Obituaries
Robert Dean "Bob" Brinkman 1928-2008
Robert Dean "Bob" Brinkman, 79, Chanute, passed away Thursday morning, May 1, 2008, at St. Francis Hospital, Tulsa, Okla., following a brief illness. Robert was born at home, east of Humboldt, on Dec. 27, 1928, to Frank William Brinkman and Ethel Baker Brinkman. He attended Humboldt High School and served in the United States Navy from 1946 until 1949. He met his bride-to-be, Letha N. Lassman, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church Sunday School and...
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Thelma L. Mason
Our precious mom, Thelma L. Mason, 88, of Colorado Springs, passed away at her home on Saturday, May 2, 2009. She was born on January 29, 1921, in Parsons, Kansas, to Albert F. and Addie Cook Hornback. Thelma attended Parsons schools graduating from Parsons High School. After graduation, she worked at Western Union, and during World War II, she worked at the Kansas Ordnance Plant. She married the love of her life, Tom Mason, on February 19...
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Paul E. Smith
ERIE — Paul Eugene “Corkey” Smith, 79, of Erie died Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. He was born May 13, 1929, in Blue Mound to Roy John Sr. and Josie Alice (Brownback) Smith. Mr. Smith was diagnosed in 1954 with multiple sclerosis and then retired from Boeing. He enjoyed traveling, working around the house and in the yard. He married Lois Marie Carley on June 26, 1948, in Kincaid. She survives. Other...
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Walter C. Vitt
ST. PAUL — Walter C. Vitt, 79, a lifelong resident of St. Paul, died at 4:25 a.m. Monday, May 4, 2009, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. He had been in failing health. He was born Aug. 16, 1929, in St. Paul to George H. and Helen C. “Nellie” (Judge) Vitt. He grew up and attended schools in St. Paul, where he graduated from St. Francis High School. He then attended Kansas State University for a short period before entering the ...
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Sharon L. Peterson
ALTAMONT — Sharon L. Peterson, 69, of Altamont, died at 4:10 a.m. Sunday, May 3, 2009, at Labette Health following a courageous 12-year battle with cancer. She was born March 13, 1940, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott to Roy L. and Neva (Ramsey) Vanlandingham. As a child, she moved with her family to Parsons where she attended schools and was a 1958 graduate of Parsons High School. For a time, Sharon worked as a telephone operator before begin...
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Walter C. Vitt
ST. PAUL -- Walter C. Vitt, 79, of St. Paul died at 4:25 a.m. Monday, May 4, 2009, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. He had been in failing health. He is survived by his wife, Pauline Vitt, of the home. The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery. The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Francis Catholic Church, where the family will ...
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Margaret Peterson
Margaret Peterson, 88, of Thayer died at 3:36 a.m. Monday, May 4, 2009, at her home. She had been in failing health. She was born Dec. 23, 1920, near Castleton to Carey and Imogene (Lyle) Hanes. She grew up in the Hutchinson area and graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1938. Following high school, she attended a business college. She married Homer Pollock. He preceded her in death. On April 13, 1997, she married Orval E. Peterson at Cha...
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Paul Eugene 'Corkey' Smith
ST. PAUL -- Paul Eugene "Corkey" Smith, 79, died Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. He was born May 13, 1929, in Blue Mound to Roy John Sr. and Josie Alice (Brownback) Smith. Mr. Smith was diagnosed in 1954 with multiple sclerosis and then retired from Boeing. He enjoyed traveling, working around the house and in the yard. He married Lois Marie Carley on June 26, 1948, in Kincaid. She survives. Othe...
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Marjorie D. 'Marge' Johnston
Marjorie D. "Marge" Johnston, 84, of Parsons died at midnight, Friday, May 1, 2009, at her home. She had been in failing health. She was born Feb. 14, 1925, in Joplin to William and Pearl (Gray) Swiney. She grew up and attended schools in Joplin, where she graduated from Joplin High School and Joplin Business College. She worked as a secretary at Jim Walters Inc. in Joplin for one year before moving to Parsons in 1961. While living in Parsons...
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Robert A. 'Bob' Dent NEODESHA -- Robert A
Robert A. 'Bob' Dent NEODESHA -- Robert A. "Bob" Dent, 77, of Neodesha died Thursday, April 30, 2009, at Allen County Hospital in Iola. He was born June 20, 1931, in Newton to Ula A. and Elta W. (Walker) Dent. He attended school in Newton. Mr. Dent had been a Neodesha resident since 1977, moving from Longton. He joined the National Guard, and in January 1952, he joined the Marines. He was discharged from the Marines in 1953 as a private first...
