Obituaries
Rose Marie Ward
ST. PAUL — Rose Marie Ward, 71, of St. Paul died at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011, at her home. She had been in failing health over five years. She was born in Parsons on Dec. 19, 1939, to Oscar L. and Phyllis E. (Kendall) Williams. She grew up in Parsons and graduated from Labette County Community High School in Altamont. On Aug. 31, 1965, she married John Edward Ward in Parsons. She had lived in St. Paul since her marriage. She worked at ...
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Ronald G. ‘Ron’ Havelka
Ronald G. “Ron” Havelka, 60, of Parsons died early Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011, at his home. He is survived by his wife, Sandy Havelka of the home. Following cremation, a memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. ...
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Arthur A. ‘Art’ Seeley
Arthur A. “Art” Seeley, 57, of Parsons died early Thursday morning, Oct. 13, 2011, at his home. He had been in failing health. He was born on Jan. 19, 1954, at Kansas City, Mo., to Elmer and Nancy Pauline (Petty) Seeley. He worked as a carpenter. He married Deborah Fike on May 22, 2005, at Joplin. She survives of the home. Other survivors include four daughters, Tami Plummer of Carl Junction, Mo., Nancy Simons of Carthage, Mo., Mary Pierce ...
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Danny L. Thornton
Danny L. Thornton, 58, of Joplin, formerly of Parsons, died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, at his home. He was born Nov. 16, 1952, in Parsons to Edwin L. “Roy” and Geraldine (Adams) Thornton. He grew up and attended schools in Parsons. Through the years he had worked as a sales representative at Thornton Sales, later known as Slayman Beverage and Eastern Distributing. He married Sheila Abney on Dec. 2, 1972, in Parsons. They later divorced. He i...
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Danny L. Thornton
JOPLIN — Danny L. Thornton, 58, of Joplin, formerly of Parsons, died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, at his home. He is survived by his daughter, Jamie McDaniel, of Dennis. Following cremation, a memorial graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Oakwood Cemetery. Complete obituary details will be announced by Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Arthur A. ‘Art’ Seeley
Arthur A. “Art” Seeley, 57, of Parsons died early Thursday morning, Oct. 13, 2011, at his home. He had been in failing health. Further obituary information and service arrangements will be announced by Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Parsons.
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Mildred R. Benthin
FRONTENAC — Mildred R. Benthin, 83, of Frontenac, formerly of Galesburg, died at 6:47 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011, at her home. She was born Nov. 14, 1927, in Archie, Mo., to Alvin and Mable (Nation) Reed. As a young girl, she grew up and attended school in Rich Hill and Butler, Mo. On Oct. 22, 1965, she married Harry A. Benthin Sr. in Carson City, Nev. After marriage, they lived in California until moving to Kansas in 1984. Through the ye...
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Jean Marie Cox
LITTLETON, Colo. — Jean Marie Cox, 83, of Littleton, Colo., formerly of St. Paul, died on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. She was born April 30, 1928, at Detroit, Mich., to John Jr. and Edith K. (Groner) Neighbors. She married Martin E. Cox on Dec. 31, 1949, in St. Paul. He preceded her in death. Survivors include her children, Jack Cox, Connie Ahern, Jimmy Cox and Cathy Amenta; and a brother, Jim Neighbors. Mrs. Cox was cremated. A memorial service w...
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Eugene M. ‘Buck’ McAtee
CONWAY, Ark. — Eugene M. "Buck" McAtee, 92, of Conway, Ark., formerly of Parsons, died at 9:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, 2011, in Conway. He was born Aug. 15, 1919, in St. Paul to Charles Ernest and Sara Irene (Poisette) McAtee. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1937. On March 18, 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. 2nd Cavalry and received the Purple Heart for his bravery in World War II as a second lieutenant battlefield commissioned officer. ...
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Todd J. Rowe
Todd J. Rowe, 49, of Parsons, died early Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, at his home. He had been in his usual health and death was not expected. He was born Aug. 28, 1962, in Salina to Larry Joe and Nancy Louise (Rhoades) Rowe. He grew up and attended school in Parsons. While attending high school, he was injured in a water park accident in Joplin and had been disabled since that time. His passion was restoring cars. He enjoyed going to drag races at...
