Obituaries

Lance Corporal Gabriel Manuel Ruiz Valles, 19, died Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, in Menifee, Calif., in Riverside County.

He was born Feb. 18, 2005, in Liberal to Salvador Ruiz Flores and Claudia Erika (Valles) Ruiz.

He graduated from high school in Liberal in 2022 and joined the United States Marine Corps.

He loved spending time with his family and his Marine brothers and riding his motorcycle.

He is survived by his parents; five brothers, Nathaniel Armendariz and wife, Cassandra, Liberal, Marco Espinoza, San Diego, Jacob Espinoza, Liberal, Salvador Ruiz Jr., Liberal, and Daniel Ruiz, Liberal; sister, Emily Ruiz Valles, Liberal; grandmother, Maria de la Luz Flores; grandmother, Maria Romero, Liberal; grandfather, Andy Romero, Wichita; four nephews, Logan, Aiden, Tidas and Ares; and niece, Mia.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Salvador Ruiz.

• Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Fellowship Baptist, 310 W. Pancake, Liberal, with Pastor Tyler Prater presiding.

Burial will follow at Restlawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Hornung Family Funeral Home, 1212 W. Second Street, Liberal.

Memorial are suggested to Fellowship Baptist Church in care of Hornung Family Funeral Home, 1212 W. Second Street, Liberal.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hornungfuneralhome. com.

Ann Margaret Speegle, 92, died Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at Cumbernauld Village in Winfield.

Ann was born Oct. 9, 1932, in Aldeburgh, England, to parents Charles and Winifred Alice (Ashford) Harper. 

She married Cecil Ray Speegle, May 24, 1952. He preceded her in death.

She enjoyed knitting, sewing, cooking, reading and doing crossword puzzles and was a member of the Central Baptist Church.

She is survived by her children Debra Whaley (Curtis), Houston, Karen Speegle, Winfield, and Michael Speegle, Longview, Texas; sister, Suzann Hoover, Vancouver, Wash.; brother, Timothy Harper, London; grandchildren, Jason, Jennifer, Carolyn, Matthew and Jeff; and great-grandchildren, Ella, Maddie, Katelyn, Edwin, Isaac, Maggie Mason and Natalie.

She was also preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Thelma, Daphney, Rita and Brian.

o Memorial services will be at 9 a.m. Monday at Central Baptist Church in Winfield.

Memorials are suggested to the Cowley County Humane Society, donations may be left in the care of the Shelley Family Funeral Home.

ULYSSES – Ricardo I. Ortiz, 39, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood, Colo. 

He was born Oct. 10, 1985, in Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, to Esther Estrada. 

He married Sylvia Ochoa on July 13, 2007, in Ulysses. She survives.

In high school, he ran cross country and graduated from Sublette High School in 2004.   

He hauled cotton from El Paso, Texas, to Phoenix.  He worked at various feedlots including Cactus Feeders where he was currently a maintenance mechanics.  He also worked at Smyth Oil & Gas Services, was an equipment operator and farmed and worked cattle for Mike Long.  He was currently studying for his CDL.    

He enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys play football, watching television including Dragon Ball Z, spending time with his dogs Tilin and Bailey, grilling, eating seafood and family gatherings. 

He is also survived by his sons, Uriel A. Ortiz and Luis Ortiz, both of Ulysses; mother and stepfather, Esther Estrada and Rito Garza, Garden City; siblings, Frederico Ramos, Tornillo, Texas, Erica Estrada, Killeen, Texas, Cesar Estrada, Sublette, Jessica Rivero Oberlin, Mario Garza, Rito Garza, Jr., and Anjelica Garza, all of Garden City, and Jennifer Badejo of Lincoln, Neb.; and many nieces and nephews.

• Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Primeria Iglesia Bautista with Pastor Gustavo Perez officiating with burial following at the Ulysses Cemetery.          

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Primeria Iglesia Bautista.    

Memorials are suggested to Ricardo Ortiz Memorial Fund in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave., Ulysses, KS  67880.

Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.

Harold Dewayne Watson, 85, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024.

He was born Sept. 30, 1939, in Elkhart.

He was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He worked at the USD 480 bus barn.

Survivors include sons, Jeff and Scott Watson; grandson, Josh and wife, Ashley; and great-grandchildren, Elleri and Braxton.