Arthur J. Charay

Arthur J. Charay, 66, of Topeka, died Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005, at a Topeka nursing home. He was born Nov. 5, 1938, in Topeka, the son of Ernst G. and Julia Silva Charay. Mr. Charay was previously employed at KNI, Colmery-O'Neil VA Medical Center, and Topeka State Hospital during his nursing career. He graduated from Washburn University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Survivors include three sons, Louis Charay, Kansas City, Kan., James Charay and John Lee, both of Topeka; one daughter, Sarah Ivy, of Topeka; four brothers, Ernest, Robert and David Charay, all of Topeka, and Richard Charay, El Paso, Texas; four sisters, Mary Helen Benefield, Griffith, Ga., Margaret Martinez, Sylmar, Calif., Rose Olivia Charay, of Lawrence, and Alice Florez, of Garland, Texas. Five grandchildren also survive. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Danny and Tony Charay. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Mr. Charay will lie in state after 2 p.m. Sunday at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home where a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund for Arthur J. Charay, in care of the funeral home.