Obituaries
Brian Lee Burris
PITTSBURG — Brian Lee Burris, 49, of Pittsburg died at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 16, 2013, in the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg.      He was born Aug. 9, 1963, in Walnut Creek, Calif., a son of Raymond Doyle and Linda Sue (Gilmore) Burris.      The family moved to Parsons in 1968 and to Pittsburg in 1974; Brian graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1981. He attended Pittsburg State University for three years.      He worked in the mail room a...
full story
Kay George
LA CYGNE — Kay George, 66, of La Cygne died Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at her home. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Schneider Funeral Home & Crematory La Cygne Chapel. A memorial graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, June 24, in the East Hill Cemetery at Erie. The family suggests contributions to the Linn County Sharing Bucket or La Cygne Public Library. Online condolences may be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
full story
Clyde Elmer Michael
Clyde Elmer Michael, 79, of Parsons died Sunday, June 16, 2013, at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita. He had been in failing health since 1993. He was born Aug. 11, 1933, at Liberal to Charles Elmer “Sam” and Lois Edna (Duncan) Michael. He served in the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1958 and was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. His primary duties were as an aircraft electrician on heavy bombers, B-36s and B-52s...
full story
Phyllis D. Smith
Phyllis D. Smith, 86, of Parsons went to be with her heavenly Father at 12:35 p.m. Saturday, June 15, 2013. She went very peacefully in her sleep at her son’s home. She was born in Coffeyville on Sept. 16, 1926, to Orville Clyde and Doris Viola (Merrick) Creath. She married Lewis A. “Art” Smith in Coffeyville and they were the parents of two children, Jimmey Richard Smith and Vickey Lee (Smith) Reel, both of Parsons. While living in Coffeyvil...
full story
Gary A. 'Jay' Austin Jr.
Gary A. “Jay” Austin Jr., 44, of Parsons died Saturday, June 15, 2013, at his home. He had been in his usual health and death was not expected. He is survived by his wife, Holly Austin, of the home. Following cremation, the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home. Complete obituary details will be announced. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
full story
Wanda Sharp
CHETOPA — Wanda Sharp, 83, of Chetopa, died at 8:50 a.m. Sunday, June 16, 2013, at Chetopa Manor.             A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Greenlawn Cemetery near Columbus.             Complete obituary details will be announced by Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.             Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
full story
Henry L. Mosher
CHETOPA — Henry L. Mosher, 77, of Chetopa died Thursday, June 13, 2013, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin.              Complete obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announced by the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.             Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
full story
Betty Denney
Betty Denney, 86, of Parsons died at 3:25 a.m. Thursday, June 13, 2013, at Elmhaven East. She was preceded in death by her husband, Everett Denney, in November 1988. The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Thayer Christian Church. Burial will be in Harrison Cemetery near Thayer.  The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Thayer Christian Church Pre-School Pro...
full story
Gertrude Anne 'Gretchen' Belfield
PITTSBURG — Gertrude Anne "Gretchen" Belfield, 78 of Pittsburg died at 1:47 a.m. Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at Via Christi Village in Pittsburg. She was born Nov. 18, 1934, in St. Paul the daughter of George and Nellie (Judge) Vitt.  On Sept. 6, 1958, she married Robert V. Belfield in Lake Geneva, Wis. He died on May 11, 2004. Mrs. Belfield was the director of nursing for Shields Adult Care Home. Survivors include two daughters, Robin Carson of...
full story
Robert G. Carter Sr.
