Obituaries
Annette 'Bonnie' Nielsen
MORENO VALLEY, Calif. — Annette “Bonnie” Nielsen, 73, of Moreno Valley, Calif., died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, at Moreno Valley. She was born on Oct. 21, 1939, in Orange, Calif. She was a purchasing agent. Survivors include her husband, David; three daughters, Wendi Packer and Nancy Harrison, both of Parsons, and Amy Owings of Moreno Valley, Calif.; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Judy Appodaca of Huntington Beach, Calif....
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Jack W. McGuire
Jack W. McGuire, 52, of Parsons died at 5:28 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, in the emergency room at Labette Health. He had been in his usual health, and death was not expected. He was born on Oct. 14, 1960, in Los Angeles to Linda Lu Blackburn. He grew up and attended school in Parsons. He previously worked at SEK Auto Sales before opening his own business, McGuire Small Engine Repair, which he operated until his death. He married Sherri D. Shr...
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The Rev. Betty L. Eckles
CHETOPA — The Rev. Betty L. Eckles, 83, of Chetopa, formerly of Mound Valley, died at 2:10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, at Chetopa Manor nursing home. She was born on June 29, 1929, in Centralia, Okla., to Delbert Howard and Lydia May (Bell) Kirk. She grew up and attended school near Miami, Okla. Through the years, she lived in Southeast Kansas and northeast Oklahoma. She pastored at various churches including Chetopa and Mound Valley and was a ...
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Cael Ethan Shields
Cael Ethan Shields, the infant son of Matthew Wayne and Jene’ Marie (Siebert) Shields of Parsons, died shortly after birth on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. In addition to his parents, survivors include his maternal grandparents, Jeff and Renee Siebert of Girard and Roger and Debbie Buck of St. Louis; his paternal grandparents, Dude and Debra Shields of Chanute; his maternal great-grandparents, Berneda Hallacy of Girard an...
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Betty L. Eckles
CHETOPA — Betty L. Eckles, 83, of Chetopa, formerly of Mound Valley, died at 2:10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, at Chetopa Manor nursing home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert K. Eckles, on June 25, 2002. Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Milo W. Bean
Milo W. Bean, 90, of Parsons died at 12:45 a.m. Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, at Elmhaven East nursing home in Parsons.  He was born on Dec. 17, 1921, in Gross to Ralph M. and Bessie M. (Brown) Bean. As a young boy, he grew up and attended school in the Gross and Arcadia areas. During World War II, he was stationed in Italy and Africa and was a Bronze Star recipient. He married Louise Easter on Sept. 18, 1943, in Wynona, Miss. They moved to Parsons in...
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Patricia Ann Dann
Patricia Ann Dann, 80, of Parsons died on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, at Cherryvale Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was born on June 16, 1932, in Coffeyville to Edward J. and Patricia (O’Connell) Lind. She attended Holy Name Catholic School and graduated from Field Kindley High School in Coffeyville. She attended Coffeyville Community College. She was employed at Continental Can Co., Garvey Elevators in Wichita and Avco-Space Division in Tu...
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Dorothy Marie Carson
EDWARDS, Mo. — Dorothy Marie Carson, 90, of Edwards, Mo., died at 2:47 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, at Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach, Mo. She was born on June 26, 1922, in Centralia, Okla., to Robert Clifford and Cora (Riley) Deacon. She grew up and attended school in Centralia. In earlier years, she worked at the H.D. Lee Garment Factory in Chetopa. She married Delmar Bert Carson on Dec. 7, 1942. He preceded her in death in 1970. Surv...
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LaVeta Jean Lamb Cook Stiles
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — LaVeta Jean Lamb Cook Stiles, 86, of Huntsville, Ala., passed away Wednesday. She was a longtime member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. LaVeta was preceded in death by her loving husband of 50 years, James Milton Stiles; her first husband, Paul Raymond Cook, a WWII hero killed in action, awarded the Purple Heart and Distinguished Service Cross (a presidential award); her parents, Willard Harland Lamb and Clara Bessie Lamb; ...
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Dorothy M. Carson
EDWARDS, Mo. — Dorothy M. Carson, 90, of Edwards, Mo., died at 2:47 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, at Lake Regional Hospital in Osage Beach, Mo. The graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Edna Elm Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Memorials are suggested to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. B...
