Obituaries
Arlie Burtin
COLLEYVILLE, Texas — Arlie Burtin, 100, of Colleyville, Texas, formerly of Parsons, died Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. He was born on Oct. 7, 1912, in Long Lane, Mo. He married Violet McLaughlin in 1940. She survives of Colleyville. Arlie owned Burtin Livestock Commission Co. until retiring in 1983. Other survivors include two children, Marilyn Vincent of Colleyville and Alan Burtin of Haslet, Texas; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. The...
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John Allen Largent
MIAMI, Okla. — John Allen Largent, 38, of Miami, Okla., died on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at his home. He was born on April 8, 1974, in Winfield to Leo and Victoria (Thomas) Largent. He attended Girard and Parsons schools before graduating from Pittsburg High School in 1992. He worked at numerous places in Parsons, including Grandview Products, Pizza Hut, Wichita Southeast Kansas Transit and Country Mart to name a few. He had worked at High Wi...
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Hilda L. Nash
Hilda L. Nash, 92, of Parsons died at 6:05 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, at Elmhaven West. She was born June 25, 1920, in Carthage, Mo., to Charles and Pauline (Johnson) Mitchell. As a young girl, she grew up and attended schools in Carthage. She married Henry L. Nash.  After marriage, they lived in Cheyenne, Wyo. Following her husband’s death, she moved to Parsons, where she had a baking business and later worked at Ray Products until retiring....
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Helen Ida Simon
Helen Ida (Rohling) Simon, 92, of Parsons died at 6:45 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, at Elmhaven West.  She was born July 9, 1920, in Andale to Frank and Catherine (Gorges) Rohling. As a young girl, she grew up and attended schools in Colwich. She married Aloysius William “Al” Simon on May 7, 1941, in Colwich. Following their marriage, they farmed in the Colwich area. They later farmed near Fredonia before moving to their farm in rural Parsons i...
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Hilda L. Nash
Hilda L. Nash, 92, of Parsons died at 6:05 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. The service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The funeral home will announce complete obituary details later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Helen I. Simon
Helen I. Simon, 92, of Parsons died at 6:45 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. She was preceded in death by her husband, Aloysius “Al” Simon, on Oct. 5, 2004. The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons, where the family will receive friend...
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Bryan Smith
ST. PAUL — Bryan Smith, 45, of St. Paul died at 7:45 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, at Via Christi Mount Carmel Hospital in Pittsburg. He was born on March 31, 1967, in Parsons to Lawrence C. and Katherine (McAtee) Smith. He grew up in St. Paul, where he attended school and was a 1985 graduate of St. Paul High School. He then attended Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo. He was co-owner and employed at HMS Enterprises Inc. of Brazilton. In h...
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Mildred M. Dessenberger Beeson
Mildred M. Dessenberger Beeson, 97, of Parsons died at 10:25 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. She was born on Oct. 10, 1915, at Ewing, Neb., to Chan and Helen (Carson) Waller. She grew up at Ewing and Mound Valley and attended schools there. She attended Mound Valley High School. Mildred lived at Edna, Coffeyville and most recently Parsons. She worked at Automotive Control in Independence, her family’s truck...
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Docia Parker
PITTSBURG — Docia Parker, 91, of Pittsburg died on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, at her home. She had a heart attack and went suddenly and quietly into that eternal rest. Docia Maxine Brown Parker was born on June 15, 1921, in Labette County to Loyd and Mary Bess (Robison) Brown. She attended grade school at Shiloh grade school and college at Parsons Junior College and Pittsburg State University. She earned her master’s degree in education and taug...
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Richard L. ‘Dick’ Farran
LAWRENCE — Richard L. “Dick” Farran, 70, of Lawrence died Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at his home. He was born on June 18, 1942, in Parsons to Charles W. and Edith L. Guy Farran. He attended schools in Parsons. He was a cement finisher in the construction industry and later retired from Hy-Vee. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and his two Chihuahuas, Chigger and Sammy. He married Betty Lou Rhoades on April 21, 1961, in Parsons. She preceded him in death ...
