Denise Townsley

Denise Townsley, 56, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Friend, and Best Friend of all dogs, died on Friday, December 1, 2023. Funeral Service will be at 1:00 pm, Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary, Wichita, Kansas, with visitation to follow. Denise passed from injuries from a motor vehicle accident. She did not suffer. She received excellent medical care from the Wesley Medical Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Physicians, PA’s, nurses and everyone who became involved. Denise came from a loving family. She was preceded in death by brother David Sidor and by her father Joseph Sidor. She is survived by her mother Rita Sidor of Overland Park, Ks, her brother Joseph Sidor and his wife Doris, of Olathe, Ks, and by her sisters, Sharon Gould and husband Jewell of Burke, Va., Susan Dickson and husband Bert of Stanly, Ks, and Debbie Stewart and husband Lowell of Lawrence, Ks. Denise is survived by sister-in-law Tracy Townsley of Lawrence, Ks, and brother-in-law William Townsley and wife Karen of Wichita, Ks. Denise is also survived by many loved nieces and nephews from both Sidor and Townsley families, and more extended family members. Denise is survived at home by husband Channel P. Townsley, their pet Corgi Blue (4 years old), two Corgis, Doug and Rick (each 1.5 years old), turtle Myrtle (35 years old), and an almost infinite number, variety, and ages of plants Denise was propagating. Denise was raised in Kansas City. She had many memories of being cared for, and educated, for better and worse, by her older siblings; and many fond memories of exploits with her closest high school friends, many involving her VW Bug. She attended the University of Kansas in Lawrence, developing an early love for that town and school. She briefly attended Johnson County Community College, then transferred to Manhattan, Kansas, where she bought a home and began attending Kansas State University for the next several years. She loved Manhattan as much as Lawrence. During these years she met and began dating Chan. Chan began practicing law in 1993 with the Michaud, Hutton, Andersen and Fischer law firm in Wichita. Chan and Denise bought a home in Wichita that year, where they have lived together ever since. Chan and Denise were married December 31, 1994, at a small service at her sister’s home in Kansas City. In Wichita, Denise first worked at Johnson’s Garden Center, making lifelong friends with staff and customers. Then for more than twenty years Denise split her time between work at PetSmart as a Dog Trainer, and working as a Vet Assistant at “Doc” White’s Best Friends Animal Clinic, making more lifelong friends. Denise’s love of animals defined her more than any other single thing. She loved animals of every kind, but mostly dogs. Denise never met a dog that did not like her, and not many she did not like back. She read and learned about dogs her entire life, and got her own first dog Willie while in college. Throughout her life she was an especially effective dog trainer and handler, with an uncanny ability to read and communicate with dogs and their owners. She was a respected trainer and advisor. After being gifted a Corgi, those bossy little herding dogs became Denise’s focus. She started a Corgi rescue and became involved in nationwide canine rescue and transport networks. Over the years she housed, rehabilitated, trained and directly re-homed many dozens of lucky Corgis, many to neighbors and friends, but also to out-of-state-placements to Manhattan, Montecito, San Diego, and many other places. Denise shared her life and affection with her animal friends. Without a doubt Denise went directly to the Rainbow Bridge where she was met by Willie, Max, Tucker, Jamaica, Rain, Grace, Josey, Kismet, Quincy, and Kaya. Nollie followed just five days later. Denise also found time to support women’s rights, and adamantly supported the right of choice. She worked as a volunteer supporting the No Vote on August 2, 2022, and was encouraged and proud when that vote prevailed. Denise was always helpful and quick to laugh. Denise was caring and empathetic. She would help anyone in need and made friends easily. She loved music, and had a broad and deep sense of humor. Denise lived by the doctrine that kindness is everything. Denise’s recent music favorites were Chaise Lounge by Wet Leg, Stranger in a Strange Land by Margo Price, and Someone Else’s Café by the Dawes. Please take some moments to celebrate your memories of Denise. And in her spirit, always spay and neuter your pets. Charitable remembrances are encouraged to: · A Missouri Corgi Rescue, Pets Second Chance, at petssecondchance.org · A Kansas Corgi Rescue, Corgi Connection of Kansas, at corgiconnection.com · Trust Women Wichita at trustwomen.org Funeral Service will be Live Streamed and available to view by clicking "Watch Event" below.

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