Terry Lee Jones of Wichita, KS passed away on April 7, 2023 of complications from cardiac surgery.
Terry, known affectionately to friends and family as TJ, was born on September 25, 1943 to Mary R. Sterling and James Parker Jones in Kingman, KS. He later moved to Syracuse, KS and graduated from Syracuse High School. After graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Carol Jeanne Stanley and continued his education earning a Bachelor’s Degree in business and economics from Emporia State University with a Master’s Degree in psychology and counseling from Pittsburg State University.
Terry had a forty-year career as an Administrator, Entrepreneur and Sales Professional. Terry and Carol opened numerous retail stores together and one of those led to his final career selling window treatments for twenty years.
Terry and Carol shared a passion for buying and fixing up homes and together they remodeled almost 20 houses during 57 years of marriage. Terry loved motorcycles and one of his goals was to purchase and customize as many cycles as he had homes he’d remodeled and there was always one or two in his garage in various states of repair.
Those who knew Terry well knew he was happiest talking over a coffee or a beer. He had a knack for instantly making connections with everyone he met and shared his compassion and authentic interest in each person on an individual level. He enjoyed a good political or philosophical discussion. His children knew him as a patriot and his grandchildren knew him as someone unafraid to be politically incorrect. He was a poet at heart, an avid reader and never stopped learning. He enjoyed sharing knowledge and philosophy back and forth with others. Terry was an immediate friend to all. His compassion, kindness, patience, and eagerness to put others at ease are just a few of the reasons this great man is so loved and will be deeply missed.
Terry lettered in football in high school and passed on his love of sports, hunting, and fishing to his children. He found true joy in attending and cheering on his grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s sports and activities. He was also a collector of old records and 8 track tapes and passed on his passion for the classic artists of ‘50s rock such as Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Elvis onto the next generations.
Terry is survived by his wife, Carol Jones of the home; their children, Shane Jones (Theresa) of Kansas City, Scott Jones of Towanda, Aimee Dester (Dan) of Wichita; grandchildren, Kourtney, Alexa (Kaleb), Lauren (Clint), Maddie (Peter), Terry Lee (Garrett), Daniel (Mackenzie), Jason, Emma, and Margo; great-grandchildren Laynee, Addison, Riley, Phoenix, Savannah, Danny, and Scarlett.
Rosary will be at 6:30 pm, Thursday, April 13, 2023, at St. Thomas Catholic Church. Celebration of Life will follow at 7:00 pm. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am, Friday, April 14, 2023, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Lord’s Diner 520 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214; Tunnel to Towers Foundation 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.
Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.
James “JD” Rice A graveside celebration of life for lifelong Holly resident James Dale Rice, affectionately known to his family and friends as JD will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, January 24, 2025 at the Garber Cemetery... [More]
In Loving Memory of Travis Dion Cheatum September 18, 1978 – January 6, 2025 Travis Dion Cheatum, age 46, entered into eternal rest on Monday, January 6, 2025, in El Paso, Texas. He was born on September 18, 1978, in Garden City, Kansas, to Jamie and Glenda Cheatum.... [More]
Ronald D Munyan Sr of New Braunfels, TX passed away on April 4, 2024, at the age of 77. He was born on July 20, 1946 in Camden, NJ. In 1967, he enlisted in the US Navy. Ron married Ronda K. Purdy in November 1994, enjoying nearly 30 years of marriage. Wherever they lived, they... [More]
“The quickest way for anyone to reach the sun and the light of day is not to run west, chasing after the setting sun, but to head east, plunging into the darkness until one comes to the sunrise.” — Gerald L. Sittser William “Bill” Morris... [More]
Shannon Rose (Hyatt) Chambers passed away January 2, 2025 at the Greeley County Hospital, in Tribune, Kansas. She was the daughter of Albert Hyatt and Donna Marie Strickland-Lopez. She was born September 6, 1956 in Los Angeles, California. Shannon grew up in Guerneville... [More]
Jesus “Chuma” Manuel Apodaca Leyva passed away January 12, 2025 at the Hamilton County Hospital, in Syracuse, Kansas. He was the son of Celso Apodaca and Rafaela Apodaca Leyva. He was born April 10, 1942 in Chihuahua, Mexico. Chuma lived in Mexico for... [More]
Pamela Kay LaCost was born February 18th, 1965 in Syracuse, KS. She realized her final wish by passing away peacefully at her residence, surrounded by family and loved ones, on January 3, 2025, at the age of 59. Affectionately known to everyone as Pam, she spent her life caring... [More]
