Obituaries
Willis Thompson Jr.
Willis Thompson Jr., 64, of Parsons died at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, at Via Christi St. Francis Medical Center in Wichita. He was born on March 12, 1947, at Chetopa to Willis Thompson Sr. and Emma Dora (Doan) Thompson. He worked at Ernesto’s for a time. Survivors include his companion, Christina Whittley of the home; two sons, Willis Thompson III of Parsons and Eron Jones of Independence; two daughters, Becky Thompson of Pennsylvania a...
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Willis Thompson Jr.
Willis Thompson Jr., 64, of Parsons died at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, at Via Christi St. Francis Medical Center in Wichita. Further obituary details will be announced by Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home.
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Gerald Gene Edwards
PITTSBURG — Gerald Gene Edwards, 67, of Pittsburg, formerly of Erie, died at 7:10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, in the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg where he entered Nov. 10. He was born Nov. 25, 1943, in Erie, a son of Cecil and Geraldine (Prickett) Edwards. He grew up and attended school in Erie and graduated from Erie High School. He worked for various construction companies and retired from Schueck Steel Co. in Little Rock, Ark., in 20...
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Donald G. Ruttgen Sr.
OSWEGO — Donald G. Ruttgen Sr., 82, of rural Oswego died at 2:43 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. He was born on July 24, 1929, in Fairview Township, Labette County, to Clarence Valentine and Ethel Florence (Strickland) Ruttgen. He grew up in rural Labette County, where he attended Bowman Country School and was a 1947 graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont. From October 1951 through ...
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William E. Boecker
WINFIELD — William E. Boecker, 86, formerly of Parsons, died at 5:17 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at Kansas Veterans Home in Winfield. He was born on May 14, 1925, in Parsons to Anton H. and Antonia (Hoff) Boecker. He grew up and attended schools in Parsons. He worked with his father on the family farm until entering the U.S. Army. Following his honorable discharge, he lived in Texas for a time. He married Lillian Ann Krska on Feb. 19, 1952, i...
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Perry Eugene ‘Doc’ Schurr
DENNIS — Perry Eugene “Doc” Schurr, DVM, 88, of rural Dennis died on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at home. Perry was born in Pauline to Henry B. and Neta Ollie (Hibbs) Schurr on April 9, 1923. He graduated from Berryton High School in 1941. He served in World War II aboard the USS Sirius in the U.S. Navy. He was honorably discharged in November 1945. He graduated from Kansas State University, Manhattan, in 1956 with a doctor of veterinary medicine...
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Emilie Suzanne Bohannon
ROGERS, Ark. — Emilie Suzanne Bohannon, 37, of Rogers, Ark., died on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, in Springfield, Mo. Emilie was born on March 24, 1974, in Attica, Kan., to Doyle Michael and Cinda Lynn (Braman) Thompson. She graduated from Parsons High School in 1992. She graduated in 1999 from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University. She married Jason Bohannon on Jan. 26, 2002. He survives of the home. She was a veterinarian ...
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Darlyne Sue Leach
BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Darlyne Sue Leach, 73, of Tulsa, formerly of Parsons, died Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at her home in Broken Arrow, Okla. She had a short bout with advanced-stage lung cancer. She was born on July 23, 1938, in Tulsa to Roy and Hazel (Partlow) Cook. She graduated from Tulsa Central High School. She was a stewardess for Pan AM Air Lines for a time. She married Joe Garrett. He preceded her in death. She later married Ben Leach, w...
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Donald G. Ruttgen Sr.
OSWEGO — Donald G. Ruttgen Sr., 82, of rural Oswego died at 2:43 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Ruttgen, of the home. The graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Fairview Cemetery near Bartlett. Friends may call at their convenience after 1 p.m. Thursday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. The funeral home will announce complete obituary details lat...
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William E. Boecker
WINFIELD — William E. Boecker, 86, formerly of Parsons, died at 5:17 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, at the Kansas Veterans Home in Winfield. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Boecker, on June 11, 2007. Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, Parsons, will announce complete obituary details later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
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Alvah ‘Sie’ Everett Ellison
ROCKLIN, Calif. — Alvah “Sie” Everett Ellison, 96, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011, at his home in Rocklin, Calif. He was born on March 14, 1915, in Girard. Sie was a graduate of Labette County High School in Altamont, Class of 1933. A resident of Rocklin for 31 years, he assisted others as long as his strength allowed and was an inspiration to those who knew him. He was a faithful member of his church, a veteran of both the U.S...
