Obituaries from January 2011

Leah Rae (Bloesser) Stubblefield, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, of Houston, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2010 in Dallas, Texas, at 66 years of age. She loved life, travel and vacation, and most of all to spend time with her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, C.J. (Charles James) and Nellie I. Bloesser and sister, Glenda Mae Bloesser...

Vincel "Vince" Lee Emery, 89, of Oak Grove, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at Lee's Summit Medical Center. Vince was born Jan. 24, 1921, to Harvey and Harriet (Shaver) Emery in Vernon County, Mo. He attended school at Milo and Nevada, Mo., graduating in 1939 from Nevada High School. ...

August "Gus" Kovacic, age 89, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, at the Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul, Kan. He was born Aug. 23, 1921, in Girard, Kan., the son of John and Katie Kovacic. Gus graduated from the Arma High School and attended Pittsburg State University. ...

Donald Eugene Fulk, age 72, a resident of Moran, Kan., died Friday, Dec. 31, 2010, at the Allen County Hospital in Iola following a brief cancer illness. He was born July 5, 1938, in Moran, the son of Donald T. Fulk and Lucretia Fisher Fulk. Donald was retired from heavy construction in the pipeline and road construction business which took him from Canada south to the Gulf of Mexico...

Kenneth E. Blevins age 79 of Reyno, Ark., passed away on Friday, Dec. 31, 2010 at St. Bernards Medical Center, Jonesboro, Ark. Graveside services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011 at the Hopewell Cemetery, Montrose, Mo. Family will receive friends from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Vansant-Mills Chapel, Clinton, Mo...

Fannie Mae Walker, age 79, a resident of rural Uniontown, died early Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, at her home. She was born Jan. 17, 1931, in Aurora, Mo., the daughter of James Orlando Woods and Mary Warwick Clark Woods. Fannie Mae married Clarence Andrew Walker in 1954...

Carl William Secrest, age 86, former Fort Scott resident, died Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, at the Christian Care Home in Republic, Mo. He was born Jan. 21, 1924, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Thomas Secrest and Rosa Allen Secrest. He served his country in the United States Navy...

Marilyn Jane Ives, age 72, a former resident of Fort Scott, Kan., and more recently of Liberal, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, at her home. She was born Jan. 22, 1938, at Marion, Ind., the daughter of Victor Ernest Turney and Jessie Lucille Griffin Turney...

Marie Mary Danley, 89, of Fort Scott, Kansas, died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011 at the Fort Scott Manor. She was born March 1, 1921 in Mapleton, Kan., the daughter of Frank and Ethel (Flowers) Faulhaber. She married Roy "Bill" Danley Feb. 6, 1940 in Iola, Kan. He survives of the home...

Mynettia Lucile "Ann" Gannon, age 94, formerly of Fort Scott, died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, at the Wheat State Manor in Whitewater, Kan. Arrangements will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott.

Mynettia Lucille "Ann" Gannon, age 94, a former resident of Fort Scott and more recently of Whitewater, Kan., died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, at the Wheat State Manor in Whitewater. She was born Feb. 13, 1916, at Oklahoma City, Okla., the daughter of Walter G. "Lefty" Davis and Birdie Estelle Gruver Davis...

Mary Ruth Graham, age 66, resident of Uniontown, Kan., died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011, at Mercy Health Center, Fort Scott. Services arrangements will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.

James Dale Braden, 69, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011, in Fort Scott. He was born Aug. 15, 1941, in Fort Scott, Kan., to Joseph Dale Braden and Elizabeth Harriet Hyden Braden. He married Judy Gazaway on Nov. 1, 1986, in El Dorado Springs, Mo., and she survives of the home...

Mary Ruth Graham, age 66, a resident of Uniontown, Kan., died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011, at the Mercy Health Center in Fort Scott. She was born July 30, 1944, the daughter of Paul Ramsey and Ruth Rogers Ramsey. She graduated from the Uniontown High School in 1962. ...

James Forrest Kerr Sr., age 96, resident of Kansas City, Kan., formerly of Fort Scott, Kan., died Thursday morning, Jan. 6, 2011, at the Shawnee Mission Medical Center. He was born Oct. 4, 1914, in Violet Hill, Ark., the son of Robert Benjamin Kerr and Betty Forrest Kerr. ...

Ronald Earl Clow, 60, Nevada, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011, at Freeman Health Systems West, Joplin, Mo. He was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., on June 29, 1950, to Earl Ross Clow and Maxine Winona DeMerse Clow. He was married in 1983 in Ashland, Ore., to Nancy Seeley, and she survives of the home...

