Obituaries
William J. Scott
William J. Scott, 66, of Pittsburg, a long-time Pittsburg fire chief, died Thursday evening, Aug. 6, 2009, at his home after a battle with cancer. He was born on Feb. 20, 1943, in Pittsburg to William J. Sr. and Dorothy (Spicer) Scott. He graduated from College High School in 1961. In the spring of 1993 he received his associate's in fire science from Labette Community College. He married Edith Irene Murray on May 18, 1968, at the First Chris...
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Clarence T. Keeton
SOUTH COFFEYVILLE, Okla. -- Clarence Thomas Keeton, 81, of South Coffeyville, Okla., died Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at Freeman Health System in Joplin. He was born Aug. 30, 1927, in Nowata County, Okla., to Thomas Francis and Ola (McKee) Keeton. He served in the Navy on the U.S.S. Massey. On Nov. 21, 1943, he married Faye Miller in Coffeyville. She survives. He worked for Union Pacific Railroad for many years as a car man before retiring. ...
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Evelyn F. Hardeman
PITTSBURG -- Evelyn F. Hardeman, 84, of Pittsburg died at 4:05 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at Medicalodge South in Pittsburg where she had resided since March 1998. She was preceded in death by her husband, John L. Hardeman, April 12, 2008. The service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home with burial to follow at 1:30 p.m. in Fort Scott National Cemetery. Complete obituary details will be announced by the funeral home.
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Wilbern Ramsey Sr.
RUSSELL -- Wilbern Ramsey Sr., 80, of Russell died on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at the Hays Medical Center. He was born on Aug. 28, 1928, in Pittsburg to Memory H. and Iva (Spence) Ramsey. He grew up in the Parsons and graduated from Parsons High School. Later he attended Pittsburg State University and acted as an assistant instructor for one semester. He served in the Army during World War II in the European Theater. Mr. Ramsey was an elect...
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John L. Wehrle Jr.
John L. Wehrle Jr., 66, of Parsons died Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at Springdale, Ark. He was born Aug. 26, 1942, at Waterloo, Iowa, to John Sr. and Bertha Wehrle. In 1961 he enlisted in the United States Air Force. After four years in the Air Force, he transferred to the Army, where he served the rest of his career, retiring at the rank of sergeant first class. He continued work with the Army as a civil servant, also working to retirement. Su...
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Mildred 'Lavon' Ohles
OSWEGO -- Mildred "Lavon" Ohles, 93, of rural Oswego died at 10:35 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, 2009, at Oswego Nursing and Rehab Center. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Ohles, on April 4, 1986. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in rural Chetopa. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8: p.m. Wednesday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. The family suggests memorials to Harry...
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John R. Meier
John R. Meier, 78, a longtime Parsons area resident, died at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, in the emergency room at Mercy Hospital in Independence. He has resided at the Cherryvale Care Center since September 2008. He was born on Aug. 13, 1930, at Liberty, Mo., to Milbert August and Georgia (Linderholm) Meier. He moved with his family east of Parsons where they farmed. John attended country schools and Parsons High School, graduating in 1...
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RUSSELL -- Wilbern Ramsey Sr
Wilbern Ramsey Sr. RUSSELL -- Wilbern Ramsey Sr., 80, of Russell died on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at the Hays Medical Center. He was born on Aug. 28, 1928, in Pittsburg to Memory H. and Iva (Spence) Ramsey. He grew up in the Parsons and graduated from Parsons High School. Later he attended Pittsburg State University and acted as an assistant instructor for one semester. He served in the Army during World War II in the European Theater. Mr....
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Mildred 'Lavon' Ohles OSWEGO -- Mildred "Lavon" Ohles, 93, of rural Oswego died at 10:35 a
Mildred 'Lavon' Ohles OSWEGO -- Mildred "Lavon" Ohles, 93, of rural Oswego died at 10:35 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, 2009, at Oswego Nursing and Rehab Center. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Ohles, on April 4, 1986. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in rural Chetopa. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8: p.m. Wednesday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. The family sugg...
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Margaret Claire Cox
Margaret Claire Cox, 82, of Wichita died Saturday, July 11, 2009, at the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colo. Margaret and husband, Lindley, 87, were visiting family in Fort Collins, Colo., when she fell, sustaining severe brain trauma ultimately resulting in her passing. She was born in Parsons on Sept. 10, 1926, the third daughter of Burnett O. "Pete" and Dorothy (Bigelow) Bower. She graduated from Parsons High School in 1943. A...