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Johnna Celeste Reed
LAWTON, Okla. — Johnna Celeste Reed, fortified with the sacraments of Holy Mother Church, died on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011, in Lawton, Okla. Johnna Celeste Reed was born on July 3, 1923, in South Mound to John Edward and Regina (Volmer) Lortz. She grew up in the South Mound area, graduating from Parsons High School and attending Parsons Junior College. Johnna married T. Jason Reed on March 2, 1942, at St. Joseph's Church. Johnna and Jason spent ...
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Kay Danielle Houston
EDNA — Kay Danielle Houston, 72, of Edna and Coffeyville, passed away Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, at her residence in Coffeyville. She was born Dec. 27, 1938, at Topeka to J.B. and Genevieve G. (Gibson) Moses. Kay grew up in Coffeyville, where she attended Holy Name Catholic School and Field Kindley High School, graduating in 1956. After completing high school she attended business college at Mount Clemens, Mich. She married Bill Barnett; they divo...
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Wayne E. Todd
Wayne E. Todd, 90, of Parsons died at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, 2011, at his home. He had been in failing health in recent weeks. He was born Sept. 4, 1921, at Avon, Colo., to Lain L. and Eva (Offutt) Todd. His family moved to Peru when he was an infant. He grew up there and graduated from Peru High School. During World War II he served with the United States Army in France and Germany. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. On Aug....
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Todd J. Rowe
Todd J. Rowe, 49, of Parsons died early Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, at his home. Following cremation, a memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home. Family and friends will gather at the family home immediately following burial at Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Proud Animal Lovers Shelter. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357. Complete obituary details will...
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Eugene M. ‘Buck’ McAtee
CONWAY, Ark. — Eugene M. “Buck” McAtee, 92, of Conway, Ark., formerly of Parsons, died at 9:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, 2011, at the Conway Health Care and Rehabilitation Center. He is survived by his wife, Martha (Brewer) McAtee. A memorial funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. at the church before the Mass. Other obituary deta...
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Wayne E. Todd
Wayne E. Todd, 90, a longtime Parsons resident and retired U.S. postal clerk, died at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, 2011, at his home. His wife, Helen, survives. Complete obituary information and service arrangements will be announced by Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
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Johnna Celeste Reed
LAWTON, Okla. — Johnna Celeste Reed, 88, fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, died on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011, in Lawton, Okla. Johnna Celeste Reed was born on July 3, 1923, in South Mound to John Edward and Regina Volmer Lortz. She grew up in the South Mound area, graduating from Parsons High School and attending Parsons Junior College. Johnna married T. Jason Reed on March 2, 1942, at St. Joseph's Church. Johnna and Jason spe...
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Marla M. ‘Micki’ Sayre
PITTSBURG — Marla M. “Micki” Sayre, 51, of rural Pittsburg died at 6:35 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, at her home following a lengthy battle with cancer. She was born May 21, 1960, in Oklahoma City the daughter of William and Joyce (Scheihing) Salvo. On Feb. 5, 1998, she married Kyle Sayre in Pittsburg; he survives her of the home. She worked as an operations manager for FedEx overseeing the Joplin and Parson offices. She had been with the compa...
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Edith C. Schreppel
OSWEGO — Edith C. Schreppel, 86, of Oswego, passed away at 4:13 a.m. Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. She had been in failing health, but her death was unexpected. She was born to German emigrants Maximillian and Mary (Schenk) Pristernik on June 7, 1925, at Camp 13 in Yale. She graduated from Frontenac High School at age 16. Edith ran away with Tony F. Schreppel to be married on Jan. 17, 1944, in Miami, Okla. From this union, seven children were born, ...
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E.L. Junior ‘Sonny’ Giltner
SYCAMORE — E.L. Junior ‘Sonny’ Giltner, 75, of Sycamore died Friday, Oct. 7, 2011, from injuries suffered in a vehicle accident. He was born Aug. 4, 1936, in Parsons to Elmer L. and Cleda K. (Wiglesworth) Giltner. He attended Parsons and Labette County schools. He served in the Army and later received his general education development diploma after his service. He received an associate degree from Labette County Community College. He owned an...
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