Obituaries from December 2008

Raymond Allen Mapes, age 43, resident of Pittsburg, Kan., died Friday, Nov. 28, 2008, at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center in Pittsburg, Kan.. He was born March 5, 1965, in Wichita, Kan., the son of George William Mapes, Sr. and Mary Luella McVey Mapes. Raymond was a 1982 graduate of Pittsburg High School. He was employed for 19 years as disc jockey with KKOW Radio Station in Pittsburg. He married Tia "Lisa" Hutchens in February of 2000. Raymond attended Victory Life Center in Pittsburg...

Monica B. Hershey, age 12, a resident of 802 Heylman, Fort Scott, Kan., died Monday evening, Dec. 1, 2008, as a result of an automobile accident. She was born May 24, 1996, in Riverside County, California, the daughter of Jason Edward Hershey and Vanessa Marlena McLane Hershey. Monica was a student at Fort Scott Middle School...

Hayden Junior Long, 47, Nevada, passed away at his home on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. He was born Feb. 20, 1961, in Tucson, Ariz., to John L. Long and Rosealie M. McNeece Long. He married Michelle Hall on May 21, 1981, and to this marriage three children were born. She survives of Fort Scott, Kan...

William Eugene "Gene" Caldwell, Jr., 78, of Jacksonville passed away Friday morning, December 5, 2008 at his residence. He was born April 22, 1930 in Marshall, MO the son of William Eugene and Leora Nichols Caldwell. He married Bonnie Ann Brown on June 12, 1954 at the First Christian Church in Marshall, MO and she survives...

Sidney Griggs 'Michael' Carlton II, 64, of Jaffrey, died Sunday Nov. 30, 2008 at Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough, NH after a short illness. Michael was born Nov. 28, 1944 in Punxsutawney, Pa. He was the son of the late 'Sid' and Louise (Warne) Carlton and had attended schools in Pennsylvania. He was a graduate of Colgate University in Hamilton N.Y...

Mary Cecilia Bollinger Ellsworth Mason passed away peacefully at her home in Murrieta, Calif. on Dec.1 at age 91 of complications from a fall. Mary Bollinger was born in Fort Scott, Kan., Oct. 15, 1917 to Lee Liborius Bollinger and Mary Anne Stephenson who farmed outside of town...

Steven Richard Hoyt, 48, Hamilton, Mo., passed away at his home on Dec. 6, 2008. He was born on April 29, 1960 in Kansas City, Mo., to parents Jack and Louise (Sheehy) Hoyt. He married Debbie Stevenson and to this union two boys, David and Troy Hoyt of the home, were born...

Delbert Lowell Smith, age 78, a resident of Pittsburg, Kan., died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, at the Golden Living Center in Pittsburg. He was born Jan. 6, 1930, in Hennessey, Okla., the son of Arthur Claude Smith and Allie Belle Armstrong Smith. Delbert married Cathern Ward in May of 1951. They were later divorced. Mr. Smith had worked as a self-employed truck driver and farmer. He enjoyed working with his cattle and collecting antique tractors...

Manuel Reece, 79, of Pleasanton, Kan., died Sunday Dec. 14, 2008 at Overland Park, Kan. As per his wishes, Mr. Reece willed his body to science. A memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m., Thursday at the Coffel-Schneider Chapel, Pleasanton, Kan. A visitation will follow the service until 8 p.m....

Alma L. Mason 74, of Pittsburg, Kan., died 9:20 a.m. Friday Dec. 12, 2008 at her son's home following a long illness. Alma was born June 18, 1934 in Humboldt, Kan. to John J. and Alice A. (Carr) Heimberg. She was a lifelong resident of Pittsburg, Kan. She attended area schools in Humboldt, Kan...

William Junior Rigsbay, age 76, a resident of rural Fort Scott, Kan., died unexpectedly, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008, at his home. He was born January 19, 1932, in Parker, Texas, the son of William Zander Rigsbay and Sadie Kenyon Rigsbay. He had served with the United States Army. William married Joan A. Winters on August 5, 1968, at Ontario, Calif., She preceded him in death on Feb. 7, 2005...

