Obituaries
Marshall Dean Keller
ORONOGO, Mo. — Marshall Dean Keller, the 3 1/2-month-old son of Christopher “Chris” and Jamie (Vitt) Keller of Oronogo, Mo., died Thursday, July 1, 2010. His death was unexpected. He was born March 15, 2010, in Joplin. Survivors include his parents, Chris and Jamie Keller of the home in Oronogo, Mo.; a brother, Carson Keller of the home; paternal grandparents, Keith and Leslie Keller of rural Parsons; maternal grandparents, Robert “Bob” and ...
full story
Louise Marie WalkerWalker
Louise Marie Walker, 97, of Parsons died at 4:42 p.m. Thursday, July 1, 2010, at Labette Health in Parsons. She and her twin sister, Lucille, were born Feb. 2, 1913, in Parsons to Truman and Inez (Grimes) Bidwell. Mr. Bidwell died in 1918 during the flu epidemic. Later, Mrs. Bidwell married Harve Bendure, who helped raise the family. She attended Parsons schools, graduating from Parsons High School in 1931. She graduated from Olson’s Business ...
full story
Harold E. Karry
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Harold E. Karry, 76, of Oklahoma City, Okla., went to be with the Lord on Monday, June 28, 2010. He was born in Neosho County on the family farm on June 24, 1934, to Pauline (Durham) and John P. Karry. He married his high school sweetheart, K. Nadine Beckwith, on May 29, 1953, at First Methodist Church of Parsons. Harold was a 27-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving as a jet engine mechanic in Okinawa, Japan...
full story
Elsie Louise Gilfillan
EDNA — Elsie Louise Gilfillan, 102, of Edna died at 9:10 a.m. Wednesday, June 30, 2010, at Elmhaven East in Parsons. She was born Aug. 29, 1907, in Indian Territory, Okla., to Augustus and Lucy (Miller) Banzet. As a young girl, she grew up and attended rural schools in Labette County. She was a graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont and earned a teaching certificate from Pittsburg State Teachers College. She taught 16...
full story
Geraldine Warren
Geraldine Warren, 61, of Parsons died at 9:48 p.m. Friday, June 25, 2010, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born July 13, 1948, in Parsons to DeVore and Minor (Johnson) Holland. She grew up in Parsons, where she attended Douglass and McKinley elementary schools, was a 1966 graduate of Parsons High School and earned an associate degree from Parsons Junior College. Through the years, she worked at Fred Ronald Manufacturing, Swift Co...
full story
Oda Mary Dawson
ST. PAUL — Oda Mary Dawson, 89, of St. Paul, a former longtime Erie resident, died at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, June 26, 2010, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. She was born Dec. 6, 1920, in Harrison, Ark., to Lewis M. and Nancy Elizabeth (Jones) Newberry. As a young girl, she grew up and attended school in Harrison, and at the age of 19 moved to Erie. She married William “Bill” Melborn Dawson on Jan. 21, 1942, in Erie. The cou...
full story
Lillie Belle Dresher
OSWEGO — Lillie Belle Dresher, 90, of Oswego died on Saturday, June 26, 2010, at Chetopa Manor in Chetopa. She was surrounded by many members of her loving family. She was born in a log cabin in Benton County, Ark., near Decatur, the ninth child of Don P. and Maude (Leggett) DeWitt on Feb. 24, 1920. She moved to Chetopa at age 2 1/2 and attended several area rural grade schools, returning to graduate Chetopa High School in 1939. She recent...
full story
Ronald D. ‘Ron’ Blake
Ronald D. “Ron” Blake, 54, of Parsons was pronounced dead on Sunday afternoon, June 27, 2010, at his home. His death was unexpected. He was born on Oct. 19, 1955, at Parsons to Robert F. and Lois L. (McMillan) Blake. He grew up at Parsons and attended Parsons schools, graduating from Parsons High School in 1973. He worked at C&M Motors in Independence for many years as a mechanic. He was baptized at the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Parsons....
full story
John Joseph Kelly
WINFIELD — John Joseph Kelly Jr., 73, of Winfield died Saturday, June 26, 2010, at his residence. He was born March 13, 1937, in Wichita to John J. and Grace M. (Holman) Kelly. He married Wilberta “Billie” Peters on March 1, 1957, in Miami, Okla. He worked as an inspector and parts handler at the G.E. Jet Engine Maintenance Facility at Strother Field for 27 years, retiring in 1997. Survivors include his wife, Billie, of the home; two son...
