Clara Kay Griffin-Clark, age 64, resident of St. Joseph, MO died Sunday, July 16, 2023, at her home.  She was born February 20, 1959, in Munich, Germany, the daughter of Rolland and Mary Lou Johnson Griffin.  Following college, Kay worked as a radiation therapist for two different hospitals.  She married David Clark on September 10, 2010, in Las Vegas, NV.  Kay was one of the happiest people to be around, finding the positives in life.  She loved traveling to the ocean in Texas, Florida, and once in Hawaii.

 

Survivors include her husband David of the home; her mother, Mary Lou Mefford, Fort Scott, KS; a stepdaughter, Diana Clark, St. Joseph, MO; a stepson, Austin Clark, Colorado Springs, CO; a stepbrother, Donnie Mefford (Linda), Mound City, KS; nephew Mike Mefford (Rochelle), Lee’s Summit, MO; great niece Aleigh M. Mefford; step grandsons Oliver and David Gastineau; and several cousins.  She was preceded in death by her father, Rolland Griffin; stepfather Ike Mefford; and 2 stepbrothers, Richard, and Bill Mefford.

 

Rev. Rusty Newman will conduct funeral services at 11:00 AM Friday, July 21^st, at the Cheney Witt Chapel, Fort Scott, KS.

Burial will follow in the Bronson Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until service time Friday and the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Paws and Claws and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Judy (Woods) Marshall  died July 14, 2023, after a brave fight with cancer. Judy was born March 27, 1938 to Charles E. and Claybel (Houston) Woods in El Dorado, KS.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years Bob Marshall; three children Dana (Craig) McKenney of Fort Scott, Darcy Marshall of Houston TX, and Dirk Marshall, also of Houston; and her brother Ray Woods of Independence, KS.

Although she was known as Grannie Karate Chop for her fearless enforcement of dining table etiquette, Judy also loved and was loved by her seven grandchildren Reece McKenney, Drew Suddock, Neely Stuart (Laith), Kyle Moore, Cole Gaston, Parker McKenney (deceased), and Angie McKenney, and her three great grandchildren Kieran Houlihan, Colin Houlihan, and Joyce Stuart.

She grew up riding horses and playing tennis and golf.

Judy attended the University of Kansas and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Only rarely did she get up on a chair at the dinner table and sing Kappa songs. She graduated from KU with a degree in English.

She won a short-story writing competition sponsored by the Kansas City Star and twice won statewide short-story competitions in North Carolina. She was the author of two books: Ride a Hole Through the Wind (young adult fiction) and Legends and Lore of Bourbon County.

(Proceeds from the sale of the latter book go to the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.).

Judy raised three children who love her and already miss her dearly. When her children were young, she was active in the Junior League of Kansas City, performing for years in their Children’s Theater productions and also providing volunteer physical therapy for disabled children.

She took up racquetball and won several trophies – those trophies are still prominently displayed in her home. Her husband’s boxes and boxes of handball and football and basketball and baseball trophies are somewhere but we’re not sure where.

Judy appointed herself Assistant Athletic Director at Fort Scott Community College from 2003-2008 – while her husband served as the official Athletic Director and also Assistant State Senator in Topeka while her husband served as a Kansas State Senator from 2008-2012.

She was a founding member of the Board of Directors for the Big Brother Big Sisters organization in Fort Scott and loved being a member of the local Rotary Club. She was a regular at Nu Grille for lunch.

She loved her Kansas Jayhawks. In Allen Field House she let Bobby Knight know he was doing a fine job commenting on the games, while offering helpful if unwanted advice to others, like Fran Fraschilla and Dick Vitale, who were, in her opinion, too distracted and distracting.

Judy loved Fort Scott, KS, her adopted hometown and never met a stranger in town.

The family thanks all  in Fort Scott for being a part of the community that meant so much to her and brought her so much happiness.

Thank you to the cowboys who endured her unsolicited advice on how to run a cattle operation. Judy named the cows she and Bob raised – Esther Williams was her most beloved cow. She was great at taking care of the animals; not so great at getting them sold at the Fort Scott sale barn.

