Obituaries
James E. ‘Jimmy’ Fitzwater
James E. “Jimmy” Fitzwater, 43, of Parsons died at 10:40 a.m. Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at Labette Health. He had been in his usual health, and death was unexpected. He was born March 20, 1967, in Parsons to James D. and Marie (Martin) Fitzwater. He grew up in Parsons, where he attended schools and was a graduate of Parsons High School. In earlier years, he worked at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center and was a truck driver for S...
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Donald Wade Marchant
HOWARD — Donald W. “Don” Marchant, 51, of Howard died on Tuesday, July 6, 2010, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He was born on April 21, 1959, in West Plains, Mo., to Wade and Nadine (Shipley) Marchant. Don served in the Army National Guard for 23 years earning the rank of master sergeant. He most recently worked for Aerospace Industries in Fredonia as a machinist. He married Elizabeth Woodworth on Aug. 28, 2003, in Miami, Okla. She s...
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James Fitzwater
James Fitzwater, 43, of Parsons died at 10:49 a.m. Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at Labette Health. He had been in his usual health, and death was unexpected. Complete obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announced by Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Carol Jeanette Rodriguez
AMARILLO, Texas — Carol Jeanette Rodriguez, 66, of Amarillo, Texas, died on Tuesday, July 6, 2010, at Amarillo. She was born on Aug. 2, 1943, in Parsons to Howard and Lorraine Hart. She graduated from Parsons High School in 1961. She attended college in Wichita, where she became an LVN. She married Elias Rodriguez on June 25, 1968, in Newkirk, Okla. He survives. She worked at Winfield Mental Hospital for 10 years. She also worked as a beaut...
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Darlene M. Szelipajlo
COFFEYVILLE — Darlene M. Szelipajlo, 76, of Coffeyville died Friday, July 2, 2010, at her home. She was born Jan. 15, 1934, in Coffeyville to Leslie and Addie P. (Pierce) Rosson. Mrs. Szelipajlo worked at Kansas Army Ammunition Plant for 28 years, retiring in 1995 to be caretaker for her mother. Survivors include two sons, E. Michael Szelipajlo and Skip Shy, both of Coffeyville; two daughters, Jackie Waddle and her husband, Jim, of Lane an...
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Mary ‘JoAnn’ Fowler
STILLWATER, Okla. — Mary “JoAnn” Fowler, 70, of Stillwater, Okla., died on Saturday, July 3, 2010, in Stillwater. She was born May 25, 1940, in Parsons to Orrie and Eunice (Hart) Shields. She graduated from Labette County High School in Altamont and later earned a license in cosmetology. She married Charles Fowler on July 2, 1960, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. He survives of the home. Mrs. Fowler worked at Grace Living Center...
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Michael Joseph Thomas
DODGE CITY — Michael Joseph Thomas, 84, died Thursday, July 1, 2010, at Sterling House of Dodge City. He was born on Nov. 30, 1925, at St. Paul to Lawrence Alva and Theresa Henrietta (Scharfen) Thomas. He graduated from school in St. Paul. He was employed at Fairmount Foods. He served during World War II with the 10th Mountain Division. On Oct. 15, 1950, he married Ines Noreen Wendel at Dodge City. She preceded him in death on Oct. 5, 1994. Su...
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Marshall Dean Keller
ORONOGO, Mo. — Marshall Dean Keller, the 3 1/2-month-old son of Christopher “Chris” and Jamie (Vitt) Keller of Oronogo, Mo., died Thursday, July 1, 2010. His death was unexpected. He was born March 15, 2010, in Joplin. Survivors include his parents, Chris and Jamie Keller of the home in Oronogo, Mo.; a brother, Carson Keller of the home; paternal grandparents, Keith and Leslie Keller of rural Parsons; maternal grandparents, Robert “Bob” and ...
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Louise Marie WalkerWalker
Louise Marie Walker, 97, of Parsons died at 4:42 p.m. Thursday, July 1, 2010, at Labette Health in Parsons. She and her twin sister, Lucille, were born Feb. 2, 1913, in Parsons to Truman and Inez (Grimes) Bidwell. Mr. Bidwell died in 1918 during the flu epidemic. Later, Mrs. Bidwell married Harve Bendure, who helped raise the family. She attended Parsons schools, graduating from Parsons High School in 1931. She graduated from Olson’s Business ...
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Harold E. Karry
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Harold E. Karry, 76, of Oklahoma City, Okla., went to be with the Lord on Monday, June 28, 2010. He was born in Neosho County on the family farm on June 24, 1934, to Pauline (Durham) and John P. Karry. He married his high school sweetheart, K. Nadine Beckwith, on May 29, 1953, at First Methodist Church of Parsons. Harold was a 27-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving as a jet engine mechanic in Okinawa, Japan...
