Obituaries
Maurice W. Allen Jr.
PITTSBURG — Maurice W. Allen Jr., 45, of Pittsburg died at 2:35 p.m. Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, in Pittsburg. He had been in his usual health, and death was not expected. He was born Nov. 20, 1964, in San Diego to Maurice Wesley Allen Sr. and Grace Marie (Schultz) Allen. He grew up and attended schools in Columbus. He worked for Mid-America Pipe Fabricating, Scammon, as a sandblaster. Survivors include three sons, Bryan Allen of Cherokee, Tr...
full story
Vernon Edwin Miller
TULSA — Vernon Edwin Miller, 88, of Tulsa,, formerly of Mound Valley, died at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 19, 2010, at the Tulsa Nursing Center in Tulsa. He is survived by his wife, Johnava Miller, of the home. The service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at United Methodist Church in Mound Valley. Burial will be in Mound Valley Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Mem...
full story
Alberta F. Schwatken
INDEPENDENCE — Alberta F. Schwatken, 86, of Independence died Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, at Mercy Hospital in Independence. She was born Aug. 6, 1924, in Cherryvale to Frank and Etta Mae (Myers) Hinkle. She attended Altamont schools. She worked for a time at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons. She married Wilbur A. Schwatken Sr. on Oct. 10, 1943. He preceded her in death in 1973. Survivors include two sons, Norman Schwatken of Abilene an...
full story
Gordon N. Robnett
CHERRYVALE — Gordon N. Robnett, 86, of Cherryvale died Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, at Mercy Hospital in Independence. He was born March 9, 1924, in Bluff City to Grover and Alice (Herridage) Robnett. He served in the Army during World War II, attaining the rank of staff sergeant. Mr. Gordon was a truck driver and worked for Scheirlman Livestock Trucking. Survivors include two stepsons, Dennis Akins of Bloomfield, Mo., and Harry Akins of Cherry...
full story
Marjorie L. Scannel
CHERRYVALE — Marjorie L. Scannel, 84, of Cherryvale died Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010, at the Cherryvale Nursing Home. She was born Nov. 10, 1925, in Coyville to Laurence and Alta (Crismas) Scannel. She attended Morehead schools. Survivors include a brother, Aubrey L. Scannel of Cherryvale. A celebration of life service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Potts Chapel of Cherryvale. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery. The family will receive friends fr...
full story
Richard Lynn Harding
THAYER — Richard “Dick” Lynn Harding, 64, of Thayer died Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010, at his home. He was born in Parsons on Sept. 27, 1945, the son of Don A. and Shirley J. (Crabb) Harding. He graduated from Stark High School in the Class of 1963. He married Anita “Sue” Umbarger on Sept. 23, 1965, in Erie. She survives. Mr. Harding was a semi-truck driver for 43 years, most recently for TDC in Joplin. Other survivors include his mother, Shir...
full story
Michael R. Chavis
JOPLIN — Michael R. Chavis, 25, of Joplin, formerly of Pittsburg and Parsons, died Saturday morning, Aug. 14, 2010, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born Dec. 12, 1984, in Columbus the son of Jed and Crystal (Finke) Powell. His birth father was Tony Chavis. Survivors include his parents of Joplin; his birth father, Tony Chavis; a brother, Scott Chavis and his wife, Hilary, of Pittsburg; two stepsisters, Amanda Powell ...
full story
Fern Louise Sprague
COFFEYVILLE — Fern Louise Sprague, 74, of Coffeyville died at 3:35 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. She was born Sept. 15, 1935, in Cherokee Township, Montgomery County, to John and Ruth (Duncan) Nickel. She attended Valeda Grade School and later Labette County Community High School in Altamont. She worked at a motel in Coffeyville. She retired in 1990. She married Lewis Sprague on April 20, 1954, in Bartle...
full story
Jacquelyn J. ‘Jackie’ Barrett
Jacquelyn J. “Jackie” Barrett, 68, of Parsons died Sunday evening, Aug. 15, 2010, at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Kan. She was born July 9, 1942, in Parsons to John L. and Arwana (Cook) Dickerson. She grew up in Parsons and graduated from Labette County Community High School in 1960. On June 30, 1967, she married Richard A. Barrett in Tulsa. They lived in Tulsa and in Oklahoma City before returning to Parsons in 1988. Mr....
full story
Michael R. Chavis
JOPLIN — Michael R. Chavis, 25, of Joplin, formerly of Pittsburg and Parsons, died Saturday morning, Aug. 14, 2010, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born Dec. 12, 1984, in Columbus the son of Jed and Crystal (Finke) Powell. Survivors include his parents of Joplin; a brother, Scott Chavis and his wife, Hilary, of Pittsburg; two stepsisters, Amanda Powell of Pottsville, Ark., and Alishia Rooney of West Mineral; a ne...
