He was born July 5, 1927, in Mound Valley to Herschel and Mary (Fields) Shearhart. As a teenager, he moved to California with his parents, where he was a graduate of Huntington Park-Bell High School.
After enlisting and serving in the Merchant Marines, he returned to Mound Valley, where he met Louise Erskin. They were married Dec. 14, 1947, at the Free Methodist Church in Mound Valley.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served a year in the military police. Following his discharge, they moved to Chicago, where he graduated from Weedons Barber College. They then moved to California, where he became production manager for various mobile home companies. Upon their return to Kansas, he became production manager for Princess Homes and later assistant personnel manager for Adventure Line Manufacturing Co. in Parsons. He was presently the owner/operator of Shearhart Recycling Center in Mound Valley.
Through the years, he served as honorary mayor of Mooseheart, Ill., and was honored for his work with children while a member of the Moose Lodge. For 18 years, he served as mayor and councilperson in Mound Valley, and was also a volunteer fireman, volunteer deputy and was active in the Mound Valley Booster Club ball program.
Survivors include his wife, Louise Shearhart of the home; a son, Charles Shearhart of Coffeyville; two grandchildren, Charla Bynum and Caleb Bynum and his fiancee, Tina Hall; a great-granddaughter, Elliot Bynum; a brother, John Shearhart and his wife, Fina, of Oswego; a brother-in-law, Don Erskin and his wife, Alvera, of Parsons; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Jim Shearhart.
A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Mound Valley Cemetery. Friends may call after 1 p.m. Sunday at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont.
Memorials are suggested to the Mound Valley Lighthouse. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, 67330.
Joaquin 'Ramrod' Ramirez Sr.
Joaquin "Ramrod" Ramirez Sr., 80, of Parsons died 8:32 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, at Labette Health.
He was born Oct. 3, 1928, in Parsons to Rafael and Victoria (Tapia) Ramirez. At age 5, he moved with his family to Mexico and returned to Parsons at age 17.
Through the years he worked as a pinsetter at the bowling alley, the salvage yard, LaForge and Budd Construction Co., Grandview Products, Parsons Cold Storage, the Donut Shop, the Katy Railroad and helped clear land for Lake Parsons. For 22 years, he was employed by USD 503 as a custodian, working at Washington and Guthridge elementary schools and Parsons Middle School.
He was a member of the former St. Mary's Catholic Church in Parsons, now St. Patrick's Catholic Church, the Parsons Bowling Association, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie No. 411, and the G.I. Forum.
He enjoyed bowling, dancing, boating, fishing, swimming, camping and helped with Little League baseball and softball. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
He and Galdina Mary Fuentez were married July 19, 1949, in Our Lady of Victory Church in Parsons. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include four sons, J. Stephen "Steve" Ramirez, Joaquin "J.R." Ramirez Jr., Daniel Ramirez and his wife, Paula, all of Parsons, and Raphael "Ray" Ramirez of Austin, Texas; four daughters, Vicki Williams and her husband, Jerry, Agnes "Nana" Mateer, Ann Cruse and her husband, Kevin, and Patricia "Patty" Shaver, all of Parsons; 18 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; four daughters-in-law, Becky, Melody, Janet and Laura; and two sons-in-law, Kevin and Mike.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Daniel and Rafael Ramirez Jr.; four sisters, Esperanza Cardenas, Consuelo Arriola, Sara Munoz and Petra Bernal; and a son, Eugene "Gene" Ramirez.
The Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. The rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. this evening at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends immediately following the rosary.
Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Fire Department or the American Red Cross. These may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.
Terry L. Larson
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Terry L. Larson, 53, died in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, Dec. 5, 2008, after an illness.
He was born March 2, 1955, at Vinita, Okla., to Wayne and Emery Larson.
He was a graduate of Parsons High School. After graduation, he worked for the Katy Railroad. He transferred to Fort Worth, Texas, to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. His favorite hobby was riding his motorcycle.
