Obituaries
Debra E. Allen
MOUND VALLEY — Debra E. Allen, 51, of Mound Valley died Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. She was born April 18, 1960, at Neodesha to Henry Lee and Elizabeth (Bennett) Allen. Her father died when she was less than a year old, and she was raised by her mother and stepfather, Junior King. She attended area schools. Survivors include her mother and stepfather, Elizabeth and Junior King of Lenapah, Okla.; a son, Larry Dewayne ...
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Pearl Folk
LAS VEGAS — Pearl Folk, 91, of Las Vegas died on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. She was born on Jan. 9, 1921, in Erie and had resided in Las Vegas for more than 40 years. Pearl was married to Clarence Folk for 62 wonderful years. Pearl was a homemaker her whole life, raising five children. She has 12 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence; and her son, Roger. Other s...
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William R. ‘Bill’ Osburn
LECOMPTON — William R. “Bill” Osburn, 77, of Lecompton died on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, at Stormont Vail Regional Medical Center in Topeka. He was born on Dec. 20, 1934, in Homer, La., to Herbert E. and Emma Ethel Vasser Osburn. He was raised and attended school in Parsons. After high school, he served in the Army. He married Judith M. Mathis on Jan. 28, 1961, in Parsons. She survives of the home. He retired from Lawrence Paper Co. in 1998 afte...
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George A. King
BURRTON — George A. King, 83, of Burrton, died on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012, at his home. He was born on Nov. 5, 1928, at Dennis to George A. and Viola King. He served in the U.S. Army. He retired from the Frisco/Burlington Northern Railroad as a welder. In 1954, he married Donna Stanley. They later divorced. On Nov. 25, 1974, he married Betty R. Gregory at Parsons. She survives. Other survivors include two sons, Richard King and Ron King, both...
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Barbara Joan Turner Swearingin
Barbara Joan Turner Swearingin, widow of David E. Swearingin, passed away in her sleep at home in Lombard, Ill., on the evening of Jan. 10, 2012. Barbara was a lifelong Christian scientist, member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Elmhurst, Ill., and a student of the late James M. McGrew, C.S.B. She was mother to two daughters and two sons and had eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Barbara’s remains were interred beside her b...
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Wayne E. Cowen
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — Wayne E. Cowen, 73, of New Braunfels, Texas, died on Jan. 8, 2012. He was born on July 30, 1938, in Parsons to Carl H. and Berniece (Duvall) Cowen. He served as a naval flight officer from 1960 to 1980, retiring as a commander. He then worked until 1994 as a management analyst for several companies supporting the U.S. Department of Energy. Survivors include his wife, Shirley A. (Baze) Cowen; a son, Carl Cowen and his wi...
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Wanda Marie Smith
WICHITA — Wanda Marie England Smith, 79, of Wichita gave up a good fight here on earth to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012. She was a Kansas native and only child born in Parsons and preceded in death by her parents, Homer Robert England, Marie Ester Schlatter England, and stepmother Mary Faye Gaston. She married Paul E. Smith. Together they adopted two infant boys 2 1/2 years apart before their divorce after ...
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Mallory Danelle Henson
COFFEYVILLE — Mallory Danelle (Mellington) Henson, 23, of Coffeyville died on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. She was born on Jan. 20, 1988, in Lamar, Mo., to Charles and Melissa (Stidham) Mellington.  She had worked as a nurse’s aide. Survivors include her father and stepmother, Charles and Sharon Mellington of Mound Valley; her mother, Melissa Stidham of Olathe; a daughter, Leanna Henson of Mound Valley; ...
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Irene E. Willey
Irene E. Willey, 89, of Parsons died at 2:38 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. She was born on Aug. 28, 1922, in Valeda to Glen Thomas and Vida Ann (Neidigh) Bowman. During her high school years, she moved to Altamont, where she attended school and graduated from Labette County Community High School.  On May 13, 1944, she married Jim Cross. Following marriage, they lived in Oswego, where she was a homemaker...
