Obituaries
Richard D. ‘Gonzo’ Sublett
COLUMBUS — Richard D. “Gonzo” Sublett, 36, formerly of Parsons, died at his home in Columbus early Thursday morning, Dec. 27, 2012. He had been in his usual health, and death was unexpected. He was born on May 30, 1976, at Stillwater, Okla., to Ronald and Donna (Johnson) Sublett. He grew up and attended school in various areas before moving to Tulsa with his family. He worked for Walmart as a maintenance worker. He married Pamela C. Rogers on ...
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Robert Eugene Coomes
FRONTENAC — Robert Eugene Coomes, 80, of Frontenac died at 7:35 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, at Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg, following a short illness. He was born on Dec. 30, 1932, in St. Paul to Ray and Cora (Brazil) Coomes. On March 2, 1962, he married Roberta Jean Witty in Miami, Okla. She survives of the home. Bob was a general contractor and was the owner and operator of Coomes Construction and Coomes Self Storage. He was a longtime F...
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Morris Burton Chambers
PUEBLO, Colo. – Morris Burton Chambers, 83, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012. He was born on Dec. 6, 1929, at Fort Scott to Warren and Frances (Crabb) Chambers. They lived in Hepler before moving to Girard in 1946. He graduated from Girard High School. He attended Pittsburg State Teachers College (PSU) until the Korean War began. Enlisting in the Air Force, he was trained in cryptography and served mostly in Nigata, Japan. ...
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Leona 'June' Horn
TOPEKA — Leona ”June” Horn, 79, died Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., where she was surrounded by her loving family. She was born Nov. 13, 1933, on the family farmstead in rural Labette County to Issac William and Florence Leona (Cunningham) Strickland. She graduated from Labette County High School in Altamont. She married Billy Dean Horn in Picher, Okla., on Aug. 18, 1951.  To this 61 ...
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Helen Tustison
Helen Tustison, 91, of Parsons died at 8:05 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at the Elmhaven West. She had been in failing health. She was born Aug. 10, 1921, in Parsons to Perry T. and Eliza J. (Hitchcock) LaRue. She graduated from Parsons High School in 1939 and attended Parsons Junior College. Later she attended Louisiana State University. On Dec. 25, 1941, (Christmas Day) she and Leonel Tustison were married in the First Presbyterian Church ...
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Leonel E. “Tut” Tustison
Leonel E. “Tut” Tustison, 93, of Parsons died at 11:34 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at the Elmhaven West. His wife, Helen, preceded him in death earlier the same day. He was born in Parsons on Jan. 28, 1919, to Leon E. and Nell G. (Harkness) Tustison. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1937 and also attended the University of Arizona, the University of New Mexico and Louisiana State University. He moved to Baton Rouge, La., in 1942 and...
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Lucille Eleanor ‘Midge’ Miller
WICHITA — Lucille Eleanor “Midge” Miller, 84, died Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. She was born Nov. 24, 1928, in Newton, N.J., to Minna (Echkardt) and Oscar Hubert Frenzke. She graduated from New Jersey College for Women (now Douglass College) in 1946 with a bachelor of science degree. She earned a master of Christian education at Biblical Seminary in New York. On May 29, 1945, she married Milton Miller. They served in churches in Southeast Kansas ...
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Richard D. Sublett
Richard D. Sublett, 36, of Parsons died unexpectedly early Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, at his home. Further obituary details will be announced by the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons.
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Helen Tustison
Helen Tustison, 91, of Parsons died at 8:05 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at Elmhaven West. She is survived by her husband, Leonel Tustison, who is in critical condition. The Carson-Wall Funeral Home will announce further obituary details and funeral arrangements.
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David V. Richardson
David V. Richardson, 82, of Parsons died at 4:50 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, at Elmhaven West. He had been in failing health. He was born April 30, 1930, in St. Paul to Verlyn E. and Flossie M. (Morgan) Richardson. He grew up in St. Paul and attended St. Paul public schools. At age 14 he started working on the Katy Railroad in Parsons and at age 19 for the Ankortite Co., now Dayton Superior Corp. He retired in 1992. In 1950 he enlisted ...
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Kenneth C. 'Pappy' Kirchhofer Jr.