full story
John Drummond
CHANUTE — John Drummond, 88, of Chanute died Friday, Aug. 13, 2010, at Chanute Health Care Center. He was born Aug. 11, 1922, in rural Dennis the son of Ira and Lula (Bertsch) Drummond. Mr. Drummond worked 29 years for Western Petro Chemical Wax Plant. He also worked a second job with B&D Contractors for 16 years. He was an avid gardener and provided fresh produce to all his family and friends. He was a hard worker and was always availabl...
full story
Fern Louise Sprague
COFFEYVILLE — Fern Louise Sprague, 74, of Coffeyville died at 3:35 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. She is survived by her husband, Lewis Sprague, of the home. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Lake Creek Cemetery near Bartlett. The casket will remain closed. Memorials are suggested to River of Life Tabernacle in Coffeyville and may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Hom...
full story
Bobby L. Ledford Sharon K. Ledford
WALNUT — Bobby L. Ledford, 75, and Sharon K. Ledford, 67, of Walnut, were fatally injured in an automobile accident east of Chanute shortly before noon on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010. Mr. Ledford was born April 28, 1935, in Clayton County, Ga., to Ernest L. and Lillie Mae (Wesley) Ledford. He grew up in Georgia and served in the U.S. Army in the mid-1950s. He worked as a truck driver for Consolidated Oil in Chanute and for Chanute Insurance Poo...
full story
Betty J. Davolt-Rude
OSWEGO — Betty J. Davolt-Rude, 81, of Oswego, died Friday, Aug. 13, 2010, at Oswego Community Hospital. Betty was born Feb. 2, 1929, in Reeds, Mo., to Earl and Maudie (Thorn) Ritchie. She was raised in Carthage, Mo. She married Dale R. Davolt of Oswego on June 22, 1946, at Holiness Church, Oswego. He preceded her in death on March 26, 1993. She married Earl Rude on July 15, 1995, in Labette Baptist Church. Betty worked for Berry Garment Fa...
full story
Emmett Albert ‘Pete’ Burton
CHETOPA — Emmett Albert “Pete” Burton, 81, of Chetopa died at 7:45 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, at Landmark Hospital in Joplin following a brief illness. He was born May 20, 1929, in Cherokee County to Melvin and Anna (Draeger) Burton. As a young boy, he grew up in Cherokee County, where he attended Cherokee County Grade School and Columbus High School. In 1952, he moved to Chetopa, where he had lived since. He worked for Kraft Foods in Osw...
full story
Shirley Jean Keal
Shirley Jean Keal, 86, of Parsons died at 12:09 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, at Olathe Medical Center in Olathe. She had been in failing health and had been at a nursing home in the Olathe area the past several months. She was born Dec. 24, 1923, at Mound City to Gus and Grace (Good) Warzel. She grew up in Fort Scott and graduated from Fort Scott High School and Fort Scott Junior College. During World War II, she was employed by the Veterans A...
full story
Melinda Marie ‘Mindy’ Hughston
WEST PLAINS, Mo. — Melinda Marie “Mindy” Hughston, 23, West Plains, Mo., died at 9:10 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010, at the Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains. She was born June 15, 1987, at Parsons to Brian Lahey and Brenda Bertling Miller. She received her associate degree from Missouri State University, West Plains campus, and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia. On Sept. 10, 2005, she married John “Derek” ...
full story
Betty Rude
OSWEGO — Betty Rude of Oswego died on Friday, Aug. 13, 2010, at Oswego Hospital. Further obituary details will be announced by Murdock Funeral Home of Oswego.
full story
Bobby L. Ledford Sharon K. Ledford
WALNUT — Bobby L. Ledford, 75, and Sharon K. Ledford, 67, of Walnut died in an automobile accident east of Chanute on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010. The service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard. Burial will be in Mount Moriah Cemetery north of Stark. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Complete obituary details will be announced.
full story
Nellie B. McKnight
EDNA — Nellie B. McKnight, 104, a longtime resident of Edna, died at 6:35 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010, at the Chetopa Manor in Chetopa. She was born near Edna to Hose B. Bradbury and Rosanna (Dally) Bradbury on April 4, 1906. She grew up and attended schools in Edna and graduated from the Edna High School in 1925. She married Lawrence E. McKnight on May 9, 1928, at Independence. He preceded her in death on March 25, 1994. Following their...
full story