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Pauline Christine
Pauline Christine, 80, of Parsons died at 7:37 p.m. Monday in the emergency room of Labette Health. She was born on Jan. 30, 1931, in Parsons to Albert A. and Edith (Pearce) Christine. She graduated from Parsons High School in 1949 and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War from 1950 to 1954. Pauline worked for Lockheed Aircraft from 1954 to 1957. From 1959 to 1973, she worked in Washington, D.C., at the Pentagon for the Departmen...
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OHS teams split with Uniontown
OSWEGO — Oswego High School basketball teams split with Uniontown here Tuesday night. The girls won in big fashion, and the boys lost by 10 points. In the boys’ game, Oswego lost 55-45 after a poor offensive presence in the first and third quarters. The Indians were down 12-4 after a quarter and fought back to a 24-20 score at halftime. Oswego’s offense was silent again in the third quarter, getting outscored 14-6. In the fourth quarter, Osweg...
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Pauline Christine
Pauline Christine, 80, of Parsons died at 7:37 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, in the emergency room of Labette Health. The service will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at First Christian Church. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call at Carson-Wall Funeral Home at their convenience on Thursday. Memorials are suggested to either First Christian Church or the charity of the donor’s choice and may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box...
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Kelly J. King
Kelly J. King, 47, of Parsons died on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at her home. She had been in her usual health, and death was not expected. She was born on July 12, 1964, in Boise, Idaho, to Thomas John and Sharon Kay (Shields) Spease. As an infant, she moved with her family to Parsons. She attended schools in Parsons and Labette County High School in Altamont. Through the years, she was employed by Signature Sportswear, Dwayne’s Photo Service, the...
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Irene E. Willey
Irene E. Willey, 89, of Parsons died at 2:38 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. She is survived by her husband, Orval Willey, of the home. Following cremation, the family will have private services at a future date. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Memorials are suggested to The Salvation Army and may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Fun...
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Judy C. Arabia
Judy C. Arabia, 66, of Parsons died at 3:53 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. She was born on Sept. 10, 1945, in Parsons to Carl Allen and Myrtle (Whinery) Shue. As a young girl, she grew up in Galesburg and later moved to Parsons, where she was a 1963 graduate of Parsons High School. On Aug. 24, 1963, she married John A. Arabia at Central Avenue Christian Church in Parsons. From 1963 to 1966, the couple lived in Pittsbu...
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Faye Reece Robertson
THAYER — Faye Reece Robertson, 69, of Thayer died on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. She was born on Aug. 5, 1942, in Thayer to Irving C. "Jack" and Della L. Baker Reece. She graduated from Thayer High School in 1960, Chanute Community College in 1962 and Pittsburg State University in 1964. She taught school in Altoona and Neodesha for 23 years. She married James W. Robertson on Dec. 23, 1966. ...
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Judy C. Arabia
Judy C. Arabia, 66, of Parsons died at 3:53 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. She is survived by her husband, John Arabia, of the home. The service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at First Christian Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Memorials are suggested to the Shriners Hospitals for Children and may...
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Joan Mullen
Joan Mullen, 77, of Parsons died at 1 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, at her home. She had been in failing health. She was born on Aug. 6, 1934, to Willis C. and Francis A. (Hillhouse) Kisner in Sunflower County, Mississippi. She grew up there and graduated from Linn High School. After completing high school, she attended a nursing program for two years and was then employed at Sunflower County Hospital and also at Humphreys County Hospital. On ...
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Iona M. Kramer Cole
GALESBURG — Iona M. Kramer Cole, 89, a longtime Galesburg area resident, died at 6:07 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor. She was born on Sept. 5, 1922, at Arlington to Allie and Maudie (Simmonds) Clark. She grew up on a family farm near Pretty Prairie and attended schools there. The family moved to Galesburg when she was a teenager. She attended Galesburg High School. She married Carl Kramer on June 16, 1939, at Hav...
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Kelly J. King
Kelly J. King, 47, of Parsons died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, at her home. She had been in her usual health and death was not expected. The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. The body will be cremated following the service. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Memorials are suggested to Proud Animal Lovers Shelter and may be left at or ma...
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