Obituaries
Leon E. Cluck
OSWEGO — Leon E. Cluck, 70, of Oswego, died on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, in Oswego. He retired from S.E.K. Auto Sales, Parsons. He enjoyed fishing and working on lawn mowers. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Evelyn, of Parsons; two daughters, Kelly Blackburn of Wichita and Kim Cluck and her husband, James Armitage, of Parsons; his father, George Cluck of Tulsa; a sister, Nancy Fletcher of Tulsa; four grandchildren, Stevan Blackburn and h...
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Ophelia Betty (Perez) Foster
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Ophelia Betty (Perez) Foster, 77, of Huntington Beach, Calif., died at 8:40 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, at Lake Forest Nursing Center, Lake Forest, Calif. She had been in failing health. She was born on Sept. 30, 1934, in Parsons to Pedro and Catarina Perez. Survivors include a sister, Juanita Yanez of Parsons; and a brother, John Flores of Parsons. The funeral Mass was on Friday at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Chur...
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Mary Jo Robison
BRANDON, Miss. — Mary Jo Robison, 85, of Brandon, Miss., formerly of  Parsons, died at 4:10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, Miss. She was born on April 26, 1926, in South Mound to John Omer and Mary Olive (Pontious) Johnston. She grew up in the South Mound area and was a graduate of St. Paul High School. For a time, she worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons. On April 10, 1947, she married Ves...
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Virgil L. ‘Bud’ Shaw
ERIE — Virgil L. “Bud” Shaw, 79, of Erie died at 6:15 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village at St. Paul.  Among his survivors is his wife, Jean Shaw of Erie.  The service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Federated Church at Erie. Inurnment will follow in East Hill Cemetery with military honors conducted by George L. Hendricks Post No. 102 American Legion of Erie. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today...
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Mary Jo Robison
BRANDON, Miss. — Mary Jo Robison, 85, of Brandon, Miss., formerly of Parsons, died at 4:10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, Miss. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vester H. “Vic” Robison, on Oct. 15, 2002. The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Fort Scott National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the fun...
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Alan ‘Kim’ Hartman
Alan “Kim” Hartman, 55, of Parsons died at 12:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, at Labette Health. He was born on June 24, 1956, in Wichita to Marvin and Vera (Reynolds) Hartman. At the age of 1, he became a resident of Winfield State Hospital and Training Center and later the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, where he was residing. He was a member of Congregational Church in Wichita. Survivors include his parents, Marvin and Vera Hartm...
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Dale Titus
DENNIS — Dale Titus, 76, rural Dennis died in the emergency room of Labette Health at 11:13 a.m. Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. His wife, Ellen, survives of the home. Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Parsons will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later.
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Max Dick
Max Dick, 92, a longtime Parsons resident, died at 6:46 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, at Good Samaritan Society in Parsons.  He was born on March 14, 1919, at Parsons to Philip and Lois (Clark) Dick. He grew up at Parsons and attended Parsons schools, graduating from Parsons High School. He later attended Parsons Junior College. He worked in Parsons and at Boeing in Wichita before World War II. He married Edith Johnson on Aug. 6, 1939, at the...
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William Eugene Gahagan
WALNUT — William Eugene Gahagan, 82, a lifetime farmer of rural Walnut, entered eternal rest on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012. He had been in failing health. Known to his family and friends as “Bill,” he was born on Feb. 20, 1929, to Edmund Eugene and Mary Felicy (Jacquinot) Gahagan on the family farm in Walnut. He farmed there until he retired to live in town. He attended Raymond School and Mound Valley until the seventh grade, at which time he be...
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Anna Dodson
Anna Dodson, 77, a former Parsons resident, died at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012, at Genesis Health Care Center in Severna Park, Md. She was the widow of Walter Dodson, who preceded her in death on June 1, 1979. Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Parsons will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later.
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Jerry A. Merrick
MOUND VALLEY — Jerry A. Merrick, 68, of Mound Valley died at 8:20 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, at Freeman Health System in Joplin. He had been in his usual health before suffering a stroke two weeks ago. He was born on Aug. 19, 1943, in Mound Valley to Elwyn and Eulalia (Hart) Merrick. He grew up and attended schools in Mound Valley. He graduated from Labette County Community High School in 1961. Following his graduation from high school, he se...