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Gladys Viola Mathes
Gladys Viola Mathes, 91, of Parsons died at 8:58 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 2009, at the Memorial Herman Hospital at The Woodlands, Texas. She had been there since the Christmas holidays. She was born on Nov. 28, 1917, to John Henry and Addie Ray (Phillipy) Jones on the family farm five miles east of Parsons in an area that is now part of the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant. She attended the little school house adjoining the farm and graduated fro...
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Tyler Jason Odaffer
Tyler Jason Odaffer, 26, of Parsons died Monday night, April 27, 2009, in a one-vehicle accident near Mound Valley. He was born Nov. 8, 1982, in Muskogee, Okla., a son of Steve L. and Kipra (Sperry) Odaffer. While he was in the third grade his family moved to Parsons, where he attended Garfield Elementary School, Parsons Middle School and Meadow View Grade School. He later attended Labette County High School and graduated with the Class of...
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Tonya Louise DeMoss
Tonya Louise DeMoss, 22, of Parsons died late Monday, April 27, 2009, in one-vehicle accident near Mound Valley. She was born Dec. 9, 1986, at Parsons to William and Connie (Blair) DeMoss. She grew up at Parsons, Tulsa and Springfield, Mo. She attended schools at Parsons. Tonya was a fun, loving daughter and sister. She was an awesome friend and always caring. She was also tough as nails and a fighter in all aspects of the word. We love h...
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Gladys Viola Mathes
THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Gladys Viola Mathes, 91, a longtime Parsons resident, died at 8:58 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 2009, at Memorial Herman Hospital in The Woodlands, Texas. The service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Free Will Baptist Church and may be left at the ...
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Louise W. Johnson
OSWEGO -- Louise W. Johnson, 93, of Oswego died Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at the Oswego Health and Rehabilitation Center in Oswego. She was born June 23, 1915, in Hackberry Township in Labette County, the daughter of George Elmer Sr. and Elizabeth Pearl (Wadsack) Cunningham. She graduated from Oswego High School. She married Cleo Johnson of Mound Valley on June 11, 1936, in Oswego. The couple lived in the Mound Valley area. She loved her famil...
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Ralph Mason Rust
SEBASTOPOL, Calif. -- Ralph Mason Rust, 92, died Thursday, April 16, 2009, of a cerebral hemorrhage. Mr. Rust was born in Parsons. He attended Montana State University, where he met and married Arlene Beth Cole, his wife of 60 years. He received a Ph.D. from Colombia University in clinical psychology and practiced in the field professionally until his retirement. His career included 13 years at the Yale Department of Health and more than 20 ...
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Henry E. George
DODGE CITY -- Henry E. George, 89, died Monday, April 27, 2009, at Western Plains Medical Complex in Dodge City. He was born Nov. 1, 1919, at St. Paul to Henry and Julia Purden George. He moved to Dodge City from Wichita in 1949, at which time he started George Nielsen Motor Co. He served in the Army during World War II as a machine gunner with the Heavy Weapons Company. On April 27, 1946, he married Alice Lietzan at St. Mary's Cathedral...
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Rexann Williamson
OSWEGO -- Rexann Etka Williamson, 63, of Oswego died Sunday, April 26, 2009. She was born Feb. 5, 1946, to Rex Steele and Phyllis Jane (Brader) Bray. She married Lucky Lee McCulley on Aug. 19, 1963. He preceded her in death in 1975. She later married Owen Eugene Williamson on Sept. 30, 1978. He preceded her in death in 1992. Survivors include two daughters, Lori and Lea; a son, Nicholas Williamson; four grandchildren; a great-granddaughte...
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Cecilia M. Baugher
Cecilia M. Baugher, 58, of rural Parsons died at 7:58 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 2009, at her home, following a courageous three-year battle with cancer. She was born March 16, 1951, in Kansas City, Mo., to James Edward and Mary Margaret (Switlik) Dreiling. As a young girl, she moved with her family to Parsons, where she attended St. Mary's Catholic School and then Labette County High School in Altamont, where she graduated in 1969. She later a...
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Gladys Viola Mathes
THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Gladys Viola Mathes of The Woodlands, Texas, a former long-time Parsons resident, died at 8:58 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 2009, at the Memorial Herman Hospital in The Woodlands. She had moved to Texas in December to be with her daughter and family. Further obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announced by Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Parsons.
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