Linda S. “Cindy” Dunham, 73, formerly of Hays and Great Bend, Kan., died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023 at Wilson Care and Rehabilitation Center in Wilson.

She was born Jan. 22, 1950 in Hays, the daughter of Jack and Esther (Butler) Dunham. Cindy graduated from Great Bend Senior High School. She loved sports, playing softball, and after graduating from high school she moved to Oklahoma City, Okla. where she played women’s football with the Oklahoma City Dolls. Cindy worked for El-Kan in Ellsworth, Kan. and as a corrections officer in Oklahoma City. Cindy later moved to the Fort Lauderdale, Fla. area and bought her first home in Hollywood, Fla. She took great pride in her home, doing much of the remodeling herself. In Florida, she put herself through cosmetology school and became a hairdresser. After a short time, she chose a different career path and enrolled in the police academy. After graduating and working for many years, not missing any work, she retired at the early age of 62 from Miami-Dade Corrections. Cindy returned to Great Bend from Florida in January 2022. In August 2022, she moved to Hays to live with her nephew Patrick Meyeres Nolan. As her health declined, she was moved to skilled nursing care in Wilson, Kan. She loved animals, but was especially fond of cats and dogs.

Survivors include her three siblings, Janet Meyeres and David Dunham, both of Great Bend and Gary Dunham of Wilson, formerly of Great Bend; five nieces and nephews; and ten great nieces and great nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and two brothers, Jack L. “Jackie” Dunham and Stephen L. “Steve” Dunham. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Condolences and memories of Cindy may be left for her family at www.haysmemorial.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Hays Memorial Chapel

1906 Pine St. 

Hays, KS 67601

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Jan. 4, 2024