Judy was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Scott.

Pastor Christopher Eshelman from the First United Methodist Church will conduct a memorial service at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, July 19^th at the First Presbyterian Church, 308 S. Crawford, Ft. Scott, Kansas.  The family will receive friends from 10:00 A.M. until service time on Wednesday in the church parlor.

In keeping with her spirit, please come dressed casually. Farming clothes such as overalls and crimson and blue KU clothes will be most welcome; KSU Wildcat purple will be tolerated.

Private burial will take place at a later date in the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott.

To honor her memory,  contributions can be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or to the Fort Scott Community Foundation; or to the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Scott and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.

Special thanks to the staff at the Nu Grille diner downtown for entertaining and being entertained by Judy day in and day out for so many years.

Thanks also to the caring staff of Gentiva Hospice of Pittsburg, Kansas.

And finally a special thanks to the wonderful nurses and staff at Presbyterian Village who loved Judy and called her Sweet Pea and took “brilliant” care of her in her final months.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com

Harvalee Waltmire, 86, of Fulton, Kansas, passed away Monday, July 10, 2023 surrounded by family.

Born in Fort Scott, Kansas on March 29, 1937, to the late Hollis and Alice Waltmire. Hollis passed before Harvalee’s birth, and he was lovingly raised by Alice and the only father Harv ever knew, Bill Fisher.

Harvalee met the love of his life Janice Good at Mound City High School in 1955 and the two were married on June 22, 1958. Harvalee found joy in simple pleasures, spending time in nature, hunting, fishing, gardening, and riding motorcycles with his family. He appreciated his work as a meat cutter for nearly 40 years, known for his skill and taking the time to share a smile and a story.

An avid handyman and craftsman, Harv spent many hours woodworking. There wasn’t a request, repair, or project he wouldn’t take on. Above all else, Harvalee will be remembered by family, friends, and neighbors for his loving kindness and generosity in all forms.

He is survived by his loving wife, Janice; children: Vera (Jeff) Heller of Houston, TX, Brian (Gina) Waltmire of Overland Park, KS; grandchildren: Rachel, Brooke, Samantha, Max; seven great-grandchildren; brother: Bill Fisher of Pensacola, FL.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services Friday, July 14, 2023 at 10:30 A.M. at the Fulton United Methodist Church, Fulton, KS.

Burial will follow in the Osage Cemetery.

Memorial are suggested to the Fulton United Methodist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

James Marlyn Hite was born on February 18, 1947, in Moran, Kansas, to John M. Hite and Marianna Koch Hite.

He died peacefully at home on Sunday, July 9, 2023, at the age of 76 with his family surrounding him.  He grew up in the Uniontown/Redfield area, attended grade school in Redfield and graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1965.  He attended Fort Scott Community College after graduation.

Jim and Doris were married on December 26, 1969, at First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown.  He later completed his degree in education after he and Doris moved to Wichita.

Jim is preceded in death by both his mother and his father.

He is survived by his wife, Doris Hite, of the home in Wichita, three sons, Christopher J. Hite of Wichita, Joshua D. Hite of Wichita, and Timothy M. Hite (Chantal) of Troy, Missouri, and one sister, Diana Hite Ford of Wichita.  He has ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  He loved his family dearly and took great pride in them.  He never missed a practice or a game when his sons were playing sports.  He even changed his work schedule so he could attend the games.

 

Jim was on staff at the Wichita Baptist Tabernacle and taught in the Baptist Tabernacle School shortly after he and Doris moved to Wichita.  He joined American Family Insurance as an insurance underwriter in 1986 and later changed to an insurance claims adjuster.  He retired from American Family in 2012.

 

Jim loved being in the yard, planting flowers and a garden.  It was his stress reliever.  He loved red canna bulbs and red geraniums.  And, of course, when he was in high school, he loved muscle cars, which he and his friends always drove.  In fact, on his first date with Doris, he got a ticket for loud pipes.  She never let him forget that.

