Obituaries
Rita Marie Nance
Rita Marie Nance, 53, of Parsons died at 8:10 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. She was born on Aug. 25, 1959, in Clinton, Iowa, to Clinton Eugene “Gene” and M. Margarita “Maggie” (Leon) Nance. As a young girl, her family relocated to Parsons, where she graduated from Parsons High School and earned a degree in nursing at Labette Community College. She worked 15 years as a registered nurse before becoming departmen...
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Mary Louise Crane
WINDSOR — Mary Louise Crane, 88, of Windsor, Mo., died on Saturday, May 11, 2013, at Bothwell Regional Health Center in Sedalia, Mo. She was born on March 12, 1925, in Parsons to George W. and Mary Alma Lee (Cantrell) Jones. She was raised and educated in Parsons. On Aug. 16, 1942, in Parsons, she married Chester N. Crane, who preceded her in death on Oct. 4, 2009. She was a retail clerk at Carps. Survivors include three daughters, Patricia T...
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Dollie H. Emerick
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Dollie H. Emerick of Hollywood, Calif., a longtime resident of Mound Valley, passed away into the arms of our Lord on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at the age of 92 while at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills, Calif. Dollie was born on Jan. 1, 1921, to James T. and Lucy Marie (Peyton) Bartlett in Lenapah, Okla. She attended school in Lenapah, Liberty, Mound Valley and Cherryvale. Dollie married Vernon Alexander on Aug. 28, 1938...
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Jeri (Handshy) Ornelas-Jones
IOLA — Jeri (Handshy) Ornelas-Jones, 56, of Iola died on Friday, May 10, 2013. She was born on Dec. 27, 1956, in Parsons to Joy Mae Handshy and Farris Thomas. She graduated from Pittsburg High School and Pittsburg State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work. She worked for the Kansas Department of Social Rehabilitation Services for 33 years until her retirement in July 2012. She married Richard “Bud” Jones on Feb. 10, 2001. He sur...
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Richard Lloyd Bassett Sr.
PALO ALTO, Calif. — Richard Lloyd Bassett Sr., 88, of Palo Alto, Calif., formerly of Chetopa, died at his home Sunday, May 5, 2013, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was born on March 13, 1925, in Chetopa to Edgar and Ada (Bray) Bassett. He attended school in Chetopa and also took classes at Hampton University. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was employed by Leonard Ely, later known as Anderson Chevrolet, wher...
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Oletha J. (Campbell) Lawson
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Oletha J. (Campbell) Lawson, 69, of Independence, Mo., died Friday, May 10, 2013, at St. Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit, Mo. She was born on July 11, 1943, in Parsons to Oleth and Grace (Johnson) Campbell. She grew up and attended school in Parsons. On Dec. 28, 1958, she married Orville D. “Shorty” Lawson in Altamont. He preceded her in death on Oct. 9, 1995. She worked for Rival Co. Survivors include two sons, Cliff ...
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Jerry Dale Lewis
HOUSTON — Jerry Dale Lewis, 65, passed away on April 28, 2013, in Houston. Mr. Lewis spent most of his career as an engineer for M&H Energy Services in Houston. He worked until the time of his cancer diagnoses in November 2012. Jerry was born on July 28, 1947, in Delano, Calif., to Leamon Elsie and Ima LaVerne (Harrell) Lewis and was raised to adulthood in the Tulsa area. He graduated from high school in 1965 at Broken Arrow, Okla., and was ...
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Oletha (Campbell) Lawson
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Oletha (Campbell) Lawson, 69, of Independence, Mo., formerly of Altamont, died Friday, May 10, 2013, at St. Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit, Mo. She was preceded in death by her husband, Orville “Shorty” Lawson, on Oct. 9, 1995. The graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Altamont. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time Monday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home ...
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Lou Ann Bergkamp
CHETOPA — Lou Ann Bergkamp, 71, of Chetopa died at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.  She was born on April 3, 1942, in Wichita to Alphons and Cecilia (Spexarth) Eck. She grew up on a farm near St. Marks and was a graduate of Andale High School. On July 26, 1961, she married Fred J. Bergkamp in St. Marks. Following marriage, the couple lived in Colorado, where they farmed and ranched until moving to Southeast ...
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Chester S. Suchyta
Chester S. Suchyta, 89, of Parsons died at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at Labette Health in Parsons.  He was born on Nov. 11, 1923, in Detroit to Ignatius and Frances (Jaroz) Suchyta. He grew up in Detroit, where he attended St. John’s Cantius Catholic School. For a time, he worked at Civilian Conservation Corps camps and also as a machinist at Mirror Manufacturing Co. He served in the U.S. Navy from January 1942 through October 1947. Upon...
