Obituaries
Melvin D. Beasley
Melvin D. Beasley, 81, of Parsons died at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at the St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. He had been in failing health for the last few years. The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the American Alzheimer's Association and ma...
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Forest W. Newell
Forest W. Newell, 90, of Parsons died at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, June 14, 2009, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor, where he resided since September 2007. He was born April 2, 1919, at Nash, Okla., to O.L. and Maude B. (Ragains) Newell. He grew up in Nash and graduated from Nash High School in 1937. On March 24, 1941, he was inducted into the U.S. Army and served 4 1/2 years as a dental technician stationed in Hawaii and England. He was discharged on O...
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Daryl J. Lorenz
Daryl J. Lorenz, 83, formerly of Altamont, died at 4:15 a.m. Monday, June 15, 2009, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor, where he had resided since December 2007. He was born Nov. 2, 1925, in Okeene, Okla., to Harry and Freda (Weber) Lorenz. After graduating from Loyal High School in Loyal, Okla., he served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. Following his discharge from the Navy, he returned to Loyal and for a time worked at J.C. Penne...
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Margaret Ellen Brooker Thiebaud
WOODSTOCK, Ga. -- Margaret Ellen Brooker Thiebaud, 94, a former resident of Fort Scott and Parsons, died Saturday, June 13, 2009, at Woodstock, Ga. She was born April 13, 1915, in Forest Burg, S.D., to Alvin J. Brooker and Mattie Louise Fick Brooker. She lived most of her life in Kansas before moving to Georgia in 2003. She worked in education as a school teacher. She married Charles Edwin Thiebaud. He preceded her in death. Survivors include...
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Thelma F. Foster
IOLA -- Thelma F. Foster, 94, of Iola died Sunday, June 14, 2009, at Windsor Place in Iola. She was born May 30, 1915, in Tarkio, Mo., the daughter of John A. and Ethel (Plotner) Brown. At age 3 she moved with her family to Morehead, where she graduated from Morehead High School. She then moved to the Altamont area, where she lived most of her life. She worked as a deputy clerk for Labette County from 1965 until 1977 and then served as Labett...
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Deanna Dee Lane
LIBERTY -- Deanna Dee Lane, 70, of rural Liberty died Saturday, June 13, 2009, at Mercy Hospital in Independence. She was born March 4, 1939, in Hastings, Neb., to Charles "Bud" and Lois (Wald) Allison. She graduated from Caney High School in 1957 and received an associate's degree from Coffeyville Community College in 1971 and a bachelor of science in education from Pittsburg State University in 1973. She taught elementary school in Cherry...
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Daryl J. Lorenz
Daryl J. Lorenz, 83, formerly of Altamont, where he served as postmaster for 17 years, died at 4:15 a.m. Monday, June 15, 2009, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor, where he had resided since December 2007. He had been in failing health. He is survived by his wife, Mickey V. Lorenz, of Parsons. The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Altamont. Burial will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Altamont. Friends may call after 9 a....
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Dorothy J. Torchia
OSWEGO -- Dorothy J. Torchia, 90, of Oswego died at 10:45 p.m. Sunday, June 14, 2009, at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center in Pittsburg. She was born Nov. 6, 1918, at Mackie Camp to Santo and Loretta (Caputo) Torchia. On Nov. 9, 1935, she married Frank Torchia at St. Bridget's Catholic Church, Scammon. He preceded her in death on Jan. 16, 1989. Mrs. Torchia owned and operated Torchia Firestone Store in Oswego with her husband. Survivors...
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Helen Frances Columbia
CHETOPA -- Helen Frances Columbia, 93 of Chetopa died Saturday, June 13, 2009, at Chetopa Manor. She was born Sept. 29, 1915, south of Oswego on the family farm to Leo C. and Myrtle (Kirkman) Ruttgen. She graduated from the eighth grade from the rural Labette County Gore Grade School and from Oswego High School in 1933. At age 16 she had her own radio show, "Helen the Yodeler," on KGGF, Coffeyville, for several years. She accompanied hersel...
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Forest W. Newell
Forest W. Newell, 90, a resident of Parsons Presbyterian Manor, died there at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, June 14, 2009. The service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to either Friendship Baptist Church or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357. The funeral home will announce obituary details later.
