Jim Williamson
Jim Williamson, 82, died Friday, October 25, 2024, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. He was born September 21, 1942, in Cedar Vale, Kansas, the son of Alfred Edmond & Evelyn Pauline (MaHocks) Williamson.
Jim lived in various places as a young child due to his father's occupation, they settled in Syracuse, Kansas where Jim attended and graduated from Syracuse High School. He then served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War, from September 6, 1960, to August 1, 1963. While serving, Jim also played basketball for the U.S. Navy team and was released from the service 1 month early in order to play at Garden City Junior College for 1 year. On April 25, 1965, he married Anita June Akers in Syracuse, Kansas. Jim worked in various occupations throughout his life. He worked as an insurance inspector, a disability investigator, a floor plan auditor, and a meter technician for various companies in Garden City.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Garden City. Jim has always enjoyed watching and playing in all sports. He played in many different Garden City softball teams where he was the pitcher and also known as the "Pop Up King." He enjoyed hunting, fishing and was an avid fan of KU Basketball, KU Football, Kansas City Royals, and the Kansas City Chiefs. His grandchildren were the joy of his life and would do everything with them and take in as many of their activities as he could.
Survivors include his wife Anita June Williamson of the home; a son Dr. Tim Williamson of Overland Park, Kansas; four grandchildren Katie Grace Williamson, Sam Williamson, Olivia Panessidi, & Jordan Timmers; three sisters-in-law Dixie Akers, Delores Akers, & Martha Akers; a brother-in-law Jim Dennis; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins including Joe McCord and Steve (Betty) Warring, and friends. Jim is preceded in death by his parents; a son Jeff Williamson which Jim and Anita miss very much; a brother John Ed & wife Earlene Williamson; a sister Joy & husband Pete Sikes; three brothers-in-law Barney Mack Akers Jr., Jim Akers, & Bob Pfannenstiel; a sister-in-law Elizabeth Dennis; his father-in-law & mother-in-law Barney Akers Sr. and Elsie Akers; a nephew Brian Pfannenstiel; and a niece Cindy Akers.
Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 1, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church in Garden City with Rev. Jim Akers officiating. The funeral may also be viewed on Facebook Life on the Garnand Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Garden City with military graveside rites conducted by the United States Navy Honor Guard and the Southwest Kansas Veterans Honor Guard. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at Garnand Funeral Home in Garden City. The family will be at the funeral home from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday to visit with friends. The family suggests memorials given to Tunnels to Towers, or to the University of Kansas Cancer, Center. Memorials are in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 412 N. 7th St., Garden City, Kansas 67846. Condolences may be given to garnandfuneralhomes.com.
OBITUARIES
Peggy Hatcher
Peggy Dorine Hatcher, 88, of Syracuse, Kansas, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2026, at the Hamilton County Hospital. Peggy was born on January 23, 1938, on the family farm northwest of Holly, Colorado, to Leslie and Helen (Moyer). She was raised on the family farm near... [More]
Sharon Ann (Taylor) Englert
Sharon Ann (Taylor) Englert, 88, of Syracuse, Kansas, passed away peacefully on May 9, 2026, surrounded by family and love. Sharon was born on September 10, 1937, to Elmer L. “Bob” Taylor and Eloise Irene (Bilbery) Taylor. She grew up in rural western Kansas near... [More]
Boyd “Pete” Dwight Bezona
Boyd “Pete” Dwight Bezona, age 88, of Syracuse, Kansas, passed away on May 8, 2026, at his home in Syracuse. He was born on September 8, 1937, in Lamar Colorado, to Otto Ervin Bezona and Ida Rebecca (Armour) Bezona. Pete grew up south of Granada,... [More]
Larry Vaughn Meyer
Lakin—Larry Vaughn Meyer, 67, passed away on Monday, May 4, 2026, at Common Spirit-Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Born September 19, 1958, in Ulysses, he was the son of the late Duane W. and Loretta Mae (Stephen) Meyer. On January 24, 1978, Larry married... [More]
Eva Jane Schmidt
Eva Jane (Jantz) Schmidt, 94, of Syracuse, Kansas, passed away on Thursday, May 6, 2026, at Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, Kansas, and went home to be with the Lord. She was born on November 5, 1931, in Copeland, Kansas, to Jonas and Anna (Schmidt) Jantz. Jane received... [More]
Pauline Fecht
Pauline (Finkenbinder) Fecht passed away at St. Catherine’s Hospital in Garden City, Kansas on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at the age of 94. She was born in Garden City, Kansas, on July 19, 1931, to Paul Harden Finkenbinder and Amy Clyde (Kellum) Finkenbinder, who were long-time... [More]
Marilyn Sue Wright
Marilyn Sue Laird Wright, age 81, of Holly, Colorado, passed away on April 21, 2026, in Lamar, Colorado. Sue was born on August 17, 1944, to Earl and Berma Laird, the third of five daughters. She was united in marriage to Warren Eugene Wright on April 17, 1965, at the... [More]
Eldon Ralph Hubbard
Eldon Ralph Hubbard, 89, of Stockton, Missouri, passed away April 19, 2026, at Cedar County Memorial Hospital in El Dorado Springs, Missouri. He was born July 22, 1936, in Lakin, Kansas, the son of Virgil and Edith (Barber) Hubbard. Eldon was raised in Lakin, where alongside... [More]
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SPORTS
HI-PLAINS ALL LEAGUE
The Hi-Plains League has announced recipients of all-league basketball honors. The selection process begins when individual coaches submit names. The players are then voted on by the other HPL coaches. However, coaches may not vote on their own players. Syracuse High School... [More]
SHS CHEER TAKES SECOND
