Obituaries
Larry Dean Muller
COFFEYVILLE — Larry Dean Muller, 75, of rural Coffeyville passed away at his home on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011. He was born in rural Liberty to George W. and Ferris “Topsy” (Oliver) Muller on Oct. 2, 1936, and attended rural Coffeyville schools and Field Kindley High School. He married Patricia Jane Wishall on Oct. 12, 1957, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Coffeyville. They shared over 54 years of marriage. At an early age, Larry competed in horse...
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Christina Maria (Martinez) Young
COLLINSVILLE, Okla. — Christina Maria (Martinez) Young, 55, of Collinsville, Okla., died at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, at Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa. Among survivors is her husband, Steve, of the home. Her parents, Richard Martinez and Phyllis Trokey, both of Parsons, also survive. Carson-Wall Funeral Home will announce further obituary details and funeral arrangements later.
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John ‘J.D.’ Harper
CHERRYVALE — John David “J.D.” Harper, 75, of Cherryvale died Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, at his home. He was born June 11, 1936, in Parsons to Charles and Ina Mae (Woodroof) Harper. He attended school in Altamont, graduating in 1955. He was a dairyman and farmer. He married Crystal Passwater on Aug. 6, 1955, in Parsons. She survives of the home. Other survivors include four sons, Kent Lee Harper of Mount Jackson, Va., Scott David Harper of Neode...
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Larry Eugene Umbarger
THAYER — Larry Eugene Umbarger, 73, of Thayer, died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011, at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. He was born in rural Thayer on Jan. 4, 1938, the son of Leo and Mattie (Cottrell) Umbarger. He graduated from Thayer High School in 1955. He married Carol May Thornton on Jan. 15, 1956, at Thayer Christian Church. She survives of the home. Mr. Umbarger was a farmer and worked as a manager for the coop, Chanut...
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Veronica R. Kennan
Veronica R. “Bonnie” (Munding) Kennan, 87, of Parsons died at 9:35 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, at the Parsons Good Samaritan Society. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry “Hank” Kennan. The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. Thursday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons, where the family will rece...
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Virginia L. Westall
OSWEGO — Virginia L. Westall, 89, of Oswego died at 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011, at Ranchwood Nursing Home in Yukon, Okla., after a lengthy illness. She was born June 10, 1922, in Cherokee County. She was reared by John and Hazel Lovelady. She grew up in the Oswego area and graduated from Oswego High School. She worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant for a number of years and also farmed with her husband. She was a member of the Fir...
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Margarett L. Stroup
DERBY — Margarett L. Stroup, 94, of Derby, a longtime former Erie resident, died at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, at the Derby Rehabilitation Center at Derby. She was born on Oct. 19, 1917, at Savonburg to Samuel and Martha (Beckstein) Williamson. She grew up at Chanute and attended schools there. She married Willis “Brownie” Stroup on Feb. 7, 1937, at Fredonia. He preceded her in death on Jan. 1, 2003. She was a homemaker and resided...
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Margarett L. Stroup
DERBY — Margarett L. Stroup, 94, of Derby, a former Erie resident, died at 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, at the Derby Rehabilitation Center in Derby. She was preceded in death by her husband, Willis “Brownie” Stroup, on Jan. 1, 2003. The service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Christian Church in Erie. Burial will be in East Hill Cemetery. Friends may call after 9 a.m. Friday at the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie. Memoria...
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Veronica R. ‘Bonnie’ Kennan
Veronica R. “Bonnie” Kennan, 87, of Parsons, died at 9:35 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011, at the Parsons Good Samaritan Society. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry “Hank” Kennan. Complete obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announced by Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Alvin E. Pontious
PITTSBURG — Alvin Eugene Pontious, 71, of Pittsburg, formerly of Parsons, died at 7:51 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, at his home. He was born March 29, 1940, in rural Cherryvale to Ira D. and Nellie May (Janssen) Pontious. He attended a one-room school in the Timber Hill area and later Washington Elementary School. He formerly helped with the family grocery store, Pontious Market, by making deliveries. Survivors include two brothers, James L. ...
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Max Larimer
TOPEKA — Max A. Larimer, 87, of Topeka died on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, at his home. He was born on Aug. 4, 1924, in Parsons to Evert and Wynona (Eversole) Larimer. He graduated from Cherryvale High School in Cherryvale in 1942. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran serving during World War II. On Aug. 15, 1945, he married Veda J. Richardson in Independence. She survives. Other survivors include his daughters, Shirley Lomax of Davenport, Fla.,...