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Maurice L. 'Mort' Wilmoth
Maurice L. "Mort" Wilmoth, 73, of Parsons died at 3:50 a.m. Sunday, June 14, 2009, at his home. He had been in failing health. He was born on April 4, 1936, at Neosho, Mo., to Jack Doyle and Bessie P. (Litton) Wilmoth. The family moved to Parsons in 1943, and he attended Parsons schools, graduating from Parsons High School in 1954. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1954 and served as a radioman on the U.S.S. DeHaven Destroyer while stationed ...
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Betty Lee Bohling
CHANUTE -- Betty Lee Bohling, 82, of Chanute died Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at her home. She was born on July 12, 1926, in Erie to Guy and Ruby (LaRue) Whitworth. She graduated from Stark High School and attended a year of college. She was married to Richard H. Bohling on July 19, 1946, in Erie. He preceded her in death. She was a homemaker. Survivors include two sons, Carter Wayne Bohling of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Michael Bohling of Top...
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Morris L. Martin
Morris L. Martin, 78, of Parsons died at 8:15 p.m. Sunday, June 7, 2009, at his home. He was born March 8, 1931, in Galion, Ohio, to Marion and Dorothy (Buck) Martin. He grew up in Galion, Ohio, where he attended schools. He later served in the U.S. Army. He worked in education throughout his adult life. He loved photography, working in the yard and flower gardening. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and writing. Survivors include a son, P...
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Donna Darlene Whetzel
Donna Darlene (Atteberry) Whetzel, a former resident of Parsons, peacefully left this world to be with her heavenly Father at 1:11 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2009. She had taken ill the previous month and was in the Christopher House Hospice in Austin, Texas, with her daughters at her side when she passed. Donna was born Sept. 6, 1926, in rural Parsons to Merlin A. and Ruth Olive (Karstetter) Atteberry. She graduated from Labette County Comm...
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Louise Fay Good
Louise Fay Good, 88, a lifelong Parsons resident, died at 3:40 p.m. Saturday, June 6, 2009, at Labette Health. She had been in failing health the past two months. She was born in Parsons on Nov. 9, 1920, to Christopher and Voleta (Sible) Titsworth. She attended Parsons schools. On April 19, 1941, she married Lyle L. Good at Independence. He preceded her in death on Feb. 5, 2002. She had worked at the Kansas Ordnance Plant and later was em...
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Donna D. (Atteberry) Whetzel
Donna D. (Atteberry) Whetzel, 82, a native Parsonian, died at 1:11 p.m. Thursday, June 4, 2009, at the Hospice Austin-Christopher House in Austin, Texas. Complete obituary details and arrangements will be announced by Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Parsons.
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James W. 'Jim' Costin
ALTAMONT -- James W. "Jim" Costin, 82, of rural Altamont died at 11:35 a.m. Sunday, June 7, 2009, at Labette Health. He was born Sept. 22, 1926, in Derby to James Walter Sr. and Georgia Katherine (Rueter) Costin. He grew up and attended schools in Derby and graduated from Derby High School. In 1944, he entered the U.S. Army and served until the end of the war. Following his discharge, he returned to the family farm in Derby, where he lived...
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Sister Henrita VanLeeuwen
ST. PAUL -- Sister Henrita VanLeeuwen, 84, a native of St. Paul, died Monday, June 8, 2009. Leona Isabelle VanLeeuwen entered the Congregation of St. Joseph on March 19, 1944, and received the name Sister Henrita. She served as a housekeeper at convents in Kingman, Florence and Hutchinson and taught in Catholic elementary schools at Dodge City, Hoisington, Pittsburg, Frontenac, Hutchinson, Chanute, Kansas City, Parsons, Wichita and Hayward, C...
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Morris L. Martin, 78, of Parsons died at 8:15 p
Morris L. Martin Morris L. Martin, 78, of Parsons died at 8:15 p.m. Sunday, June 7, 2009, at his home. He had been in failing health. Complete obituary details will be announced by Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.
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Gary R. Kendrick
Gary R. Kendrick, 64, of Parsons died at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. He had been battling cancer the past 3 1/2 years. He was born May 28, 1945, at Hominy, Okla., to Al and Maxyne (Romine) Kendrick. He grew up and attended schools in Sand Springs, Okla. He graduated from Charles Page High School at Sand Springs and attended Oklahoma State University and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from...
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