Today's Obituaries and Guest Books

C. Elizabeth "Betty" Straw, 88, of Clinton, Mo., died May 17, 2013. Family visit. 1 p.m., serv. 2 p.m. Wed., Clinton United Methodist Church. Burial Englewood Cem, Clinton. Arr.: Vansant-Mills F.H., (660) 885-2021.

Sterling B. Suddarth, 89, passed away Dec. 29, 2012. Memorial service 2 p.m. Thursday, May 23 at the Country Club Congregational Church Chapel, 205 W. 65th St., KCMO.

Albert (Al) Taviana, 91, of Overland Park, Kan., passed away May 20, 2013. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, at the Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia Lenexa, KS 66215. A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, May 23, at the Resurrection Cemetery Lenexa. Albert was born March 20, 1922, in Nazareth, Pa., to Alfredo and Marie Tavianini. He joined the Army Air Corps at the age of 18 and served during Pearl Harbor. Al ended his military career as a Navigator- Bombardier Pilot. He was a long time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shawnee, Kan. Albert worked as an air traffic Controller and was a member of the Radio Control Airplane Club. He loved anything that had to do with airplanes and flying and is now free to soar with the eagles. Al is preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Taviana and his parents. Survivors include his two daughters, Sharon Taviana and Connie (Daniel) Clancy; granddaughter, Briana Clancy; and one brother, Armond Tavianini. Condolences may be expressed at: www.porterfuneralhome.com Arr.: Porter Funeral Homes & Crematory, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, (913) 438- 6444. Porter Funeral Homes and Crematory

Charlotte P. Thayer passed from this life on May 19, 2013, at age 85. She is survived by her husband of 11 years, Wally Good, stepdaughter, Elaine Good, and many friends and colleagues. Charlotte was born in Atchison, Kan., on Sept. 22, 1927, the daughter of Hazel and Charles Thayer, a hardware store owner. She attended a small women's college in Atchison for two years and later earned bachelors and masters degrees in political science at the University of Kansas. After three years teaching at Wyandotte High School, she entered the University of Missouri at Kansas City Law School. She received her law degree in 1955 as the only woman in her class at a time when women comprised only 3% of the bar nationally. Charlotte formed her first law partnership with offices in Grandview and Belton in 1960 and it was during the period of this first partnership that Charlotte co-authored the Missouri Dissolution of Marriage Act in 1973. Charlotte subsequently was a founding member of several family law practices in Kansas City, Mo., and was listed in Best Lawyers of America in the practice of family law. Charlotte retired in 1995 having been a pioneer in her field. Charlotte served on numerous civic and professional boards and committees. She was a member of the Kansas City and American Bar Associations, Association for Women Lawyers, American and International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys. In 1991, she received the Kansas City Bar Association Litigator Emeritus Award; in 1994 she received the Association for Women Lawyers Lifetime Achievement Award; and in 1995 she received the UMKC Law School Alumni Association Practitioner of the Year Award. As a woman who saw firsthand the inequalities between equally educated, competent men and women, Charlotte was a supporter of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Equal Rights Amendment, and a member of the American Civil Liberties Union. Although she had no political aspirations of her own, Charlotte enjoyed politics and encouraged and supported others in their pursuit of civic office. Charlotte also enjoyed traveling, the opera and theater, and was a Jayhawk fan. Cremation with a celebration of life to be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Kansas University Endowment Association, All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, the ACLU, or the .

THOMAS Amy Elizabeth (Voelker) Thomas, age 37, of Shawnee, KS, passed away on May 17, 2013. A visitation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at D.W. Newcomer's Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave., with graveside services at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 24, 2013 at Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens, 23215 W 75th St, Shawnee KS. Memorial contributions can be made to Wayside Waifs. http://www.waysidewaifs.org Amy graduated from Olathe North High School where she worked on the school newspaper and was a National Merit Semifinalist. She majored in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the University of Kansas, and then she went on to graduate Magnum Cum Laude from UMKC with a BA in English. Amy was employed by Kansas City Life Insurance where she worked both in Human Resources and in the IT Department. Amy will be remembered as the best wife, mother, daughter, and sister anyone has known. She will always be loved for her loving smile, generosity of spirit, and ridiculous charm that lit up every room. Amy was preceded in death by her grandparents, Lew and Marjorie Thompson, and grandfather Bob Voelker. Survivors include her beloved husband and daughter Anthony and Kathryn Thomas; her parents, Bill and Linda Voelker; brother, Barry and his wife Bridget Voelker, and grandmother, Marjorie Voelker. Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.johnsoncountychapel.com (Arrangements by D.W. Newcomer's Sons, Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66210. (913)451-1860) www.dwnewcomers.com

