Obituaries
Barbara Joan Turner Swearingin
Barbara Joan Turner Swearingin, widow of David E. Swearingin, passed away in her sleep at home in Lombard, Ill., on the evening of Jan. 10, 2012. Barbara was a lifelong Christian scientist, member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Elmhurst, Ill., and a student of the late James M. McGrew, C.S.B. She was mother to two daughters and two sons and had eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Barbara’s remains were interred beside her b...
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Wayne E. Cowen
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — Wayne E. Cowen, 73, of New Braunfels, Texas, died on Jan. 8, 2012. He was born on July 30, 1938, in Parsons to Carl H. and Berniece (Duvall) Cowen. He served as a naval flight officer from 1960 to 1980, retiring as a commander. He then worked until 1994 as a management analyst for several companies supporting the U.S. Department of Energy. Survivors include his wife, Shirley A. (Baze) Cowen; a son, Carl Cowen and his wi...
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Wanda Marie Smith
WICHITA — Wanda Marie England Smith, 79, of Wichita gave up a good fight here on earth to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012. She was a Kansas native and only child born in Parsons and preceded in death by her parents, Homer Robert England, Marie Ester Schlatter England, and stepmother Mary Faye Gaston. She married Paul E. Smith. Together they adopted two infant boys 2 1/2 years apart before their divorce after ...
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Mallory Danelle Henson
COFFEYVILLE — Mallory Danelle (Mellington) Henson, 23, of Coffeyville died on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. She was born on Jan. 20, 1988, in Lamar, Mo., to Charles and Melissa (Stidham) Mellington.  She had worked as a nurse’s aide. Survivors include her father and stepmother, Charles and Sharon Mellington of Mound Valley; her mother, Melissa Stidham of Olathe; a daughter, Leanna Henson of Mound Valley; ...
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Irene E. Willey
Irene E. Willey, 89, of Parsons died at 2:38 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. She was born on Aug. 28, 1922, in Valeda to Glen Thomas and Vida Ann (Neidigh) Bowman. During her high school years, she moved to Altamont, where she attended school and graduated from Labette County Community High School.  On May 13, 1944, she married Jim Cross. Following marriage, they lived in Oswego, where she was a homemaker...
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Pauline Christine
Pauline Christine, 80, of Parsons died at 7:37 p.m. Monday in the emergency room of Labette Health. She was born on Jan. 30, 1931, in Parsons to Albert A. and Edith (Pearce) Christine. She graduated from Parsons High School in 1949 and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War from 1950 to 1954. Pauline worked for Lockheed Aircraft from 1954 to 1957. From 1959 to 1973, she worked in Washington, D.C., at the Pentagon for the Departmen...
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OHS teams split with Uniontown
OSWEGO — Oswego High School basketball teams split with Uniontown here Tuesday night. The girls won in big fashion, and the boys lost by 10 points. In the boys’ game, Oswego lost 55-45 after a poor offensive presence in the first and third quarters. The Indians were down 12-4 after a quarter and fought back to a 24-20 score at halftime. Oswego’s offense was silent again in the third quarter, getting outscored 14-6. In the fourth quarter, Osweg...
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Pauline Christine
Pauline Christine, 80, of Parsons died at 7:37 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, in the emergency room of Labette Health. The service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at First Christian Church. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call at Carson-Wall Funeral Home at their convenience on Thursday. Memorials are suggested to either First Christian Church or the charity of the donor’s choice and may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box...
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Kelly J. King
Kelly J. King, 47, of Parsons died on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at her home. She had been in her usual health, and death was not expected. She was born on July 12, 1964, in Boise, Idaho, to Thomas John and Sharon Kay (Shields) Spease. As an infant, she moved with her family to Parsons. She attended schools in Parsons and Labette County High School in Altamont. Through the years, she was employed by Signature Sportswear, Dwayne’s Photo Service, the...
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Irene E. Willey
Irene E. Willey, 89, of Parsons died at 2:38 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. She is survived by her husband, Orval Willey, of the home. Following cremation, the family will have private services at a future date. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Memorials are suggested to The Salvation Army and may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Fun...
