Obituaries
Naomi Simmons Bradshaw
WALNUT — Naomi Simmons Bradshaw, 84, of Walnut died at 8 a.m. Sunday, May 5, 2013, at her home. She was born on May 17, 1928, in Parsons to Raymond E. and Ruth (Hunt) Sharp. She graduated from Erie High School in 1946. She attended Parsons Junior College and Pittsburg State University, earning a bachelor of arts degree in journalism. On Aug. 10, 1951, she married George Richard Simmons in Erie. He preceded her in death on Jan. 1, 1984. She m...
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Jennifer Sue Burrows
BOLIVAR, Mo. — Jennifer Sue Burrows, 44, of Bolivar, Mo., died on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at Cox South Hospital, Springfield, Mo. Jennifer Sue Spear was born on Sept. 20, 1968, to Gary and Pat (Miller) Spear in Parsons. She graduated from Olathe South High School in 1986 and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 2008 from Drury University in Springfield. Mrs. Burrows was a beloved preschool teacher for t...
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Maxine Louise Lewis
HUMANSVILLE, Mo. — Maxine Louise Lewis, 92, of Humansville, Mo., died Monday evening, April 29, 2013, at Big Spring Care Center in Humansville. She was born on May 13, 1920, in Howard to Enos and Ines Mayne. She married Cornelius Elijah Lewis on May 13, 1936, in Sedan. He preceded her in death. She was a homemaker. Survivors include two daughters, Kathina Lakin of Humansville and Karen O’Neal of Umatilla, Fla.; two sons, James Lewis of Rogersv...
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Robert William Jones
LEAVENWORTH — Robert William “Bob” Jones, 78, of Leavenworth died Wednesday, April 17, 2013. He was born on Aug. 29, 1934, in Independence to George and Eva Jones. He served in the U.S. Air Force in the Korean War and later served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He graduated from Pittsburg State University with a degree in accounting. He worked for the federal General Accounting Office, retiring in 1993 after 35 years of service. He is survive...
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Vivian E. Collins
ERIE — Vivian E. Collins, 94, a longtime Erie resident, died at 7:46 a.m. Saturday, April 27, 2013, at the Guest Home Estates in Erie where she has resided for two years. She was born on Dec. 8, 1918, at Spokane, Wash., to John and Olive (Morris) Collins. The family lived in Spokane, Vinita, Okla., and Sedalia, Mo., before moving to Erie in 1930. She attended Erie schools and graduated from Erie High School in 1936. She worked at the Kansas...
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Douglas A. ‘Doug’ Heiskell
Douglas A. “Doug” Heiskell, 55, of Parsons died at 2:40 a.m. Monday, April 29, 2013, at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg.  He was born Aug. 20, 1957, in Parsons to Vernon and Fernita (Divine) Heiskell.  He grew up and attended schools in Parsons and was a 1975 graduate of Parsons High School. Throughout his adult life, he worked as a concrete finisher. He was a member of the Parsons Foursquare Church, Ducks Unlimited, the National Rifle Asso...
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Vivian E. Collins
ERIE — Vivian E. Collins, 94, a longtime Erie resident, died at 7:46 a.m., Saturday, April 27, 2013, at the Guest Home Estates in Erie where she has resided for two years. A private memorial graveside service will be at a later date in the East Hill Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the S.E.K. Humane Society or to the Erie Library and these may be left in care of the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, 113 N. Main St., P.O. Box 182, Erie, 66...
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Douglas A. 'Doug' Heiskell
Douglas A. “Doug” Heiskell, 55, of Parsons died at 2:40 a.m. Monday, April 29, 2013, at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg. He is survived by his wife, Mary Heiskell, of the home. The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Parsons Foursquare Church. Burial will be in Springhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Memorials are suggested to the Doug Heiskell Memoria...
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Sharon Vallier
JOPLIN — Sharon Kay Vallier, 57, of Joplin passed away at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at Landmark Hospital after losing her battle with lung cancer. Sharon was born May 17, 1955, in Scotia, Calif., to Ray and Mary (Brooks) Ward. Sharon had lived in the Joplin and Southeast Kansas areas for more than 20 years and had lived in the Decatur, Ill., area for 25 years. Sharon devoted her life to helping others. She worked for the states o...
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Keith C. Billingsly
MOUND VALLEY — Keith C. Billingsly, 70, a lifelong resident of Mound Valley, passed away at 4:14 p.m. Monday, April 22, 2013, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.  He was born April 28, 1942, on the family farm near rural Mound Valley to “Leonard” and Ann (Blake) Billingsly. He grew up and attended school in Mound Valley and was a 1960 graduate of Mound Valley High School. He earned an associate degree from Parsons Junior College, a master’s d...
