Linda Diane (Wilson) Hammond, 62, Topeka, passed away May 9, 2022.  Linda was born November 8, 1959, the daughter of Edwin and Alla LeRea Wilson.  She graduated from Highland Park High School in 1977. Linda was part of the spirit club and mat maids in high school and loved going to basketball and football games.  Especially cheering on the KU Basketball Team and her Kansas City Chief’s!!

She enjoyed bowling as a kid on into adulthood.  She bowled on two leagues at Southwest Bowl and Gage Center.  She also loved watching her children play sports and definitely let them know if the did and did not do well!

Linda married Tim Scheidegger on June 30^th, 1978.  They had two children, Bryan and Brandy.  They later divorced.  She married Ken Hammond on January 4^th, 1992.

Linda is survived by her husband Ken, son Bryan (Amanda) Hammond, daughter Brandy Hammond, stepdaughters Donna (Josh) Sutton, Becky (Clay) Jaeger, and TJ (Victoria) Hammond; 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and older brother Thomas and younger sister Betty Marie.

A Celebration of Life will be held on July 31^st from 2-4pm at the Lecompton Community Building in Lecompton, KS.  A private burial will be held at a later date. Please send memorial contributions to the N.E. Kansas Parkinson’s Association Po Box 67342 Topeka, Ks, 66667-0342.

Vivian Rovana Matthews

December 08, 1934 - May 29, 2022

March 02-1947 - May 21, 2022

Diane Kay (Smith) Ewing, 75, passed away on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at her home surrounded by family.  She was born on March 2, 1947.  Her husband of 54 years, Ronald Arthur Ewing, preceded her in death.  She is survived by her children Ron and Melodie Ewing, Corki and Brian Spurgeon, Troy and Amy Ewing, Matt and Jennifer Ewing, Kim and Everett Horn, along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Diane was an ordained minister and took over Disciples of Faith Church when her husband passed away.  She enjoyed spending time with her family and caring for her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She will be missed greatly by everyone's lives she touched.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2022, for family and friends.  For details please reach out to family.

February 06, 1956 - May 23. 2022

Paul “Dean” Eshom, 66, of Topeka, Kansas, sadly passed away in his home on May 23, 2022, from cancer. Dean was predeceased by Don and LuJean Eshom/Graybill and left behind his spouse Amy Eshom, sisters Michelle Zeller, Kim Graybill, Rhonda Zimlich, and brother Brian Eshom; along with many nieces and nephews, one great niece and four great nephews.

Early in his career Dean began working for various scaffolding companies and went on to pursue gold mining endeavors in California and Colorado, he later moved to Chicago with his mother and sister. After returning home to Kansas, he became a golf course superintendent and shortly thereafter Dean met his wife Amy, and they were married in 2013. The two moved to the Kansas countryside and pursued their own business in home remodeling repairs.

Dean was a standout in athletics during his high school years; primarily in basketball, football, and track, enjoyed hunting in Colorado with family and friends and loved sport scuba diving in Hawaii. Often referred to as “Butch” by close friends and family members, Dean was always care-free, highly intelligent (graduated Magna Cum Laude), as loyal as they come, and stubborn as a mule. Dean will be missed by many for the way he cared and sought the best out of those closest to him. He loved his wife Amy fiercely and respected and cherished the life they built together.

To honor Dean’s memory, we are holding a celebration of life on Sunday, May 29, 2022, at 1pm at Dean and Amy’s home (9147 NW Wilson Road, Topeka, KS 66618). We invite anyone who knew Dean to attend and remember Dean’s extraordinary life. 

April 03, 1940 - May 13, 2022

In Loving Memory
Patricia Ann Handley
1940-2022

Friday morning May 13th, 2022 at 9:05 a.m., our Momma, Patricia ‘Patty’ Ann (Harris), passed away peacefully at the Brookside Retirement Community in Overbrook, KS. She formally lived in Burlington, Ks.

She was born April 3rd 1940, in Topeka, Kansas, being the second child of Bernard A. Harris and Fern (Smalley) Harris-Palmer.

