Obituaries
Hiawatha M. Hollins
Hiawatha M. Hollins, 67, of Parsons died at 2:40 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8, 2011, at Labette Health in Parsons. She was born Aug. 30, 1943, at Paris, Texas, to Henry and Dorothy May (Cooper-Bills) Hollins. She was raised by her grandmother, Mrs. Junnie Bills, and stepfather ,Earnest Council. She grew up and attended school there. She worked for a time at the St. Joseph Hospital in Paris, Texas. Survivors include a son, Bobby Don Hollins of Paris,...
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Hiawatha M. Hollins
Hiawatha M. Hollins, 67, of Parsons died at 2:40 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8, 2011, at Labette Health. Her death was unexpected. The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call after noon Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the National Kidney Foundation.
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Joseph R. ‘Joe’ Travis
Joseph R. “Joe” Travis, 63, of Parsons died at 10:28 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, at his home. He had been in failing health. He was born Jan. 24, 1948, in Liberty, N.Y., to Raymond Ross and Phyllis (Kissock) Travis. He lived in several cities while growing up. In 1968, he joined the Navy and served as a medic for the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He suffered injuries in the war and was discharged in 1972. Following the war, he lived ...
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Anthony ‘Pete’ ‘Peaches’ Williams
THE COLONY, Texas — Anthony Ray Williams, 68, of The Colony, Texas, died at 4:36 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2011. He was born on Nov. 29, 1942, in Coffeyville to Raymond Williams and Erma (Monroe) Williams. Anthony was a musician and performed in Kansas. Survivors include his wife, Kim Williams of The Colony, Texas; four daughters, Donna Durrant and her husband, Jon, of Douglasville, Ga., Renee Morgan and her husband, Tony, of Villa Rica, Ga., Lak...
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Brenda Elaine McKinney
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Brenda Elaine McKinney, 67, a resident of Anaheim, Calif., for 47 years, died on Saturday, July 30, 2011, at Anaheim Regional Medical Center from complications caused by leukemia. Brenda was born on Jan. 14, 1944, in Mound Valley to Gerald and Lola Mae (Hope) Fouts. She attended Mound Valley Grade School and Labette County High School, where she met John McKinney. They were married on June 24, 1961, at St. Mary’s Catholic Chu...
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Kenneth R. Walters
CLARKSVILLE, Ark. — Kenneth R. Walters, 85, of Clarksville, Ark., died Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, at St. Mary’s Regional Hospital in Russellville, Ark. He was born on March 9, 1926, in Parsons to Elmer Thomas and Emma Susan (Essig) Walters. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a retired superintendent of Hanford Produce Co. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. He was a past president of the Johnson County Twirlers Squ...
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Dale L. Lavender
ALTAMONT — Dale L. Lavender, 73, of rural Altamont died at 11:15 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, at his home following a courageous battle with cancer. Dale was born August 13, 1937, in Parsons, Kansas, to Cecil Elisha and Tressie Sophona (Shira) Lavender. He grew up in the Altamont area, where he attended school and was a 1955 graduate of Labette County Community High School. He then attended Kansas State University and earned a bachelor’s degree ...
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Kenneth R. Walters
CLARKSVILLE, Ark. — Kenneth R. Walters, 85, of Clarksville, Ark., died Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, at St. Mary’s Regional Hospital in Russellville, Ark. He was born on March 9, 1926, in Parsons to William Henry and Daisy Mae (Blackburn) Walters. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a retired superintendent of Hanford Produce Co. He was a member of First United Methodist Church. He was a past president of the Johnson County Twirlers...
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Dale L. Lavender
ALTAMONT — Dale L. Lavender, 73, of rural Altamont died at 11:15 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, at his home following a battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Lavender, of the home. The service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Altamont. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Altamont. Friends may call at their convenience after 1 p.m. Wednesday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Memorials a...
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Pat Jacquinot
WALNUT — Pat Jacquinot, 65, of Walnut died at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30, 2011, in the emergency room of Girard Medical Center. He was born on Oct. 23, 1945, in Parsons to Leonard and Sue (Smith) Jacquinot. He attended school in Walnut, graduating from St. Patrick High School. After graduation, he attended and graduated from bricklayer school in Kansas City. In Warrensburg, Mo., on May 28, 1966, he married Carol Stark of Eldon, Mo. They made ...
