Obituaries
Sharon Vallier
JOPLIN — Sharon Kay Vallier, 57, of Joplin passed away at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at Landmark Hospital after losing her battle with lung cancer. Sharon was born May 17, 1955, in Scotia, Calif., to Ray and Mary (Brooks) Ward. Sharon had lived in the Joplin and Southeast Kansas areas for more than 20 years and had lived in the Decatur, Ill., area for 25 years. Sharon devoted her life to helping others. She worked for the states o...
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Keith C. Billingsly
MOUND VALLEY — Keith C. Billingsly, 70, a lifelong resident of Mound Valley, passed away at 4:14 p.m. Monday, April 22, 2013, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.  He was born April 28, 1942, on the family farm near rural Mound Valley to “Leonard” and Ann (Blake) Billingsly. He grew up and attended school in Mound Valley and was a 1960 graduate of Mound Valley High School. He earned an associate degree from Parsons Junior College, a master’s d...
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Ethel D. Jacobs
ERIE — Ethel D. Jacobs, 89, of Erie died at 12:35 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute.  She was preceded in death by her husband, William Jacobs, on Oct. 11, 1999. The rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m. Friday at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Erie. The funeral Mass will immediately follow the rosary at the church. Burial will be in New Cathedral Cemetery in Baltimore, Md., at a future date. The fa...
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Mary Ellen Walters
ERIE — Mary Ellen Walters, 91, of Erie died Saturday, April 20, 2013, at her home. She was born March 17, 1922, at Hamilton to Fred O. and Bessie (Hollis) Smith. She graduated from Hamilton High School in 1940. She married Richard Lee "Dick" Walters on Dec. 13, 1940, at the home of her father and stepmother, Fred and Catherine Smith. They moved extensively as Dick was a heavy-equipment operator. She was widowed in 1960 at age 38 with eight ch...
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Johnnie J. Karry
Johnnie J. Karry, 92, of Parsons died at 6:20 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2013, at the Wilson Medical Center at Neodesha. He was born March 21, 1921, at Quindaro, Kansas City, Kan., a son of John Peter and Pauline Erma (Durham) Karry. He was raised in the Ladore and Galesburg areas and attended school at Galesburg. He served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1945 and was stationed in the Pacific Theatre. Upon his discharge, he moved to Pa...
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Joseph G. Every
FRANKFORT, Ill. — Joseph G. Every, 89, beloved husband and soul mate of Jeanne R. Every (nee Farrell) for 67 years, died on Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at his home in Frankfort, Ill. He was the devoted father to Janelle (Ron) Bennett and Jill (Jim) Byrnes, the cherished papa of Jaime (Mike) Graham, Lindsay (Chris) Kuntzi, Ashley (Brett) Benson and Jodi (Joey) Mulla. He was the proud great-papa of Tyler Graham, Molly, Haley and Caden Kuntzi and El...
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Edward J. ‘Ed’ Burke
Edward J. “Ed” Burke, 61, of Parsons died at 8:40 a.m. Monday, April 15, 2013, at his home.К He was born Jan. 17, 1952, in Parsons to Lawrence F. and Alice M. (Nunnick) Burke.К He attended school in St. Paul and was a 1970 graduate of St. Paul High School, where he held several football records. He attended St. Mary of the Plain College in Dodge City and Neosho County Community College. Following school, he lived in Southeast Kansas throughou...
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Gloria Lovejoy
Gloria Lovejoy, 57, of Parsons died at 11:31 a.m. Monday, April 15, 2013, at the Good Samaritan Society of Parsons. She had been in failing health. She was born Aug. 5, 1955, in Kansas City to Clyde and Berniece (Haling) Head. She grew up in Kansas City. Survivors include a daughter, Amber Lea Fletcher of Jefferson City, Mo.; a brother, Jerry Dean Head of Kansas City; and a sister, Virginia Parker of Lafayette, Ind. There will be no public se...
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Mary Pat Tims
WICHITA — Mary Pat Tims, 82, formerly of Parsons, loving mother and grandmother, entered eternal life on Saturday, April 13, 2013. Born the only child of Charles and Mary Jayne Dobel, Mary Pat was a graduate of St. Patrick’s Grade School and Parsons High School (1948), as well as the Mercy Hospital Nursing School. Mary Pat married Harry E. Tims on Sept. 13, 1952. They enjoyed 26 years of marriage before his death in 1978. Mary Pat was a re...
