Obituaries
William S. 'Will' Slayter
EDNA — William S. “Will” Slayter, 23, of Edna died early Sunday morning, Feb. 24, 2013, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident southwest of Parsons. He was born Jan. 16, 1990, in Coffeyville to James Allen “Jay” III and Cheryl Jean (Smith) Slayter. He grew up in Edna, where he attended Edna Grade School, was a 2008 graduate of Labette County High School in Altamont and attended Coffeyville Community College, where he was involved i...
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Kurt Alan Volz
ARCHIE, Mo. — Kurt Alan Volz, 55, of Archie, Mo., formerly of Parsons, died Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at his home. He had been in his usual health and death was not expected.  He was born July 18, 1957, in Parsons to Francis J. and Teresanell (Hill) Volz. He grew up and attended schools in Parsons and was a graduate of Parsons High School. He then attended Pittsburg State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic arts.  After ...
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Jean L. Groves
Jean L. Groves, 82, of Parsons died at 11:31 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, at the Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. She was born Nov. 14, 1930, at Bronson the daughter of Eugene F. and Luella V. (Brooks) Geyer. Her father worked for the Santa Fe Truck Line and Jean grew up in various communities across Kansas. She graduated from the Chanute High School and attended Neosho County Community College. She later received a teaching certificate from...
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Bonnie A. Spriggs
AFTON, Okla. — Bonnie A. Spriggs, 77, of rural Afton, Okla., formerly of rural Oswego, died at 8:16 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Oklahoma State University Medical Center in Tulsa. She was born June 10, 1935, in rural McCune to Eli Olen and Nellie Leah (Carson) Czapansky. As a young girl, she grew up and attended school in rural McCune and later attended Labette County Community High School in Altamont. She married Roland D. Spriggs in Oct...
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Hubert L. Jones
ALTAMONT — Hubert L. Jones, 87, of Altamont died at 11:44 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, at Labette Health in Parsons. He was born Nov. 14, 1925, in rural Labette City to Joseph Leon and Esther Lois (Walker) Jones. As a young boy, he grew up and attended school in rural Labette County at Center Bethel School and was a 1943 graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy on the...
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Frank Homer Winkleman
CHERRYVALE — Frank H. Winkleman, 66, of Cherryvale died Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, at his home surrounded by his family. He was born April 8, 1946, the son of Harold and Letha I. (Gates) Winkleman. He grew up in Cherryvale and attended schools in Cherryvale and Labette County High School in Altamont. Frank worked for the city of Cherryvale in the Public Works Department for many years and later retired in 2010 from the Labette County Road and B...
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Dortha M. Lancaster
WELCH, Okla. — Dortha M. Lancaster, 78, formerly of Chetopa, died at 12:05 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, at her home in rural Welch, Okla. Following cremation, a memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.
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Roberta Lois Bowers
THAYER — Roberta Lois Bowers, 89, of Thayer passed away Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute, just three days shy of her 90th birthday. She was born in Hugoton on Feb. 24, 1923, the daughter of Roy and Mabel (Miller) Wilson. She graduated from Elk City High School and attended Franklin Business College in Wichita. On Sept. 29, 1943, she married Ralph Eldridge "Happy" Bowers. They had four children...
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Kenneth D. Clasen
WICHITA — Kenneth D. Clasen, 79, a retired farmer and cattleman, beloved husband, father, brother and "Pop," passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, after an extended illness. Mr. Clasen served in the U.S. Army and spent 29 years fulfilling his passion for farming near St. Paul until retiring in 1992 to Wichita. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Patricia; two sons, Kenny Clasen of Garland, Texas, and Mark (Chris) Clasen of Seward; two da...
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Loma Lorene Hayden
ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Loma Lorene Hayden, 88, formerly of Cherryvale, died on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, in Roseville, Calif. She grew up in rural Southeast Kansas and taught school briefly during World War II. She was preceded in death by her husband, Merle Hayden; parents Clarence and Frieda Fateley; and her brother, Clarence “Bud” Fateley Jr. She is survived by her daughter Delight Nelms of Rocklin, Calif.; a son, Stan Hayden of Cherryvale; thr...
