Obituaries
Max Larimer
TOPEKA — Max A. Larimer, 87, of Topeka died on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, at his home. He was born on Aug. 4, 1924, in Parsons to Evert and Wynona (Eversole) Larimer. He graduated from Cherryvale High School in Cherryvale in 1942. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran serving during World War II. On Aug. 15, 1945, he married Veda J. Richardson in Independence. She survives. Other survivors include his daughters, Shirley Lomax of Davenport, Fla.,...
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Ruth Westervelt
Ruth Westervelt, 91, of Parsons, died at 11:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, at the Elmhaven West, where she had resided the past several years. She was born Margaret Ruth Baxter on Dec. 3, 1919, in Indianapolis, Ind., to Roy Hiram and Lula Margaret (Horton) Baxter. She grew up and attended grade school and the Broad Ripple High School there. She worked for the D’Orsay Cravat Co. seven years and R.C.A. Manufacturing for two years. On May 23, 1...
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Ora Ahrens
CHETOPA — Longtime Chetopa resident Ora Catherine Ahrens passed away Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, at Chetopa Manor. She was 99 years young. She was born June 8, 1912, in Norman, Okla., to H.C. and Vinnie (Lovelace) Brown. She married George C. Ahrens Sr. in Norman on Jan. 21, 1939. The couple later made their home in the Chetopa area. George preceded her in death on Dec. 20, 1974. Mrs. Ahrens worked as a seamstress for H.D. Lee Sewing Factory in Ch...
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Richard R. Crosthwait
ST. PAUL — Richard R. Crosthwait, 61, passed away peacefully at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul on Friday, Oct. 21, 2011. Ricky loved music, Elvis and his records, as well as cowboy and Indian movies, rodeos and looking at old photos. He also loved being ornery with the staff at Connections and his roommates. Ricky touched many in his special way and will be greatly missed. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to noon t...
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Jack E. Bivin
TUCSON, Ariz. — Jack Evans Bivin, 86, of Tucson, Ariz., died Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was born Oct. 7, 1925, in Parsons to Lucille and Arrah Bivin. He served in the Air Force. He was a pilot and radio technician for the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho, Utah and Arizona. In 1969, he piloted one of the vintage B-25 aircraft used during the making of the movie “Catch-22.” On Dec. 21, 1946, he married M...
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June Sexton
IOLA — June E. Sexton, 35, of Iola, died Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. She was born Oct. 29, 1975, in Stella, Mo., to David and Sheri (Clarenson) Julich. She grew up in Humboldt and attended schools there. She married Gary Hendry. They later divorced. On May 10, 2007, she married Scott Sexton. He survives. Other survivors include two children, Shyanne L. Hendry and Jeremy Michael Hendry, both of the home;...
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Martin Lawrence Kichler
GIRARD — Martin Lawrence Kichler, 87, of Girard went to be with the Lord at 3:50 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011, in the Girard Medical Center. He was born Feb. 14, 1924, in Haven to Tony and Mary (Roth) Kichler. He attended schools in Haven before moving to Girard as a young man and lived there the remainder of his life. He served in the Army during World War II from April 19, 1944, until he was honorably discharged on May 15, 1946. He received...
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Rosemary Brocker
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Rosemary Brocker, 63, passed away Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in Goodyear, Ariz. She was born Oct. 31, 1947, in Parsons to William and Mary (Hemmer) Brady. Rosemary was a teacher at Tumbleweed and Moon Mountain elementary schools for 15 years, retiring in 2006. She enjoyed scrapbooking, playing bridge, needlepoint and was volunteer for the St. Vincent DePaul Society. Survivors include her loving husband, Phillip Brocker; sons, ...
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Arthur J. ‘Art’ Holloway Sr.
Arthur J. “Art” Holloway Sr., 54, of Parsons died at 3:55 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, at Kindred Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. He was born Jan. 8, 1957, in Omaha, Neb., to Albert Sr. and Mary (Ferdig) Holloway. For many years he lived in Iowa. He lived in Independence for a time before moving to Parsons 18 years ago. He was an auctioneer for many years and he also owned and operated several bars and clubs in the Southeast Kansas area. He was ...
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DeLores Shane
DeLores Shane, 89, of Parsons died at 7:58 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, at Labette Health. She had been a resident of the Elmhaven East more than four years. She was born Dec. 20, 1921, at Council Grove to Arthur Richard and Esther Anna Ruth (Carson) Reid. She grew up in Junction City and graduated from the Junction City High School in 1940. On Sept. 25, 1940, she married Harvey L. Shane at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Clark’s Creek...
