CATHERINE JANE (SCOTT) RICHARDS
Catherine Jane (Scott) Richards, 88, Baldwin City, died peacefully Saturday, Sep ...
Catherine Jane (Scott) Richards, 88, Baldwin City, died peacefully Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at the Baldwin Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in the arms of family.
A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, at the First United Methodist Church in Baldwin City, followed by interment at the Garnett Cemetery.
She and her twin sister, Sarah Jean, were born April 22, 1924, at the family home on West Fourth Street, Garnett, to Henry Kip Scott and Lillian (Archer) Scott.
Jane, or Joan/Jo, as she was known during her childhood and teenage years, graduated in 1942 from Garnett High School. She entered the University of Kansas as a Watkins Scholar, and in 1944 moved to Los Angeles to study at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) and work as a draftsman. In 1948, she completed a bachelor’s degree in humanities, with an emphasis in architecture, in the College of Arts and Sciences at Kansas State University.
Her first job after graduation was with temperature engineering in Kansas City, Mo., where she was the sole female drafting engineer.
Jane married Dean D. “Tutt” Richards Jr. March 25, 1950. They lived with their growing family in Baldwin City, Kansas City, Mo., Prairie Village and Omaha, Neb., before returning to Baldwin City in 1956 to co-own and operate “The Baldwin Ledger” and “The Wellsville Globe.” From 1958 to 1974, Jane was the managing editor of The Ledger and after 1965, when she and Dean established a controlled circulation newspaper for Eudora, “The Eudora Enterprise.” She also wrote a weekly column for The Ledger, “On the Street.” Following the sale of Baldwin Publications, Jane worked as interim editor of “The Hoisington (Kan.) Dispatch” and “The Claflin (Kansas) Clarion,” then joined Baker University as director of information services, a position she held until 1988. After departing from Baker, Jane worked as archivist for the Franklin County Historical Society, Ottawa, where she conducted genealogy research, contributed to publications and gave tours.
A 25-year member of the Kansas Press Women (KPW), as well as a past officer and member of the KPW Board of Directors, Jane was named Top Woman Editor in Kansas three times, received eight first-place awards from the National Federation of Press Women in the special editions of weekly newspapers category. Other journalism and publication honors included Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics-Sports Information Directors (NAIA-SIDA) awards. Baker University named her an honorary alumna.
Jane was exceptionally engaged with her community and the activities of her children. Her professional and civic awards include citations for public service from Rotary International, the American Legion, Business and Professional Women, the Parent-Teachers Association, the Baldwin City Jaycees and the Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce. She was a two-term member and former president of the Baldwin City School Board, USD 348, a board member of the East Central Kansas Cooperative in Education, a past president and life member of the Baldwin City PTA, a member and past president of Chapter CK of PEO and a member of the Baldwin City Council, the Baldwin Library Board of Trustees, the Douglas County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Franklin County Historical Society, the Hestia Study and Tuesday Reading clubs of Baldwin City and the Baldwin Biddies. She also was a Boy Scout den mother, the mother of four and the grandmother of two Eagle Scouts.
Jane was an ardent gardener, landscaper, interior decorator, photographer, reader, family genealogist, and seamstress.
She was devoted member of the First United Methodist Church in Baldwin City and later the Episcopal Church in Ottawa.
She greatly enjoyed singing and listening to music, watching movies, swimming and caring for wild and abandoned animals, as well as the many dogs and cats that she and her husband welcomed into their home. She also made the best potato salad on the planet. Above all else, Jane was a loyal and caring mother and grandmother, who considered her children her greatest treasures.
Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Dean, a resident at Baldwin Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center; her six children and their spouses, Dr. Dean Richards III and Nancy, Leawood, Nancy Jane Richards, Oakham, Maine, Susan Richards Johnson and Karl Johnson, Kansas City, Mo., Scott Richards and Terri, Lakewood, Colo., John Richards and Nancy, Baldwin City, and Kip Richards and Denise, Overland Park; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and an elder brother, Bill, California.
The family would like to extend its profound appreciation to the staff of Baldwin Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center for their loving and seemingly tireless care of our mother during her stay there, and to the Good Shepherd Hospice for the comprehensive and sensitive care they extended to our mother and her family during her final hours.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Baker University for a scholarship, the details of which will be announced at a later date.