James Dale Braden, 69, Nevada, Mo., passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011, in Fort Scott, Kan. He was born Aug. 15, 1941, in Fort Scott, Kan., to Joseph Dale Braden and Elizabeth Harriet Hyden Braden. He married Judy Gazaway on Nov. 1, 1986, in El Dorado Springs, Mo., and she survives of the home...

Roy Micheal Armstrong, age 65, resident of Champaign, Ill., passed away unexpectedly at his home on Dec. 31, 2010, due to a heart attack. He was born in Clinton, Mo., on Jan. 6, 1945, the son of Roy Wilbur Armstrong and Dorothy Prather Armstrong. He was never married...

Wilma Laura Witherspoon, age 86, a resident of Fort Scott, died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, at the Mercy Health Center. She was born Dec. 14, 1924, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of William Aaron Swank and Mabel Clare Allison Swank. She married Thomas A. Witherspoon on Sept. 19, 1946, in Fort Scott. He preceded her in death in 2001...

Sandra Higgins, age 69, resident of Richards, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, at the St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, Mo. Funeral arrangements for Sandra Higgins will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kan.

Sandra Joan Higgins, age 69, a resident of Richards, Mo., died Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, at the St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo. She was born Aug. 24, 1941, in Butler, Mo., the daughter of Roy Earl Cameron and Dorothy Tilton Cameron. She married Melvin Higgins on Dec. 11, 1959, at Girard, Kan...

Mildred A. Burns, 89, Lansing, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011 at St. John's Hospital. Mildred was born Sept. 15, 1921 in Lockwood, Mo., the daughter of Charles Robert and Delia Ann (York) Steeley. On Nov. 8, 1942 she married Norris C. "Bob" Burns. He preceded her in death in 1991...

Russell James Rourk, age 86, resident of rural Bronaugh, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, at Mercy Health Center. Funeral arrangements for Russell Rourk, will be announced by Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott.

Margaret L. Hart, age 69, a resident of Sun City West, Ariz., died Jan. 12, 2011, at the Del E. Webb Memorial Hospital in Sun City West. Funeral arrangements for Margaret L. Hart will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kan...

Ella Mae Virginia Grant, age 84, resident of 1419 E. Oak, Fort Scott, Kan., died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, at her home. Funeral arrangements will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kan., 66701.

Russell James Rourk, age 86, resident of Bronaugh, Mo., died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, at the Mercy Health Center. He was born on April 15, 1924, in Swart, Mo., the son of Roy Elba Rourk and Laura June McDaniel Rourk. He was a graduate of Arcadia High School and Fort Scott Community College...

Linda Louise Dobson Curtis, 60, Nevada, gave up her courageous battle with melanoma and ovarian cancer on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, at her home. She was born in the elevator of the hospital in Parsons, Kan., to George E. Dobson and Bernice Rasa Dobson on Sept. 2, 1950. She and Monte J. Curtis were married on July 14, 1978, in Miami, Okla., and he survives of the home...

Ella Mae V. "Nannie" Grant, 84, Fort Scott, Kan., died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, at her home. She was born April 19, 1926, at Clinton, Mo., the daughter of Henry Leroy Lindsay and Adell Johnson Lindsay. She married Orville Washington Grant on Dec. 8, 1945, at Warrensburg, Mo. ...

B.R. "Blackie" McFall, 86, resident of Presbyterian Village, formerly of Fort Scott, Kan., died Thursday, Jan. 13, 2011, at his home. He was born Aug. 7, 1924, in Girard, Kan., the son of Bertie Reynolds McFall and Ollie Allison McFall. He married Lena Ruth Hewett on June 23, 1944. She preceded him in death on Dec. 22, 1998. He later married Lucy Pyle on July 9, 2001, in Fort Scott...

Dorothy Lorene McCoy Gaston, age 87, Amoret, Mo., died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at Pershing Hospital in Brookfield, Mo. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011 at the Amoret Christian Church. Burial will be in the Benjamin Cemetery...

Herman W. Tyler, 89, of Arcadia, died at 4:08 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011 at Via Christi Hospital at Pittsburg, Kan. Mr. Tyler was born Oct. 23, 1921 at El Dorado Springs, Mo., the son of Fred and Grace Myers Tyler. Herman worked for Dunton's Furniture Store in Arcadia and later as a truck driver for Crawford County Highway Department...