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Rex D. Richter
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Rex D. Richter, 81, of Kansas City, Kan., died on Tuesday, May 7, 2013. Survivors include his daughter, Rachelle Shriver and her husband, Randy, and their two sons, Riley and Drake; a stepdaughter, Carol Warford and her husband, James; a stepson, Joseph Bright and his wife, Martha; a brother, Earl Glen Richter and his wife, Pat, of Stockton; as well as other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary ...
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Chester S. Suchyta
Chester S. Suchyta, 89, of Parsons died at 5:05 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at Labette Health in Parsons. He was preceded in death by his wife, Maria Ana (Kujawa) Suchyta, on April 4, 1996. Survivors include his daughter, Dianne Yarbrough and her husband, Dr. Gary Yarbrough, of Parsons. The requiem 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 pray...
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Lou Ann Bergkamp
CHETOPA — Lou Ann Bergkamp, 71, of Chetopa died at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Bergkamp, on Oct. 6, 2011. The funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mother of God Catholic Church in Oswego.  Burial will be in St. Rose Cemetery in Chetopa. The rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. Friday at the church, where the family will receive friends immediately followin...
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William Francis Scaletty
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Father, grandfather, World War II veteran and businessman William Francis Scaletty, 86, of Kansas City, Mo., died Saturday, May 4, 2013. William was born on July 6, 1926, in Parsons to Frank and Emma Scaletty. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic grade school and Parsons High School. He graduated from Rockhurst College in 1949. William worked for Graybar Electric in Kansas City, Mo., until he started his own business in 1970 as a...
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Robert J. Morgan
WICHITA — Robert J. Morgan, 91, of Wichita died Saturday, May 4, 2013. He was born on March 8, 1922, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Harry K. and Minnie (Hohenstein) Morgan. He graduated from high school in Sioux City and joined the U.S. Marines, fighting in World War II and the Korean War. He then joined the U.S. Air Force, from which he retired after 20 years of service. He married Rosella I. Foister in 1947. She preceded him in death. Survivors inc...
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Joan Lero
Joan Lero, 79, of Parsons died Friday, May 3, 2013, at Freeman Health System in Joplin. She was born on July 16, 1933, in Mayetta to Glen and Cecelia (Aitkens) Hedrick. She grew up in the Topeka area. She graduated from the Labette Community College nursing program and became a registered nurse. She was employed for more than 30 years as a nurse at Parsons Presbyterian Manor. Earlier she had worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant. She was ...
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Naomi Simmons Bradshaw
WALNUT — Naomi Simmons Bradshaw, 84, of Walnut died at 8 a.m. Sunday, May 5, 2013, at her home. She was born on May 17, 1928, in Parsons to Raymond E. and Ruth (Hunt) Sharp. She graduated from Erie High School in 1946. She attended Parsons Junior College and Pittsburg State University, earning a bachelor of arts degree in journalism. On Aug. 10, 1951, she married George Richard Simmons in Erie. He preceded her in death on Jan. 1, 1984. She m...
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Jennifer Sue Burrows
BOLIVAR, Mo. — Jennifer Sue Burrows, 44, of Bolivar, Mo., died on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at Cox South Hospital, Springfield, Mo. Jennifer Sue Spear was born on Sept. 20, 1968, to Gary and Pat (Miller) Spear in Parsons. She graduated from Olathe South High School in 1986 and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 2008 from Drury University in Springfield. Mrs. Burrows was a beloved preschool teacher for t...
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Maxine Louise Lewis
HUMANSVILLE, Mo. — Maxine Louise Lewis, 92, of Humansville, Mo., died Monday evening, April 29, 2013, at Big Spring Care Center in Humansville. She was born on May 13, 1920, in Howard to Enos and Ines Mayne. She married Cornelius Elijah Lewis on May 13, 1936, in Sedan. He preceded her in death. She was a homemaker. Survivors include two daughters, Kathina Lakin of Humansville and Karen O’Neal of Umatilla, Fla.; two sons, James Lewis of Rogersv...
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Robert William Jones
LEAVENWORTH — Robert William “Bob” Jones, 78, of Leavenworth died Wednesday, April 17, 2013. He was born on Aug. 29, 1934, in Independence to George and Eva Jones. He served in the U.S. Air Force in the Korean War and later served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He graduated from Pittsburg State University with a degree in accounting. He worked for the federal General Accounting Office, retiring in 1993 after 35 years of service. He is survive...
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