Condolences may be made at www.ottawaherald.com
A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, at the First United Methodist Church in Baldwin City, followed by interment at the Garnett Cemetery.
She and her twin sister, Sarah Jean, were born April 22, 1924, at the family home on West Fourth Street, Garnett, to Henry Kip Scott and Lillian (Archer) Scott.
Jane, or Joan/Jo, as she was known during her childhood and teenage years, graduated in 1942 from Garnett High School. She entered the University of Kansas as a Watkins Scholar, and in 1944 moved to Los Angeles to study at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) and work as a draftsman. In 1948, she completed a bachelor’s degree in humanities, with an emphasis in architecture, in the College of Arts and Sciences at Kansas State University.
Her first job after graduation was with temperature engineering in Kansas City, Mo., where she was the sole female drafting engineer.
Jane married Dean D. “Tutt” Richards Jr. March 25, 1950. They lived with their growing family in Baldwin City, Kansas City, Mo., Prairie Village and Omaha, Neb., before returning to Baldwin City in 1956 to co-own and operate “The Baldwin Ledger” and “The Wellsville Globe.” From 1958 to 1974, Jane was the managing editor of The Ledger and after 1965, when she and Dean established a controlled circulation newspaper for Eudora, “The Eudora Enterprise.” She also wrote a weekly column for The Ledger, “On the Street.” Following the sale of Baldwin Publications, Jane worked as interim editor of “The Hoisington (Kan.) Dispatch” and “The Claflin (Kansas) Clarion,” then joined Baker University as director of information services, a position she held until 1988. After departing from Baker, Jane worked as archivist for the Franklin County Historical Society, Ottawa, where she conducted genealogy research, contributed to publications and gave tours.
A 25-year member of the Kansas Press Women (KPW), as well as a past officer and member of the KPW Board of Directors, Jane was named Top Woman Editor in Kansas three times, received eight first-place awards from the National Federation of Press Women in the special editions of weekly newspapers category. Other journalism and publication honors included Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics-Sports Information Directors (NAIA-SIDA) awards. Baker University named her an honorary alumna.
Jane was exceptionally engaged with her community and the activities of her children. Her professional and civic awards include citations for public service from Rotary International, the American Legion, Business and Professional Women, the Parent-Teachers Association, the Baldwin City Jaycees and the Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce. She was a two-term member and former president of the Baldwin City School Board, USD 348, a board member of the East Central Kansas Cooperative in Education, a past president and life member of the Baldwin City PTA, a member and past president of Chapter CK of PEO and a member of the Baldwin City Council, the Baldwin Library Board of Trustees, the Douglas County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Franklin County Historical Society, the Hestia Study and Tuesday Reading clubs of Baldwin City and the Baldwin Biddies. She also was a Boy Scout den mother, the mother of four and the grandmother of two Eagle Scouts.
Jane was an ardent gardener, landscaper, interior decorator, photographer, reader, family genealogist, and seamstress.
She was devoted member of the First United Methodist Church in Baldwin City and later the Episcopal Church in Ottawa.
She greatly enjoyed singing and listening to music, watching movies, swimming and caring for wild and abandoned animals, as well as the many dogs and cats that she and her husband welcomed into their home. She also made the best potato salad on the planet. Above all else, Jane was a loyal and caring mother and grandmother, who considered her children her greatest treasures.
Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Dean, a resident at Baldwin Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center; her six children and their spouses, Dr. Dean Richards III and Nancy, Leawood, Nancy Jane Richards, Oakham, Maine, Susan Richards Johnson and Karl Johnson, Kansas City, Mo., Scott Richards and Terri, Lakewood, Colo., John Richards and Nancy, Baldwin City, and Kip Richards and Denise, Overland Park; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and an elder brother, Bill, California.
The family would like to extend its profound appreciation to the staff of Baldwin Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center for their loving and seemingly tireless care of our mother during her stay there, and to the Good Shepherd Hospice for the comprehensive and sensitive care they extended to our mother and her family during her final hours.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Baker University for a scholarship, the details of which will be announced at a later date.
Condolences may be made at www.ottawaherald.com