Obituaries
Joseph Elio Cabot
CANEY — Joseph Elio Cabot, 75, of Caney, formerly of Oswego, died Monday, March 5, 2012, at Caney Nursing Center after a long illness. He was born Oct. 29, 1936, in Oswego to Henry and Cora (Gomez) Cabot. He graduated from Oswego High School. He was a carpenter and worked in construction for many years. The graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Mitchell Cemetery, north of Oswego. Memorials are suggested to Derfelt Funeral Home of Oswe...
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Joe Allen Helms Jr.
DENNIS — Joe Allen Helms Jr., 44, of Dennis died at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons following a courageous battle with cancer.  He was born Jan. 31, 1968, in Parsons to Joe Allen Helms Sr. and Connie Kay (Wass) Helms. As a young boy, he grew up in Dennis. Joe attended Mound Valley Grade School and was a 1986 graduate of Labette County High School in Altamont.  From 1986 through 1991, he served in t...
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Paul F. Lynch Sr.
Paul F. Lynch Sr., 84, of rural Parsons, died at 9:36 a.m. Thursday, March 15, 2012, at Labette Health. He had been in his usual health, and death was not expected. He is survived by his wife, Esther Lynch, of the home. Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Joan Gress
Joan Gress, 89, a longtime resident of Independence, died at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons, where she had been a resident of Good Samaritan Society nursing center. She was born March 11, 1923, at Chanute to Archie and Hazel (Cottrell) Newland. She grew up there and graduated from Chanute High School in 1941. On Sept. 29, 1943, she married George Gress Jr. in Tonganoxie. They moved to Independence in 1950 an...
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Floyd R. Horton
Floyd R. Horton, 88, of Parsons died at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons.  He was born Jan. 5, 1924, in St. Paul to Julius A. and Della Mae (Spoonamore) Horton. He grew up and attended schools in St. Paul and was a 1942 graduate of St. Paul High School. While attending high school, he was basketball team captain for four years and was also named Outstanding Athlete of the Year. On July 1, 1944, he married Rita M....
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Joan Gress
Joan Gress, 89, a former longtime Independence resident, died at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. She was the mother of Parsons City Manager Fred Gress. Carson-Wall Funeral Home will announce complete obituary details later.
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Rebecca Marie (Jones) Coleman
DAYTON, Ohio — Rebecca Marie (Jones) Coleman, 93, of Dayton, Ohio, formerly a longtime Parsons resident, died at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, March 10, 2012, at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. Carson-Wall Funeral Home will announce further obituary details and funeral arrangements later.
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Joe Allen Helms Jr.
DENNIS — Joe Allen Helms Jr., 44, of Dennis died at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons following a courageous battle with cancer. Survivors include his parents, Joe Allen Helms Sr. and Connie Helms of Dennis. The service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Harmony Grove Cemetery near Dennis. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at ...
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Wilburn ‘Tater’ Walker
LAWRENCE — Wilburn “Tater” Walker, 89, of Lawrence, a former Parsons resident, died at 10:26 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at St. Luke’s Hospital at Kansas City, Mo. Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Parsons will announce further obituary information and service arrangements later.
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Floyd R. Horton
Floyd R. Horton Floyd R. Horton, 88, of Parsons died at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. He is survived by his wife, Rita Horton, of the home. The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 6 p.m. Sunday at the church. The family will receive friends immediately following the rosary at the church. Memor...
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Dorothy O. Brandon
WICHITA — Dorothy O. Brandon, 93, of Wichita, a retired Mountain Bell Telephone clerk, died Friday, March 9, 2012. She loved to knit special gifts for members of her family. Survivors include a special friend, Al Wilson of Wichita; nieces, Deanna Hopper of Parsons and Gloria Michaels of Weiser, Idaho; nephews, Gary Oler of Owasso, Okla., and John Brandon of Honolulu; and a sister-in-law, Frances Oler of Parsons. She was preceded in death by he...
