Obituaries
Dora ‘Bell’ Simmons
VINITA, Okla. — Dora “Bell” Simmons, 93, of Vinita, Okla., died on Thursday, July 7, 2011, at Rosewood Terrace in Vinita.  She was born on April 23, 1918, in Melissa, Texas, to Henry and Martha Stice Ferguson.  She married Preston Simmons on Aug. 14, 1933.  She retired from Eastern State Hospital after many years. After retiring, she was able to start her hobby of making quilts for her children and most of her grandchildren. She also liked to ...
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Gary Allen ‘Peanuts’ Stevenson
EDNA — Gary Allen “Peanuts” Stevenson, 70, of rural Edna died at 2:10 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2011, at Chetopa Manor nursing home. He was born on June 14, 1941, in rural Altamont to Clarence and Irene (Patterson) Stevenson. He raised cattle. Survivors include a brother, Dale Stevenson of rural Edna; a niece, Lois Looney; a nephew, Robert Stevenson; and three great-nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents. The family will receive friends f...
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Fay Longan
ALTAMONT — Fay Longan, 88, of Altamont died at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 4, 2011, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. She was born on Oct. 1, 1922, to George Lee and Hilda Alice (Covington) West in Florence. She married Carl Longan on May 22, 1942. He preceded her in death on Jan. 6, 2007. For several years, she worked part-time at the Lakeshore Ben Franklin 5 & 10 store in Springfield, Mo. Survivors include a son, Clyde Lee Longan of Al...
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Theda M. Wilson
CHETOPA — Theda M. Wilson, 88, of Chetopa died at 10:45 p.m. Monday, July 4, 2011, at Chetopa Manor. She had been in failing health. She was born on Dec. 21, 1922, in Craig County, Okla., to Clinton O. and Anna (Gail) Wilson. She attended Watson and Blackberry elementary schools and was a graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont. She then attended Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg, where she earned bachelor’s and m...
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Teresa Jarvill
Teresa Jarvill, 58, of Parsons died at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 4, 2011, at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center. Her death followed a brief illness. She was born on Dec. 30, 1952, at Stillwater, Okla., to Fred R. and Martha B. (Jackson) Jarvill. She worked in the laundry. Survivors include a sister, Marsha Jarvill of Wichita; and a nephew, Daniel “Danny” Jarvill of Wichita. Her parents preceded her in death. Following cremation, the...
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Daniel Joe Brown
Daniel Joe Brown, 42, of Parsons and Mooreton, N.D., died unexpectedly from injuries sustained in an electrical accident in Parsons on Sunday, July 3, 2011. He was born on Nov. 28, 1968, at Parsons to Daniel Lee and Mary Jo (Pope) Brown. He grew up and attended schools at Parsons, graduating from Parsons High School in 1987. He was a state qualifier in wrestling and played football. He worked at Sun Graphics for a few years. He then moved to N...
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Fay Longan
ALTAMONT — Fay Longan, 88, of Altamont died at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 4, 2011, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl H. Longan, on Jan. 6, 2007. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Following the visitation, family and friends will go in procession at 2 p.m. to Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Altamont for a graveside service. Memo...
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Theda M. Wilson
CHETOPA — Theda M. Wilson, 88, of Chetopa died at 10:45 p.m. Monday, July 4, 2011, at Chetopa Manor nursing home. She had been in failing health. The service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Burial will be in Lake Creek Cemetery near Bartlett. Friends may call from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Chetopa United Methodist Church and may be left at or mailed to the funer...
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Vera Bolen
CHERRYVALE — Vera Bolen, 94, of Cherryvale, a former longtime resident of Altamont, died at 5:50 p.m. Sunday, July 3, 2011, at Mercy Hospital in Independence. She was born on Aug. 12, 1916, in Altamont to Wilford and Jessie (Kugler) Baker. As a young girl, she attended rural elementary school near Altamont and was a 1934 graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont. She continued her education by earning an associate degree in ...