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Elsie Louise Gilfillan
EDNA — Elsie Louise Gilfillan, 102, of Edna died at 9:10 a.m. Wednesday, June 30, 2010, at Elmhaven East in Parsons. She was born Aug. 29, 1907, in Indian Territory, Okla., to Augustus and Lucy (Miller) Banzet. As a young girl, she grew up and attended rural schools in Labette County. She was a graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont and earned a teaching certificate from Pittsburg State Teachers College. She taught 16...
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Geraldine Warren
Geraldine Warren, 61, of Parsons died at 9:48 p.m. Friday, June 25, 2010, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was born July 13, 1948, in Parsons to DeVore and Minor (Johnson) Holland. She grew up in Parsons, where she attended Douglass and McKinley elementary schools, was a 1966 graduate of Parsons High School and earned an associate degree from Parsons Junior College. Through the years, she worked at Fred Ronald Manufacturing, Swift Co...
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Oda Mary Dawson
ST. PAUL — Oda Mary Dawson, 89, of St. Paul, a former longtime Erie resident, died at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, June 26, 2010, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. She was born Dec. 6, 1920, in Harrison, Ark., to Lewis M. and Nancy Elizabeth (Jones) Newberry. As a young girl, she grew up and attended school in Harrison, and at the age of 19 moved to Erie. She married William “Bill” Melborn Dawson on Jan. 21, 1942, in Erie. The cou...
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Lillie Belle Dresher
OSWEGO — Lillie Belle Dresher, 90, of Oswego died on Saturday, June 26, 2010, at Chetopa Manor in Chetopa. She was surrounded by many members of her loving family. She was born in a log cabin in Benton County, Ark., near Decatur, the ninth child of Don P. and Maude (Leggett) DeWitt on Feb. 24, 1920. She moved to Chetopa at age 2 1/2 and attended several area rural grade schools, returning to graduate Chetopa High School in 1939. She recent...
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Ronald D. ‘Ron’ Blake
Ronald D. “Ron” Blake, 54, of Parsons was pronounced dead on Sunday afternoon, June 27, 2010, at his home. His death was unexpected. He was born on Oct. 19, 1955, at Parsons to Robert F. and Lois L. (McMillan) Blake. He grew up at Parsons and attended Parsons schools, graduating from Parsons High School in 1973. He worked at C&M Motors in Independence for many years as a mechanic. He was baptized at the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Parsons....
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John Joseph Kelly
WINFIELD — John Joseph Kelly Jr., 73, of Winfield died Saturday, June 26, 2010, at his residence. He was born March 13, 1937, in Wichita to John J. and Grace M. (Holman) Kelly. He married Wilberta “Billie” Peters on March 1, 1957, in Miami, Okla. He worked as an inspector and parts handler at the G.E. Jet Engine Maintenance Facility at Strother Field for 27 years, retiring in 1997. Survivors include his wife, Billie, of the home; two son...
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David Stucky
David Stucky, 88, a lifelong resident of the Peabody and Burns area, died there at 12:30 a.m. Saturday, June 26, 2010. He had been in failing health. He was born in Moundridge on Dec. 8, 1921, to Peter I. and Ida J. C. (Gehring) Stucky. On Aug. 5, 1945, he married Esther J. Hess. For much of his adult life he farmed and in later years worked as a carpet layer for the Baker Furniture Store of Peabody. He was a member of the First Mennonit...
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Kenneth Eugene Cary
BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Kenneth Eugene Cary, local resident of Broken Arrow, Okla., was born Jan. 21, 1918, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He died Friday, June 18, 2010, in Broken Arrow, Okla., at the age of 92 years. He was reared and educated in Tulsa before moving his senior year of high school to Edna, Kansas. He completed his secondary education and graduated with the Edna High School Class of 1936. He was married Oct. 16, 1938, at McCune, Kansas,...
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Robert ‘Bob’ Charles Collins
STARK — Robert “Bob” Charles Collins, 80, of Stark died Friday, June 25, 2010, at his home. He was born April 1, 1930, the son of Oral and Dorothy (Richwine) Collins. He attended and graduated from Grant Township High School. He attended Neosho County Community College for a year. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1950. He was inducted Jan. 8, 1951, and discharged Oct. 21, 1954. He served during the Korean War on Bairoko, an air craft carrier, ...
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Geraldine Warren
Geraldine Warren, 61, of Parsons died at 9:48 p.m. Friday, June 25, 2010, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. She was preceded in death by her husband, Homer Warren Jr., on Oct. 22, 2002. The service will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Kingdom Gates or the Lupus F...
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