Caroline Flory Obituary

Caroline Belle (Torneden) Flory, 92, of Lawrence, passed away February 7, 2026, at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor.

Born March 17, 1933, in Lawrence, Kansas to Frederick Henry Torneden and Edna May (Shuster) Torneden, she grew up on a farm near Clinton, Kansas. She attended grade school in Clinton in a one room, eight grade school. She graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in Lawrence in 1950, later attending the University of Kansas.

In 1952, she represented Kansas on a Rural Youth of America Tour of Europe sponsored by the American Farm Bureau. She was an active 4-H'er and played softball on the Clinton girls team.

She married Raymond Clifford Flory on March 6, 1955, at the Clinton Presbyterian Church. They were married nearly 62 years before he passed away in 2017. She was employed by the University of Kansas as property accountant until her retirement in 1996.

Caroline and Raymond enjoyed travel, having visited all 50 states, all 10 provinces of Canada, and seven foreign countries. In recent years she had enjoyed the exchange of food and time spent with her friends and neighbors in Chipperfield where she had lived since 2003.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Raymond, and brother, Floyd Torneden.

Survivors include a son, Roger (Teresa) Flory, Overbrook, KS; daughter, Rhonda Bruce (companion, Craig Worley), Lawrence; five grandsons, Tim (Jana) Flory, Lawrence, KS, Brian (Julie) Flory, Overbrook, KS, Mark (Jessica) Flory, Overbrook, KS, Ryan Bruce, Bartlesville, OK, and Ronnie (Jessica) Bruce, Lake Ozark, MO; and eleven great-grandchildren, Brevin, Maison, Cole, Piper Jo, Evelyn, Jase, and Patton Flory, and Wyatt, Alexis, Lily, and Calvin Bruce.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Douglas County 4-H Foundation (Scholarships) or Lone Star Church of the Brethren in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS 66044.

Graveside services will be 11:00 am Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at Washington Creek Cemetery. Caroline will lie in state on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm. To leave a message for Caroline's family, please visit Rumsey-Yost.com.