Vaughn Chamberlain
Vaughn Chamberlain, 94, passed away peacefully at his home in Harlowton, Montana, on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. He was born at home on September 21, 1930, in Syracuse, Kansas, the son of Artimus & Evadee (Craven) Chamberlain.
Vaughn grew up in Syracuse, Kansas, where he attended school. In 1950, he married Clara Bell Hill. Vaughn served in the United States Army from January 17, 1952 to January 19, 1954. During his tenure in Korea, he received a National Defense Medal, the Korean Service Medal, 3 Bronze Stars, a Combat Infantry Badge, and a United nation Service Medal. He served as a scout for his unit on the front lines for 2 years along with Active Battle.
Upon returning state side, Vaughn and his wife traveled West for opportunity and schooling. He was a technician and a franchise specialist for General Electric for 30 years until his retirement. He also continued to farm until 2016.
Vaughn’s life mission was his family, leaving behind his wife of 74 years Clara Chamberlain; a son Kevin Chamberlain; a daughter Karen Chamberlain Osborne; four grandchildren Gary Hess, Michael Hess, Keith Chamberlain, & Kurt Chamberlain; two step-grandchildren Stephen Mercer and David Mercer; six great-grandchildren Jillian, Luke, Vaughn, & Kyle Hess and Trinity and Evie Grace Chamberlain; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Art & Evadee (Craven) Chamberlain of Syracuse, Kansas; a brother Ronald Chamberlain; and a sister Mary Lou Chamberlain Williams.
A Celebration of Vaughn’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. (MT), on Monday, November 25, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church in Syracuse, Kansas with Pastor Kurt Chamberlain and Rev. Larry Alexander officiating. Interment will follow at the Syracuse Cemetery, with reception following the interment. Graveside rites will be conducted by the Ft. Riley US Army Honor Guard and the Southwest Kansas Veterans Honor Guard. Condolences may be given at garnandfuneralhomes.com. Vaughn was well loved and respected by all that knew him. He will be greatly missed.
OBITUARIES
David Randolph Taylor Junior
DATELINE: JOHNSON, KS David Randolph Taylor Junior was a big, strong man with a tender heart. He was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in 1955 on February 17th. David died on March 9, 2025, after a fierce battle with Anaplastic thyroid cancer. David was born to David... [More]
Susan Lynn Barker
Susan Lynn Barker, 67, died Monday, March 3, 2025, at The Ranch House in Garden City, Kansas. She was born July 9, 1957, in Iola, Kansas the daughter to George Ernest Mapes & Doris Louise Cuppy. Susan was born in Iola and relocated to Colorado during her childhood, where... [More]
Larry Lee Hirsch Sr.
With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of Larry Lee Hirsch Sr., who left us on February 24, 2025, at the age of 81. He passed at his son’s home, with family members present. He was in the care of Hand in Hand Hospice of Emporia, Kansas. ... [More]
Daryle Lewis
Daryle Wayne Lewis was born on January 5, 1945, in Hutchinson, Kansas, to George Woodrow Lewis and Juanita (Evins) Lewis. He was raised on the family farm northwest of Syracuse that was homesteaded by his Grandfather. He lived in a sod house until the age of ten, with... [More]
Orin Grant Florence, Sr.
Orin Grant Florence, Sr. passed away February 13, 2025, at the Greeley County Long Term Care in Tribune, Kansas. He was the son of Ernest Miles Florence and Cecil Dale (Hill) Florence. He was born July 7, 1942 in Hugoton, Kansas. Orin began his life in Hugoton and grew... [More]
Sharlleen Ruth Swisher
A celebration of life for longtime Lamar, Colorado resident, Sharlleen R. Swisher will be held at 11:00AM on Thursday, February 13, 2025 at the Sheridan Lake Bible Church. Interment will follow at the Sheridan Lake Cemetery. Sharlleen Ruth Jensen Swisher... [More]
Wade Henry Dewey
Wade Henry Dewey, 58, passed away on January 25, 2025 in Wichita, Ks. He was born on November 15, 1966 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He enjoyed working with his hands, he was a skilled mechanic and enjoyed wood working. He was also a champion dirt track racer. Wade lived the nomad... [More]
James “JD” Rice
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]
More Obituaries
- Travis Dion Cheatum
- Ron Munyan
- William “Bill” Morris Royer
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- Pamela LaCost
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SPORTS
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]
JH Basketball Season Underway with JH Boys sweeping Lakin
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]
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NEWS
LOCAL WOMAN HACKED ONLINE WANTS TO HELP PREVENT YOU FROM SIMILAR SITUATION
Scams. Hackers. They are everywhere. They call your phone, text a simple hi, email you from what looks like a reasonable business. They are out for your money or your identity. We often think they get other people, not us. Local resident Ronna Simon is exasperated.... [More]
HOMECOMING NIGHT
On Friday night, the stands were filled with students, parents, and spectators out to enjoy homecoming against the Sublette Larks. The pep rally started off the afternoon with contests and games to get the students excited. The JH Pep Band played, the cheerleaders performed,... [More]
SYRACUSE’S NEW STREET SWEEPER
If you think you have seen a little spaceship on the streets around town, you are not alone. Many of us have wondered what this new contraption is and how it works. According to City Administrator, Brian Bloyd, it is the new Ravo R5 street sweeper. “This replaces... [More]
DAIRY SPECIALISTS MAKING CHANGES
In the last year and a half, Dairy Specialists has grown from working with three dairies to 15, and they have quickly outgrown their space. They found a larger facility in Ulysses with 12 acres that is centrally located to the dairies they service. No employees have to... [More]
SCHWIETERMAN TO SERVE NATIONALLY
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]
HM COUNTY EMS SEEKS EMR
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]
FAITH AND FARMING ROOTS HELP BRING HOME NATIONAL WIN FOR SCHWIETERMAN GRANDCHILD
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]
Border Wars
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]
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- PLUNKETT FINDS TREASURE IN HM COUNTY
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- BENEFIT FOR BATCHELOR BATTLING ALS
- COACH CASTRO AWARDED BETHANY COLLEGE ATHLETIC HALL OF HONOR
- GENE DIKEMAN IS KBA’S NEW CHAIRMAN
- Bulldog Bank Open For Business
OPINIONS
Our Most Treasured Possessions
Does anyone remember the short story The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry? It is one of my favorites. If I recall correctly, the couple sells their most treasured possessions to secretly buy each other Christmas gifts. Again it has been many years since I read the story, but... [More]
A Valentine's Day Gift of Gratitude
It’s a snowy February day here in western Kansas as I write my column before it heads to print. We had a couple of inches of beautiful snow to blanket our area with white. However the farmers are disappointed that there wasn’t any moisture in it. As always,... [More]
Confidence
It is an icy, foggy winter morning, a far cry from the 82 degree sunny day we had just a couple of days ago. While the weather in western Kansas can be baffling, I enjoy the variances. It makes every day exciting. What will happen next? I feel like that is the climate... [More]
Sleepless Nights and Endless Memories
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]
What is meant for you?
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]
The Circle of Life
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!
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]
Life, Death, Sunshine, and Storms
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]
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