Jerry J. Thornton, 75, Kearney, MO, with his loving family by his side, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 18, 2013. Jerry was born in Long Beach, CA on August 2, 1937 to Walter Verle and Rose Mabel Thornton. Jerry graduated from Collins High School in Collins, IA. Four years later he married Dorothy Kay Hand, and over the course of their 33 years, they had four children together. After Dorothy lost her battle to cancer, Jerry met his wife Barbara Ann Cockrill Fox Shaw and they were happily married in 1993 in Kearney, MO. Jerry will be remembered as a hard-working and faithful husband, loving father, grandfather, great- grandfather and a dedicated servant of the Lord. He spent his career working as a truck driver for Yellow Freight and retired in 1995. Jerry was also a skilled woodworker and musician. He loved playing his guitar and also played his saxophone with the Northern Hills Baptist Church Praise Team Band. He loved using his gifted hands and woodworking skills to serve the Lord and spent many years volunteering, teaching Sunday School, and overseeing special projects at Northern Hills Baptist Church. He is preceded in death by his parents, and by his first wife, Dorothy. Jerry is survived by his wife, Barbara; his four children, Tracy Faust (Paul); Troy Thornton; Toby Thornton; Tim Thornton (Sarah); and stepson David Fox. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren: Jill Smith (Levi), Jamie Faust, Lauren Clevenger, Joe Clevenger, Zee Thornton, Sydney and Maya Thornton, and 3 great- grandchildren, Maddilyn Smith, Marina Fernandez and Adrian Fernandez; step-grandchildren Bethany Fox , Faith and Hannah Fox. Services for Jerry will be held at Northern Hills Baptist Church 11:30 A.M. Friday, May 24, 2013 with visitation 10-11:30 AM prior to the service. Burial at a later date in Collins Evergreen Cemetery, Collins, IA. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to Compassion International or Northland Compassion Ministries in care of Northern Hills Baptist Church. Arrangements: Bross & Spidle Funeral Home Kearney, MO. 816-628- 4411

TURNBAUGH, JR. Lawrence Leon Turnbaugh Jr., 79, of Pomona, KS, died Thursday, May 16, 2013. He was born on Saturday, December 23, 1933, in Kansas City, KS, the son of Lawrence Leon and Virginia (Downs) Turnbaugh. Funeral Services will be at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, May 22, 2013, at Pomona United Methodist Church. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery, Pomona, KS. Family will meet with friends from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday at Dengel & Son Mortuary.

Robert (Bob) Turner of Kansas City, MO, passed away peacefully May 18, 2013, at his home. He was surrounded by his large and loving family for several days prior to and immediately up to his passing. Bob was born in Pierce City, MO, on Sept. 7, 1925. He moved to Kansas City shortly after honorably serving in WWII, gaining employment at the General Motors Assembly Division in Fairfax, KS. Bob was inducted into the Army during WWII. At the age of 17, he served as a Infantryman in Company "H" 23rd INF 2nd Division. Battles included Rhineland and Central Europe and he participated in the liberation of the Concentration camp at Dachau, Germany. Bob earned 5 battle ribbons including the Purple Heart. He met and married his loving wife of 63 years in 1950. This loving bond resulted in eight children. Bob, a true member of this nation's "greatest generation," exemplified all the qualities of God, Country and Family and will be strongly and lovingly missed. Bob spent many hours over many years volunteering his time with St. Augustine's Parish and the Boy Scouts of America Troop 190. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Ruby, originally of Iola, KS, and all of his eight children, John and Sharon Turner of Theodosia, MO, Jerry Turner of Theodosia, Richard and Donna Turner of Melbourne, FL, Karen Turner of Kansas City, Tom Turner of Cleveland, MO, David and Nancy Turner of Mandan, ND, Jeff Turner of Atlanta, GA, and Cindy and Mike Sweetland of Raytown, MO. Bob is survived by 13 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., KCMO. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 23, at Christ the King Church, 85th Street and Wornall, followed by a graveside service at Green Lawn Cemetery. A reception will be held at the church hall following for anyone who wishes to attend. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that a contribution be made to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care. Arrangements: Park Lawn Funeral Home, (816) 523-1234.

William D. Weaver, Sr., 83, Indep. MO, passed away Friday, May 17, 2013. Celebration of life services will be at 6:00 p.m. Friday, May 24, 2013 at Speaks Suburban Chapel; 18020 E. 39th St., Indep. MO. 64055. Visitation will follow until 8:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the ASPCA. Bill was born Sept. 1, 1929 in Iowa, the son of Al and Dolly Weaver. Bill was a member of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters Union Local 576 for over 50 years and managed markets for Albertson and Thriftway. Bill enjoyed telling jokes, bowling, bass fishing and was an avid dog lover as well as being a scout master. Survivors include his loving wife, Goldie Weaver of 38 years; sons, Bill, Bob, Alan, and John Weaver; daughter, Teresa Geguzis; step-daughter, Sharon Fry and their respective spouses; 21 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; and sister, Lorraine Palmer. He was preceded in death by one sister, two brothers, and his parents. (Arrangements: Speaks Suburban Chapel (816) 373-3600) www.speakschapel.com Speaks Suburban Funeral Home, 18020 E 39th St, Independence, MO 64051, 816-373-3600

Edwin Charles Wyatt, 73, of Mason City, Iowa, died Sunday, August 18, 2013. Ed was born February 6, 1940. He was preceded in death by his wife Elsie Wyatt. He is survived by a brother Arthur Wyatt; 5 daughters, Joan, Janet, Patty, Peggy and Christine; 4 sons, Paul, Eddie, Michael and Randall; 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Services will be private. (Arr: Cremation Society of KS & MO, 8837 Roe, Prairie Village, KS 66207; 913-383-9888) Cremation Society of Kansas & Missouri, www.kccremation.com