Obituaries
Lupe R. Cervantes
Lupe R. Cervantes, 89, of Parsons died at 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, at the home of her son in Parsons.  She was born Feb. 28, 1922, in Buffalo to Angel and Lusiana (Lazarin) Reyes. As a young girl, she grew up in Independence and Parsons where she attended school.  She married Charles “Charlie” Cervantes on Oct. 21, 1941, in Labette City. After raising her family, she worked at the Mercy Hospital, National Gypsum, Adventure Line Manuf...
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Mary Elizabeth Sanders
Mary Elizabeth Sanders, 82, of Parsons died at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, at Labette Health. Further obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announced by the Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
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Wayne Arthur Reel Jr.
Wayne Arthur Reel Jr. 72, of Parsons died at 5:05 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin following a lengthy illness. He is survived by his wife, Jean Reel, of the home. Following cremation, a Celebration of Life service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to The 50...
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Mable Louise Collins
Mable Louise Collins, 76, of Carmichael, Calif., formerly of Parsons, died at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, at the Mercy San Jaun Hospital in Carmichael, Calif. Further obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announced by the Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons.
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Edwin H. Smith
Edwin H. Smith, 93, a longtime Chetopa businessman, died at 10:15 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at Chetopa Manor. He was born Oct. 23, 1918, in Locust Grove, Okla., to William Aubrey and Dora Mae (Morehead) Smith. He graduated high school in Chelsea, Okla.  He served in the Army during World War II in Germany. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, he attended watch-making school in Kansas City and gemology school in Los Angeles. For numer...
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Lupe R. Cervantes
Lupe R. Cervantes, 89, of Parsons died at 5:20 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012, at the home of her son in Parsons. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles “Charlie” Cervantes, on June 2, 2010. The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m. Sunday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends ...
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Ruth Delyte Cook
OSWEGO — Ruth Delyte Cook, 93, a resident of the Home Place in Oswego, died at 7:35 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at the Oswego Community Hospital. She was born Oct. 18, 1918, at rural West Mineral to John A. and Ruth (Todd) Allen. She grew up in that area and attended the Stone City Grade School and then graduated from the West Mineral High School. On Oct. 5, 1942, she married Walter N. Cook at the Methodist Church parsonage in Columbus. ...
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Clement T. Switlik Jr.
LOS ALAMOS, N.M. — Clement Thomas Switlik Jr., 70, of Los Alamos, N.M., died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at Los Alamos. He was born Oct. 19, 1941, in Parsons to Clement Thomas Sr., and Margaret (Currigan) Switlik. He attended St. Patrick's Catholic School in Parsons and graduated from high school in 1959. He joined the Navy. After his service, he attended the University of Kansas, where he received a degree in zoology. He later received a master'...
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Edwin H. Smith
CHETOPA — Edwin H. Smith, 93, a longtime Chetopa businessman, died at 10:15 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at Chetopa Manor. Complete obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announced by Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Dean L. Nading
CHETOPA — Dean L. Nading, 68, of Chetopa died at 9:10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, at Chetopa Manor. He was born June 18, 1943, in rural Oswego to Walter and LaVerna (Foster) Nading. As a young boy, he attended Fairview country school and was a 1962 graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont. He most recently worked as a contract laborer for his brother, Bob, and others until he was forced to retire due to illness. Survivor...
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Bill E. Tate Sr.
DENNIS — Bill E. Tate Sr., 72, of rural Dennis died early Saturday morning at his home. His death was unexpected. He was born on July 8, 1939, at Vinita, Okla., to Odes and Verlie (Weddle) Tate. The family moved to Coffeyville, where he grew up and attended Coffeyville schools. He moved to Odessa, Mo., where he owned and operated a welding shop for many years. He moved to Parsons in 1984 where he also worked as a welder. He retired in 2006....