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Ethel D. Jacobs
ERIE — Ethel D. Jacobs, 89, of Erie died at 12:35 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute.  She was preceded in death by her husband, William Jacobs, on Oct. 11, 1999. The rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m. Friday at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Erie. The funeral Mass will immediately follow the rosary at the church. Burial will be in New Cathedral Cemetery in Baltimore, Md., at a future date. The fa...
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Mary Ellen Walters
ERIE — Mary Ellen Walters, 91, of Erie died Saturday, April 20, 2013, at her home. She was born March 17, 1922, at Hamilton to Fred O. and Bessie (Hollis) Smith. She graduated from Hamilton High School in 1940. She married Richard Lee "Dick" Walters on Dec. 13, 1940, at the home of her father and stepmother, Fred and Catherine Smith. They moved extensively as Dick was a heavy-equipment operator. She was widowed in 1960 at age 38 with eight ch...
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Johnnie J. Karry
Johnnie J. Karry, 92, of Parsons died at 6:20 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2013, at the Wilson Medical Center at Neodesha. He was born March 21, 1921, at Quindaro, Kansas City, Kan., a son of John Peter and Pauline Erma (Durham) Karry. He was raised in the Ladore and Galesburg areas and attended school at Galesburg. He served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1945 and was stationed in the Pacific Theatre. Upon his discharge, he moved to Pa...
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Joseph G. Every
FRANKFORT, Ill. — Joseph G. Every, 89, beloved husband and soul mate of Jeanne R. Every (nee Farrell) for 67 years, died on Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at his home in Frankfort, Ill. He was the devoted father to Janelle (Ron) Bennett and Jill (Jim) Byrnes, the cherished papa of Jaime (Mike) Graham, Lindsay (Chris) Kuntzi, Ashley (Brett) Benson and Jodi (Joey) Mulla. He was the proud great-papa of Tyler Graham, Molly, Haley and Caden Kuntzi and El...
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Edward J. ‘Ed’ Burke
Edward J. “Ed” Burke, 61, of Parsons died at 8:40 a.m. Monday, April 15, 2013, at his home.К He was born Jan. 17, 1952, in Parsons to Lawrence F. and Alice M. (Nunnick) Burke.К He attended school in St. Paul and was a 1970 graduate of St. Paul High School, where he held several football records. He attended St. Mary of the Plain College in Dodge City and Neosho County Community College. Following school, he lived in Southeast Kansas throughou...
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Gloria Lovejoy
Gloria Lovejoy, 57, of Parsons died at 11:31 a.m. Monday, April 15, 2013, at the Good Samaritan Society of Parsons. She had been in failing health. She was born Aug. 5, 1955, in Kansas City to Clyde and Berniece (Haling) Head. She grew up in Kansas City. Survivors include a daughter, Amber Lea Fletcher of Jefferson City, Mo.; a brother, Jerry Dean Head of Kansas City; and a sister, Virginia Parker of Lafayette, Ind. There will be no public se...
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Mary Pat Tims
WICHITA — Mary Pat Tims, 82, formerly of Parsons, loving mother and grandmother, entered eternal life on Saturday, April 13, 2013. Born the only child of Charles and Mary Jayne Dobel, Mary Pat was a graduate of St. Patrick’s Grade School and Parsons High School (1948), as well as the Mercy Hospital Nursing School. Mary Pat married Harry E. Tims on Sept. 13, 1952. They enjoyed 26 years of marriage before his death in 1978. Mary Pat was a re...
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Murvall Eugene 'Gene' Dick
Murvall Eugene "Gene" Dick, 84, died Thursday, April 4, 2013. He was born Feb. 23, 1929, to Harold and Selma (Stone) Dick in Parsons. Survivors include his wife, Jeanette; a son, Jack; his stepsons, Tom and David Springer; a stepdaughter, Patti Zongker; and three grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Linda Yeager. The service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vall...
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Ky Daniel Bontrager-Harris
Ky Daniel Bontrager-Harris, 17, of Parsons died Thursday afternoon, April 11, 2013, at his home. He had been in his usual health and his death was unexpected. He was born on Aug. 13, 1995, in Parsons to Nicole Bontrager and Robert Harris. He grew up at Parsons and attended Parsons schools. He was a senior at Parsons High School. He participated in the Chess Club and played football for a year. He was active in and loved the welding and draft...
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Doris E. Streetmaker
Doris E. Streetmaker, 98, of Parsons died at 3:10 a.m. Thursday, April 11, 2013, at Elmhaven West. She was born Oct. 5, 1914, in Parsons to Leslie A. and Ida K. (Brader) Streetmaker. She grew up in Parsons and was a 1932 graduate of Parsons High School, earned an associate degree from Parsons Junior College in 1934 and graduated from Parsons Business College in 1935. She worked for the Parsons Retailers Association from 1937 until 1986, when s...
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