Gregory Mark Stone

Gregory Mark Stone was born on October 19, 1953, the son of Bernard & Barbara (Howey) Stone in Topeka, Kansas. His battle with cancer ended, Greg entered eternal life on Monday, October 15, 2018, and now rests in the arms of his Heavenly Father. Because both of his parents were artists, Greg lived in Taos, NM, and Arizona when he was a small child. Later he attended schools in Topeka and graduated in 1971 from Cambridge High School in Ohio. He attended the DeVry Institute in Kansas City and studied electronics. In 1974, he married Cindy Easter, they divorced. In 1989, Greg transferred to Ottawa from Clay Center as the Produce Manager for Ray’s IGA and worked there until it’s closing in 1993. Greg went on to work as a Produce Manager for various grocery stores, including Ball’s Price Chopper in Olathe. He retired July 2016 with Hy-Vee Food Stores in Lawrence. No matter where Greg worked his trade, his customers were always important to him. He wanted to know them by name and offered his extensive product knowledge and his best service to each one. On May 14, 1993, Greg was united in marriage to Cynthia Goetz in Williamsburg, Kansas. Their marriage was blessed by the Catholic Church on December 15, 1994. In 1986, Greg was baptized at the United Methodist Church, Wakefield, Kansas. He was received into the Catholic faith on November 16, 1995, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ottawa, Kansas. Greg was a devoted husband and father; his greatest love was being Papa to his eleven grandchildren. He was an active member of Sacred Heart and spent many years as the key and vital support for his wife in many roles including the development and implementation of the Benefit Auction for Sacred Heart (BASH). Greg was kind and generous and his positive attitude was always surrounded by the warmth of his smile. Greg’s art was his music. One of his favorite gospel songs was “Give Me Jesus”. He was an avid collector of classic vinyl in all genres but especially blues and rock n roll. While in high school he played guitar in a band which developed into a lifetime of playing, collecting, and loving all things “guitar”. Greg is survived by a large and loving family, including his wife, Cynthia, children and grandchildren: Jeremy & Charlene (Macy) Stone, Cooper, Keaton, Macy and Kersley, Ottawa, Kansas; Amanda (Goetz) & Jonathan Rupp, Ivan and Amelia, Hays, Kansas; Adrianne (Stone) & Dan Hoefler, Abbigale and Madison, Columbus, Georgia; Rachel (Goetz) & Ty Wilson, Madelyn, Ava, and Emmett, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. He is survived by his mother and step-father, Barbara & Bob Parks and siblings, Cindy (Bill) Gerstmyer, Salisbury, Maryland; Becky Richmond, Shawnee Kansas; Jeff (Lynn) Stone, Greendale, Wisconsin; and Laurie (Loren) Kallenbach, Lawrence, Kansas. He is also survived by his father’s long-time companion, Sylvia Stevens, Leavenworth, Kansas. Greg is survived by his in-laws, Larry & Florence Goetz, Hays, Kansas; Cheryl & Shelton Renz, Hays, Kansas; Keith & Judy Goetz, Hutchinson, Kansas; and Brenda & Bill Pfizenmaier, Ottawa, Kansas. Greg enjoyed being an uncle to 21 nieces and nephews and was already a “great uncle” to 10. Greg was preceded in death by his father, Bernard Stone and brothers-in-law, Brad Richmond and Randy Goetz. A wake service and rosary will be held at 6:30 pm, Thursday, October 18, 2018 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Ottawa, Kansas. There will be dessert and drinks following the service in the parish hall. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, October 19, 2018 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The funeral dinner will follow immediately in the parish hall. Burial will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, October 20, 2018 at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Hays, Kansas. The family requests NO flowers and asks that all food donations be coordinated with Sacred Heart Church (785-242-2174) to be used for the funeral dinner. In lieu of flowers, the family requests stipends for Masses for the repose of Greg’s soul and memorials in his name to Children’s Mercy Hospital Ward Family Heart Center c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Greg’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com