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William F. ‘Bill’ Chapman Jr.
MOUND VALLEY — William F. “Bill” Chapman Jr., 56, of Mound Valley died at 8:50 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. He had been in his usual health, and death was not expected. He was born on Aug. 1, 1955, in Parsons to William F. “Bill” and Mary Lou (Berends) Chapman. He grew up in Southeast Kansas and was a 1973 graduate of Labette County High School in Altamont. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was stationed in Ba...
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William F. ‘Bill’ Chapman Jr.
MOUND VALLEY — William F. “Bill” Chapman Jr., 56, of Mound Valley died at 8:50 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. He had been in his usual health, and death was not expected.  He is survived by his wife, Janice Chapman, of the home. 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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Helen I. Moore
ST. PAUL — Helen I. Moore, 76, of St. Paul, formerly of Chanute, died at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village. She was born on Oct. 3, 1935, in Pueblo, Colo., to John and Nell (Millburn) Moore. She grew up and attended school in Oregon. She worked as an interior decorator/artist. Survivors include a son, Kent Witzel of Battle Ground, Wash.; a daughter, Leah Nosack of Salem, Ore.; seven grandchildren; a great-g...
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Jean Hastings
CALIFORNIA, Mo. — Jean Hastings, 78, of California, Mo., died on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, at Moniteau Care Center, California, Mo. She was born on Dec. 17, 1933, in Reno, Nev., to Joseph and Pearl (Wosika) Farrell. On Jan. 21, 1951, in Fayettville, Ark., she married Theodore Curtis Hastings, and recently they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Hastings was a member of Annunciation Catholic Church in California, Mo., where she enjoye...
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Imogene Springer
JOPLIN — Imogene Springer, 85, of Joplin died at 11:37 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin following a short illness. Imogene was born on July 18, 1926, in Erie. Imogene married Jean Douglas Springer on Dec. 2, 1946, in Hailey, Idaho. He preceded her in death on Dec. 3, 2000. Imogene and her husband owned and operated Park Motel in Cherryvale for 22 years, retiring in 1978. Survivors include two sons, Scott Springe...
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Debra E. Allen
MOUND VALLEY — Debra E. Allen, 51, of Mound Valley died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. She was born April 18, 1960, at Neodesha to Henry Lee and Elizabeth (Bennett) Allen. Her father died when she was less than a year old, and she was raised by her mother and stepfather, Junior King. She attended area schools. Survivors include her mother and stepfather, Elizabeth and Junior King of Lenapah, Okla.; a son, Larry Dewayne ...
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Pearl Folk
LAS VEGAS — Pearl Folk, 91, of Las Vegas died on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. She was born on Jan. 9, 1921, in Erie and had resided in Las Vegas for more than 40 years. Pearl was married to Clarence Folk for 62 wonderful years. Pearl was a homemaker her whole life, raising five children. She has 12 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence; and her son, Roger. Other s...
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William R. ‘Bill’ Osburn
LECOMPTON — William R. “Bill” Osburn, 77, of Lecompton died on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, at Stormont Vail Regional Medical Center in Topeka. He was born on Dec. 20, 1934, in Homer, La., to Herbert E. and Emma Ethel Vasser Osburn. He was raised and attended school in Parsons. After high school, he served in the Army. He married Judith M. Mathis on Jan. 28, 1961, in Parsons. She survives of the home. He retired from Lawrence Paper Co. in 1998 afte...
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George A. King
BURRTON — George A. King, 83, of Burrton, died on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, at his home. He was born on Nov. 5, 1928, at Dennis to George A. and Viola King. He served in the U.S. Army. He retired from the Frisco/Burlington Northern Railroad as a welder. In 1954, he married Donna Stanley. They later divorced. On Nov. 25, 1974, he married Betty R. Gregory at Parsons. She survives. Other survivors include two sons, Richard King and Ron King, both...
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