Lester "Cork" Sumner

Lester "Cork" Sumner, Kitchkommie, 91, of Hoyt, died Monday, January 26, 2026 at the Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka.

He was born December 23, 1934 in Wichita. He was raised by his mother and father, Cleve and Josephine Sumner. He graduated from Denison High School and served in the U.S. Army in France.

Cork was a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and the Native American Church. He was a leader in the church for approximately forty years and had helped start the local chapter. He was also a member of We-Ta-Se American Legion Post No. 410 at Mayetta, and an avid racing fan.

He had worked for Goodyear for twenty-three years, and later was the first drug and alcohol counselor for the Tribe, which he did for fourteen years.

Cork married Nanette Pappan. They were married for thirty-eight years until she passed away in 2001. He married Rosemary Bachmurski on March 11, 2011 in Miami, Oklahoma. She survives, of the home.

Other survivors include one daughter, Susan Sumner, two granddaughters, Belinda McKinney and Monique Leon, four great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Native American Church Services will be Friday evening, January 30th, at the Nozhackum Hall. Burial with military honors by We-Ta-Se American Legion Post No. 410 will be Saturday afternoon in the Sumner Family Cemetery. Cork will lie in state after 9:00 a.m. on Friday at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hoyt where a visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. On-line condolences may be made at chapeloaksfuneralhome.com