 

Jim loved the Lord and was so ready to meet Him.  He was not afraid of death because he had assurance of his destination.

 

Services will be held for him at Newspring Church in Wichita, Kansas, at 10:30 Thursday morning, July 13, 2023, with burial in Uniontown Cemetery at 3:00 pm.

Donations in place of flowers may be made to divinenest.com, which is a non-profit organization that supports and trains foster and adoptive families.

It was an important organization to Jim because of the amazing work they do and the heart they have for kids going through traumatic events. His son, Tim, is the Associate Director.

Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Frankie Shrakes, Jr., age 74, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Friday, July 7, 2023, at his home.  He was born September 5, 1948, in Ft. Scott, the son of Frank Shrakes and Velma “Dolly” McDaniel Shrakes.  He married Gail L. Guffey on June 6, 1966, at Ft. Scott.

Frankie worked for twenty-five years at Peerless Products in Ft. Scott.  He had a knack for working on engines, and following his retirement from Peerless, he operated his own small engine repair shop.

In his younger days, Frankie enjoyed playing softball and racing go-carts and stock cars.  He also enjoyed fishing and occasionally participated in area bass tournaments.

He attended Ft. Scott Church of the Nazarene.

 

Survivors include his daughters, Teresa Shrakes of Ft. Scott, Heidi Dixon (Rob) also of Ft. Scott and DiAnna Dakon (Ronald) of Smithville, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Ricky Ann Vargas (Ariel), Austin Shelden, Alek Shelden (Megan), Ashton Dixon. Jacob Mein, Nickolas Dakon, and Skylar Dakon; three great-grandchildren, Lola, Santiago and Laney Vargas.  Also surviving are four brothers, John “Duke” Zabrinas, Donald Shrakes, Ronnie Shrakes, and Larry Shrakes and three sisters, Carol Shrakes, Kathy Shrakes and Janet Shrakes and a special cousin J.R. Stewart (Wendy) of Ft. Scott.

Frankie was preceded in death by his wife, Gail, on October 7, 2022.

 

Rev. Virgil Peck will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, July 12^th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Centerville Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Lisa Jo Larkin was born October 13, 1966, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, Kansas, to parents Bob and Judi Larkin.  She grew up with one sister, Laura, one foster brother, Dwayne Craig, and one cousin, Kenny Hively, who was more like a brother to her.

She had a happy childhood, growing up mostly on the farm.  She loved life, music, animals, and all of her grandparents.  She especially liked high school where she participated in debate and forensics, and anything that involved school plays, or the theater.  She was editor of the high school paper and always created a certain amount of controversy.

Her life changed dramatically on December 5, 1984, when she was injured seriously in a car accident.  That was the beginning of a lifelong battle with medical issues.  She graduated from Fort Scott High in 1985.  She had lots of wonderful friends, many of whom stayed in touch with her all of these years.

She married Michael Antony on July 24, 1994.  They lived almost all of their married life in Las Vegas, Nevada, where their son, Macoy, was born in 2001.  Lisa and Michael both enjoyed the theater and they usually had season tickets to the Smith Center in Las Vegas where they could see current Broadway plays.  Michael and Macoy both helped take care of Lisa at home these past few years as her health declined.

Her mother, Judi, lived close by and helped with Lisa’s healthcare.  Lisa and her Dad were very close and talked on the phone almost daily.  He tried to make sure she had whatever she needed to fight the various health problems she endured.

Lisa died at Nelson Adelson Hospice Center in Las Vegas on June 19, 2023, after a lengthy illness.  Most of her family and her dear friend, Karen Curran, were with her in the days before and at the time of her death.