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Gary A. Stevenson
EDNA — Gary A. Stevenson, 70, of rural Edna died at 2:10 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2011, at Chetopa Manor nursing home. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. The funeral home will announce complete obituary details later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Vera Bolin
Vera Bolin, 96, of Altamont died at 5:50 p.m. Sunday, July 3, 2011, at Mercy Hospital in Independence. Further obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announced by Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Altamont.
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Dolly R. Perez
Dolly R. Perez, 85, lifelong Parsons resident, died at 11:05 p.m. Friday, July 1, 2011 at Elmhaven West after a brief illness. She was born on Nov. 3, 1925, at Parsons a daughter of Grant and Esther (Anderson) Packard. She was raised in Parsons and attended school here. She was employed in explosive ordnance production at the Kansas Ordnance Plant from 1943 to 1945, 1953 to 1954 and from 1967 until retiring in 1988. On Oct. 4, 1942, she marri...
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Daniel Joe Brown
Daniel Joe Brown, 42, of Parsons and Mooreton, N.D., died unexpectedly in Parsons after an electrical accident Sunday, July 3, 2011. Complete obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announced by the Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
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William A. ‘Bill’ Knarr
DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas — William A. “Bill” Knarr, 71, of Dripping Springs, Texas, a former Parsons resident, died Wednesday, June 29, 2011, after a courageous battle against esophageal cancer. He was born on Sept. 21, 1939, in Parsons to Guy A. and Lorna (Ellis) Knarr. He grew up in Parsons and graduated from Parsons High School in 1957. He also attended Parsons Junior College and graduated from Pittsburg State University. He spent his entire...
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William M. ‘Bill’ Dawson
ST. PAUL — William M. “Bill” Dawson, 94, of St. Paul, a former longtime Erie resident, died at 5:05 a.m. Thursday, June 30, 2011, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. He was born on Nov. 23, 1916, in rural St. Paul to Jonas and Pauline (Holtz) Dawson. As a young boy, he grew up in the St. Paul and Galesburg areas. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Alaska and other posts. For nearly 28 years, he ...
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Maxine Downing
CHETOPA — Maxine Downing, 86, of Chetopa died at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, 2011, at Freeman East Hospital in Joplin. She was born on Feb. 1, 1925, in rural Chetopa to Elmer Joseph and Birdie Ethel (Moore) Blundell. Following graduation from Chetopa High School in 1942, she attended Coffeyville Teachers College. She married James Otho Downing on June 9, 1946, at Assembly of God Church in Chetopa. He survives of the home. She owned and operated...
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Lita Mae Soderquist
Lita Mae Soderquist, 82, of Parsons died Tuesday, June 28, 2011, of natural causes at Via Christi St. Francis Hospital in Wichita. Death followed a month long illness. She was born March 31, 1929, in Selma to Ruby Mae and Russell Coen. She grew up and attended schools in the Iola area. On Nov. 11, 1948, she married Robert E. Soderquist. They lived in Chanute many years and operated the Silver Grill restaurant with his parents until 1968. In 1...
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Maxine Downing
CHETOPA — Maxine Downing, 86, of Chetopa died at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 29, 2011, at Freeman East Hospital in Joplin. She is survived by her husband, J.O. Downing, of the home. The service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time on Tuesday at the funeral homeThe casket will remain closed. Memorials are sugg...
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William M. ‘Bill’ Dawson
ST. PAUL — William M. “Bill” Dawson, 94, of St. Paul, and former longtime Erie resident, died at 5:05 a.m. Thursday, June 30, 2011, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. He was preceded in death by his wife, Oda Mary (Newberry) Dawson, on June 26, 2010. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Lakeview Cemetery near Erie. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday at Prairie Mission Retirement Village Chapel...
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William A. ‘Bill’ Knarr
William A. “Bill” Knarr, 71, former Parsons resident, died Wednesday, June 29, 2011, in Austin, Texas. Among survivors is his wife, Patricia (Hughes) Knarr. A memorial visitation will be at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons, the time and day to be announced. Complete obituary details and arrangements will be announced by the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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