Obituaries
Jerry W. Essig
Jerry W. Essig, 73, of Parsons died at 4:05 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. He is survived by his wife, Rena Essig, of the home. Complete obituary details be announced by Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Paul B. Williams
Paul B. Williams, 86, a longtime Parsons resident, teacher and coach, died at 5:20 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011, at Elmhaven East. He had been in failing health. He was born on Nov. 3, 1925, at Commerce, Okla., to Carl and Naomi (Mace) Williams. He grew up at Commerce and attended Commerce schools, graduating from Commerce High School in 1943. While in high school he was a standout football and basketball player. He was selected to play in th...
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Herbert P. LeVan
FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — Herbert P. LeVan, 89, a retired major who lived in Fort Washington, Md., died on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011. He was born in Parsons and served in World War II with the 75th Infanty Division Cavalry Recon Squadron. He graduated from Kansas State University with a master’s degree in chemistry. He later worked for the U.S. Bureau of Mines on the campus of the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, as a research chemist. Survivors...
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Ronald D. ‘Hoss’ Martin
Ronald D. “Hoss” Martin, 49, of Parsons died at 2:54 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011, in the Emergency Room at Labette Health. He was born April 5, 1962, in Wichita to Ralph Jr. and Eva Janice (McElhinny) Martin. He grew up in Leon, Beaumont and Howard and was a 1980 graduate of Leon High School. He attended Independence Community College and later Labette Community College, from which he earned an associate’s degree. He married Sandra McElroy on ...
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Paul B. Williams
Paul B. Williams, 86, a longtime Parsons resident, died at 5:20 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011, at Elmhaven East. He had been in failing health. The service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Wesley United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Wesley United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund and these may be...
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Ruby Belle McCaslin
COFFEYVILLE — Ruby Belle McCaslin, 86, of Coffeyville, formerly of Chanute, died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at the Windsor Place Nursing Home in Coffeyville. She was born in Oklahoma on Jan. 25, 1925, the daughter of Oliver Ross and Bessie (Winston) Dawson. She attended schools in Oklahoma. She married Max L. McCaslin on Jan. 16, 1944, at McCune. He preceded her in death in February 1999. She was a homemaker. Survivors include a daughter, Jewel...
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Charles E. Littrell
WARRENSBURG, Mo. — Charles E. Littrell, 74, of Warrensburg, Mo., formerly of Parsons, died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. He was born Dec. 20, 1936, in Lawton, Okla., to James W. and Dorothy O. (Gilpin) Littrell. He graduated from high school in Blue Mound in 1955. He married Florence M. Stainbrook in July 1955 in Miami, Okla. She preceded him in death. He married Carolyn S. (Allen) Bertling on Aug. 12, 198...
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David L. Robinson
ODUM, Ga. — David L. Robinson, 56, of Odum, Ga., formerly of Parsons, died Friday afternoon, Dec. 2, 2011, at his home. He had been in failing health. He was born April 18, 1955, in Parsons to Derwood E. and Ruth E. (Hamm) Robinson. He grew up and attended schools in the Parsons area. While living in Parsons, he was employed by Ruskin Manufacturing and Swift’s Trucking Co. While residing in Georgia and other states, he worked as a project ma...
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Wesley Wayne ‘Wes’ Overman
OSWEGO — Wesley Wayne “Wes” Overman, 56, of Oswego died at his home at 11:45 a.m. Friday, Dec. 2, 2011. He had fought a short and hard battle with a rare cancer. Wes was born on Feb. 1, 1955, to Ben and Dee (Box) Overman in Parsons. As a young child, he moved with his family to California in 1958. The family returned to the Oswego area in 1964. For a time, Wes attended schools in the suburbs of Los Angeles and in rural Hallowell at the Distric...
