Robert M. Myers

Robert M. Myers, 58, of Parsons died at 1:20 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, at the home of his mother in Parsons. He had been in failing health.

He was born in Parsons on Jan. 6, 1954, to Robert M. and Sylvia M. (Tunstall) Myers Sr. and he lived in various places throughout his life. He worked as a welder on oil rigs.
Survivors include his companion, Shauna Walker of Parsons; his mother, Sylvia Myers of Parsons; two sons, Jason Anderson of Vancouver, Wash., and Jesse Myers of Rhode Island; a daughter, Bobbie Cree Myers of El Dorado; four grandchildren; three brothers, John Marlnee fo Leon, Howard Huff of Columbus, Ohio, and Ron Myers of Parsons; and a sister, Rhonda Myers of Parsons.

He was preceded in death by his father; two brothers, Dan Myers and Roger Myers; and a sister, Trudy Sillars.

The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the family to assist with expenses.

Basil Earl Swalley

CHANUTE — Basil Earl Swalley, 65, of Chanute died Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, at his home.

He was born Jan. 24, 1947, in Maryville, Mo., the son of Joseph and Nellie (Thompson) Swalley. He graduated from North Nodaway High School, Hopkins, Mo.

He married Janice Vassar on Feb. 4, 1978, in Maryville, Mo. She survives of the home. The couple lived in Chanute for 20 years.

Mr. Swalley was a longtime cable television professional and had served as a cable system technical supervisor.

Other survivors include his daughters, Kim Swalley of Humboldt and Amber Swalley of Chanute; two granddaughters, Janae and Kaitlyn Bartlett; and a sister, Ardith Zion of Maryville, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Oak Hill Cemetery in Maryville, Mo. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel, Chanute, and from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Price Funeral Chapel in Maryville, Mo.

Memorials may be made to Autism Speaks and may be left with the Chanute funeral home.

Online condolences may be left with www.penwellgabelchanute.com.

Lela Dean Davidson

OSWEGO —Lela Dean Davidson, 97, of Oswego went to be with her Lord on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, at Oswego Community Hospital.

Dean was born Dec. 1, 1914, in Salem, Mo., to Eddie A. Hulsey and Sara E. Nelson. In 1916, the family moved to Welch, Okla. She attended Welch School and graduated in 1931 from Welch High School.

On Sept. 5, 1937, she married Freeman Davidson. They moved to Tulsa, where she worked for the Bank of Oklahoma, retiring after 25 years of service. In 1972, they moved to Grand Lake, and in 1998, to Oswego to be close to family.

She gave her life to Jesus at the Cincinnati Avenue Christian Church in Tulsa on Oct. 14, 1949. She was a member of the Oswego Christian Church at the time of her death.

Survivors include a brother and sister-in-law, Edwin and Kay Hulsey of Coffeyville; a nephew and wife, Larry and Jerg Frogley of Oswego; a niece and husband, Fred and Freda Walker of Marietta, Okla., whom she considered her children; as well as many other nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Freeman; a sister, Lucille Smith; and two brothers, Glen and Ray.

At Dean's request, she will be cremated. No services will be held and she will be buried along side her husband, Freeman, in the Fairview Cemetery at Vinita, Okla., at a later time.

Memorials may be made to the Oswego Christian Church, P.O. Box 127, Oswego, 67356.

Helen Louise O’Toole 

GIRARD — Helen Louise O’Toole, 89, of Girard died at 11:20 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, at the Heritage Nursing Home in Girard. 

She was born Nov 1, 1922, near St. Paul the daughter of John and Lena Christina (Boehlen-Winkler) Bergmann. She was raised and attended school in the St. Paul area.

She married Sylvester O’Toole on May 20, 1941, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Greenbush. He preceded her in death on Nov. 18, 1988. They lived in the Greenbush area before moving to Girard in 1988. She was a homemaker.

She was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Girard and a past member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Greenbush.

Survivors include sons, Jim O’Toole and his wife, Margaret, Steve O’Toole and his wife, Susan, Mike O’Toole and his wife, Kathy, and Tim O’Toole, all of Girard, Ed O’Toole and his wife, Betty, of Bedford, Texas, Ronnie O’Toole and his wife, Norita, of McCune and Bill O’Toole and his wife, Roxanne, of Choctaw, Okla.; a daughter, Chris Cox of Girard; 22 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren; a sister, Ruby Westhoff of Walnut; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Patricia Kay O’Toole in 1952; a granddaughter, Melissa Grant in 2001; sisters, Edna Mishler, Bertha Maffei and Marguerite “Toots” George; and brothers, Bill Bergmann, John Bergmann, Bob Bergmann and an infant brother, Carl Frederick Bergmann.