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Azrell Damir Patterson
CHANUTE — Azrell Damir Patterson, 1 month and 13 days, died Friday, March 9, 2012, at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Azrell was born on Jan. 25, 2012, in Chanute to Sierra McClenning and Princeton Patterson. Along with his parents, he is survived by a sister, Hailey Lanning of Chanute; grandmother, Cindy McClenning of Chanute; grandfather, Mike McClenning of Parsons; grandmother, Sherrie Patterson of Dallas; great-grandmot...
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Dale G. Bamberry
ALTAMONT — Dale G. Bamberry, 76, of Altamont went to be with his Lord at 6:45 a.m. Sunday, March 11, 2012, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. He was born Nov. 26, 1935, in rural Parsons to George and LaVon Catherine (Siesser) Bamberry. He grew up and attended Henderson Country School southwest of Parsons and was a 1955 graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont. While attending high school and shortly thereafter, he worked f...
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William Calvin ‘Billie’ Littlejohn Jr.
OSWEGO — William Calvin “Billie” Littlejohn Jr., 66, of Oswego died at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8, 2012, at Medicalodge in Fort Scott. He was born Feb. 2, 1946, at Chetopa to William C. Littlejohn Sr. and Lillie L. (Smith) Littlejohn. He graduated from Chetopa High School in 1964. He served in the U.S. Air Force. He then attended college in Parsons and later transferred to Wichita State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1972....
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Lois G. (Neely) Graves
BARTLETT — Lois G. (Neely) Graves, 93, of rural Bartlett died at 8 a.m. Friday, March 9, 2012, at Oswego Home Place.  She was born May 19, 1918, in rural Edna to John and Jessie (Johnston) Neely. As a young girl, she attended numerous rural schools in the Edna area. She married Arthur “A.D.” Graves on March 9, 1941, in Independence. Following marriage, they made their family home in rural Bartlett. Through the years, she assisted her husband w...
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Lois G. (Neely) Graves
BARTLETT — Lois G. (Neely) Graves, 93, of rural Bartlett died at 8 a.m. Friday, March 9, 2012, at Oswego Home Place. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur “A.D.” Graves, on Oct. 14, 2010. The service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bartlett Christian Church. Burial will be in Lake Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Bartlett Christian Church and may be left ...
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William Calvin ‘Billie’ Littlejohn Jr.
OSWEGO — William Calvin “Billie” Littlejohn Jr., 66, of Oswego died at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8, 2012, at Medicalodge in Fort Scott. Following cremation, the graveside memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Oak Hill Cemetery in Chetopa. Memorials are suggested to the Proud Animal Lovers Shelter and may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, 67336. The funeral home will announce complete obitu...
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Jack G. Braden
CHANUTE — Jack G. Braden, 79, formerly of Haysville, died Saturday, March 10, 2012. He was a retired Boeing Co. supervisor. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Charlene; two sons, Lonnie (Wanda) Braden of Bartlett, Ill., and Darrell (Pam) Braden of Haysville; a sister, Mary Lea Ashcraft of Parsons; a brother, Gary (Kathy) Braden of Wichita; and six grandchildren, Jennifer, Jacob, Justine, Bryan, Heather and Krystina Braden. He was precede...
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Dale G. Bamberry
ALTAMONT — Dale G. Bamberry, 76, of Altamont died at 6:45 a.m. Sunday, March 11, 2012, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. He is survived by his wife, Edna Bamberry, of the home. The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Altamont. Burial will be in Harmony Grove Cemetery near Dennis. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Memorials are suggested to...
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Elda Jean Catharine Olson
LEONARDVILLE — Elda Jean Catharine Olson, 90, of Leonardville died Sunday, March 4, 2012, at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan. She was born Oct. 25, 1921, in Lindsborg to Simon and Anna (Fager) Malmstrom. On Jan. 10, 1942, she married Kenneth Olson at Walsburg Church. He preceded her in death on July 8, 2006. Elda Jean was a farmer’s wife. She owned a gift shop in Leonardville for 10 years and upholstered furniture in her home for 17 ...
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