Survivors include his wife, Teresa Kay, of the home; a son, Casey Baker of Cabot, Ark.; a daughter, Kodi Muse of Benton, Ark.; a stepson, Travis Pugh and family of Joplin; his mother, Emery Larson of Grove, Okla.; two brothers, Rick Larson and his wife, Julie, of Benbrook, Texas, and Doug Larson and his wife, Liz, of Grove, Okla.; a sister and her husband, Jose and Kip Fentress of Grove, Okla.; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded by his father, Wayne; and a granddaughter, Beth Baker.
He was cremated, in accordance with his wishes.
Adcock Funeral Home of Afton, Okla., was in charge of arrangements.
Florine 'Flossy' Stewart
BRONSON -- Florine "Flossy" Stewart, age 80, of Bronson died on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, at the Kansas Heart Center in Wichita.
She was born July 12, 1928 at Mound City to John David and Violet Genelle (Hartman) Wagner. She made her home north of Bronson since the early 1950s.
She married Melvin "Mel" Stewart on Dec. 20, 1955. Upon his death July 31, 1996, she managed the family farm, loved and took care of her cattle, checking on them daily and always making time to help anyone else who needed assistance. She spent her free time babysitting her granddaughter's dog, Brutus, which she loved so much.
Survivors include three daughters, Mary Lee Michael and her husband, Van, of Burnett, Texas, Gloria Eaton and her husband, Don, of Altamont and Melva Jo Norman and her husband, "Butch" Melvin, of Bronson; two sons, John Charles "Jake" Stewart and his wife, Carla, of Henryetta, Okla., and Dale Stewart and his wife, Karen, of Sparta, Tenn.; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three brothers, J.V. Wagner of Moran, John Wagner of LaHarpe and Bill Wagner of Hepler; a sister, Maxine Engles of Redfield; two sisters-in-law, Ellen Stewart of Iola and Darlene Stewart of Bronson; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Mel Stewart, in July 31, 1996; two granddaughters, Jada Stewart and Tina Lewis; and her brother, Melvin Wagner.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Moran. Burial will follow at Bronson Cemetery in Bronson. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home in Moran.
Memorial contributions may be made to multiple sclerosis and sent in care of the funeral home.
Lela E. Masquelier Harts
CHANUTE -- Lela E. Harts, 86, of Chanute died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, at the Chanute Health Care Center.
She was born Aug. 23, 1922, in Erie to Grant L. and Lyda (Beard) Hines. She attended high school in St. Paul.
She married Oscar Masquelier in 1954. He preceded her in death in 1969. She married Kenneth B. Harts in 1978 in Miami, Okla. He preceded her in death in 1988.
She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Harts is survived by a daughter, Jeannie Chard and her husband, Bill, of Chanute; three stepsons, Dwayne Harts of El Cajon, Calif., Larry Harts of Haviland and Daryl Harts of Prairie Village; three grandchildren, Justin Chard and his wife, Katy, Wendy Sinclair and her husband, Michael, and Randi Chard; seven stepgrandchildren; and four great-grandchildren, Darbee and Rawley Chard, Mallory Sinclair and Kynleigh Chard; and a brother, Jack Hines of Erie.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Oscar Masquelier and Kenneth Harts; a daughter, Brenda Herrin; a son, Steven Masquelier; a brother, Willard Hines; and a sister, Joyce Weir.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Good News Center east of the First Baptist Church in Chanute. Burial will be in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Pittsburg. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel in Chanute.
Memorials in her name may be made to First Baptist Church and may be left with the funeral home.
Joyce M. McCray
LIBERTY -- Joyce M. McCray, 76 of Liberty died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008.
A graveside service will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Liberty Cemetery in Liberty with a celebration of life service following at 4:30 p.m. at the Liberty United Methodist Church.
Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. today at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel in Coffeyville, where the family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the American Heart Association, or the Liberty United Methodist Church. These may be left at or sent to the funeral home, 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville, 67337.
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