Obituaries
Lois G. (Neely) Graves
BARTLETT — Lois G. (Neely) Graves, 93, of rural Bartlett died at 8 a.m. Friday, March 9, 2012, at Oswego Home Place. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur “A.D.” Graves, on Oct. 14, 2010. The service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bartlett Christian Church. Burial will be in Lake Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Bartlett Christian Church and may be left ...
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William Calvin ‘Billie’ Littlejohn Jr.
OSWEGO — William Calvin “Billie” Littlejohn Jr., 66, of Oswego died at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8, 2012, at Medicalodge in Fort Scott. Following cremation, the graveside memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Oak Hill Cemetery in Chetopa. Memorials are suggested to the Proud Animal Lovers Shelter and may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, 67336. The funeral home will announce complete obitu...
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Jack G. Braden
CHANUTE — Jack G. Braden, 79, formerly of Haysville, died Saturday, March 10, 2012. He was a retired Boeing Co. supervisor. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Charlene; two sons, Lonnie (Wanda) Braden of Bartlett, Ill., and Darrell (Pam) Braden of Haysville; a sister, Mary Lea Ashcraft of Parsons; a brother, Gary (Kathy) Braden of Wichita; and six grandchildren, Jennifer, Jacob, Justine, Bryan, Heather and Krystina Braden. He was precede...
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Dale G. Bamberry
ALTAMONT — Dale G. Bamberry, 76, of Altamont died at 6:45 a.m. Sunday, March 11, 2012, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. He is survived by his wife, Edna Bamberry, of the home. The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church in Altamont. Burial will be in Harmony Grove Cemetery near Dennis. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Memorials are suggested to...
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Elda Jean Catharine Olson
LEONARDVILLE — Elda Jean Catharine Olson, 90, of Leonardville died Sunday, March 4, 2012, at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan. She was born Oct. 25, 1921, in Lindsborg to Simon and Anna (Fager) Malmstrom. On Jan. 10, 1942, she married Kenneth Olson at Walsburg Church. He preceded her in death on July 8, 2006. Elda Jean was a farmer’s wife. She owned a gift shop in Leonardville for 10 years and upholstered furniture in her home for 17 ...
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Ruby Elliot
Ruby Elliott, 92, of Parsons died at 11:50 p.m. Thursday, March 8, 2012, at Good Samaritan Society in Parsons. She was born April 13, 1919, at Monett, Mo., to Bert L. and Goldie M. (Reno) Martin. She grew up in Parsons and graduated from Parsons High School. She married Milton C. Elliott, and they lived in Wichita, Shepherdstown, W.V., and Seattle. Mr. Elliott preceded her in death, and in 2000 she returned to Parsons to live close to family...
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Lola M. Richwine
ST. PAUL — Lola M. Richwine, 92, a longtime resident of Stark and the rural Savonburg area, died early Thursday morning, March 8, 2012, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. She had lived there the past five years. She was born March 26, 1919, in rural Moran to Edward and Lora (Gimlin) Manbeck. She grew up in the rural Moran area. She married Leon Richwine on Aug. 26, 1937. They first lived in Stark and then for many years farmed...
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Roland Lakes
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Roland Lakes, 72, of Santa Clara, Calif., died Monday, March 5, 2012. He was born on Dec. 25, 1939, in Vicksburg, Miss., and graduated from Parsons High School in 1957. Lakes was a second-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 1961 out of Wichita State University. He played 10 of his 11 NFL seasons with the Niners, spending his final season of 1971 with the New York Giants before retiring. Lakes finished with 10 f...
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Lola M. Richwine
ST. PAUL — Lola M. Richwine, 92, a resident of Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul, died there early Thursday morning, March 8, 2012. She was the widow of Leon Richwine, who preceded her in death on Nov. 17, 1983. She was a former longtime resident of the Stark and Savonburg areas. The service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Mount Moriah Cemetery near Stark. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Carson-Wall Funeral...
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Gene Curless
LIBERAL, Mo. — Gene Curless, 80, of Liberal, Mo., died on Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at his home. He was born Oct. 6, 1931, in Pittsburg to William Henry and Sylvia Etta (Comfort) Curless. He graduated from Liberal High School and from Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg, where he received a bachelor’s degree in engineering. He also served time in the U.S. Navy. On Feb. 16, 1952, he married Shirley (Lance) Curless in Huntsville, Ark. She ...
