Obituaries

Ned Lowry DODGE CITY - Ned Lowry, 89, died Sunday, October DODGE CITY - Ned Lowry, 89, died Sunday, October 16, 2022 at SunPorch of Dodge City. 16, 2022 at SunPorch of Dodge City.

Jane Skehan, 86, died on August 25, 2022, in Fort Worth, Texas. She worked in education for over 30 years, retiring from Hutchinson Community College in 1998 as the Academic Advisor for Evening Students after serving in a variety of other roles at

MINNEOLA - Carl E. Sparks, 91, died Sunday, October 9, 2022 at Minneola Long Term Care, Minneola. He was born on November 29, 1930 at Rains County, Texas the son of William and Rosa (Lundsford) Sparks. Carl was a lifetime area resident, he spent most of his life out on the farm 9 miles south of town just moving to town in 2015. He was a member of the Minneola United Methodist Church, and past president and board member of the Minneola Co-op. Carl enjoyed farming, welding, tending to his livestock, and his “Friday night supper gang” but most of all he loved his family time. He also served four years in the United States Air Force. On December 26, 1951 he married Marjorie Lorene Thompson at Minneola. She survives. Survivors also include: a daughter, Nancy Groth and husband Craig, Satana, Kansas; 2 sons, David Sparks, Lawrence, Kansas and Alan Sparks and wife Alison, Englewood, Colorado; 2 nieces, Michelle Simpson and husband Doug, Moore, Oklahoma and Richelle Naiman, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; 7 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren and one on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Jeri Ann Sparks, 4 brothers, Charley, Fred, Marion, and Elmer Sparks, 4 sisters, Pollyann, Rastus, Thelma and

Margaret (Rowlands) Holzrichter passed on October 7, 2022, at the age of 96. Margaret was born February 2, 1926, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Rev. Hugh and Mary (Rees) Rowlands. She graduated from Emporia High School (KS) and Emporia State Teacher’s College in 1948 majoring in music education. She moved to Dodge City, KS, to teach music in the middle school where she met and later married Elmer Holzrichter, who was the art teacher. They started a family and also managed a small gift shop with original art by Elmer. They moved to Kearney in 1963 when Elmer joined the art faculty at Kearney State Teachers’ College. Margaret cared for the family, taught music in elementary school and was involved in Faculty Wives. Elmer and Margaret merged their lives as artists and educators, not only making a living at both, but making art out of living. They were ardent supporters of Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney Community Concert, and Nebraska Public Media. Margaret loved music. She was a member of the local music teacher’s guild and a patron of the Merryman Performing Arts Center. Her greatest love was teaching children of all abilities to enjoy and play music. She was the first teacher in the area to adopt the Suzuki method of teaching piano and hosted numerous recitals. Margaret loved her family near and far and was proud of her Welsh heritage. She was a club leader for many of her children’s activities. She often hosted her grandchildren in the summertime, treating them to waffles of many colors. Margaret’s lived a life of faith. She was deeply engaged in the activities of First Presbyterian Church of Kearney including women’s circles, Bible study, hosting church events, teaching Sunday School, and serving on the Session and Board of Deacons. Margaret is preceded in death by her husband Elmer, brothers Edwin (Flossy) and Hubert (Mildred). She is survived by her children Eric, Myfanwy (Marc) Carranza, Cathryn (Charles) Welch and Bronwyn (Gary) Fees, 11 grandchildren and