In Memorium

James A. Reed, 1957-2014
James “Jimmy” Allen Reed, 57, died Saturday, August 30, 2014. He
was the 911 Director of Emergency Services for Sumner County.
Jimmy held several positions including KEMA representative to the
State Interoperability Executive Committee; KS 911 Coordinating
Council board member Governor Appointed for the Operations-
Subcommittee; past President (board member) for Kansas Chapter
of APCO; South Central Homeland Security Communications
sub-committee; South Central Region Vice-President to KEMA board;
Sumner County Incident Dispatch Team; and Hutchinson Community
College Advisory Board (dispatch program).State certifications were
​held with IMT (Incident Management Team); COML (Communications Leader); COMT (Communication Technician); KCEM-KS Certified Emergency Manager and Mulvane Fire Department Volunteer.Reed is preceded in death by his father, James Reed. Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Mary; daughter, Megan Reed; son, Jacob Reed; mother, Rowena Reed; sister, Joy Sears; brother, John Reed; and Dixie dog Reed. Viewing: 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, Smith Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Rd, Derby.The family will greet friends from 5-7 pm at the mortuary. Funeral service: 10am Thursday, September 4, 2014, South Rock Christian Church, 900 S. Rock Rd., Derby. Memorials contributions to Mulvane Firefighter’s Special Fund, 910 E. Main, Mulvane, KS or Mulvane Historical Museum, 300 W. Main, Mulvane, KS.

David Laird, 1946-2012
David Laird, 65, Topeka, passed away on Monday, April 16, 2012 after a long
illness. He was born November 26, 1946 in Topeka, the son of Isabella
Hoffman Laird and Donald L. Laird Sr. David graduated from the old
St Joseph Grade School and Hayden High school and attended Washburn
University, all in Topeka. At the time of his death he was attempting to earn
his degree in Psychology from Central Michigan University. David was proud
of his Scots-German heritage. His Great Grandfather, Thomas Hoffman was
killed in 1899 during construction of St Joseph German Catholic church, a Topeka landmark at Third and Van Buren streets. David grew up in the shadows of the spires of St. Joseph s. David joined the Navy in 1968 and made three Vietnam cruises as a Radarman aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga. He also travelled to many places such as Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Wake Island and he sailed many of the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Upon his discharge in 1972 he returned to work as a dispatcher for the Topeka PoliceDepartment, and later combined with Shawnee County, retiring as a 9-1-1 Supervisor in 2008. He was a member of American Legion Capitol Post 1, the VFW and the USS Ticonderoga Veterans Association where he was their webmaster and built their first website. Ill health forced him to retire from that position in 2010. David never considered himself a patriot; rather, he was patriotic toward the country he loved. He flew his flag proudly every day. When he was able, he planted small American flags by the mail boxes in his cul de sac. David can be remembered by many as the man on his small scooter on Kings Row Road puttering in his lawn and garden with his two beloved Boston Terriers, Baby Doll and Rebee close by his side. David is survived by his life partner, Maureen Moe Johnson; children Brian of Lenexa, KS, Rebecca and Matt (Miranda) of Topeka; stepchildren Amber (Jay) Huggins, Topeka, Jake (Heather) Johnson at Kunsan AFB, Korea, and Matt Johnson also in the Air Force in Topeka. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and four brothers, Don (Kay), Charles (Sue), Greg (Linda) and Mark (Ellen) all of Topeka. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Ann, in 1943. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3rd and Van Buren. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. David will lie in state at the church after 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, with a parish rosary at 5:30 p.m. To leave a special message for the family online, visit http://www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com

Floyd E. Clarkson, 1957-2012
Sgt. Floyd Earl Clarkson, 55, of Winfield, Kan., passed away Saturday
afternoon,March 3, 2012, at Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita.Funeral services
will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Winfield High SchoolGymnasium.
Graveside services will follow at Highland Cemetery. Friends maycall at Miles
Funeral Service on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. The family will greet visitorsduring
this time.Memorials have been established in Mr. Clarkson’s name for the
Cowley County4-H Club and the Floyd Clarkson Scholarship for Criminal
Justice Fund at CowleyCounty Community College. Contributions may be
made through the funeral home.Born February 24, 1957, in Springfield, Mo., he was the son of Lloyd and Carmelita(Kirk) Clarkson. The family moved to a farm near Winfield while he was a youngchild. He was raised and received his education in Winfield, graduating fromWinfield High School in 1975. As a young man he was actively involved in the Walnut Valley 4H, the Winfield FFA, was a member of the Millington Street Baptist Church, and played basketball for the Winfield High School.After high school Floyd attended Northeast Oklahoma A&M, and later attended and graduated from Missouri Auction School. In 1975, Floyd married Teresa Kunkel. To this union two children were born. The couple later divorced.In 1980, he returned to the Winfield area where he ran Clarkson Fitting and helped his father run the Clarkson family farm. In April of 2000, Floyd began working for the Winfield Police Department. While with the police department he oversaw communications and dispatch for the department.Floyd was united in marriage to Lisa Seabury on November 5, 2004, on the Clarkson family farm in Winfield. The couple made their home in Winfield. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and worked as a hunting guide for Flint Hills Hunt. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Winfield Jaycees, American Polled Hereford Association, Kansas Polled Hereford Association, Kansas Gelbvieh, Held Livestock Sales, the Sons of the American Legion, and the Grace United Methodist Church.Floyd’s family includes: His wife: Lisa Clarkson of the home; His parents: Lloyd and Carmelita Clarkson of Winfield; His brother-in-law: Jerry Frisbie of Pratt; His sons: Bradley Clarkson of Stillwater, OK; Chris Tredway and wife Kelly of Winfield; Jeremy Tredway and wife, Melissa of Derby; Brandon Tredway and wife, Tiffany of Winfield; His daughters: Misti Baker and husband, Steven of Winfield; Danielle Widener and husband, Dustin of Winfield; Heather Wills of Winfield; His 18 grandchildren; and Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Floyd was preceded in death by his sister Jean Clarkson-Frisbie.

