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 had been in failing health.

He was born Oct. 17, 1943, in Oklahoma City to James Carl and Opal Marie (Pinkston) Ross. As a child, he moved with his family to Southeast Kansas and was a graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont.

He was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif., while serving six years in the United States Marine Corps. Upon his honorable discharge, he worked as a meat cutter at Buckles in Independence before moving to Shawnee, Okla., and later Elk City, Okla., where he continued working as a meat cutter. He then taught meat cutting at the Federal Correctional Institute in El Reno, Okla., before returning to Labette County. Jim owned and operated his own deer processing business and was employed by the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center 18 years before retiring.

He was a member of the Mound Valley Christian Church, Brown Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Parsons, and the American Legion. He enjoyed fishing and especially enjoyed spending time with his five grandchildren.

He married Norma “Karleen” Allen on Oct. 23, 1965, in Dearing. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include a son, Timothy Carl "Tim" Ross of Chelsea, Okla.; a daughter, Linda Karleen Ross-Arnold of Mound Valley; five grandchildren, Kate Ross-Peper, Matt Ross, Sam Ross, Caleb Arnold and Jessica Arnold; and two sisters, Minnie Marie Birt of Girard and Eva Faye Ross of Liberty.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a son, Jeffrey Lee Ross.

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.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.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 was born April 24, 1953, in Parsons to Elmer J. and Dowana D. (Ewing) Holsinger. Mike grew up in Parsons where he attended schools and was a 1971 graduate of Parsons High School.

Following high school, he began his 40-year career with the railroad. Through the years, he had worked for both the Katy Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad, where he was currently employed as a carman.

He was a member of Our Father’s Vineyard in Parsons and the IAM TCU Local Lodge No. 6762. He enjoyed disc golf and had served as president of the Parsons Disc Golf Club. He also enjoyed fishing, drag racing and motorcycle riding. He loved being “Grandpa” to his seven grandchildren and especially enjoyed spending time with them and attending their sporting events.

He married Loretta White on Oct. 28, 1972, in Parsons. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include two sons, Sam Holsinger and his wife, Amanda, and Rick Holsinger and his wife, Kimi, all of Parsons; seven grandchildren, Kyleigh, Bethany, Bradyn, Logan, Eden, Sayler and Mila; two brothers, Elmer Holsinger and his wife, Brenda, of Watauga, Texas, and Tim Holsinger of Parsons and his wife, Trina, of Neodesha; and five sisters, Sherry Burke and her husband, Jim, of Parsons, Judy Burns and her husband, Jim, of Erie, Debbie Forbes and her husband, Jim, of Fenton, Mo., Mary Moore and her husband, Len, of Canon City, Colo., and Robin Watson and her husband, Donnie, of Weatherford, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his father, Elmer J. Holsinger, on May 27, 1996; his mother, Dowana D. Holsinger, on March 5, 2008; and two brothers, Randy Holsinger in 2002 and David Holsinger on July 11, 2011.

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.

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

 

Melinda Ann Carson Kinsaul

WILDWOOD, Mo. — Melinda Ann Carson Kinsaul, 50, of Wildwood, Mo., formerly of Parsons, went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012, after a 2 1/2 year battle with cancer. Melinda's fearless faith in God gave her a peace that surpasses all understanding and instead of asking "why" she had cancer, she asked "how" she could use it to help others. During her battle with cancer she had many opportunities to encourage others facing cancer or other serious illness and share with them the good news of God's love for them.

Melinda was born on Nov. 10, 1961, the youngest of four children, to Daniel W. and Roberta (Whetzel) Carson in Parsons.

Melinda was a cheerleader, played tennis and was voted homecoming queen at Parsons High School, from which she graduated in 1980. She also received a bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg.

Melinda married Russell Kinsaul on Jan. 21, 1989, on top of Taos Ski Mountain in New Mexico. Melinda enjoyed a career in public relations and marketing before she "retired" to focus her time and attention on raising her children, whom are a wonderful reflection of her intelligence, sense of humor and caring heart. Melinda was also committed to volunteering at church and in her community. She always had a way of calming the crying toddlers in the church nursery and setting new records for school and community fundraisers.

She is survived by her husband, Russell Kinsaul, of Wildwood, Mo.; her daughter, Brooke and son, Luke, both of Wildwood, Mo.; her mother, Roberta Carson of Parsons; and her brothers, Russell Carson and Daryl Carson, both of Parsons, and Rodney Carson of Joplin.

She was preceded in death by her father, Daniel Carson.

The service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at The Crossing Church at Chesterfield, 114 N. Eatherton Road,  Chesterfield, Mo. A guestbook and slideshow can be viewed at www.stlouiscremation.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Friends of Kids with Cancer, 530 Maryville Center Drive, Suite LL5, St. Louis, Mo., 63141.

Alfred Wayne Baugher

Alfred Wayne Baugher, 57, of Parsons died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, at the Veterans Hospital in Wichita.

He was born Nov. 27, 1954, in Iola to Lowell and Neva (Farrar) Baugher. He was a 1973 graduate of Kaiserlautern American High School in Germany. He attended Pittsburg State University and graduated in 1989 with a degree in nursing. He served 10 years in the Army. He was disabled.

Survivors include two brothers, Chet Baugher of Okmulgee, Okla., and Chuck Bond of Kansas City, Mo.; and nieces and nephews.

Mr. Baugher has been cremated. A memorial service will take place at a later date.

Doris Ann (Harms) Sheridan

EDNA — Doris Sheridan, 69, passed away peacefully at her home in Edna on Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.

Doris was born Nov. 19, 1942, in Ellsworth to Ralph Jack and Lottie (Urbanovich) Harms. She was a longtime Ellsworth County resident and a 1960 graduate of Geneseo High School.

She married William ‘Bill’ Sheridan on May 28, 1988, in Ellsworth.

Doris owned her own beautician business, worked as a bookkeeper at the Lorraine State Bank and Lorraine Grain and Fuel Co. and was a gas processing operator for Northern Natural Gas and Tejas Gas Cos. She was a longtime member of the VFW Auxiliary in Ellsworth.

She is survived by her loving husband of 24 years, William A. Sheridan; daughters, Tracy Vierthaler of Overland Park, Terri Vierthaler of Larned, Becky Page of Andover and Becky Hopper and her husband, Jimmy, of Monument, Colo.; sons, Clay of Ridgecrest, Calif., and Bill and his wife, Brenda, of Haymarket, Va.; a brother and sister-in-law, R.J. and Pam Harms of Abilene; grandchildren: Kyle Vierthaler Patterson, Madison and Sophia Page, Ethan and Tylar Hopper and Logan and Blake Sheridan; and many nieces and nephews.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents; and her sisters: Irene Betty Gomez and Mary Connery.

A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Parsons Funeral Home, 307 N. Lincoln Ave., Ellsworth. There will be no visitation. A private family burial in Carnerio Cemetery will be at a later date.

Condolences may be sent to parsons@eaglecom.net with the family name in the subject line.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market St., Wichita, 67202, or the Susan G. Komen For The Cure Foundation (https://secure.info-komen.org/site/Donation2?idb=468222697&df_id=7862&7862.donation=form1).