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Donald E. “Don” Baker 1930 - 2019
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Donald E. “Don” Baker 1930 - 2019
Published: Apr 10, 2019, 9:38 PM

Donald E. “Don” Baker, 88, passed away April 9, 2019 at Medicalodges of Great Bend. He was born Oct. 22, 1930 at Great Bend, the son of Elmer and Velma Neva (Cook) Bortz. He married Joan Jecha July 7, 1956 at Bison.  

Don, a long time resident of Rush and Barton Counties, was a graduate of Fort Hays State University. Don was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, based at Schilling Air Force Base, Salina, serving during the Korean War, earning the rank of 1st Lt.  Much of his military career was spent on tankers and B-47 bombers.  Following his military discharge, Don continued his aviation career with Boeing in Wichita as a B-52 test pilot. It was not long before he and Joan found their way back to the family farm, where he farmed, raised livestock and worked for Timken State Bank.  After retirement from the farm, Don was blessed with employment with Dee Doves, KVGB, KSN and Head Start.  Don was a life member of the V.F.W. Post #3111, member of the American Legion Argonne Post #180, and enjoyed sports, reading, playing cards and fishing.     

Survivors include, his wife Joan of the home; two sons, Stuart Baker and wife Lisa Ann and Clark Baker, all of Great Bend; one daughter, Lisa Oborny and husband Jim of Bells, Texas; and six grandchildren, Andrew Baker, Jonathan Baker, Amber Hart and husband Michael, Nicholas Oborny and wife Samantha, Alexander Oborny and wife Rachel, and Victoria Oborny. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Elizabeth Jeanne Degner. 

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, April 12, at Bryant Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 13, at Bryant Funeral Home, with Pastor Larry Schumacher presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery, Great Bend, with Military Rites conducted by the United States Air Force. Memorials are suggested to the Golden Belt Humane Society or Kansas Wetlands Education Center, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.


Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS   67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 11, 2019

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Vara Cannarissi (Hall) LaFoy 1921 - 2025
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Vara Cannarissi (Hall) LaFoy
Published: Mar 27, 2025, 6:40 PM

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Vara Cannarissi (Hall) LaFoy, 103, passed away March 26, 2025, at her home in Fayetteville, Ark. She was born on June 26, 1921, daughter of Lott and Blanche (Davidson) Hall, and grew up on the family farm near Albert, Kan. Vara attended Stony Seven School, Otis Bison School, and was a member of the Garfield Township Band.

She married and had one child, Vara Lee. While married, she lived seven years in Europe. Vara later returned to Kansas and attended a business college in Wichita. She and Vara Lee then moved to Washington D.C. After a year at the Pentagon, she joined USAID, and in 1968, both she and her daughter entered the Foreign Service and went to Vietnam. She was posted to Vietnam twice, Guatemala, Ft. Chaffee, Washington D.C., Mauritania, Jamaica, and lastly, Paris. She retired from her last post in 1984 and moved to Fort Smith, Ark., where she had been assigned previously in the placing of Vietnamese refugees.

Vara then was able to carry out her desire to paint and won various awards. She also wrote histories of the Hall and Davidson families, Stoney Seven School, and tales of her childhood on the farm. Many years of her life were spent in a brave battle to try to save her farm with its many trees from destruction. She lost, but the battle led to the Kansas Legislature’s change in imminent domain laws.

She was a member of the League of Woman Voters, River Valley Writers, Fort Smith Library Book Club, all of Fort Smith, Ark.

Preceding her in death is daughter, Vara Lee LaFoy; her parents; sister, Melba Hagerman; brother, Gene Hall; and her cousins who lived on the Hall farm, Wendell and Wayne Seiling, and John Higgins. All the males from this family served their country; Wendell and Gene were badly wounded, and Wayne died at the end of the Death March in the Philippines.

Vara leaves behind her nieces and nephews, Lott and Cindy Hall, Lynn, John, Mark and Jan Hagerman, cousins, and many friends.

Graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 4, 2025, at Albert Community Cemetery, Albert, Kansas. Memorials have been designated to Doctors Without Borders, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, 1425 Patton Rd., Great Bend, KS 67530. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.


Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Rd.

Great Bend, KS 67530

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, March 29, 2025