Martha Nell Elbrader, age 88, former resident of 111 Andrick, Fort Scott, Kan., died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2008, at Mercy Health Center. She was born January 6, 1920 in Liberal, Mo., the daughter of Paul C. Fast and Alta Jane Gilmartin Fast. She married Harold H. Elbrader on Jan. 19, 1943 at Wichita, Kan. He preceded her in death on Aug. 22, 1975. Martha was a member of the VFW Auxiliary where she quilted on Mondays. She also loved ceramics, textile painting and dancing...

Ruby Marie Duncan Fairbanks, 97 of Fort Scott, died Thursday morning, Dec. 18, 2008 at the Fort Scott Manor Nursing Home. She was born March 2, 1911 in Orcola, Mo., the daughter of Charles Burton and Eliza Jane (Thompson) Duncan. She married Charles Arthur Fairbanks Sept. 2, 1933 in Eldorado Springs, Mo. He preceded her in death June 26, 1975...

Layne Short, 78, a resident of Kansas City, Mo., passed away Dec. 18, 2008, at his home. He was born in Davenport, Okla., in September of 1930, the son of Ralph L. and Opal E. Short, and moved to Bronson, Kan., at an early age. He graduated from Bronson High School in 1948. ...

Michael Lee Ragsdale, Sr., age 72, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., went to walk with the Lord on Monday, Dec. 15, 2008, at the Medicalodge of Fort Scott. He was born Aug. 16, 1936, in Gallup, New Mexico, the son of James Ragsdale and Hazel Gibson Ragsdale. He was a 1954 graduate of Ray High School in Corpus Christi, Texas...

Arthur Lee Armstrong, 83, Nevada, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008, at his home in Nevada following a brief illness. He was born on Oct. 14, 1925, in Nevada, to Commodore Perry Armstrong and Mabel Phillips Armstrong. He married Edith J. Davis in 1984, in Nevada, and she survives of Nevada...

Ann Elizabeth "Bibby" Henry, 91, of Fort Scott, died Wednesday morning, Dec. 24, 2008, at the Mercy Health Center. She was born April 15, 1917, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Frederick Augustus and Charlotte (McPeters) Baldwin. She was a graduate of Fort Scott High School and Fort Scott Junior College. She had worked at intervals for the Fort Scott Tribune as a proofreader and assistant editor. She was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church and of Chapter CA, PEO...

Kelly Lee Masters, 20, Nevada, died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2008, due to an automobile accident in Holt, Mo. The love of his life, Chelsea To, was also killed in the accident with him. They both were very devoted to their church, St. Paul Lutheran, of Nevada. Kelly was born on July 20, 1988, in Nevada, to Dennis and Vesta Jadlot Masters...

Raymond Lee Ashford, 80, resident of Bronson, Kan., died Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008, at Mercy Health Center. He was born May 18, 1928, in Miatland, Mo., the son of Daniel Rolland Ashford and Wilma May Huntsman Ashford. Raymond was a veteran, having served with the United States Navy. He farmed on his farm in the Bronson area. He was a 49 year member of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and the Bronson Masonic Lodge...

Chelsea Lynn To, (pronounced toe) 19, Nevada, died on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008, in an automobile accident. She was traveling with Kelly Lee Masters, the love of her life, to visit family and friends in Iowa for the Christmas holiday. She was born Dec. 24, 1988, in Hampton, Iowa, to Thang N. To and Ramona K. Wolff To...

Mark Edward Wiggans, age 51, resident of 1545 215th Street, Fort Scott, Kan., died Saturday, December 27, 2008, at Mercy Health Center following a cancer illness. He was born February 10, 1957, in Fort Scott, the son of Robert Wiggans and Doris Spaur Wiggans. He worked for 22 years at Tower Metal. Mark was a member of the Devon Rural Fire Department and the Fort Scott Elks Lodge. His hobbies included fishing and constructing metal equipment...

Luella Elizabeth Bigelow, 92, of Fort Scott, died at the Medicalodge Nursing Home in Fort Scott, Saturday evening, December 27, 2008. She was born March 17, 1916 in Hiattville, Kan., the daughter of Harry and Tillie Elizabeth (Humphrey) Wescoatt. She married C.W. 'Bill' Bigelow October 15, 1938 in Columbus, Kansas. He preceded her in death June 13, 1988...