Lisa is survived by her husband, Michael Antony, son, Macoy Antony, and mother Judith Larkin (Glenn), all of Las Vegas; also her father, Robert Larkin (Jan) of Fort Scott, sister, Laura Peterson (Frank) of Erie, cousin, Kenneth Hively (Jan) of Loveland, Colorado, and uncle, Don Larkin (Sue) of Phoenix, Arizona.  She has many other uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends, whom she loved dearly.  She will be missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Bill and Alma Larkin, and maternal grandparents, Lewis and Bertha Baucom, and foster brother Dwayne Craig.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 PM Friday, July 14^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

In honor of Lisa’s favorite color, pink attire is encouraged.

The family wishes memorial contributions be made to SEK Humane Society, as Lisa loved animals, and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

 

Neranjan “CU” Ramdial, age 60, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at his residence. There was cremation.  Graveside services will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, July 15^th, at the West Liberty Cemetery.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Terry Donald Wood, “Woody” age 72, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas passed away early Tuesday, July 4, 2023, at the Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. He was born September 15, 1950, in Ft. Scott, the son of William Vern Wood and Juanita June Johnston Wood.

Woody graduated from the Uniontown High School with the Class of 1968 and then graduated from the Ft. Scott Junior College.

He married Susan Bollinger on April 13, 1985, at Ft. Scott.

Woody worked for Kansas City Power & Light at the Lacygne Power Plant. He retired as an electrician/technician after forty years of service.

Woody enjoyed woodworking, a talent he received from his father, and completed many projects including treasure boxes for his grandchildren. He also enjoyed golfing. Favorite times were spent at the “farm” where Woody enjoyed cutting wood, clearing trails and spending time outdoors. Country road “cruzin” in the Razor with his friends he enjoyed immensely. And of course, a few cold ones.

Survivors include his wife, Susan, of the home; three children, Shane Wood (Amy) of Overland Park, Kansas, Shannon “Sis” Pulliam (Kyle) of Arizona City, Arizona and Shannon Bollinger, of Ft. Scott and eight grandchildren, Chance and Chase Crawford, Derek, Drew, Dylan and Dalton Bollinger and Bentley and Jett Wood. Also surviving is a sister, Sherry Hicks of Palm Desert, California.

Woody was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and June Wood.

Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct funeral services at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, July 8th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Care to Share or the Wounded Warrior Project and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Geraldine “Geri” Patricia Reeder age 91 passed into her heavenly home and the arms of her Savior on Monday, July 3, 2023.

Geri was born October 17, 1931 in Uniontown, KS to Ebbie E. and Hazel D. Wolford.

Although she lived some of her early years in towns along the old Missouri Pacific Railroad line due to her father’s work, she lived the majority of her life in the town she loved, Bronson.

She attended the Bronson schools and graduated from there in 1949. Her love of music led her to participate in glee club, band and orchestra. While attending Bronson High she met and dated the man who would be the love of her life, Elvis Myrle. They were married on July 16, 1950 at the Bronson Methodist Church by Rev. Henry E. Milliken. This union would see 68 years prior to Elvis’s death.

Geri was a lifetime member of the Bronson Methodist church and served in numerous capacities, but served for decades as a youth Sunday School teacher having begun teaching at 13 years old. She was also a lifetime Eastern Star member, Bronson Ruritan member, former city council member, Cub Scout den mother, and member of numerous clubs and civic organizations. She loved to hand quilt and no one she met was a stranger for very long. She loved every four-legged creature, but most especially her cat Itsy-Bitsy.

She was preceded in death by her husband Elvis, parents Ebbie and Hazel, brother Roger E. Wolford, sisters Betty Johnson and Corrine McAllister, and a son Elvis Erwin Reeder.

Geri is survived by son Steve and wife Betty of Carl Junction, MO; granddaughters Sonia and husband Paul Jones of Garnett, KS; Andrea and husband Michael Page of Culleoka, TN; Kattia and husband Tim Thompson Gas, KS. Grandsons Bill and wife Laci Reeder of Emporia, KS; Todd and wife Ashley Reeder of Independence, KS; Zach Andrews currently serving in the U.S. Navy; ten great-grandchildren, beloved nieces and nephews, many other beloved family and friends.

There was cremation. Pastor Todd Reeder and Pastor Tracy Smith will conduct celebration of life services on Saturday, July 15, at 11:00 AM at the Bronson United Methodist Church.