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Faye Rose Bradley
Faye Rose Bradley, 75, of Parsons died at 7:22 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, at the Elmhaven East Nursing Home. She was in failing health. She was born Dec. 12, 1935, at Parsons a daughter of George Dewey and Leona Theresa (Schibi) Leistikow. She was raised in Parsons and attended school here, graduating from Parsons High School. She then moved to Denver and was employed at Sears and Roebuck. She returned to Parsons in 1998. She was Cathol...
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Arthur ‘Art’ Holloway Sr.
Arthur “Art” Holloway Sr., 54, of Parsons died at 3:55 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, at Kindred Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. Complete obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announced by Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Bobby J. Essig
TONGANOXIE — Bobby Joe Essig, 69, of Tonganoxie died Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, at this home. He was born on Jan. 13, 1942, in Dallas to Simon Jess and Bertha Elizabeth (Charles) Essig. He worked as a mechanic for most of his working life and retired in 2004 after working at the University of Kansas Medical Center as a supervisor for eight years. He served in the Navy. Survivors include his wife, Neressia Essig; his daughters, Marsha Baker, Si...
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Geraldine Lamm
LOUISBURG — Geraldine Lamm, 87, of Vintage Park in Louisburg, formerly of Parsons, passed sway Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, at North Point in Paola, under the care of Odyssey Hospice. She was born March 23, 1924, in Dennis a daughter of Floyd and Edna Hild. Geraldine was raised in Cherryvale and graduated from Cherryvale High School. She was married in 1946 and taught school in a one-room school house. Geraldine was a lifelong member of the Pars...
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Virgil L. Grizzle
CHANUTE — Virgil L. Grizzle, 82, of Chanute died Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. He was born Sept. 19, 1929, in Iola the son of George F. and Minnie M. (Jones) Grizzle. He graduated from LaHarpe High School. On Nov. 13, 1949, he married Wanda Lee Larkey and they made their home in Odense. In 1964, they moved to Wichita and since 1969 they have resided in Chanute. His wife preceded him in death on ...
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Patsy L. Bond
ERIE — Patsy Louise Bond, 77, of Erie died on Monday morning, Oct. 17, 2011, at her home. She was born on May 22, 1934, in Nebraska City, Neb., to Emry and Juanita (Smith) Shineflew. She married William H. Bond Sr. on Sept. 11, 1971, in Maize. He survives of the home. She was a nurse's aide. She loved spending time with her family and doing ceramics and gardening. Other survivors include three sons, Roger Kuffler and Gary Reed, both of Wichita...
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Ronald G. ‘Ron’ Havelka
Ronald G. “Ron” Havelka, 60, of Parsons died early Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011, at his home. He was born Dec. 7, 1950, in Miami, Fla., to Rudolph and Mildred (Novotny) Havelka. He grew up in Lake Worth and West Palm Beach, Fla., where he attended schools. He later attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, where he earned a bachelor’s degree. He then served in the Army 3 ½ years before being honorably discharged. In 1972, he moved to Parso...
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Shirley A. Sears
McCUNE — Shirley A. Sears, 83, a longtime resident of McCune, passed way at Lifecare Center in Evergreen, Colo., on Friday, Oct. 14, 2011. She was born March 16, 1928, in McCune to Harold and Henrietta Jones. She has lived in the beautiful mountains of Colorado for the past six years. Shirley was known to all for her love of animals. Survivors include her daughter, Crystal Lovell-Harnden of Evergreen, Colo.; grandchildren, Christopher Lovel...
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Rose Marie Ward
ST. PAUL — Rose Marie Ward, 71, of St. Paul died at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011, at her home. She had been in failing health over five years. She was born in Parsons on Dec. 19, 1939, to Oscar L. and Phyllis E. (Kendall) Williams. She grew up in Parsons and graduated from Labette County Community High School in Altamont. On Aug. 31, 1965, she married John Edward Ward in Parsons. She had lived in St. Paul since her marriage. She worked at ...
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Ronald G. ‘Ron’ Havelka
Ronald G. “Ron” Havelka, 60, of Parsons died early Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011, at his home. He is survived by his wife, Sandy Havelka of the home. Following cremation, a memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. ...
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