Mass of a Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Girard with the Rev. Roger Lumbre officiating.  Burial will follow in the St. Aloysius Cemetery, Greenbush. The parish rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. today at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, where the family will receive friends following the rosary. Friends can sign the register book after 2 p.m. today at St. Michael’s Catholic Church.

Memorials can be made to the St. Aloysius Historical Society. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. Fourth St., Pittsburg, 66762.

Friends may leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com. 

Michael J. 'Mike' Holsinger

Michael J. “Mike” Holsinger, 59, of Parsons died at 3:10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. He is survived by his wife, Loretta Holsinger, of the home.

The service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to an educational fund for his grandchildren. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Complete obituary details will be announced.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.

Eunice Irene Ventle Whetstone

CHETOPA — Eunice Irene Ventle Whetstone, 85, of Chetopa died at 8:05 a.m. Monday, Aug. 6, 2012, at Chetopa Manor Nursing Home. 

The service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Faith Baptist Church or Community Bible Church, both of Chetopa. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, 67336.

Complete obituary details will be announced.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.

James L. 'Jim' Ross

James L. “Jim” Ross, 68, of rural Parsons died at 8:25 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, 2012, at his home. He is survived by his wife, Norma “Karleen” Ross, of the home.

Following cremation, a graveside committal service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Liberty Cemetery near Liberty. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont.

Memorials are suggested to the Mound Valley Christian Church or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, 67330.

Complete obituary details will be announced.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.

 

 

Cynthia A. Murray

LAWRENCE — Cynthia A. Murray, 63, died at her home in Lawrence on Friday, Aug. 3, 2012.

She was born on July 2, 1949, in Oklahoma City to Hal A. Burnett, M.D., and Elizabeth Klinglesmith Burnett. Her father was a decorated Army veteran who served in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster.  He practiced medicine in Parsons until his death from cancer in 1966.  Her mother, Elizabeth Burnett Whitt, is a resident of Brandon Woods in Lawrence. 

Cindy graduated from Parsons High School in 1967. She graduated from the University of Kansas in 1971 and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. During her senior year at KU, she studied at the University of Exeter, England, on a Rotary Scholarship. She was thereafter graduated from the University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1975 among the top three students in her class.

She married Thomas V. Murray on June 2, 1971. He survives of the home. 

She is also survived by her children, Anne C. Emert and son-in-law, Mark T. Emert, both of Lawrence, and Thomas V. Murray Jr. and daughter-in-law, Lisa R. Murray, of Santa Monica, Calif.; and her grandchild, Samuel Thomas Emert of Lawrence. 

She is also survived by her mother and her two sisters, Barbara Allen Burnett and spouse, Cass Kurzinski, of Choctaw, Ark., and Mallory Burnett of Albuquerque, N.M.

She was preceded in death by her youngest sister, Haydn Burnett McCulley Smith.

She served as a deacon in the First Presbyterian Church of Lawrence. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, the Twentieth Century Club, the Lawrence Country Club, the River Club and multiple book clubs, and served on the Kappa Kappa Gamma House board and was active the Lawrence chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae. She was a member of the American Nursing Association and the Kansas State Nursing Association.  She served on the Lawrence Dental Board, and also served as a member of the Board of Directors of DCCCA, of which she served as president from 2009 until the time of her death.

Cindy was one of the first teachers of prepared childbirth in Lawrence. She served as an obstetrical nurse at Lawrence Memorial Hospital from 1976 until 1986, and served as school nurse at Lawrence High School from 1989 until her retirement in 2009.  She volunteered for many organizations, including Just Food, Health Care Access and the LINK Kitchen. She also continued to substitute as a school nurse with the Lawrence school district until the time of her death. 

Cindy was known for her sincere willingness to help others, her generosity of spirit and her loving personality.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church. There will be no visitation.   

The family suggests memorials to the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Association, the Lawrence Schools Foundation and the Family Conservancy of Kansas City, Mo., which may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.

John David Spahn     

John David Spahn, 34, of Weir died on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2012, at his home.

He was born Sept. 21, 1977, at Columbus the son of Larry and Kathy (Short) Spahn. He graduated from Southeast High School in 1996 and then attended Pittsburg State University.

He worked for WATCO Inc. short line railroads.

On April 26, 1997, he married Deidre Johnston at First Church of the Nazarene in Pittsburg.

Survivors include his wife, Deidre Spahn of the home; two sons, Bryson and Kyler Spahn of the home; a daughter, Karlena Spahn of the home; his parents, Larry and Kathy Spahn of Weir; and a sister, Susan Bestor of Arma.

He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Jeff Johnston.

The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Church of the Nazarene of Pittsburg. Burial will follow in the Hosey Hill Cemetery west of Weir. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Brenner Mortuary.

A memorial has been established for the children’s education fund. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home at 114 E. Fourth St., Pittsburg,  66762.

Friends may leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com.