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Flossie I. ‘Onie’ Short
Flossie I. “Onie” Short, 81, of Parsons died at 2:25 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012, at Elmhaven West. She had been in failing health. She was born Nov. 4, 1930, in Miltonvale to Ralph “Red” and Flossie (Emig) Garretson. As a young girl, she moved with her family to Parsons, where she grew up and attended school. In 1950, she graduated from Labette County Community High School in Altamont.  She married Melvin C. Short on July 22, 1950, in Frostbur...
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Jennifer Larson
ALTAMONT — Jennifer Larson, 34, of Altamont died Saturday morning, Feb. 18, 2012, at her home. Death was unexpected, but she had been in failing health several years. She was born April 14, 1977, in Parsons to John A. and Debra K. (Pearce) Stuart. She grew up in the Parsons area and attended high school in Altamont. Later she also took classes at Labette Community College. For about 12 years she worked as a home care attendant for Southeas...
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Clyde Russell Towles
Clyde Russell Towles, 85, of Parsons died at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at his home. He was born June 27, 1926, at Parsons a son of Earl Clay and Nellie G. (Russell) Towles. He was raised at Parsons and attended school here. He then enlisted in the United States Navy. Following his discharge, he worked as a machinist for Gates Rubber Co. in Denver. He later retired. He married Eleanor Andrews. They later divorced. Survivors inclu...
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W. Modene Saye
W. Modene Saye, 93, of Parsons died at 6:20 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, 2012, at the Elmhaven West. She was born on May 29, 1918, at Galesburg to Wayne Waldo and Etta Ameda (Eccles) Willis. The family moved to Parsons where she grew up and attended Parsons schools, graduating from Parsons High School in 1935. She graduated from Parsons Junior College in 1937. She worked as an elementary school teacher in Parsons for a few years before moving to P...
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Jesse Leon Burnett
ERIE — Jesse Leon Burnett, 60, of Erie went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, with his wife and children by his side. Jess was born on Oct. 31, 1951, in Parsons to Mazie (Brenner) Burnett and William A. Burnett. He was raised on a farm in rural St. Paul and attended Erie schools, from which he graduated in 1969. He started work at Ruskin Manufacturing at age 18 and worked for 35 years in a supervisory position until his...
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Dorothy L. Trout
Dorothy L. Trout, 92, a former Galesburg and Parsons resident, died at 6:20 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, at the Heritage Healthcare Center in Chanute. She was born on Oct. 25, 1919, Viborg, S.D., to David and Mary Ellen (Clary) Milks. She moved to Parsons at age 2, where the family lived east of Parsons and then moved to rural Galesburg when the Kansas Ordnance Plant was established. She attended Parsons High School. She married Leland R. T...
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W. Modene Saye
W. Modene Saye, 92, of Parsons died at 6:20 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012, at the Elmhaven East in Parsons. She was the widow of Doyal L. Saye Sr., who preceded her in death on June 2, 1969. The service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Memorials are suggested to Proud Animal Lovers Shelter. Complete obituary in...
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Roy M. Brinson
Roy M. Brinson, 68, of Parsons died at 5:53 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at Labette Health. He was born Jan. 30, 1944, in Lexington, Neb., to Wilton William and Glenrose Ethel (McCarter) Brinson. As a youth, he moved with his family to Winlock, Wash., where he attended schools. He served in the Army from 1961 to 1964. Upon his honorable discharge, he lived in Springfield, Mo., Winona, Miss., and Missouri, where he operated a roofing business....
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Christopher T. 'Chris' Astbury
Christopher T. “Chris” Astbury, 62, of rural Parsons, died at 1:48 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at his home. He was born July 31, 1949, in Bridgewater, Vt., to Charles and Blanche R. (Westcott) Astbury. He grew up in Vermont, where he attended schools and was a 1968 graduate of Woodstock Union High School. He later attended Emporia State University, where he earned an associate degree.  Through the years he worked as a custom harvester and la...
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