Kenneth C. "Pappy" Kirchhofer Jr., 62, of Parsons died at his home at 3:15 a.m. Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. He had been in failing health. He was born at Bartlesville, Okla., on Aug. 13, 1950, to Kenneth C. Sr. and Wanda Lee (Bird) Kirchhofer. He attended school in Dewey, Okla. He was a brick layer and worked construction. He is survived by two daughters, Kay Cee Kirchhofer of McCune and Sunny Hedges of Elk City; a son, Kenny Joe Bromagem of Bartle...
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Kenneth C. 'Pappy' Kirchhofer Jr.
Kenneth C. "Pappy" Kirchhofer Jr., 62, of Parsons died at his home at 3:15 a.m. Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. He had been in failing health. Further obituary details will be announced by the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home.
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Eli Walker Reed
BUHLER — Eli Walker Reed, 22, of Buhler died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, at his home. He was born Nov. 4, 1990, in Newton the son of Kelly E. and Jolene (Stover) Reed. He had played basketball and football at Buhler High School and was a student at Kansas State University. Survivors include his parents, Kelly and Jolene Reed of Buhler; a sister, Audra Reed of Spearville; a brother, Terry Reed of Hutchinson; grandparents, Mick Walker of Pittsburg...
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Lowell L. ‘Shorty’ Rhodes
Lowell L. “Shorty” Rhodes, 81, of Parsons, a retired owner of Wichita Southeast Kansas Transit, died at 4:18 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2012, at his home. He had been in failing health. He was born on Dec. 28, 1930, at Tampa, Kan., to Harry W. and Lillie (Hegle) Rhodes. He grew up on the family ranch near Tampa and attended country schools. He graduated from Durham High School in 1948. He married Marilyn Peterson on Sept. 10, 1950, at Lost Sprin...
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Stephen ‘Steve’ Francis VanLeeuwen
BRAZILTON — Stephen “Steve” Francis VanLeeuwen, 60, of Brazilton died at 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. Surrounded by his loving family, in a room of prayer, Steve left this world for Heaven. He joked a few weeks before his death that God was looking for a new addition and his family is comforted knowing Steve is now dancing with the angels. Steve was born on May 9, 1952, in Parsons to Paul “Pat” and Maxene (Hudson) VanLeeuwen. He grew up ...
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Arthur W. ‘Art’ Nance
Arthur W. “Art” Nance, 88, of Parsons died at 7:38 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, at his home. He had been in failing health. He was born on July 16, 1924, in Parsons to William Bloomer and Mildred Nadine (Geisenhoner) Nance. He graduated from Parsons High School and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He witnessed the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima and was stationed in the Subic Bay when the treaty ending WWII was signed. On June 7, 19...
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Lowell ‘Shorty’ Rhodes
Lowell “Shorty” Rhodes, 81, of Parsons died at 12:20 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, at his home. Carson-Wall Funeral Home will announce further obituary details and service arrangements later.
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Mary Bess Joslin
Mary Bess Joslin, 79, a longtime Parsons resident, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus at 10:06 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. She was born on Oct. 30, 1933, at Neodesha to Paul and Ruth Ann (Randall) Stephens. She grew up at Neodesha and attended Neodesha schools, graduating from Neodesha High School in 1951. She attended the University of Missouri and later the University of Kansas, where she received a bac...
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Ray F. Likins
CHERRYVALE — Ray F. Likins, 79, of Cherryvale died Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, at Via Christy St. Francis Medical Center, Wichita. He was born on Jan. 29, 1933, in Parsons to Clifford Erwin and Julia Opal (Atherton) Likins. He graduated from Labette County Community High School in Altamont. He was a self-employed farmer until retiring in 1970. Survivors include two sisters, LaDonna Fern Likins Brothers of Cherryvale and Margie Ellen Likins Prate...
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Ethel Finnerty
Ethel Finnerty, 90, of Parsons died at 5:05 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. She had been in failing health for several years. She was born on Dec. 23, 1921, in the Rosedale area of Kansas City, Kan., to William L. and Fannie M. (Stambaugh) Morgan. She grew up in that area, helping in the family dry-cleaning shop, and graduated from Rosedale High School in 1939. On April 14, 1940, she married Richard “Di...
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