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Judy C. Arabia
Judy C. Arabia, 66, of Parsons died at 3:53 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. She was born on Sept. 10, 1945, in Parsons to Carl Allen and Myrtle (Whinery) Shue. As a young girl, she grew up in Galesburg and later moved to Parsons, where she was a 1963 graduate of Parsons High School. On Aug. 24, 1963, she married John A. Arabia at Central Avenue Christian Church in Parsons. From 1963 to 1966, the couple lived in Pittsbu...
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Faye Reece Robertson
THAYER — Faye Reece Robertson, 69, of Thayer died on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. She was born on Aug. 5, 1942, in Thayer to Irving C. "Jack" and Della L. Baker Reece. She graduated from Thayer High School in 1960, Chanute Community College in 1962 and Pittsburg State University in 1964. She taught school in Altoona and Neodesha for 23 years. She married James W. Robertson on Dec. 23, 1966. ...
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Judy C. Arabia
Judy C. Arabia, 66, of Parsons died at 3:53 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. She is survived by her husband, John Arabia, of the home. The service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at First Christian Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Memorials are suggested to the Shriners Hospitals for Children and may...
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Joan Mullen
Joan Mullen, 77, of Parsons died at 1 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, at her home. She had been in failing health. She was born on Aug. 6, 1934, to Willis C. and Francis A. (Hillhouse) Kisner in Sunflower County, Mississippi. She grew up there and graduated from Linn High School. After completing high school, she attended a nursing program for two years and was then employed at Sunflower County Hospital and also at Humphreys County Hospital. On ...
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Iona M. Kramer Cole
GALESBURG — Iona M. Kramer Cole, 89, a longtime Galesburg area resident, died at 6:07 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor. She was born on Sept. 5, 1922, at Arlington to Allie and Maudie (Simmonds) Clark. She grew up on a family farm near Pretty Prairie and attended schools there. The family moved to Galesburg when she was a teenager. She attended Galesburg High School. She married Carl Kramer on June 16, 1939, at Hav...
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Kelly J. King
Kelly J. King, 47, of Parsons died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at her home. She had been in her usual health and death was not expected. The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. The body will be cremated following the service. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Memorials are suggested to Proud Animal Lovers Shelter and may be left at or ma...
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Floyd 'Whitey' Clymer
CHETOPA — Floyd “Whitey” Clymer, 67, of Chetopa died at 9:35 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, 2012, at his home. He was born on Nov. 13, 1944, in Sayre, Okla., to Clell and Pearl (Packard) Clymer. He was a graduate of Sublette High School in Sublette. Through the years, he worked as a construction worker. He married Gloria Mesa in 1964. They later divorced. Survivors include three daughters, Loretta Bruce of Coffeyville and Toby Long and Becky Becker, bot...
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Esther R. Dunn
MIAMI, Okla. — Esther R. Dunn, 68, of Miami, Okla., a former resident and longtime businesswoman of Chetopa, died on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at the home of her daughter in Miami following a lengthy illness. She was born on Dec. 1, 1943, at the Assembly of God parsonage in Chetopa to Laurence and Minnie (Smith) Street. As a young girl, she attended Frontier and Center rural schools and was a graduate of Columbus High School. She owned and opera...
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The Rev. Monsignor Charles W. Regan
WICHITA — The Rev. Monsignor Charles W. Regan died on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, at the Catholic Care Center in Wichita. He was the son of the late Charles W. and Mary A. (Doherty) Regan. He was ordained to the priesthood March 29, 1958, by Bishop Mark K. Carroll. Some of his pastoral assignments included St. John’s in Iola and Holy Savior Parish in Wichita. Monsignor Regan served as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul in Andover and Church of the Mag...
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Lena M. Holley
CHETOPA — Lena M. Holley, 92, of Chetopa died at 5:58 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012, at Chetopa Manor nursing home.  She was born on Aug. 19, 1919, in Cherokee County to Elwood and Ella (James) Johnston.    She was a lifetime area resident and a 1937 graduate of Cherokee County Community High School in Columbus.  For 45 years, she worked as an Avon representative and had received numerous awards through the years from Avon for her efforts. She w...
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