Margaret Louise Hart, age 69, a former resident of Fort Scott, Kan., and Omaha, Neb., and more recently of Sun City West, Ariz., died Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, at the Del E. Webb Memorial Hospital in Sun City West. She was born Oct. 30, 1941, in Fort Scott, Kan., the only child of Mellon Stell and Wanda Marie Partee Stell...

Michael G. Colvin, age 45, resident of Garland, Kan., died early Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011, at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo. He was born Dec. 12, 1965, in Fort Scott, the son of Jack Colvin and Shirley Richmond Colvin. Mike was a 1984 graduate of Fort Scott High School...

John Starliper, age 58, of Savonburg, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011 at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute, Kansas. He was born November 20, 1952 at Fort Scott, Kansas, the son of Jackie and Mable Louise (Cook) Starliper. He attended schools in the Savonburg area before graduating from Elsmore Grade School. He then attended Moran High School. John married Nancy (Masters) Starliper on May 28, 1972 at Elsmore, Kansas...

Robert William Robbins, age 81 of Mound City, Kansas died Monday January 19, 2011 at the St. Joseph Medical Center at Kansas City, Missouri. Service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 at the Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home Mound City, Kansas. ...

Morris L. Nelson, age 90, resident of 740 S. Eddy, Fort Scott, died Wednesday, January 19, 2011, at his home. Service arrangements for Morris Nelson will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.

Lorna Jean "Jeanie" Rowden, age 71, resident of 523 S. Judson, Fort Scott, died unexpectedly December 12, 2010. Memorial services will be held Saturday, January 22, at 2 p.m. in the Liberty Christian Life Center, 572 E. Park, Olathe, Kansas. Local arrangements are under the direction of Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main...

Carl Phillips, 68, of Lee's Summit, Mo., passed away Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at St. Luke's Hospital surrounded by his family. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 in Prescott Cemetery in Prescott, Kan. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011 at Speaks Suburban Chapel...

Eugene Leo Weber, age 45, resident of Bronson, Kan., died Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010, at his home due to a house fire. He was born Dec. 10, 1968 in Iola, Kan., the son of Leo A. Weber and Bernadine Speer Weber. He was a graduate of Moran High School. Eugene married Debbra A. Morrison on Dec. 28, 1998...

James Raymond Stoughton, age 69, resident of Mapleton, Kan., died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at the Veteran's Administration Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. Service arrangements for James Stoughton will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott...

Morris LaVerne Nelson, age 90, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died unexpectedly Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at his home. He was born Nov. 26, 1920, in Mapleton, Kan., the son of Andrew Nelson and Marie Jepperson Nelson. Morris graduated from the Fulton High School in 1938, and then graduated from Fort Scott Junior College...

Mary L. Gillespie, 77, Independence, Mo., formerly of the Moundville / Bronaugh, Mo., areas, passed away on Tuesday night, Jan. 18, 2011, at Center Point Hospital Medical Center, Independence, Mo. She was born on Oct. 26, 1933, in Burlington, Kan., to Frank Nunez and Mary Ellen Little Nunez. She married Clinton H. Gillespie on July 7, 1952, in Nevada, and he survives of the home...

James Raymond Stoughton, 69, resident of Mapleton, Kan., died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at the Veteran's Administration Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. He was born Nov. 11, 1941, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Ellis Fredrick Stoughton and Mary Elizabeth Blair Stoughton. ...

Gearldean (Thogmartin) Walker, 81, of St. Charles, Mo., died on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. She was born Oct. 10, 1929. Loving wife of Row Walker; beloved daughter of the late Thomas and Effie Thogmartin; devoted mother of Roe Ann (Mitchell Patton) Walker, Jill Marie (William) Foss, Jenne Lee (Michael Counts) Walker-Counts, Sally Ann (Allen) Serfas; devoted grandmother of Alec, Cory, Andrew, Grant, Spencer, Reese, Evan, Madison, Jack and Tommy; dear sister of Naydean Kuhns, Elvadean Hopkins, Iladean Hicks, Ermadean Hill, Marydean Williams, Melvin Thogmartin, Tommy Thogmartin and Caroldean Branham; Gearldean is survived by many other friends and family. ...

James LeRoy Hull, 61, Nevada, died on Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, at Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada. Following cremation, a committal service will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 26, at National Cemetery, in Fayetteville, Ark. Local arrangements are by Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada...

Hilda Beshore, 97, of Nevada, formerly of Rich Hill, Mo., died Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011, at the Christian Health Care Center in Nevada. Funeral services are pending and will be announced by the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Butler.

