Obituaries
Marybel Qualls Shepard
MARIETTA, Ga. — Marybel Qualls Shepard, 92, of Marietta, Ga., died of natural causes Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012. She was born on May 19, 1920, to Lou Tom and Maria (Uselton) Qualls in Murfreesboro, Tenn., where she grew up with her many brothers and sisters. She attended Murfreesboro’s Central High School, graduating in 1938. She later attended business college and worked for many years as the head of accounts at Goldstein’s Department Store in M...
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Nan Powell
COLUMBIA, Md. — Nan Powell, 81, Columbia, Md., died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, at Johns Hopkins. The daughter of Keeney and Ruthanna (Wright) Charles, Nan was born July 21, 1931, in Atchison. She spent most of her youth and young adult life in Parsons. She was a graduate of Parsons High School and the University of Kansas, where she met her husband, Charles Powell. He preceded her in death in 2010 after 56 years of marriage. Nan taught in the ...
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Mary Cook
FORT SCOTT — Mary Cook, 96, of Fort Scott died Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, at Fort Scott Manor. She was born on April 13, 1916, in Auxvase, Mo., to Scott and Belva (Shirkey) Golden. Following high school, she obtained a two-year teacher’s degree from Pittsburg State Teachers College. She married Paul Asher Cook on Dec. 23, 1944. He preceded her in death on March 22, 1999. She taught fifth and sixth grades for the Labette County School District for ...
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Belinda J. ‘Lindy’ Overman
BLUEJACKET, Okla. — Belinda J. “Lindy” Overman, 54, of Bluejacket, Okla., died at 5:35 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa. Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Archie A. Neill
WELCH, Okla. — Archie A. Neill, 81, of Welch, Okla., died on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, at his home after a sudden illness. He was born on May 14, 1931, in Coffeyville to Floyd Edward and Nine Belle (Spears) Neill. He was a graduate of Welch High School. He married Betty S. Keithly on Dec. 14, 1987, in Miami, Okla. She preceded him in death on April 8, 2012. He worked for Neill Feed Lot for many years before retiring. Survivors include a son, J...
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Betty Jean Oler
GRAVETTE, Ark. — Betty Jean Oler, 68, of Gravette, Ark., died Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012. She was born on Feb. 22, 1944, in Parsons to John and Hazel (Cline) Daniels. She taught school in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma for many years. She is survived by her daughter, Connie Brock of Hiwasse, Ark.; and four grandsons. She was preceded in death by her parents. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bella Vista Funeral Home Chapel, 2258 Fo...
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Lyle E. Phillips
Lyle E. Phillips, 88, of Parsons died at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, in the emergency room of Labette Health in Parsons. Death was unexpected. Lyle Elton Phillips was born on Aug. 16, 1924, to Homer and Marchie (Payton) Phillips on a farm northwest of Oswego. He attended Labette County rural schools and graduated from Labette County Community High School in 1943. He was inducted into the Army on July 2, 1943. While serving in the Pacif...
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Kenneth Edward Herold
ALTAMONT — Kenneth Edward Herold, 92, of Altamont died at 11:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, at Labette Health. He was born June 3, 1920, in Spearville to Louis and Cressie (Tubbs) Herold. He was a graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont. During World War II, he served in the Army as a communication specialist in the Pacific Theatre.  He married Mary Ethel Dennis on Dec. 22, 1940, in Chanute. Through the years, he farmed w...
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Kenneth Edward Herold
ALTAMONT — Kenneth Edward Herold, 92, of Altamont died at 11:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, at Labette Health in Parsons. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ethel Herold, of the home. The service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Grace Baptist Church in Altamont. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. The funeral home will announce complete ...
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Ron Craven
ERIE — Ron Craven, 61, a lifelong Erie resident, died unexpectedly at 7:11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012, in the emergency room at Labette Health in Parsons. He was born on July 9, 1951, at Parsons to Verle and Helen (Shaw) Craven. He grew up at Erie and attended Erie schools, graduating from Erie High School in 1969. He attended Kansas State College of Pittsburg (Pittsburg State University) and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business admi...