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Marcia S. Cooper
DAYTON, Ohio — Marcia S. Cooper, 28, of Dayton, Ohio, formerly of Chetopa, died at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012, at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. She was born on Oct. 21, 1983, in Parsons to A.B. and Anita (Jameson) Cooper. As a young girl, she grew up and attended schools in Chetopa, Parsons and Lawrence.  Survivors include a son, Marshall Wingate of Dayton, Ohio; a maternal grandmother, Ida Jameson of Chetopa; a brother, Brandon Beard...
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Wilda Mae ‘Willie’ Bayless
Wilda Mae “Willie” Bayless, 90, of Parsons died at 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons.  She was born April 9, 1922, in Parsons to Harry G. and Velma A. (Parsons) O’Connor. She was a 1939 graduate of Parsons High School and earned an associate degree from Parsons Junior College in 1941. Wilda was employed by S.H. Kress Co., Rust Hardware and the city of Parsons Water Department. While working at the city, sh...
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Esther Regina Foreman
SUN CITY, Ariz. — Esther Regina Foreman, 93, of Sun City, Ariz., died on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012. She was born on April 12, 1919, in South Mound to John and Regina (Volmer) Lortz. Esther worked as a nurse and retired to Arizona in 2001. She married Cleo Foreman. He preceded her in death in 1963. She married James “Bud” McLeod. He preceded her in death in 1995. Survivors include a son, Gerald Foreman and his wife, Gretchen, and daughter, Jeanet...
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Janet McKinzie
ST. PAUL — Janet McKinzie, 57, died on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, at her residence in St. Paul. She was born on Feb. 16, 1955, in Grand Junction, Colo., to Carlyle “Tuffy” and Cordy Ward. She graduated from St. Paul High School in 1973. She was a homemaker who enjoyed her family, especially her grandchildren. She also enjoyed fishing and playing slot machines. Survivors include her mother, Cordy Ward of St. Paul; a daughter, Amy Smith and her fi...
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Wilda Mae ‘Willie’ Bayless
Wilda Mae “Willie” Bayless, 90, of Parsons died at 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. She was preceded in death by her husband, Manuel Junior Bayless, on July 17, 2011. After cremation, the graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Dennis. Her children will meet with her friends and family from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Parsons Senior Center to reminisce and celebrate h...
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Teresa K. (Lewis) Astbury
Teresa K. (Lewis) Astbury, 51, of Parsons died at 7:39 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.  She was born on Oct. 23, 1961, in Liberal to Bill Lewis Sr. and DeEtta (DeCow) Lewis. As a young girl, she grew up in Liberal and later moved with her family to Coffeyville, where she graduated from high school and earned a nursing degree from Coffeyville Community College. Prior to college, she had served in the U.S. Army....
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Janet McKinzie
ST. PAUL — Janet McKinzie of St. Paul died Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, at her residence. The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Paul United Methodist Church in St. Paul. Burial will follow in Hope Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Paul United Methodist Church. Memorials in her name may be made to the family and may be left with the funeral home. Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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Evelyn M. Michael
McCUNE — Evelyn M. Michael, 92, a longtime McCune area resident, died at 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. She had resided at Good Samaritan Society in Parsons the past five years. She was born on Nov. 19, 1919, at Strauss to Alvah and Myrtle Marie (VanSlyke) Pence. She graduated from McCune High School and lived in the McCune area most of her life. On Sept. 21, 1940, she married Glen Dee Michael in McCune. Shortly af...
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Oren Melvin Nelson
TOLUCA LAKE, Calif. — Oren Melvin Nelson, 95, formerly of Elsmore died Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, at his home in Toluca Lake, Calif. He was born on Feb. 18, 1917, at Elsmore to Oscar and Rebecca (Smading) Nelson. He grew up in the Elsmore area, where he attended South Fairview Grade School in Allen County. He was a farmer, had dairy cows and owned and operated a milk route hauling milk from dairy farms to Neosho Valley Creamery at Erie for many ...
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William Alva ‘Bill’ Rude
SEVERNA PARK, Md. — William Alva “Bill” Rude, 87, of Anne Arundel County, Md., died Sept. 17, 2012, at Severna Park Genesis Health Care. He was born April 14, 1925, in Iola to Alva Oscar and Viva Ethel Patton Rude. He attended Parsons schools, graduating from Parsons High School in 1943. He joined the U.S. Army Air Force. He graduated from Parsons Junior College. He married Jean Marie Ledbetter in 1947, and he then attended Oklahoma A&M Unive...
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