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Shirley A. Olenhouse
Shirley A. Olenhouse, 77, of Parsons, a former Erie resident, died at 3:15 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at the home of her daughter, Christine Montross near Edna. She had been in failing health, but her death was unexpected. She was born on Jan. 30, 1934, at Milwaukee, Wis., to John Clarence “Jack” and Hazel (Graf) Grey. She grew up at Milwaukee and attended Lutheran schools there, graduating from Milwaukee Lutheran High School in 1951. She m...
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Mary Charlotte Smith Overman
OSWEGO — Mary Charlotte Smith Overman, 89, of Oswego died at 2:57 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at her home after a brief illness. Mary was born on Feb. 6, 1922, in Bartlett to John Henry and Grace Lula (Fritz) Smith. She graduated from Bartlett High School. Mary worked as the court clerk at the courthouse in Oswego for several years. She was a member of Oswego Christian Church. She married Homer Lloyd “Bus” Overman in 1956 in Oswego. He precede...
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Dixie L. Lewis
ALTAMONT — Dixie L. Lewis, 64, of Altamont died at 5:01 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at Clarehouse in Tulsa. She was born on Oct. 18, 1947, in Coffeyville to Roy and Maxine (Kastler) Schell. She grew up and attended schools in Altamont, graduating from Labette County High School in 1965. She married Ronald W. “Ron” Lewis on Aug. 1, 1965, in Altamont at United Methodist Church. Following their marriage, they lived in Athens, Greece, and El Paso...
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Albert H. ‘Buzz’ Curtis
Albert H. “Buzz” Curtis, 81, a longtime Parsons resident, died at 10:23 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, in the emergency room of Labette Health. He was born on Aug. 30, 1930, in Parsons to Willard “Bill” and Edna (Coleman) Curtis. He had lived in Parsons nearly all of his life. He was self-employed as a logger and for seven years was employed by Day and Zimmermann. During the urban renewal project in Parsons, he worked in demolition. He was a member of ...
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Johnston Lynn Lucky
EDNA — Johnston Lynn Lucky, 64, of Edna died on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at Labette Health in Parsons. He was born in Pasadena, Texas, to Johnston and Delores (Gorman) Lucky. He grew up in Golden Acres in Pasadena, where he attended school and received his high school education. After high school, Lynn worked for Don Love for many years doing construction. Survivors include five daughters, Twana Willburn of Houston, Sherry Jones of Crosby, Tex...
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James I. ‘Sonny’ Ledbetter
EDNA — James I. “Sonny” Ledbetter, 82, of Edna died at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dorothy (Foister) Ledbetter, of the home. He was born June 5, 1929, at rural Vinita, Okla., to Irvy C. and Aimee (White) Ledbetter. He grew up on Big Creek, Okla., south of Edna. He attended country schools and joined the Army in March 1951. Following his discharge in Februar...
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James I. ‘Sonny’ Ledbetter
EDNA — James I. “Sonny” Ledbetter, 82, of Edna died at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy (Foister) Ledbetter of the home. The service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Edna United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Edna Elm Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Edna United Methodist Church and m...
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Robert L. ‘Bob’ Westhoff
FARLINGTON — Robert L. “Bob” Westhoff, 58, of Farlington died in the emergency room of Via Christi Medical Center in Pittsburg at 4:52 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011. He was born on July 23, 1953, at Greenbush to Sylvester and Celia (Sevart) Westhoff. He graduated from St. Paul High School. He was self-employed as a large equipment mechanic throughout his adult life. He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church. Survivors include a son, Michael “...
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Zachary Scott ‘Zach’ Harding
Zachary Scott “Zach” Harding, 21, of Parsons died early Saturday morning, Nov. 5, 2011, near Erie from injuries sustained in a car-train accident. He was born on July 24, 1990, in Parsons to Scott William and Rachael Lynn (Looney) Harding. He grew up and attended school in St. Paul and was a 2008 graduate of St. Paul High School. He attended Labette Community College and Pittsburg State University. While attending PSU, he was a member of Pi Ka...
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