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Ruth Westervelt
Ruth Westervelt, 91, of Parsons, died at 11:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, at the Elmhaven West, where she had resided the past several years. She was born Margaret Ruth Baxter on Dec. 3, 1919, in Indianapolis, Ind., to Roy Hiram and Lula Margaret (Horton) Baxter. She grew up and attended grade school and the Broad Ripple High School there. She worked for the D’Orsay Cravat Co. seven years and R.C.A. Manufacturing for two years. On May 23, 1...
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Ora Ahrens
CHETOPA — Longtime Chetopa resident Ora Catherine Ahrens passed away Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, at Chetopa Manor. She was 99 years young. She was born June 8, 1912, in Norman, Okla., to H.C. and Vinnie (Lovelace) Brown. She married George C. Ahrens Sr. in Norman on Jan. 21, 1939. The couple later made their home in the Chetopa area. George preceded her in death on Dec. 20, 1974. Mrs. Ahrens worked as a seamstress for H.D. Lee Sewing Factory in Ch...
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Richard R. Crosthwait
ST. PAUL — Richard R. Crosthwait, 61, passed away peacefully at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul on Friday, Oct. 21, 2011. Ricky loved music, Elvis and his records, as well as cowboy and Indian movies, rodeos and looking at old photos. He also loved being ornery with the staff at Connections and his roommates. Ricky touched many in his special way and will be greatly missed. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to noon t...
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Jack E. Bivin
TUCSON, Ariz. — Jack Evans Bivin, 86, of Tucson, Ariz., died Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was born Oct. 7, 1925, in Parsons to Lucille and Arrah Bivin. He served in the Air Force. He was a pilot and radio technician for the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho, Utah and Arizona. In 1969, he piloted one of the vintage B-25 aircraft used during the making of the movie “Catch-22.” On Dec. 21, 1946, he married M...
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June Sexton
IOLA — June E. Sexton, 35, of Iola, died Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. She was born Oct. 29, 1975, in Stella, Mo., to David and Sheri (Clarenson) Julich. She grew up in Humboldt and attended schools there. She married Gary Hendry. They later divorced. On May 10, 2007, she married Scott Sexton. He survives. Other survivors include two children, Shyanne L. Hendry and Jeremy Michael Hendry, both of the home;...
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Martin Lawrence Kichler
GIRARD — Martin Lawrence Kichler, 87, of Girard went to be with the Lord at 3:50 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011, in the Girard Medical Center. He was born Feb. 14, 1924, in Haven to Tony and Mary (Roth) Kichler. He attended schools in Haven before moving to Girard as a young man and lived there the remainder of his life. He served in the Army during World War II from April 19, 1944, until he was honorably discharged on May 15, 1946. He received...
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Rosemary Brocker
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Rosemary Brocker, 63, passed away Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in Goodyear, Ariz. She was born Oct. 31, 1947, in Parsons to William and Mary (Hemmer) Brady. Rosemary was a teacher at Tumbleweed and Moon Mountain elementary schools for 15 years, retiring in 2006. She enjoyed scrapbooking, playing bridge, needlepoint and was volunteer for the St. Vincent DePaul Society. Survivors include her loving husband, Phillip Brocker; sons, ...
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Arthur J. ‘Art’ Holloway Sr.
Arthur J. “Art” Holloway Sr., 54, of Parsons died at 3:55 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, at Kindred Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. He was born Jan. 8, 1957, in Omaha, Neb., to Albert Sr. and Mary (Ferdig) Holloway. For many years he lived in Iowa. He lived in Independence for a time before moving to Parsons 18 years ago. He was an auctioneer for many years and he also owned and operated several bars and clubs in the Southeast Kansas area. He was ...
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DeLores Shane
DeLores Shane, 89, of Parsons died at 7:58 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, at Labette Health. She had been a resident of the Elmhaven East more than four years. She was born Dec. 20, 1921, at Council Grove to Arthur Richard and Esther Anna Ruth (Carson) Reid. She grew up in Junction City and graduated from the Junction City High School in 1940. On Sept. 25, 1940, she married Harvey L. Shane at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Clark’s Creek...
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