Small but Mighty! That is the name high school Head Cheerleading Coach, Marcos Valadez put on the 2024-2025 squad last summer, “We may not have the numbers, but our team has overcome adversity and is always stepping up to the challenge.” Proving this, the Syracuse... [More]
BULLDOGS OPEN FALL SEASON WITH FIRST PLACE FINISH IN GOLF
The Syracuse Bulldogs Ladies Varsity Golf Team took first at their season opener in Stanton County on Tuesday afternoon. They shot a team score of 207 at the Prairie Pines Golf Course in Johnson. The varsity team is Lanee Owens, Bronwyn Lewis, Sammy Schwieterman, Maddy... [More]
LEWIS HEADS TO STATE TRACK
Qualifying members of the high school track team traveled to Hill City Thursday, May 16 to compete in the 2-A regional meet against 15 teams, Ellinwood, Ellis, Hill City, Hoxie, Lincoln, Meade, Medicine Lodge, Oakley, Plainville, Smith Center, Stanton County, Sublette, Thomas... [More]
BULLDOGS TAKE SECOND AT REGIONALS - HEADED TO STATE
The Syracuse High School boys golf team battled breezy conditions on Monday May 13 competing in the 2-A Regional meet on their own Tamarisk Golf Course. Adjusting to windy conditions and competing at home paid off for the Bulldogs Monday, placing second, qualifying... [More]
STATE GOLF RESULTS
State golf on Monday had the Varsity Bulldogs miss playing in the finals as a team by one stroke. They finished seventh out of twelve teams. On Day 1, Brody Keller shot a 92 missing day two by two strokes. Ian Brummett shot a 95, Mason Scott and Johnny TeVelde shot... [More]
JH BASKETBALL WINS
Junior High Boys Basketball A, B, and C teams travelled to Elkhart on Monday, November 21. The A team won 41-34, B team won 26-21, and C team lost to Elkhart 13-20. Head Coach Vance Keller said, “Elkhart was a tough win for both the A and B teams but both grinded... [More]
LADY BULLDOGS BORDER WARS CHAMPIONS!!
The Lady Bulldogs were undefeated during the Border Wars, defeating Eads on Friday, 42-7 and Walsh on Saturday 62-5, bringing their record to 3-1. But the winner wasn’t announced until Tuesday evening. Syracuse Athletic Director Josh Johnson explained, “It came down... [More]
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NEWS
Area Rain Brings Hope To Farmers
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Cruisin’ Into Car Show - Best Turnout In Ten Years
It was a sunny Saturday morning, chillier than most. The wind was strong and cold but that didn’t stop 58 eager contestants from entering their cars, pickups, and motorcycles in the car show. A total of 17 cities were represented from Southwest Kansas and Eastern... [More]
Coolidge Bridge Opens
The sun was shining on Tuesday morning as the County Commissioners drove to Coolidge to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new expanded Coolidge bridge. Less than one mile from Highway 50 stands a brand new 4.33 million dollar bridge. The project was one hundred percent financed... [More]
Plunkett Elected to Kansas Angus Association
Aaron Plunkett has been a member of Kansas Angus Association since his start in the commercial cattle business. His dad Richard ran cows. “I remember my dad bought some cows in La Junta and they had babies. I was about 7 years old. He sold me a baby calf and... [More]
Out With The Old: City Wide Cleanup
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Aguilera Appointed to City Council of Syracuse
2008 Syracuse High School graduate, Luis Aguilera, was appointed to the City Council of Syracuse at the noon meeting on Tuesday. After Joe Thomeczek resigned his position to serve, the seat was vacant. Letters of interest were mailed into the city office. Mayor Blake... [More]
Main Street Market Opens With Limited Hours
Small town thrives on local economy. When a new business opens on Main Street, USA, it is a win. When the meat is sourced locally, processed within sixty miles of our community, it is well worth the investment to trying out new. Add a coffee shop to it and what more could you... [More]
Giving Back To Community Brings Joy
Community thrives when it’s citizens put the people above themselves. Many give by serving on boards, some volunteer as coaches, and sometimes people just decide to give. Two such people, Pat Barrett and Ann Gattis, come to mind. Pat Barrett read an article in... [More]
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OPINIONS
More love, less hate
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Purpose in the Pain
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Fruit of the Spirit
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Where Can God Use You Today?
A long haired shaggy white dog, likely a Great Pyrenees, showed up at our farm last week. After a couple of days, we saw it wasn’t going anywhere. We started to feed it. He let us get closer. What we found was a skinny, malnourished dog with a horrible case... [More]
How Vulnerable Are You?
Thanks for your patience last week. I am still recovering but have returned to the land of the living! I get frustrated with how slow it takes to recover sometimes when really I should focus on the fact that I am recovering. I truly feel like I am getting stronger and then... [More]
Let God
It’s the first week of September. After I get the paper onto stands, we are headed to the state fair. They changed some of the stalling procedures this year for sheep which leaves some unknowns for us. But every year we go, we learn new things. After my irritation and frustration... [More]
Breathing Space
I slipped away for a quick getaway for back to school clothes shopping, visiting family, some good food, and a trip to Barnes and Noble. We left Thursday afternoon and returned Sunday. It was triple digit heat when we left our sheep in good hands to be taken care... [More]
Building Moments and Memories
Another week has passed after the fair but I am still not recovered. Monday is the start of school and I am hoping we get a quick getaway even for one night. I was out of the office on Tuesday while we bred our lambs in Healy, Kansas. We rose early, hooked up the trailer,... [More]
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