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Ann F. Pontious
Ann F. Pontious, 99, of Parsons died at 1:55 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, at Elmhaven East. She was born Dec. 14, 1913, in Parsons to John F. and Annie M. (Quirin) Journot. As a young girl, she grew up on a farm southwest of Parsons and was a graduate of Dennis High School. She received nursing training at the Fort Scott Hospital and Mercy Hospital in Parsons. Through the years, she worked as a licensed practical nurse at Mercy Hospital, Labet...
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Charles Read Oakleaf Sr.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Charles Read Oakleaf, Sr., 99, of Hot Springs, Ark., formerly of Mound Valley, died at 12:05 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, at his home.              He was born Nov. 8, 1913, at Mound Valley to Orton and Helena (Read) Oakleaf.              During World War II, Charles served in the United States Army. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Mound Valley, where he farmed and retired as a postmaster with the U.S. Postal S...
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Emma Jean Hoffman
SAN MARCOS, Texas — Emma Jean Hoffman of San Marcos, Texas, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, at age 87. She was born Oct. 1, 1925, in Fort Scott to Orville W. and Kate Arnold. She moved with her parents and older brother to Parsons, when she was in the sixth grade. She enjoyed her time in school and remembered all her teachers. She shared many fond childhood memories with her family...
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Hurschel Buscher
ERIE — Hurschel Buscher, 71, of rural Erie died at 9:04 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, at his home. He had been in failing health. He was born on July 2, 1941, at Chanute to Henry and Wilma (Erbe) Buscher. He grew up near Stark where he attended country schools and graduated from Grant Rural Township High School in 1959. He served in the United States Army for three years in Army security and served in Vietnam for 11 months. He was also station...
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Ann F. Pontious
Ann F. Pontious, 99, of Parsons died at 1:55 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, at Elmhaven East. The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends immediately following the rosary. Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. These may be left at ...
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Charles Read Oakleaf Sr.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Charles Read Oakleaf Sr., 99, of Hot Springs, Ark., formerly of Mound Valley, died at 12:05 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, at his home. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Jean (Hite) Oakleaf, on Oct. 14, 1998. The service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Mound Valley United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Mound Valley Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman...
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Betty L. McWilliams
Betty L. McWilliams, 89, of Parsons died at 5:20 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, at Oswego Community Hospital. She was born Sept. 14, 1923, in Fort Scott to William S. and Blanche Emma (Williams) Batley.  She grew up in Fort Scott where she attended schools and was a graduate of Fort Scott High School and later Fort Scott Junior College, where she earned a teaching certificate. She taught one year prior to marriage. On April 17, 1946, she marri...
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Irene Smith
Irene Smith, 88, a former Parsons and Erie resident, died at 3:14 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, at the Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. She had been in failing health. She was born on Oct. 31, 1924, at Banzet, Okla., to Ira L. and Edna Gladys (Davis) Williamson. She grew up near Banzet and at South Mound and attended schools there. She worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant and later at J.C. Penney, retiring in 1990. She wa...
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Robert Lee Baird
ATASCADERO, Calif. — Robert Lee Baird, 90, of Atascadero, Calif., died at 7:40 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, at Country Care Convalescent Hospital, in Atascadero. Mr. Baird was born June 4, 1922, in Tulsa to Harry and Bertha (Fillman) Baird. He had lived in California the past four years moving from Mound Valley. He retired from the Sante Fe Railroad after working 40 years as a train engineer. He served during World War II as a merchant marine...
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Lee Carnahan Jr.
ALTAMONT — Lee Carnahan Jr., 89, of Altamont died at his home Thursday evening, Feb. 14, 2013. Death was unexpected. He was born Jan. 5, 1924, in rural Parsons to William Lee Sr. and Olive (Houghton) Carnahan. He grew up in the rural Parsons area and moved with his family as a young adult to the family farm west of Altamont. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1942, where he excelled in FFA activities. He also attended Parsons Junior Co...
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