full story
David Stucky
David Stucky, 88, a lifelong resident of the Peabody and Burns area, died there at 12:30 a.m. Saturday, June 26, 2010. He had been in failing health. He was born in Moundridge on Dec. 8, 1921, to Peter I. and Ida J. C. (Gehring) Stucky. On Aug. 5, 1945, he married Esther J. Hess. For much of his adult life he farmed and in later years worked as a carpet layer for the Baker Furniture Store of Peabody. He was a member of the First Mennonit...
full story
Kenneth Eugene Cary
BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Kenneth Eugene Cary, local resident of Broken Arrow, Okla., was born Jan. 21, 1918, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He died Friday, June 18, 2010, in Broken Arrow, Okla., at the age of 92 years. He was reared and educated in Tulsa before moving his senior year of high school to Edna, Kansas. He completed his secondary education and graduated with the Edna High School Class of 1936. He was married Oct. 16, 1938, at McCune, Kansas,...
full story
Robert ‘Bob’ Charles Collins
STARK — Robert “Bob” Charles Collins, 80, of Stark died Friday, June 25, 2010, at his home. He was born April 1, 1930, the son of Oral and Dorothy (Richwine) Collins. He attended and graduated from Grant Township High School. He attended Neosho County Community College for a year. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1950. He was inducted Jan. 8, 1951, and discharged Oct. 21, 1954. He served during the Korean War on Bairoko, an air craft carrier, ...
full story
Geraldine Warren
Geraldine Warren, 61, of Parsons died at 9:48 p.m. Friday, June 25, 2010, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was preceded in death by her husband, Homer Warren Jr., on Oct. 22, 2002. The service will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Kingdom Gates or the Lupus F...
full story
Oda Mary Dawson
ST. PAUL — Oda Mary Dawson, 89, of St. Paul, a former longtime Erie resident, died at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, June 26, 2010, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. She is survived by her husband, William “Bill” Dawson, of the home. The graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Lakeview Cemetery near Erie. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Prairie Mission Retirement Village Chapel in St. Paul. The famil...
full story
Ronald D. ‘Ron’ Blake
Ronald D. “Ron” Blake, 54, of Parsons was pronounced dead Sunday afternoon, June 27, 2010, at his home. Further obituary information and service arrangements will be announced by Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Parsons.
full story
Juanita F. Hallman
Juanita F. Hallman, 68, of Parsons died at 6:46 a.m. Saturday, June 26, 2010, at Labette Health. She was born Nov. 1, 1941, in Parsons to Frederick L. and Sarah E. (Amrine) Schmid. She grew up in Parsons and attended rural schools. She graduated from Labette County Community High School in Altamont in 1959. She attended Labette Community College and received her licensed practical nurse certification. She had been employed at the Katy Emp...
full story
Barbara Gail Strickland
LAWRENCE — Barbara Gail Strickland, 71, of Lawrence, died Wednesday, June 23, 2010, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She was born Feb. 3, 1939, in Parsons the daughter of Ray and Gladys Hughes Shields. She graduated from Parsons High School. She married Marion Strickland in Jetmore on Sept. 24, 1960. He survives of the home. Mrs. Strickland was manager for Ertl’s Self Storage for 25 years. Other survivrs include two sons, Randy and Stoney...
full story
Walter R. Caldwell
Walter R. Caldwell, 80, of Parsons died at 12:35 p.m. Tuesday, June 22, 2010, at Labette Health. He was residing at Parsons Presbyterian Manor. He was born on Aug. 24, 1929, at Hereford, Texas, to Roland and Lavada (Breshears) Caldwell. He grew up in the Borger, Texas, and Enid, Okla., areas and attended country schools there. He later moved to Cherryvale and then moved to Sun City, where he worked on a farm before moving to Parsons. He wo...
full story
Gary M. Breneman
JAY, Okla. — Gary M. Breneman, 70, of the Grand Lake area, Jay, Okla., and a former longtime Parsons resident, died at 9:52 a.m. Tuesday, June 22, 2010, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. Death followed a year-long illness and complications from myasthenia gravis. He was born in Parsons on April 20, 1940, to Melvin V. and Ethel F. (Daniel) Breneman. He attended Parsons schools and the Oklahoma Military Academy at Claremore. During his chil...
full story
James Robert Apperson
COFFEYVILLE — James Robert Apperson, 66, of Coffeyville and formerly of the Edna, died Saturday, June 19, 2010, at his home. He was born Aug. 16, 1943, in Coffeyville to Boyd and Faye (Ross) Apperson. He graduated from Labette County High School in Altamont, received his associate degree from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami, Okla., and a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University. In 1962 he married Betty Spurgeon at Edna. Mr. App...
full story