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Murvall Eugene 'Gene' Dick
Murvall Eugene "Gene" Dick, 84, died Thursday, April 4, 2013. He was born Feb. 23, 1929, to Harold and Selma (Stone) Dick in Parsons. Survivors include his wife, Jeanette; a son, Jack; his stepsons, Tom and David Springer; a stepdaughter, Patti Zongker; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Linda Yeager. The service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vall...
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Ky Daniel Bontrager-Harris
Ky Daniel Bontrager-Harris, 17, of Parsons died Thursday afternoon, April 11, 2013, at his home. He had been in his usual health and his death was unexpected. He was born on Aug. 13, 1995, in Parsons to Nicole Bontrager and Robert Harris. He grew up at Parsons and attended Parsons schools. He was a senior at Parsons High School. He participated in the Chess Club and played football for a year. He was active in and loved the welding and draft...
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Doris E. Streetmaker
Doris E. Streetmaker, 98, of Parsons died at 3:10 a.m. Thursday, April 11, 2013, at Elmhaven West. She was born Oct. 5, 1914, in Parsons to Leslie A. and Ida K. (Brader) Streetmaker. She grew up in Parsons and was a 1932 graduate of Parsons High School, earned an associate degree from Parsons Junior College in 1934 and graduated from Parsons Business College in 1935. She worked for the Parsons Retailers Association from 1937 until 1986, when s...
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Robert W. 'Bob' Hight
Robert W. "Bob" Hight, 85, a resident of the Elmhaven East, died at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at Labette Health. He had been in failing health several years. He was born in Parsons on Aug. 25, 1927, to Arlie and Jessie (Woodruff) Hight. He attended Parsons schools and in 1945 enlisted in the United States Navy. He served as a flight deck chief on an aircraft carrier. He retired from his Navy career in 1968 as a chief petty officer. In 19...
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Gloria Jean Davidson
WALNUT — Gloria Jean Davidson, 72, of Walnut died early Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at her home. She had been in her usual health and death was not expected. She was born March 24, 1941, in Los Angeles to William F. and Viola E. (Walters) Dennis.  She married Charles A. “Chuck” Davidson on May 13, 1958, at Noel, Mo. She had worked as a medication aide in nursing homes. Survivors include three sons, Charles Davidson Jr. of Girard, John Davidson ...
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Robert W. Hight
Robert W. "Bob" Hight, 85, a resident of the Elmhaven East, died at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at Labette Health. His wife, Wanda (Christine) Hight, preceded him in death in 1993. Complete obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announced by the Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
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Gloria Jean Davidson
WALNUT — Gloria Jean Davidson, 72, of Walnut died early Wednesday, April 10, 2013, at her home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles A. “Chuck” Davidson, on March 9, 2005. Complete obituary details will be announced by the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.  Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Surina Vasquez Short
MINDENMINES, Mo. — Surina Louise Vasquez Short, 43, of Mindenmines, Mo., passed away early Monday morning, April 8, 2013, with her family by her side at her home. Surina was born Dec. 2, 1969, at Denver to Earl and Eloise (Hughbanks) Spriggs. She had lived in Mindenmines, Mo., for the past four years and had worked for several years at Ernesto’s as well a Pitt Plastics in Pittsburg. She was a talented sketch artist and will be remembered by ...
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Alexander Dean 'Xander' Cochran
GALESBURG — Alexander Dean “Xander” Cochran, 8, of rural Galesburg passed away at his home, Friday, April 5, 2013, from complications from epilepsy. After a great day spending time with his family, Xander fell asleep and opened his eyes in heaven. Xander was born June 9, 2004, in Joplin, Mo., to Joshua Dean and Elizabeth Jean (Stammer) Cochran. As a baby, his family moved to rural Galesburg, where he had lived since. Xander was currently in s...
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Danny Ray Fentress
EMORY, Texas — Danny Ray Fentress, 62, of Emory, Texas, formerly of Altamont, Kansas, unexpectedly went to go fishing with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, April 5, 2013.  Danny was born in Parsons, Kansas, to Duane “Butch” and Reba Melissa Fentress on Sept. 7, 1950. Danny attended schools in Altamont, Kansas, and graduated from Labette County Community High School in 1968.  In January of 1971, he enlisted in the Air Force and was ...
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Rude service
A memorial visitation for William A. "Bill" Rude will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons. An inurnment service will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. He died Sept. 17, 2012, at Severna Park, Md. Mr. Rude lived in Parsons in his youth and graduated from Parsons High School in 1943. His wife is the former Jean Marie Ledbetter, also a native Parsonian. They have lived in Maryland since 1958.
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