Obituaries
Joe Allen Helms Jr.
DENNIS — Joe Allen Helms Jr., 44, of Dennis died at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons following a courageous battle with cancer. Survivors include his parents, Joe Allen Helms Sr. and Connie Helms of Dennis. The service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Harmony Grove Cemetery near Dennis. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at ...
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Wilburn ‘Tater’ Walker
LAWRENCE — Wilburn “Tater” Walker, 89, of Lawrence, a former Parsons resident, died at 10:26 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at St. Luke’s Hospital at Kansas City, Mo. Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Parsons will announce further obituary information and service arrangements later.
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Floyd R. Horton
Floyd R. Horton Floyd R. Horton, 88, of Parsons died at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. He is survived by his wife, Rita Horton, of the home. The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed at 6 p.m. Sunday at the church. The family will receive friends immediately following the rosary at the church. Memor...
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Dorothy O. Brandon
WICHITA — Dorothy O. Brandon, 93, of Wichita, a retired Mountain Bell Telephone clerk, died Friday, March 9, 2012. She loved to knit special gifts for members of her family. Survivors include a special friend, Al Wilson of Wichita; nieces, Deanna Hopper of Parsons and Gloria Michaels of Weiser, Idaho; nephews, Gary Oler of Owasso, Okla., and John Brandon of Honolulu; and a sister-in-law, Frances Oler of Parsons. She was preceded in death by he...
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Azrell Damir Patterson
CHANUTE — Azrell Damir Patterson, 1 month and 13 days, died Friday, March 9, 2012, at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Azrell was born on Jan. 25, 2012, in Chanute to Sierra McClenning and Princeton Patterson. Along with his parents, he is survived by a sister, Hailey Lanning of Chanute; grandmother, Cindy McClenning of Chanute; grandfather, Mike McClenning of Parsons; grandmother, Sherrie Patterson of Dallas; great-grandmot...
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Dale G. Bamberry
ALTAMONT — Dale G. Bamberry, 76, of Altamont went to be with his Lord at 6:45 a.m. Sunday, March 11, 2012, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. He was born Nov. 26, 1935, in rural Parsons to George and LaVon Catherine (Siesser) Bamberry. He grew up and attended Henderson Country School southwest of Parsons and was a 1955 graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont. While attending high school and shortly thereafter, he worked f...
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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. He was born Feb. 2, 1946, at Chetopa to William C. Littlejohn Sr. and Lillie L. (Smith) Littlejohn. He graduated from Chetopa High School in 1964. He served in the U.S. Air Force. He then attended college in Parsons and later transferred to Wichita State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1972....
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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 born May 19, 1918, in rural Edna to John and Jessie (Johnston) Neely. As a young girl, she attended numerous rural schools in the Edna area. She married Arthur “A.D.” Graves on March 9, 1941, in Independence. Following marriage, they made their family home in rural Bartlett. Through the years, she assisted her husband w...
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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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