The family will receive friends on Saturday from 10:00 AM until service time in the Church Annex.

Private burial of cremains will take place in Bronson Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Bronson United Methodist Church and may be left at the church or in care of Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Richard (Dick) Lucas was born in August 1944 in Mapleton, Kansas, and passed away in May 2023 in Burleson, Texas. He spent most of his childhood in Ft. Scott, graduating from Ft. Scott High School in 1962. After serving in the US Navy from 1962-1965, he married his childhood sweetheart, Linda Moore, in September 1965. Four children soon followed: Rick in 1967, Deborah in 1968, Rebekah in 1970, and Rachel in 1972. Dick spent nearly 40 years working in the IT field, moving with his family around the country from Texas to Colorado, Missouri, and Minnesota, then back to Texas where he lived for the last 28 years. He loved gardening, tinkering with electronics, riding his tractor, researching and debating current events and politics, and taking solo road trips to camp out and to explore nature and history. He was master of Dad Jokes and loved to laugh and make others laugh, especially his wife Linda; in their 57 years of marriage, they both said that was the most important thing.

Dick is survived by his children Rachel Price, Becki Lucas, Debi Lucas, and Rick Lucas; daughter-in-law Linda Donner and son-in-law Eli Price; two grandchildren, Noah Lucas and Sydney Abrisz; four great-grandchildren, Hailey, Emerson, Aria, and Audrey; brother, Ronald Lucas; and numerous nieces, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in passing by his father, Joseph Lucas; his mother, Lavon Loar; and his stepdad, Eldon Loar. In Dick’s final days, he was surrounded by his beloved wife and children, whom he loved with all his heart.

A celebration of life service will be held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, July 7th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial with military honors will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Lucille Mae Griffith, age 97, of Fort Scott, KS, formerly of Uniontown passed away Sunday, June 25, 2023 at Credo Assisted Living Center after a brief illness. She was born April 28, 1926 in Cleona, PA, the daughter of John H. Funk and Rosa “Rosie” Kreider Funk. Lucille graduated from Cleona, PA schools.

She worked at Bethlehem Steel as a lathe worker for a short time before attending a 3-Year nursing program at the Pennsylvania School of Nursing in Philadelphia and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1948.

Lucille work at Pennsylvania Hospital and then moved to Denver, Colorado to work as an RN at Denver Hospital. Lucille was a volunteer for USO (United Service Organization) where she met her husband Charles “Charley” Konantz Griffith who was in the Air Force. Charley was transferred to Nebraska Airforce Base near Omaha and Lucille and Charley were married in Nebraska on June 2, 1951.

Lucille was proud of her work as a nurse at Newman Young Clinic, Mercy Hospital, and the Uniontown school district. She was a member of the Uniontown Methodist Church and later a member of Faith Christian Church in Fort Scott. Lucille was an excellent cook and enjoyed sewing, knitting, and visiting with friends. She was a member of Uniontown Eastern Star and taught knitting to 4-H members.

Lucille and her husband served as volunteers for the Red Cross Disaster Teams and worked the aftermath of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and tornados.

Lucille was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister Anna Alt, and her special sister-in-law Alice Ramsey. Lucille is survived by her four children, Bill Griffith, Cindy Bartelsmeyer (John), Mary Wynn (Rick), Sara Griffith, 11 grandchildren Aaron Griffith, Lisa Zimmerman, Grace Lundy, Marty

Manwiller, Amy Peterson, Chris Bartelsmeyer, Joy Rhea, Charity Strozier, Nathan Wynn, Andrea Rowe, Megan Messer, 21 great-grandchildren, her sister Marian Heffner, brother Melvin Funk, brother Richard Funk, and many nieces and nephews.

There was cremation. A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Private burial will take place in the Uniontown Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Andre Juaquin Willard, age 47, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Ft. Scott.  Graveside services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday, July 3^rd at the Evergreen Cemetery in Ft. Scott.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.