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Alice Marie Pope
SHAWNEE — Alice Marie (Stephan) Pope entered eternal rest at Shawnee Mission Hospital on March 7, 2012. Alice was born in rural Walnut on Jan. 17, 1926, to Charles Edward and Theresa Agnes (Schulz) Stephan. Alice was a child of the Depression. Her father passed when she was 13 years old, and she was instrumental in the raising and care of her six brothers and sisters. She counted herself very fortunate to be able to attend Walnut High School, ...
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Anna N. Ramsey
Anna N. Ramsey, 85, of Parsons died at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 7, 2012, at Parsons Good Samaritan Society. She was born March 15, 1926, at Kansas City, Mo., to William and Elnora (Hester) Scheibner. At an early age, she moved to Parsons, where she grew up and attended school. As an adult, she was employed at Broderick’s, Fred Ronald and the Kansas Ordnance Plant. She later operated a hamburger stand with her husband and worked at Wal-Mart....
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Dwain L. Watson
Dwain L. Watson, 72, a longtime resident of Parsons, died at 11:07 p.m. Friday, March 2, 2012, at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice Center at the Via Christi St. Francis Campus in Wichita, where he entered Feb. 22.  His death followed a brief illness. He was born March 28, 1939, in Altamont, the son of Clarence H. and Lorene V. (DeBolt) Watson. In 1945, he moved with his family to Parsons. He attended McKinley Elementary School, West Junior High Sc...
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Johnnie V. Law
Johnnie V. Law, 72, of Parsons died at 7:03 a.m. Monday, March 5, 2012, at Elmhaven East nursing home in Parsons. He had been in failing health. He was born Dec. 12, 1939, in Shreveport, La., to Frank and Maggie (Head) Law. He grew up in Shreveport, where he attended school and later earned a bachelor’s degree from Grambling State University. He was a guard at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, retiring following 33 years of service. He married...
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Bertie L. Gearhart
Bertie L. Gearhart, 91, of Parsons died at 1:40 a.m. Sunday, March 4, 2012, at Parsons Good Samaritan Society. She was born March 5, 1920, in Butler County to Gid Harrison and Pearl (Edwards) Williams. She grew up in Butler County and graduated from Downs High School in 1938. She married Maynard Gearhart on June 5, 1938, at Washington, Kan. They later divorced. In 1947, she married Randall Smith. He preceded her in death on July 23, 1962. In 1...
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Simon Duran Martinez Jr.
Simon Duran Martinez Jr. went to be with his Lord and Savior at 11:10 p.m. Friday, March 2, 2012, at Landmark Hospital, Joplin, after a brief illness. His loving family was by his side as he went to Heaven to receive his eternal reward from Jesus. Simon was born Oct. 22, 1946, at Fort Davis, Texas, to Simon Duran Martinez Sr. and Alice (Rudy) Martinez. Simon attended schools in Texas and New Mexico. He met the love of his life, Sherry Winslow,...
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Johnnie V. Law
Johnnie V. Law, 72, of Parsons died at 7:03 a.m. Monday, March 5, 2012, at Elmhaven East nursing home in Parsons. He had been in failing health. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marva (Pierce) Law, on Dec. 22, 2003. The service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. The funeral home will announce ...
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Dwain L. Watson
Dwain L. Watson, 72, a longtime resident of Parsons, died at 11:07 p.m. Friday, March 2, 2012, at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice Center at Via Christi St. Francis Campus in Wichita, where he entered Feb. 22. His death followed a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Mary Etta Watson, of the home. The service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. Friends may call at their convenience after 9 a.m. Wednesday...
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Simon Duran Martinez Jr.
Simon Duran Martinez Jr., 65, of Parsons died at 11:10 p.m. Friday, March 2, 2012, at Landmark Hospital in Joplin following a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Sherry Martinez, of the home. The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Parsons Foursquare Church. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery with military honors given by George L. Hendricks American Legion Post No. 102, Erie. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday a...
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Larry D. Goodnight
Larry D. Goodnight, 59, of Parsons died at 11:31 a.m. Saturday, March 3, 2012, at the Labette Health emergency room in Parsons. He had been in failing health, but his death was unexpected.  He was born on Oct. 15, 1952, at Oswego to Cecil and Bonnie (Collins) Goodnight. He traveled with his family while his father worked in the construction industry when he was young before settling in the Parsons area at age 14. He graduated from Labette Cou...
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