Funeral Services for Larry G. Sitts will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, January 13, 2025 at Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel in Holly, Colorado. Interment will follow in the Holly Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m., Sunday, January 12,... [More]
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]
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]
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]
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 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]
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]
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]
Monday night at home at the Herndon Gym, the Junior High boys swept Lakin! Head coach Vance Keller said, “We’re a young team with only six eighth graders and 12 seventh graders. We’ve had six total that started the season with injuries so we haven’t had... [More]
Scot Schwieterman has been involved in farming his entire life. “I learned how to farm while working for my family. Growing up, I developed a passion for it.” In 2018, YO Farms was established with hay, forage, and row crop farming. Scot’s eagerness... [More]
Looking for a way to serve the community? Looking to expand your knowledge base? Maybe you want to be on the front lines helping others? Maybe becoming a first responder is in your future. Hamilton County EMS Director Alan Hanson is putting on an Emergency Medical Responder... [More]
Many may remember as a kid playing with Hot Wheels, building a town, using items from around the house for buildings, or perhaps building a town outside in the dirt. But it is the kid with farming roots that added fences made from sticks, pulled grass and put in the fence for... [More]
The annual Border Wars Tournament is in the books. This year was larger than last year with 36 total games over three days. Kansas took on Colorado. Coming in from Colorado were teams from Eads, Las Animas, Stratton, Cheyenne Wells, and Lamar (JV only). Kansas teams... [More]
The Great Hamilton County Treasure Hunt ended on December 8 at 10 am when Aaron Plunkett and team solved the mysterious location of the buried $2,000.00. The hunt arranged by Jim Barrett had many teams signing up online to receive clues by mail. Barrett said, “I sold... [More]
The Herndon Gym was filled with excitement for the annual Alumni Scrimmage Saturday, November 30. Admission was a donation to the Hamilton County Food Pantry and fans could enjoy pulled pork sandwiches and homemade desserts with proceeds to benefit the basketball program. ... [More]
The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) announced Scott Goodheart of Pratt, Kansas became the Director of Officials. Goodheart serves in the role that Francine Martin fulfilled during the 2022-23 school year, the first year for this position at the KSHSAA.... [More]
Veterans Day, the day we honor all veterans who served in times of war and peace. Veterans day, originally Armistice Day, marking the end of WW l which ended on the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. This tradition of honoring veterans during school... [More]
It’s the end of January 2025. I spent a couple nights trading shifts with my husband watching one of our ewes waiting for a lamb. She gave birth on Tuesday afternoon on a beautiful, sunny, 50 degree day. She had a long, hard labor but was blessed with... [More]
Happy mid-January! I am not excited for the below zero temperatures coming as we are waiting on a lamb to deliver her baby. We thought she was close the other night. My husband and I traded off checking every couple of hours. It was a long night with little sleep. It was... [More]
It is Tuesday morning and I am scrambling to get things finished for this week’s paper to go out. With the National Day of Mourning for Jimmy Carter, post offices are closed on Thursday. We were able to move printing to Tuesday morning to publish Wednesday.... [More]
HAPPY NEW YEAR! It’s 2025! Well it’s New Years Eve as I write this lol. It is the 140th year of The Syracuse Journal and my fifth year as editor. For someone who was always on the road, the only roots as a vagabond, I think it’s cool that I landed... [More]
Here we are, Christmas! Temperatures in the fifties and sixties doesn’t make it feel like Christmas. I feel like it should be cold, wet, and white out. There is a good chance of rain on Thursday. Moisture always makes farmers feel good. My... [More]
Here we are. Ten days left until the end of the year. While this year has flown by, I am so busy trying to complete these end of year tasks, I am not focused on Christmas. Yes the stockings are hung, the tree is decorated, and most of the presents are here.... [More]
Here is my countdown. 12 days to Christmas Eve. How are you feeling? Stressed? I know a lot of people including myself that are being pushed to their limits it seems. Where holiday music and lights were once comforting, they don’t seem to be enough. What... [More]
It’s December. My tree is up! The lights on the roof light up the night for me along with our outdoor decorations. I am still struggling that it is December. While I have many presents already purchased, ornaments hung on the tree, I can’t quite get into... [More]
©2025 The Syracuse Journal. Powered by Pluto Sites.