Russell Lee Headley, 66, of Fort Scott, died Sunday afternoon, Jan. 23, 2011 at the Mercy Health Center. He was born April 18, 1944 in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Mearl Odell and Essie E. (Zion) Headley. Russell was a lifelong resident of the Bourbon County area, and graduated from Fort Scott High School with the class of 1962...

Charles E "Charlie" Cowdrey, 77, former Fort Scott Greyhounds Football Coach, MU Asst. Coach and Southwestern College Head Coach, died Jan. 18, 2011, at his home. He is survived by: wife, Nancy; daughters, Paula and Paige; and his son, Bruce. Memorial Service will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011 at the 1st Methodist Church in Winfield, Kan...

Hazel Diana Wolford, age 98, former resident of Bronson, Kan., died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011, at the Wheat State Manor Nursing Home in Whitewater, Kan. Service arrangements will be announced by the Cheney Witt Bronson Chapel.

Hazel Diana Wolford, age 98, a former resident of Bronson, Kan., died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011, at the Wheat State Manor Nursing Home in Whitewater, Kan., where she had made her home the past several years. She was born March 13, 1912, in Davenport, Iowa, the daughter of Theodore Anderson and Martha Nelson Anderson...

Teddy Dean Taiclet, age 58, a resident of Plano, Texas, died Nov. 18, 2010, in Texas. He was born March 13, 1952, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Alvin Taiclet and Elizabeth Cook Taiclet. Teddy was raised in the West Liberty community. He attended West Liberty School until it closed, he then transferred to Fulton where he attended high school until it too closed after his junior year...

Hazel Diana Wolford, age 98, a former resident of Bronson, Kan., died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011, at the Wheat State Manor Nursing Home in Whitewater, Kan., where she had made her home the past several years. She was born March 13, 1912, in Davenport, Iowa, the daughter of Theodore Anderson and Martha Nelson Anderson...

Madelyn Elizabeth McNeley, 82, of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Monday, Jan. 24, 2011 at the Mercy Health Center. She was born May 26, 1928 in Drywood, Kan., the daughter of Ray Allison and Edna Parilee (Vassar) Picht. She married James R. McNeley Dec. 26, 1956 in Fort Scott, Kan...

Larry Owen Church, 64, Fort Scott, Kan., passed away on Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, at Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott, Kan., following a lengthy illness. He was born on Sept. 19, 1946, in Nevada, Mo., to Clifford Owen Church and Hazel Angeline Durossette Church...

Frank Leon Moore, age 73, a resident of rural Fulton, Kan., died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011, at his home. He was born Jan. 31, 1937, at Hutchinson, Kansas, the son of Edgar Moore Sr. and Veretta Hopkins Moore. Frank graduated from Fulton High School in 1956...

Mary Margaret "Peggy" (Gentry) McKinley, former Neodesha resident, resident of Chanute, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011 at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center. Peggy was born Dec. 27, 1940 in Neodesha, the daughter of Vance Gentry and Alberta (Wilson) Gentry...

Hazel Aurelia Hall, 90, of Fort Scott, died late Wednesday night, Jan. 26, 2011, in Kansas City, Mo., at the Research Medical Center. She was born Sept. 14, 1920 in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Edward Harrison and Delia (Thiebaut) Branstetter. She married Thomas S. Hall in September of 1939 and he preceded her in death Nov. 20, 1982...

Robert "Bob" Purdy, 77, of Mound City, Kan., died Friday, Jan. 28, 2011, at the Prescott Country View Nursing Home at Prescott, Kan. Services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, Jan. 31, at the Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home, Mound City, Kan. Burial will be in the Woodland Cemetery at Mound City, Kan...

Anthony L. Wimer, 46, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011. Anthony was very proud of the work he did in the aircraft industry. He is preceded in death by grandparents, Raymond and Mamie Wimer, and Woodrow Pritchett. He is survived by parents, Harry and Gayle Wimer, Fulton, Kan.; sisters, Kimberley Richards and husband, Larry, Potwin, Kan., and Brenda Mendoza and husband, Joe, Olathe, Kan.; grandmother, Vera Pritchett; nephews, Kiplee Richards, Ryan, Braden and Nathan Mendoza; as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.. ...

Dorothy Hamilton, 75, Nevada, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, Mo., after a short battle with cancer. She was born Jan. 14, 1936, in Claflin, Kan., to Anthony Straub and Mary Kimpler Straub. She married Harry Hamilton on Sept. 20, 1954, in Decatur, Ind., and he survives of the home...

James Glenn Ferguson, age 91, died Friday, Jan. 28, 2011 at Lonoke, Ark. Services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011 at the Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home Pleasanton, Kan. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to service time at the funeral home...