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Paul LeRoy Johnston
LAWRENCE — Paul LeRoy Johnston, 78, of rural Lawrence died Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012, at his home. He was born on June 8, 1934, at home in rural Bartlett. Between these dates he lived a full and productive life. Paul attended grade school in Bartlett. While growing up, he was a member of the Country Pals 4-H Club in Labette County. He was active in the livestock, leadership and citizenship projects and was president of a state 4-H organization. ...
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Patricia A. Drake
Patricia A. Drake, 59, of Parsons died on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, in Parsons. She was born on Dec. 21, 1952, to Nathan and Elizabeth (Garoutte) Hurst in Wichita. Patricia dedicated her life to her family and friends. Survivors include her parents; four children, Carrie Drake, Kimberly Morales, Nathan Drake and Denise Huskey and her husband, Steven; 11 grandchildren, Joseph, Clayton, Justice, Cassell Jr., Estephon, Tanner, Chase, Aidan, Crist...
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Wendell E. Hughes
TULSA — Wendell E. Hughes, 74, of Tulsa, formerly of Chetopa, died at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, at Maplewood Care Center in Tulsa. He was born on Sept. 14, 1938, in Opp, Ala., to Johnnie L. and Annie Lee (Sasser) Hughes. He was a 1957 graduate of Chetopa High School. Following high school, he served in the U.S. Army. He had worked as produce manager at Albertson’s Grocery Store. He married Francis Getto on Feb. 5, 1965, in Oswego. Sh...
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Joseph M. ‘Joe’ Mayfield
CHETOPA — Joseph M. “Joe” Mayfield, 82, of Chetopa died at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, at Chetopa Manor. He had been in failing health. He was born on Aug. 10, 1930, in rural Cherokee County to Claude and Charlotte (Miller) Mayfield. He was raised in Chetopa and graduated from Chetopa High School. He did construction and plumbing work. He married Betty Jo Ballard on Aug. 7, 1949, in Chetopa. She preceded him in death on April 22, 1988. He...
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Donald C. Stacy
CHERRYVALE — Donald C. Stacy, 82, of Cherryvale died on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, at his home. Donald Clyde Stacy was born on Feb. 24, 1930, in Labette County to Clarence Stacy and Essie (Frew) Stacy. He grew up in Cherryvale and graduated from Cherryvale High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Army from Sept. 10, 1948, until honorably discharged Sept. 11, 1951, attaining the rank of sergeant. On Aug. 29, 1952, at Pasco, Wash., he married Ma...
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Wendell Hughes
CHETOPA — Wendell Hughes, 73, of Chetopa died at 3:10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012, at Maplewood Care Center in Tulsa. Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Chetopa will announce further obituary details and funeral arrangements later.
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Joseph Mayfield
CHETOPA — Joseph Mayfield, 82, of Chetopa died at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, at Chetopa Manor nursing home in Chetopa. The service will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Family will receive friends from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. The funeral home will announce further obituary details later.
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Howard L. Blundell Jr.
COLUMBUS — Howard L. Blundell Jr., 64, of Columbus, formerly of Chetopa, died at 3:42 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Oklahoma City.  He was born on June 10, 1948, in Chetopa to Howard Blundell Sr. and Goldie Maxine (Baker) Blundell. He was a 1967 graduate of Chetopa High School and earned an associate’s degree from Labette Community College. During the Vietnam War, he served in the U.S. Army.  He w...
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Dean E. Westhoff
NORTHBRIDGE, Mass. — Dean E. Westhoff, 47, of Whitinsville, Mass., died unexpectedly at his home on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012. He was born on July 24, 1965, in Parsons to Bernard and Lois (Miller) Westhoff. He was raised in Cherryvale and graduated from Labette County High School in 1986. He served honorably with the U.S. Army from 1986 to 1989, earning the rank of sergeant and an Army Achievement Medal and Parachutist Badge, among other decoratio...
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Margaret Jeanne Russell
ALTOONA — Margaret Jeanne Russell, 84, a longtime resident of rural Altoona, died Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, at St. Joseph Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo. She was born on Sept. 1, 1928, in Neodesha to Harry and Agnes “Marie” (Steele) Green. She was a 1946 graduate of Altoona High School. On Oct. 17, 1954, at Altoona United Methodist Church, she married Floyd Arthur Russell. He preceded her in death on May 26, 2011. She was employed at the Ga...
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