Obituaries
Berniece M. (Davidson) Smith
PITTSBURG — Berniece M. (Davidson) Smith, 91, of Pittsburg, formerly of Altamont, died at 11 p.m. Sunday, May 19, 2013, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor. She was born on Jan. 30, 1922, in rural Altamont to Benjamin F. and Clara L. (Shepard) Davidson. She grew up in rural Altamont and was a 1941 graduate of Labette County Community High School.  In early years, she was employed by the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant and following the war was a homema...
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Debbie L. Junken
MOUND VALLEY — Debbie L. Junken, 50, of Mound Valley died at 9:40 a.m. Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. She was born on Sept. 24, 1962, in Columbia, N.C., to J.E. and Peggy Joan (Barnes) Reynolds. While her father was serving in the ministry, the family lived in West Virginia and Missouri before moving to Kansas, at the age of 14, where she had lived since. In 1997, she earned a bachelor of science in nursing degree a...
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Mattie Ellan Hellwig
OSWEGO — Mattie Ellan Hellwig, 82, of rural Oswego died Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at her home. She had been in her usual health, and death was not expected. She was born on Nov. 29, 1930, in Clinton, Okla., to Okla George and Hazel (Curry) Storm. As a young girl, her family moved to Southeast Kansas, where she attended school and was a 1948 graduate of Oswego High School. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Oswego. On Feb. 18, 1951, s...
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Lois Mae Taylor
Lois Mae Taylor, 92, of Parsons died at 2:46 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013, in the emergency room of Labette Health in Parsons. She was born on May 24, 1920, in the Hopewell area in rural Parsons and grew up there. She attended Lee Country School and graduated from Labette County Community High School. On Dec. 21, 1938, she married Vernon E. Taylor at Parsons. He preceded her in death on Jan. 19, 2006. She spent her early years as a homemaker...
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Jeanine Ray
Jeanine Ray, 42, of Parsons died on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at the University of Kansas Hospital. She was born on Jan. 20, 1971, in Harvey, Ill., to Robert and Janet Burns Gaul. Survivors include her husband, George; three daughters, Brittney and Chelsea Ray and Crystal Schroeder; a son, Lance Ray; her parents; three sisters, Patricia Burns, Carrie Dial and Melissa Dial; and her brother, Ricky Dial. A memorial service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday...
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William C. 'Bud' Green
BAXTER SPRINGS — William C. “Bud” Green, 90, passed away peacefully at his home in Baxter Springs on Saturday, May 18, 2013. He was born on Dec. 25, 1922, in Leavenworth to Edward F. and Anna (Behrle) Green. Bud served students in Kansas public schools for 38 years as a teacher and administrator, finishing his career in Baxter Springs as the principal of Central Elementary School for 13 years. After his retirement, he most enjoyed time with gr...
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Patricia L. ‘Pat’ Packwood
Patricia L. “Pat” Packwood, 74, of Parsons died at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 20, 2013, at Labette Health in Parsons following a brief illness. She was born on March 17, 1939, at Parsons to Guy and Ruby (Coleman) Cherry. She grew up at and attended Parsons schools, graduating from Parsons High School in 1957. She married Vernon Packwood on Feb. 23, 1957, at her parents’ home. He survives of the home. After living in Denison, Texas, for several ye...
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Berniece M. (Davidson) Smith
PITTSBURG — Berniece M. (Davidson) Smith, 91, of Pittsburg, formerly of Altamont, died at 11 p.m. Sunday, May 19, 2013, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor. The service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The funeral home will announce complete obituary details later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Debbie L. Junken
MOUND VALLEY — Debbie L. Junken, 50, of Mound Valley died Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. She is survived by her husband, David Junken of the home. Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Mattie E. Hellwig
OSWEGO — Mattie E. Hellwig, 82, of rural Oswego died at her home early Tuesday, May 21, 2013. She had been in her usual health, and death was not expected.  Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, Chetopa, will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Harold D. ‘Hal’ Clifton
Harold D. ‘Hal’ Clifton Harold D. “Hal” Clifton, 89, of Parsons died at 8:05 a.m. Monday, May 20, 2013, in the emergency room of Labette Health. He had been in failing health. He was born on March 6, 1924, in Fredonia to Ray N. and Leni M. (Gillies) Clifton. He grew up there and graduated from Fredonia High School in 1942. During his high school years, he worked many hours each week at a local drug store. He attended Kansas State College at Ma...
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Lois Mae Taylor
Lois Mae Taylor, 92, of Parsons died at 2:46 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013, in the emergency room of Labette Health in Parsons. The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Parsons Foursquare Church. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Carson-Wall Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and will announce complete obituary details later. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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Delbert M. Keith
OSWEGO — Delbert M. Keith, 61, of Oswego died at 4:36 a.m. Sunday, May 19, 2013, at his home following an illness. He was born on April 22, 1952, in Oswego to Vernon Delbert and Elsie Bertha (Pisa) Keith. He was a lifetime resident of Oswego. He attended Cherokee County Rural High School. He was a rancher, working several years for Dan Reed at the R-3 Ranch, Oswego. Among his interests were watching TV, reading and spending time with his grand...
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Lois Mae Taylor
Lois Mae Taylor, 92, of Parsons died at 2:46 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013, in the emergency room of Labette Health in Parsons. The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Parsons Foursquare Church. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Carson-Wall Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and will announce complete obituary details later. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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Doris Randall Abshier
Doris Randall Abshier, 89, of Parsons went to sit at the feet of Jesus at 12:50 p.m. Sunday, May 19, 2013, at Windsor Place in Coffeyville. She had been in failing health in recent weeks. She was born on March 21, 1924, in Sedan to Fred M. and Pearle L. (Savage) Loyd. She grew up and attended school in Sedan. On Sept. 4, 1940, she married Duane McClure Randal at Bartlesville, Okla. They raised their family in Havana, and he died on Feb. 27, 19...
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Harold D. ‘Hal’ Clifton
Harold D. “Hal” Clifton, 89, of Parsons died at 8:05 a.m. Monday, May 20, 2013, in the emergency room of Labette Health in Parsons. He had been in failing health. The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Wesley United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Complete obituary details will be announced.
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Berniece M. (Davidson) Smith
PITTSBURG — Berniece M. (Davidson) Smith, 91, of Pittsburg, formerly of Altamont, died at 11 p.m. Sunday, May 19, 2013, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor. Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Patricia L. Packwood
Patricia L. Packwood, 74, of Parsons died at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 20, 2013, at Labette Health. Her husband, Vernon Packwood, survives of the home. Carson-Wall Funeral Home will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later.
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John David Walker Sr.
OSWEGO — John David Walker Sr., 64, was found dead at his home Thursday, May 16, 2013. He was born July 5, 1948, on Oswego to James John and Betty Lou (Gray) Walker. He was a lifetime resident of Oswego. He worked 16 years for the city of Oswego, nine of which he served as city superintendent. He later worked at Superior Wheel in Pittsburg for five years before starting work at Day & Zimmermann Inc. at Parsons. He retired from there in 2011. H...
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Ruby Prater
Ruby Prater, 90, of Parsons died at 7:15 a.m. Thursday, May 16, 2013, at Elmhaven East nursing home in Parsons. She was born on April 14, 1923, in Neodesha to Jerry M. and Gertie May (Schoonover) James. She married James Harold Poage on April 19, 1941, in Parsons. He preceded her in death on Oct. 4, 1950. On March 14, 1953, she married Calvin C. Prater in Parsons. He preceded her in death on Nov. 12, 1988. She was a homemaker. Survivors inclu...
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