Patty attended Washburn High School and was with the Class of 1956. Though she did not graduate with her class, she did get her GED. She had other plans and that was to get married to Charles ‘Chuck’ Handley on March 10th, 1956 at the Seabrook Congregational Church. To their union, they had five children, Charlie Joe, Wade, Bernard, Rochelle and Kandice. They were later divorced.

Her family lived in a lot of places within Kansas, Oklahoma and Washington. But home was wherever they were together. One of their moves was to Tahlequah, OK, where they owned and ran a café there. Back in Kansas, she took employment at King Radio in Ottawa, while living in Williamsburg. During her time of living outside of Burlingame, Ks she worked for Payless Shoe Source in Topeka. In 1982 they moved to the Spokane, WA area and took employment at Moland Greeting Card Company and later went to work at Fairchild Air Force Base as a civilian worker in the Accounts Payable division. She missed her Kansas family and they moved back to Kansas and lived in Larned and on to Burlington. There, she made many friends and volunteered at God’s Storehouse.

Patty was preceded in death by her parents, brother Gary in 1957, children - Charlie Joe in 2008, Bernard in 2016, and Rochelle in 2002.

She leaves behind her children Wade (Pam) Handley, Andover, KS. Grandchildren – Holly, Nathan and Dusty, and 15 great-grandkids, 2 great-great grandkids with one more on the way. Kandice (Bron) Williams, Bartlesville, OK., grandchildren – Jeyton, Jordan and Jena. Daughter-in-law Teresa Handley (Bernard), Gridley, KS, grandchildren – Erin, Megan and Dakota, and 6 great-grandkids. Sam and Annette Marz, Corpus Christi, Tx., adopted parents for two of her grandsons with Rochelle’s passing, grandchildren – Austin and Brewster, and 7 great-grandkids. Grandchildren from Charlie Joe, Steven, Charles and Andrea, and 3 great-grandkids. A sister, Linda Wittman (Jerry), Topeka, KS., along with many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Patty’s family will receive family and friends one hour prior to the Celebration of Life which will be held at 11:00 a.m. on June 4th, 2022 at Burlington United Methodist Church 207 S 6th St Burlington, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made to Brookside Retirement Community for their activity funds or the Burlington United Methodist Church and sent to Wade Handley 1017 W Clyde St. Andover, KS 67002. Please designate in the notes which is your preference.

December 04, 1967 - May 14, 2022

Diana Marie Bledsoe Gaither passed away on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at her home in Topeka, Kansas. Diana was born in Beeville, TX, December 4, 1967, the daughter of Susan Bledsoe Gaither and Max Gaither while her father was in pilot training.

Diana is survived by her father; her brother Robert Gaither; her aunts Charlotte Adair and Peggy (David Griffith) Adams, cousins Lee (Paul) Baker, Jeff (Elaine) Adair, Mike Bledsoe, Mac (Barbara) Bledsoe, Dick Perkins, John Perkins, Katie (Vaughn) Olson, great aunts Juanita Keeling and Janice (Tom) Crissman; and many other close second cousins. Her mother, Susan Gaither, passed away in March, 2020.

At Topeka West High School she excelled at basketball and tennis and was inducted in the Topeka West Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. At Kansas University she played varsity tennis. Her sophomore year she was voted most improved player. She graduated in 1990 with degrees in Communications and Spanish. Her masters in Marketing was from KU.

Diana worked for Payless ShoeSource in Topeka, Waddell & Reed, Inc. in Kansas City, then was Vice President for Communications for Franklin Templeton Investments in San Mateo, California. She worked briefly for Chevron before moving back to Topeka. She served on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of San Mateo and the Angie Barry Run committee in Topeka. She loved her friends and relatives and was generous with her gifts and time attending many sports events and activities.

A memorial service will be held at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Rd, Topeka, KS 66614, Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at 4:30 pm followed by a gathering for family and friends until 6:30 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Topeka, 550 SE 27th St., Topeka, KS 66605.