Obituaries
Robert E. ‘Bud’ Willis
CHETOPA — Robert E. “Bud” Willis, 85, of rural Chetopa died at 3:46 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. He was preceded in death by his wife, Myrna (Hilderbrand) Willis, on July 6, 2010. 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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Roy L. Sperry
EDNA — Roy L. Sperry, 88, of Edna died Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in the emergency room at Labette Health. He was born on Aug. 11, 1924, in Cherryvale to Charles C. and Elizabeth Eldora (Byers) Sperry. In the early 1950s, he lived on a farm with his parents near Dennis until moving with his family to Mound Valley in 1958.  He attended Kansas School for the Deaf in Olathe and earned a bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. ...
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Elma E. Munsell
Elma E. Munsell, 96, of Parsons died at 7:35 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons, where she entered Monday. She was born on Nov. 9, 1915, on a farm near Lebanon to Paul and Eva (Cochran) Butler. She grew up on the farm and graduated from Lebanon High School and earned a teaching certificate. She taught in rural, one-room schools for several years. Her grandfather, David Butler, was the first governor of Nebraska, serving...
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Roy L. Sperry
EDNA — Roy L. Sperry, 88, of Edna died at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in the emergency room at Labette Health. He is survived by a brother, Lloyd C. Sperry of Parsons. Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Rosa M. (Munoz) Smith
McCUNE — Rosa M. (Munoz) Smith, 54, of McCune died at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, at the home of her son in McCune. She was born on June 1, 1958, in Barrington, Ill., to Enrique and Juanita (Munoz) Carrillo. At 13 days of age, she was brought to Parsons, raised and later adopted by her uncle and aunt, Prudencio and Sara Munoz. She grew up in Parsons and graduated from Parsons High School. She later attended Labette Community College and P...
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Donald K. Smith
Donald K. Smith, 85, of Parsons died at 5:47 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, at Presbyterian Manor. He was born on March 28, 1927, at Calumet, Okla., to Harold J. and Beulah B. (Knox) Smith. He was raised in Oklahoma until age 10, when his family moved to rural Oswego. He graduated from Labette County Community High School and enlisted in the U.S. Army the day after graduation. He served at the end of World War II and was stationed in Germany. Upo...
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Rosa M. (Munoz) Smith
McCUNE — Rosa M. (Munoz) Smith, 54, of McCune died at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, at the home of her son in McCune. The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in McCune Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. Thursday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons, where the family will receive friends following the rosary. Memorials are suggested to Angels Among Us and may be lef...
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Karen Ruth LaBarge
Karen Ruth LaBarge CLOVIS, N.M. — Karen Ruth LaBarge, 54, of Clovis, N.M., died Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, at the home of her mother in Glasco. She was born on July 1, 1958, in Concordia to Daniel Edward and Marian Evelyn (Olson) Williamson. She grew up in Glasco and graduated from Glasco High School in 1976. She married David Matthew LaBarge on Oct. 12, 2002. He survives. She worked for golf courses, nurseries and greenhouses. Other survivors in...
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Ronald E. Wetzel
WICHITA — Ronald E. Wetzel, 95, of Wichita, a retired maintenance electrician, died on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012. He was born in Winnebago, Ill., to Evore and Effie Hazel (Todd) Wetzel. He and his wife, Ethel (MacDonald), lived in Parsons for several years. He is survived by his wife Ethel Wetzel of Wichita; a daughter, Trudy MacDonald of Wichita; two sons, Scott A. MacDonald of Broken Arrow, Okla., and Jim Wetzel of Effingham, Ill.; six grandchi...
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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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