Obituaries
Berniece M. (Davidson) Smith
PITTSBURG — Berniece M. (Davidson) Smith, 91, of Pittsburg, formerly of Altamont, died at 11 p.m. Sunday, May 19, 2013, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor. The service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The funeral home will announce complete obituary details later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
full story
Debbie L. Junken
MOUND VALLEY — Debbie L. Junken, 50, of Mound Valley died Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. She is survived by her husband, David Junken of the home. Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
full story
Mattie E. Hellwig
OSWEGO — Mattie E. Hellwig, 82, of rural Oswego died at her home early Tuesday, May 21, 2013. She had been in her usual health, and death was not expected.  Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, Chetopa, will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
full story
Harold D. ‘Hal’ Clifton
Harold D. ‘Hal’ Clifton Harold D. “Hal” Clifton, 89, of Parsons died at 8:05 a.m. Monday, May 20, 2013, in the emergency room of Labette Health. He had been in failing health. He was born on March 6, 1924, in Fredonia to Ray N. and Leni M. (Gillies) Clifton. He grew up there and graduated from Fredonia High School in 1942. During his high school years, he worked many hours each week at a local drug store. He attended Kansas State College at Ma...
full story
Lois Mae Taylor
Lois Mae Taylor, 92, of Parsons died at 2:46 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013, in the emergency room of Labette Health in Parsons. The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Parsons Foursquare Church. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Carson-Wall Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and will announce complete obituary details later. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
full story
Delbert M. Keith
OSWEGO — Delbert M. Keith, 61, of Oswego died at 4:36 a.m. Sunday, May 19, 2013, at his home following an illness. He was born on April 22, 1952, in Oswego to Vernon Delbert and Elsie Bertha (Pisa) Keith. He was a lifetime resident of Oswego. He attended Cherokee County Rural High School. He was a rancher, working several years for Dan Reed at the R-3 Ranch, Oswego. Among his interests were watching TV, reading and spending time with his grand...
full story
Lois Mae Taylor
Lois Mae Taylor, 92, of Parsons died at 2:46 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2013, in the emergency room of Labette Health in Parsons. The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Parsons Foursquare Church. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Carson-Wall Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and will announce complete obituary details later. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
full story
Doris Randall Abshier
Doris Randall Abshier, 89, of Parsons went to sit at the feet of Jesus at 12:50 p.m. Sunday, May 19, 2013, at Windsor Place in Coffeyville. She had been in failing health in recent weeks. She was born on March 21, 1924, in Sedan to Fred M. and Pearle L. (Savage) Loyd. She grew up and attended school in Sedan. On Sept. 4, 1940, she married Duane McClure Randal at Bartlesville, Okla. They raised their family in Havana, and he died on Feb. 27, 19...
full story
Harold D. ‘Hal’ Clifton
Harold D. “Hal” Clifton, 89, of Parsons died at 8:05 a.m. Monday, May 20, 2013, in the emergency room of Labette Health in Parsons. He had been in failing health. The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Wesley United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Complete obituary details will be announced.
full story
Berniece M. (Davidson) Smith
PITTSBURG — Berniece M. (Davidson) Smith, 91, of Pittsburg, formerly of Altamont, died at 11 p.m. Sunday, May 19, 2013, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor. Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.
full story
Patricia L. Packwood
Patricia L. Packwood, 74, of Parsons died at 11:30 a.m. Monday, May 20, 2013, at Labette Health. Her husband, Vernon Packwood, survives of the home. Carson-Wall Funeral Home will announce complete obituary details and funeral arrangements later.
full story
John David Walker Sr.