James R. “Jim” Carriger, 1923-2011
James R. “Jim” Carriger, 87, Topeka, passed away on Friday, October 7, 2011
at a local hospital.Jim was born October 28, 1923 in Topeka, the son of Elliot
and Marguerite(Long) Carriger. He spent his early years on the family farm
just outside ofAuburn with his parents, brothers and his grandmother, Emma
D. Carriger.He graduated from Washburn Rural High School and attended
WashburnUniversity and Northern Illinois College in Chicago. While attending
college,he was employed by the Curtis Company in Chicago as a factory
representative. He served as an Automatic Rifleman in the Army during World War II with theAmerical Division, 132nd Infantry, 2nd Battalion, Company E. This was the firstunit to engage the Japanese in offensive combat, starting at Guadalcanal, movingthrough the Solomon Islands, Philippines, and occupying Japan. He receivednumerous awards for his service including the Bronze Star.He joined the Topeka Fire Department in 1948 and retired as First Assistant Chief after 33 years of service. He was assigned to the Topeka Police Department as a Major the last two years of his service, implementing the 911 Emergency calling for Topeka and Shawnee County. He served as First Vice President and President of the Associated Public Safety Communications Officers Incorporated, Kansas Chapters. He was awarded an honorary lifetime membership inthis organization. He was a member of the American Legion and the VFW.After retirement, he and his wife enjoyed traveling, particularly to Sonoma, California and gave insight for the beginning restoration of his great grandfather’s estate, Nicholas Carriger. The estate is now on the National Register of Historic Places.Jim married C. Gwendolyn Henderson on October 28, 1949. She died November 11, 2008. Survivors include son, Steve Carriger; daughter, Judith Carriger, both of Topeka; grandson, Justin Kearney and wife Marti, Scranton; great grandchildren, Kole James and Taryn Marie Kearney; and 11 nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by brothers, Lewis Carriger and Dr. William A. Carriger, Sr.

Selma M. Southard, 1953-2010
Memorial services for Selma Marie Southard, 57, Lawrence were held at
10:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at Mustard Seed Church.
Inurnment followed at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence. She died
November 12, 2010 at the University of Kansas Hospital.She was born
March 8, 1953 the daughter of Theodore and Minnie Jane (Coleman) Brown.
She worked as the Director for Douglas County Communications for 36 years.
She was a member of First Regular Missionary Baptist Church.She married
Arvie Winston Southard, Jr., on June 17, 1972 in Lawrence, Kansas. He
preceded her in death on January 8, 2009. Survivors include one son, Christopher of Lawrence; her mother, Minnie “Jane” Lewis of Lawrence; two sisters, Cheryl Brown of Lawrence; Belinda Brown of Richmond, Virginia and one brother, Marty Brown of El Cajon, CA, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Kenneth M. Duckworth, 1928-2010
Duckworth, Kenneth M. 82, passed away Wednesday, December 1, 2010.
He was a loving and dedicated son, brother, husband, father, grandfather,
and great-grandfather. Kenneth devoted his life to his family, and serving his
country and community. Kenneth served in the Navy during WWII. His passion
was serving as a Wichita police officer. He pioneered many innovations that
were adopted throughout the country and eventually the world, such as installing
the first computer system in the police department, and establishing one of the
first GPS systems in the country for tracking emergency response personnel,
while rising to the rank of Colonel before retiring. He then became a pillar in the emergency communications field, and was one of the founding fathers of the 911 system, and was consulted by communications departments throughout the world. He taught criminal justice classes at WSU, and also gave seminars to the FBI. He was a mentor and a confidant and touched many lives. Survivors include daughters, Teresa Henderson (Scott) of Wichita, Mary Stang of TX (Mike), granddaughter, Lindsay Hendershot (Shawn) and great-granddaughter, Izabella Hendershot, grandson, Anthony Stang.