Robert G. Carter Sr., 89, of Chetopa died at 8:20 p.m. Monday, June 10, 2013, at Labette Health.  He was born Nov. 26, 1923, in Chetopa to Robert G. and Quintillis (White) Carter. He grew up and attended school in Chetopa, where he was a 1942 graduate of Chetopa High School. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy. Through the years, he worked as an electrician at Farmland Co-op Refinery in Coffeyville until retiring in 1980....
full story
Jimmy L. Samples
Jimmy L. Samples, 67, of Parsons died Saturday, June 8, 2013, at his home. He was born May 23, 1946, to Tommy and Betty (Newkirk) Samples in Bluejacket, Okla. Survivors include three daughters whom he loved so much, Jodie, Julie and Jane; three sisters, Shirl Toynton, LaVena Kelley of Parsons and Teena Davis of Scammon; a brother, Roy Samples of Parsons; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Dot Cooper. By his...
full story
Janice L. Cumings
MOLINE — Janice L. Cumings, 55, of Moline and a former Dennis resident, died early Sunday evening, June 9, 2013, at the Sedan City Hospital Emergency Room. She was born on May 14, 1958, at Parsons to Sydney Jackson "Jack" and Louise (Hoag) Langston. She grew up near Dennis and attended Dennis and Mound Valley schools. She graduated from Labette County High School in 1976. She graduated from Coffeyville Community College with an associate’...
full story
Robert G. Carter Sr.
CHETOPA — Robert G. Carter Sr., 89, of Chetopa died at 8:20 p.m. Monday, June 10, 2013, at Labette Health in Parsons. He is survived by his wife, Wilma Carter, of the home. Complete obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announced by Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
full story
Lois Cook-Copeland
Lois Cook-Copeland, 76, of Parsons died at 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 7, 2013, at the home of her son, Scott Cook, in Joplin. On June 15, 1936, at Mars Hill, Maine, she was born to Elmer and Ida Rowena (Hawksley) Hallett. She grew up at Mars Hill and attended schools there. She also attended church and lived by the Pentecostal faith. She owned and operated a day care in her home for many years. She enjoyed doing crossword scratch-offs, baking...
full story
Janice L. Cumings
Janice L. Cumings, 55, of Moline and a former Dennis resident, died early Sunday evening, June 9, 2013, at the Sedan City Hospital Emergency Room. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Harmony Grove Cemetery near Dennis. Friends may call at the funeral home at their convenience. Memorials are suggested to the Bentley Boren Educational Fund and these may be left at or mailed to...
full story
Lois Cook-Copeland
Lois Cook-Copeland, 76, of Parsons died at 5:30 p.m. June 7, 2013, at Joplin. She had been in failing health. Further obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announce by Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
full story
Dr. Homer F. Neil
ROANOKE, Va. — Dr. Homer F. Neil, 89, retired Parsons dentist, died at 2:10 p.m. Monday, June 10, 2013, at the Virginia Veterans Care Center in Roanoke, Va. His wife, Clarice, survives. Arrangements will be announced by Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Parsons.
full story
Mildred M. Dick
Mildred M. Dick, 89, of Parsons died at 9:06 a.m. Sunday, June 9, 2013, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin.  She was born Sept. 26, 1923, in Waterloo to Louis S. and Mary E. (Rohling) Meng. As a young girl, she grew up and attended school in Kingman County. During World War II, she worked at Boeing in Wichita. On April 12, 1944, she married Lawrence P. Dick at St. Boniface Church in Sharon. Following her husband’s discharge from the Navy, they liv...
full story
Mildred Louise Smoot
AFTON, Okla. — Mildred Louise Smoot, 92, formerly of Afton, Okla., passed away Thursday, June 6, 2013, in Olathe. Mildred was born Nov. 17, 1920, to Lawrence and Mabel Frances (Townsend) Bergmann in Beattie. She married Robert Bennett Smoot in Las Vegas. She was of the Methodist faith. She loved cooking and gardening, quilting, spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed the lake life, especially with her grandchildren and great-g...
full story
Albert Leon Erwin
Albert Leon Erwin, 62, of Parsons died at 11:45 p.m. Thursday, June 6, 2013, at his home. He had been in failing health since January. He was born on April 11, 1951, at Kansas City, Mo., to Jackson and Orpha (Granser) Erwin. He grew up at Kansas City and attended Kansas City schools, graduating from Northeast High School in Kansas City. He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Following his honorable discharge he moved ...
full story