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Donald R. 'Don' Denney
Donald R. "Don" Denney, 86, of Parsons died at 10:32 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, at the Good Samaritan Society in Parsons. He was born Dec. 1, 1922, in Seymour, Mo., to Ernest and Sallie (Day) Denney. As a young boy, he grew up and attended schools in Seymour. He then moved to Parsons in December 1941 before being drafted during World War II into the U.S. Army where he served in Germany. Following his discharge, he returned to Parsons wh...
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James 'Elvin' Decker
James "Elvin" Decker, 94, of Parsons died Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, at Labette Health. He was living at Parsons Presbyterian Manor at the time of his death. He was born July 13, 1915, at Burlington to Joe and Flora (Shannon) Decker. He was raised in Burlington and later moved to Independence, Mo. He served in the Army during World War II with the 37th Engineer Combat Battalion and landed on Omaha Beach during the D-Day Invasion on June 6, 1944....
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Alta Mae Caldwell
Alta Mae Caldwell, 77, of Parsons died at 2:10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009, at Elmhaven West in Parsons. She was born on Feb. 21, 1932, at Borger, Texas, to Roland and Lavada (Breshears) Caldwell. The family moved to Oklahoma, where she grew up at Nash and Enid and attended country schools. She moved to Oswego in 1947 and then to Parsons in 1961. She worked at Swift and Co. and then at the Labette County Medical Center as a housekeeper. She re...
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Charles Melvin "Buck" Bush
Charles Melvin "Buck" Bush, 82, of Parsons died at 10:10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, at his home. He had been in failing health the past few months. He was born Dec. 16, 1926, on the Neosho River near Montana to Thomas Jasper and Ada Ellen (Garretson) Bush. He married Shirley Joyce Page on April 10, 1951, in Fayetteville, Ark. He had several jobs before working at the Katy Railroad, from which he retired following 35 years of service. Follow...
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Earl Rand 'Randy' Trout Jr.
CHERRYVALE -- Earl Rand "Randy" Trout Jr., 60, of Cherryvale died at 4:45 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009, at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center in Pittsburg after a courageous four-year battle with cancer. He was born Sept. 10, 1948, at Parsons to Earl R. and Anna Lee (Trammell) Trout. He lived on the family farm near Galesburg and attended Galesburg Elementary School, Labette County Community High School, where he graduated in May 1966, and Labe...
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June Lundgren
WAYZATA, Minn. -- June Magalene Lundgren, 87, formerly of Kearney, Neb., and Grand Island, Neb., died Friday, July 31, 2009, in Wayzata, Minn. She was born March 26, 1922, in Parsons to Lester and Belva (Taylor) Dickerson. She graduated from Parsons Junior College in 1941. In 1945, she married Raymond T. Lundgren. He preceded her in death in 1989. She worked for the Nebraska Department of Revenue. Survivors include a daughter, Nancy Lundgren-...
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John B. Childers
GIRARD -- John B. Childers, 64, of Girard, died at 5:27 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2009, at the Freeman West Health Care Center in Joplin. He was born Aug. 15, 1944, at Girard a son of John David and Bertha L. (Leach) Childers. He was raised in Girard and graduated from Girard High School in 1962. He was a jack of all trades throughout his life and worked many years farming with John Brackett. In recent years he was employed as a truck driver a...
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June Magalene Lundgren
WAYZATA, Minn. -- June Magalene Lundgren, 87, formerly of Kearney, Neb., and Grand Island, Neb., died Friday, July 31, 2009, in Wayzata, Minn. She was born March 26, 1922, in Parsons to Lester and Belva (Taylor) Dickerson. She graduated from Parsons Junior College in 1941. In 1945, she married Raymond T. Lundgren. He preceded her in death in 1989. She worked for the Nebraska Department of Revenue. Survivors include a daughter, Nancy Lun...
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John B. Childers
GIRARD -- John B. Childers, 64, of Girard, died at 5:27 p.m. Friday, July 31, 2009, at the Freeman West Health Care Center in Joplin. He was born Aug. 15, 1944, at Girard a son of John David and Bertha L. (Leach) Childers. He was raised in Girard and graduated from Girard High School in 1962. He was a jack of all trades throughout his life and worked many years farming with John Brackett. In recent years he was employed as a truck driver at ...
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Charles M. 'Charlie' Bush
Charles M. "Charlie" Bush, 82, of Parsons died at 10:10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, at his home. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Bush, on Feb. 23, 2001. The service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home. Burial will be in McCune Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Complete obituary details will be announced by the funeral home.
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