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Noma R. Horton
Noma R. Horton, 82, of Parsons died at 12:40 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. She was born on April 7, 1930, in Cooper, Texas, to Houston and Irene (Moore) Beeler. She graduated from high school in Corpus Christi, Texas. She was a beautician. Survivors include two sons, Bob Horton of Wyoming and Miles Wharton of Parsons; a daughter, Patricia Poole of California; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandch...
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Mark Alan Johnson
DENVER — Mark Alan Johnson, 35, of Denver died on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, at Denver Hospice after a brief illness. He was born on March 12, 1977, in Goodland to David and Debra (Wicke) Johnson. He attended school in Garden City, graduating from high school in 1995. He attended Garden City Community College. He was general manager of Govnr’s Park Restaurant and Tavern in Denver. Survivors include his father, David Johnson of Garden City; his mo...
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Mary ‘Fidelis’ Starr
OVERLAND PARK — Mary “Fidelis” Starr, 96, of Overland Park, formerly of Coffeyville, died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, at Manor Care Health Services in Overland Park. She was born on March 22, 1916, in Coffeyville to Thomas and Hannah (Ridgeway) McGrath. She grew up and attended schools in Coffeyville and was a graduate of Coffeyville High School. She married Howard Eugene “Gene” Starr Sr. in Coffeyville. He preceded her in death. Survivors include...
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Mary ‘Fidelis’ Starr
OVERLAND PARK — Mary “Fidelis” Starr, 96, formerly of Coffeyville, died Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, at Manor Care Health Services in Overland Park. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Eugene “Gene” Starr. The funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Holy Name Catholic Church in Coffeyville. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Coffeyville. Friends may call after 10 a.m. Monday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Amer...
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Ira Owen Johnston
PITTSBURG — Ira Owen Johnston, 87, of Pittsburg, formerly of McCune, died at 4:45 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013, at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg. He was born on Sept. 9, 1925, in McCune to Owen and Mabel (Laird) Johnston. He lived in Southeast Kansas most of his life. He attended McCune Elementary School and graduated from McCune High School. He received a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Kansas State University. Ira was a vocation...
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Frankie Lou Goins
Frankie Lou Goins, 88, of rural Thayer died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013, at her home. She was born on July 16, 1924, at Neodesha to Ralph and Lester Luthera (Seward) Wilson. She attended school in Altamont and received a teacher’s certificate through the Normal Training Program in Labette County. She later received a bachelor’s degree from what is now Pittsburg State University. She was a school teacher for more than 65 years. On May 2, 1952, she ma...
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Brooksie Marie (Titus) Newton
Brooksie Marie (Titus) Newton, 86, of Parsons died at 11:55 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.  She was born on Aug. 24, 1926, in Vernon County, Mo., to James Lawrence and Alice (Mullen) Titus. As a young girl, she grew up on a farm near Bronaugh, where she attended Belmont Grade School and was a 1944 graduate of Liberal High School. After graduation, she moved to Parsons, where she worked for her Aunt Mary and U...
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Donald A. McCaslin
PITTSBURG — Donald A. McCaslin, 95, of Pittsburg died at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, at Medical Lodge South in Pittsburg. He was born on Oct. 22, 1917, in Coffeyville to Marshall M. and Bessie (Augustine) McCaslin. He graduated from Coffeyville Junior College in 1937 and from the University of Illinois in 1948. He served in the Army Air Force in World War II. In 1954, he married Norma Rouch in Parsons, and they moved to the Pittsburg area...
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C. Dale Jones
C. Dale Jones, 87, of Parsons died at 5:05 a.m. Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, at Good Samaritan Society in Parsons. He had been in failing health. He was born on June 24, 1925, in the Montana township to Glen W. “Bud” and Varyle (Jones) Jones. The family lived in rural Parsons and rural Morehead during his early years, and he graduated from Morehead High School. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a merchant marine. In his early...
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Vera D. Talbot
COFFEYVILLE — Vera D. Talbot, 87, of Coffeyville died on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, at Windsor Place. She was born on Jan. 12, 1926, to Pearl and Ida (Mozingo) Foster at Parsons. She grew up in Parsons and attended Parsons schools before graduating from McCune High School. On Dec. 29, 1945, she married Frank Talbot at Dallas. They made their home in Dallas before moving to Coffeyville in 1982. Frank preceded her in death in 1982. She was a memb...
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