuary in Topeka. Burial will be in Moran Cemetery in Moran.

Franci Chaffin

LAWRENCE --- Franci Zender Chaffin, 42, Lawrence, died Thursday, Feb. 13, 2003, at a Kansas City, Kan., hospital.

Mrs. Chaffin was a teacher at First Presbyterian Church Pre- School in Lawrence, and she was a Mary Kay consultant.

She was born Dec. 21, 1960, in Radford, Va., to Paul E. and Sandra Wickham Zender. She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1978 and earned a bachelor's degree in education from The University of Kansas in 1985. She had been a member of the marching bands at Lawrence High School and KU.

Mrs. Chaffin was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lawrence and many committees at the church. She also was involved in music ministry through Common Thread, a Lawrence Christian band.

She married Christopher Chaffin on July 30, 1983, in Lawrence. He survives.

Other survivors include a daughter, Chelsea Chaffin, at home; a son, Paul Chaffin, at home; her parents, Paul and Sandra Zender, Lawrence; and a sister, Mary Paul Zender Paden, Lawrence.

Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lawrence. Inurnment in Oak Hill Cemetery will be at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to an educational fund for Paul and Chelsea Chaffin, to Trinity Lutheran Church or to the First Presbyterian Church Pre-School and sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th St., Lawrence, 66044-3402.

George Cochran

HOYT --- George D. Cochran, 67, Hoyt, died Thursday, Feb. 13, 2003, at his home.

Services will be announced by Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hoyt.

Alice Elliott

HOLTON --- Alice Marie Elliott, 88, Holton, died Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2003, at a Tucson, Ariz., retirement facility.

Mrs. Elliott was a telephone operator in Soldier in the 1930s and later was an operator and secretary for six years for United Telephone in Holton.

She was born Oct. 20, 1914, on a farm near Circleville, to William and Mary Stohr Mauersberger. She graduated from Soldier High School in 1932 and moved to Circleville in 1975. She moved to Tucson two years ago.

Mrs. Elliott was a member of Circleville United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women, and a former member of the Sunnyside Club at Wetmore.

She married Vaden Elliott on March 24, 1945, in Topeka. He died May 10, 1975.

Survivors include a son, Lyle Dean Elliott, Tustin, Calif.; a daughter, Mary Ellen Moore, Tucson; a sister, Wilma Segenhagen, Aurora, Colo.; and two grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial will be in Circleville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Circleville United Methodist Church and sent in care of the funeral home, 1101 W. 4th, Holton, 66436.

Sarah George

VALLEY FALLS --- Sarah Lassiter George, 91, Valley Falls, died Thursday, Feb. 13, 2003, at a Winchester care facility.

Services will be announced by Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. Burial will be in Valley Falls Cemetery.