OSWEGO — John David Walker Sr., 64, was found dead at his home Thursday, May 16, 2013. He was born July 5, 1948, on Oswego to James John and Betty Lou (Gray) Walker. He was a lifetime resident of Oswego. He worked 16 years for the city of Oswego, nine of which he served as city superintendent. He later worked at Superior Wheel in Pittsburg for five years before starting work at Day & Zimmermann Inc. at Parsons. He retired from there in 2011. H...
full story
Ruby Prater
Ruby Prater, 90, of Parsons died at 7:15 a.m. Thursday, May 16, 2013, at Elmhaven East nursing home in Parsons. She was born on April 14, 1923, in Neodesha to Jerry M. and Gertie May (Schoonover) James. She married James Harold Poage on April 19, 1941, in Parsons. He preceded her in death on Oct. 4, 1950. On March 14, 1953, she married Calvin C. Prater in Parsons. He preceded her in death on Nov. 12, 1988. She was a homemaker. Survivors inclu...
full story
Robert Joseph Burt
LAS VEGAS — Robert Joseph Burt of Las Vegas died on Thursday, May 9, 2013. He was born on July 28, 1943, in Chanute to Joeseph Samuel and Buda May (Whisman) Burt. He was raised in Thayer. Survivors include his son, Joeseph Burt Brewer and his wife, Janet, of Parsons; a daughter, Michelle Reddick; a stepson, Larry Burt of Palmer, Alaska; numerous grandchildren; two sisters, Virginia Hannon and Reola J. Mansfield and her husband, William, of Cof...
full story
Mildred M. Ferch
OSWEGO — Mildred M Ferch, 98, of Oswego died at 9:35 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, 2013, at Oswego Community Hospital. Mildred was born on Jan. 11, 1915, in Canton to Lester and Mary (Linsenmayer) Foster. She had lived in Oswego most of her life. As a young girl, she attended Stover School in rural Oswego. She worked at several different jobs over her life, including Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons, IGA in Oswego for more than 12 years, Grai...
full story
Rita Marie Nance
Rita Marie Nance, 53, of Parsons died at 8:10 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. She was born on Aug. 25, 1959, in Clinton, Iowa, to Clinton Eugene “Gene” and M. Margarita “Maggie” (Leon) Nance. As a young girl, her family relocated to Parsons, where she graduated from Parsons High School and earned a degree in nursing at Labette Community College. She worked 15 years as a registered nurse before becoming departmen...
full story
Mary Louise Crane
WINDSOR — Mary Louise Crane, 88, of Windsor, Mo., died on Saturday, May 11, 2013, at Bothwell Regional Health Center in Sedalia, Mo. She was born on March 12, 1925, in Parsons to George W. and Mary Alma Lee (Cantrell) Jones. She was raised and educated in Parsons. On Aug. 16, 1942, in Parsons, she married Chester N. Crane, who preceded her in death on Oct. 4, 2009. She was a retail clerk at Carps. Survivors include three daughters, Patricia T...
full story
Dollie H. Emerick
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Dollie H. Emerick of Hollywood, Calif., a longtime resident of Mound Valley, passed away into the arms of our Lord on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at the age of 92 while at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills, Calif. Dollie was born on Jan. 1, 1921, to James T. and Lucy Marie (Peyton) Bartlett in Lenapah, Okla. She attended school in Lenapah, Liberty, Mound Valley and Cherryvale. Dollie married Vernon Alexander on Aug. 28, 1938...
full story
Jeri (Handshy) Ornelas-Jones
IOLA — Jeri (Handshy) Ornelas-Jones, 56, of Iola died on Friday, May 10, 2013. She was born on Dec. 27, 1956, in Parsons to Joy Mae Handshy and Farris Thomas. She graduated from Pittsburg High School and Pittsburg State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work. She worked for the Kansas Department of Social Rehabilitation Services for 33 years until her retirement in July 2012. She married Richard “Bud” Jones on Feb. 10, 2001. He sur...
full story
Richard Lloyd Bassett Sr.
PALO ALTO, Calif. — Richard Lloyd Bassett Sr., 88, of Palo Alto, Calif., formerly of Chetopa, died at his home Sunday, May 5, 2013, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was born on March 13, 1925, in Chetopa to Edgar and Ada (Bray) Bassett. He attended school in Chetopa and also took classes at Hampton University. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was employed by Leonard Ely, later known as Anderson Chevrolet, wher...
full story