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Myrtle M. (Gentry) Marrs
ST. PAUL — Myrtle M. (Gentry) Marrs, 85, a resident of Prairie Mission Retirement Village, St. Paul, died on Sunday, July 31, 2011. She was born on Feb. 27, 1926, in Neodesha the third of five daughters of Richard R. and Lida M. (Roller) Gentry. Before moving to St. Paul, Myrtle had been living with her sister, Dollie (Gentry) Magner in Topeka. Myrtle enjoyed reading, doing arts and crafts and most of all, watching her favorite baseball team, ...
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Michael Joseph Willeford
JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. — Michael Joseph Willeford, 72, of Jonesborough, Tenn., died Sunday, July 31, 2011, at his residence. He was born on April 22, 1939, in Parsons to James Lee and Letah (Hight) Willeford. He was a member of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife, Constance Irwin Willeford; a son, Steven Michael Willeford and his wife, Lori, of Dunkirk, N.Y.; a daughter, Kimberly Lynn McMahon, and her husband, John...
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Peggy Jo Good
MIAMI, Okla. — Peggy Jo Good, 78, of Miami, Okla., formerly of Parsons, died at 2:42 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, at the Miami Nursing Center. She was born on Dec. 8, 1932, in Parsons to John and Wanda Fay (Kimmel) Ward. She was raised in Parsons and attended school here. She was a certified nurse’s aide at Good Samaritan nursing home in Parsons. She married Thomas Andersen on Dec. 17, 1949, at Rio Dell, Calif. They later divorced. She married...
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Lula L. Ford
INDEPENDENCE — Lula L. Ford, 85, of Independence died on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at Mercy Hospital in Independence. She was born on Aug. 31, 1925, in Fort Gibson, Okla., to George and Annie (Petit) Ford. She attended school in Fort Gibson and in Parsons. She was a housekeeper for various doctors in Parsons. Survivors include her sister, Ethel Lewis of Independence; a niece, Maelene Wilson of Independence; and two nephews, Petit Ford and Denny ...
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Paul J. Bogner
Paul J. Bogner, 82, of rural Parsons died at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. He was born on Oct. 8, 1928, in Mount Hope to John and Rosalia (Grassl) Bogner. He grew up and attended school in the Andale area and was a 1946 graduate of Andale High School.  He married Roberta H. Orth on Oct. 21, 1950, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Andale. They continued to live in the Andale area until mov...
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Willie ‘Marie’ Jackson
ALTAMONT — Willie “Marie” Jackson, 89, a longtime resident of Altamont, died at 3:21 a.m. Monday, July 25, 2011, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. She was born on Aug. 7, 1921, in Natchitoches, La., to William H. and Ora E. (Clements) Jones. She grew up in Louisiana and attended Louisiana Normal College in Natchitoches. During World War II, she worked at Boeing. On June 6, 1945, she married Victor L. Jackson “at the little church around the ...
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Jane I. Switlik
MABELVALE, Ark. — Jane I. Switlik, 63, of Mabelvale, Ark., a former Parsons resident, died Friday, July 22, 2011, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident in Saline County, Ark., near Little Rock. She was born in Parsons on April 22, 1948, to Earl and Pearl (Whistler) Pruitt. She grew up in Parsons and attended Parsons schools. She was a registered nurse for the Pulaski County Health Department and was a member of the Cathedral of S...
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Marie Jackson
ALTAMONT — Marie Jackson, 89, a longtime resident of Altamont, died at 3:21 a.m. Monday, July 25, 2011, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Victor L. Jackson, M.D., on Sept. 4, 2010. Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, Altamont, will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Jane I. Switlick
Jane I. Switlick, 63, of Mabelvale, Ark., a former Parsons resident, died Friday morning, July 22, 2011, in Saline County, Ark., near Little Rock, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Roller-Chenal Funeral Home, Little Rock, and Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Parsons, will announce further obituary information and service arrangements later.
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Evelyn T. Parks
CHETOPA — Evelyn T. Parks, 96, of Chetopa died at 11:05 a.m. Friday, July 22, 2011, at Chetopa Manor nursing home. She was born on March 23, 1915, in Craig County, Okla., to Nick and Martha (Uhl) Rohmiller. She was a graduate of Welch High School. Following high school, she taught in one-room schoolhouses, among them Fields school. She also worked as a clerk at Halligan’s, Price’s and Wedding’s IGA, all in Chetopa. She was a longtime member...
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