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Daisy Ellen Farran Wilkins Caress
Daisy Ellen Farran Wilkins Caress, 93, of Parsons died at her home at 9:02 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, 2011. She was born on Oct. 22, 1918, to L.D. and Mary Ellen (Johnson) Farran at home in Parsons. Daisy attended Parsons schools, graduating from Parsons High School in 1936 and Parsons Junior College in 1938. She clerked in her family’s grocery store from 1933 to 1938. She then became a clerk and assistant cashier at J.C. Penney in Parsons until he...
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David E. Robinson
ODUM, Ga. — David E. Robinson, 56, of Odum, Ga., a former longtime Parsons area resident, died Friday afternoon at his home in Odum. Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons will announce further obituary details and funeral arrangements later.
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Wesley W. Overman
OSWEGO — Wesley W. Overman, 56, of Oswego died at 11:45 a.m. Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, at his home. The service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Oswego Community Building. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Derfelt Funeral Home in Oswego. Friends may leave online condolences at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.
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Harold Jerome Gouvion
LENEXA — Harold Jerome Gouvion, 79, of Lenexa, died on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, at his house. Harold was born in South Mound and grew up in Southeast Kansas. He was a 1950 graduate of St. Francis High School in St. Paul. He had many occupations throughout his life, farming, machinist at Boeing, car mechanic and driver/dockman. He retired with Teamster’s Local 41. In retirement, Harold worked caring for animals. He enjoyed talking about his fa...
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Michael D. Shook
SAN ANGELO, Texas — Michael D. Shook, 58, San Angelo, Texas, formerly of the Chanute and Erie areas, died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, at Shannon Hospital in San Angelo after a long illness. He was born Dec. 23, 1952, in Chanute to Francis B. and Lucille Shook. He graduated from Erie High School. Mr. Shook worked in the insurance business. Survivors include his mother, Lucille, of Fredonia; four sons, Christopher of Tulsa, Justin, Chad and Jacob, ...
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Glenn R. Walker
Glenn R. Walker, 63, of Parsons died at 2:35 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, at his home. He had been in failing health. He was born on Sept. 29, 1948, at Parsons to Robert and Yvonne (Wheelen) Walker. He grew up on the family farm near Oswego and attended Oak Grove country schools and Labette County High School, from which he graduated in 1966. He attended Pittsburg State University's automotive technology program. He worked at Travel Industr...
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Nellie Beardmore
IOLA — Nellie Beardmore, 63, of Iola, formerly of Parsons, died at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, at the Allen County Hospital in Iola. She had been in failing health but her death was unexpected. She was born Nov. 20, 1948, in Mount Hersey, Ark., to Bub and Frances (Smith) Waldon. As a child, she moved with her family to Wichita, where she grew up and attended schools. In 1975 she moved to Parsons. She worked at the Katy Hospital, the ...
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Glenn Walker
Glenn Walker, 63, of Parsons died at 2:35 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, at his home. Among his survivors is his wife, Phyllis, of the home. Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Parsons will announce further obituary information and service arrangements later.
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Douglas W. ‘Doug’ Kelsey
ERIE — Douglas W. “Doug” Kelsey, 61, of Erie died at 7:58 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, at Labette Health. He was in his usual health, and death was not expected. He was born on June 4, 1950, at Walnut to Joseph Darl and Dorothy Irene (Reece) Kelsey. He was raised in Walnut. After completing high school, he attended a vocational school for a year. He worked as a contractor. On June 24, 1988, he married Linda Ashenbrenner-Hoerle at Miami, O...
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Ruth Ellen Leap
GROVE, Okla. — Ruth Ellen Leap, 86, of Grove, Okla., formally of Blue Springs, Mo., died on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. Ruth was born on March 18, 1925, to Lewis and Hazel (Hudson) Horn on March 18, 1925. In 1942, she married Harold D. Leap. They lived in the Bartlett area for nearly 20 years and farmed on his family farm.  “Granny” was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She was a talented artist and was employed as an advertis...
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Douglas W. ‘Doug’ Kelsey
ERIE — Douglas W. “Doug” Kelsey, 61, of Erie died at 7:58 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, at Labette Health. He was in his usual health, and death was not expected. Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Erie, will announce further obituary details and funeral arrangements later.
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