Category Archives: Obituary

Obituary of Gladys Rexroad

Gladys Arlene Rexroad, age 98, resident of Tulsa, OK, died Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at her home.

She was born June 26, 1924, in Arcadia, KS, the daughter of Harry and Annie Elizabeth Watkins Smith. She married Basil E. Rexroad on December 18, 1955, in Arcadia. He preceded her in death
on November 1, 1978.

Gladys will be greatly missed.

Survivors include her son, Max Rexroad and wife Linda, Tulsa, OK, whom Gladys lived with; a niece, Ruth Arlene Waring, Garland, KS; a nephew Donnie Smith, Miami, OK; as well as several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; a
daughter, Karen Browning; a brother, Tommie Smith; a nephew, Glenn Smith; and a great niece, Sheryl Waring.

Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 11:00 AM Wednesday, July 6th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St.

Burial will follow in the Large Cemetery, south of Ft. Scott.

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

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

Obituary of Deborah Stewart

Deborah Ann Stewart, age 65, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.

She was born December 12, 1956, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of William Lawrence Gates, Jr. and Dixie Auluwee Dill Gates.  Debbie graduated from Ft. Scott Christian Heights and remained a loyal Crusader supporter throughout her life.

She had worked at the Medicalodge in Ft. Scott for twenty-seven years and had recently retired a few months prior to her death.  In addition to working at the Medicalodge, Debbie also sold Avon.  She was an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan.  Debbie had been attending the Ft. Scott Church of the Nazarene.

Survivors include two sisters, Donna Smith (Nathan) of Ft. Scott, and Victoria Gates all of Ft. Scott and a brother, Randy Gates (Angela) of Girard, Kansas; three nieces, Kayla Smith of Ft. Scott, DeAnn Hixon (Brandon) of Topeka, Kansas and Melissa Yacouzaai (Nick) of Tulsa, Oklahoma and a nephew, Nate Smith of Ft. Scott.  Also surviving is a special friend, Robert Wilkerson of Ft. Scott and Debbie’s beloved dog, Minute.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, William L. Gates III and a sister, Dixie Diane Hixon.

 

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, July 5th at the Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery at 10:45 A.M.

Memorials are suggested to Ft. Scott Christian Heights 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.

Obituary of Dale Johnson

Dale Richard  Johnson
Dale Richard Johnson, age 85, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Friday, June 24, 2022, at his home at the Presbyterian Village in Ft. Scott.
He was born August 26, 1936, in Hillsboro, Kansas, the son of Carl G. Johnson and Marjorie E. Pavey Johnson. The family moved to Wilson County in southeast Kansas in 1938.
Dale obtained his elementary education in one-room country schools. He graduated from the Neodesha, Kansas High School in 1953. Dale began his career with Kansas State government in the Fall of 1953 when he was hired by the Kansas Highway Commission as an engineering aide. He worked as an engineering aide in construction offices at Independence and Dighton, Kansas.
On June 5, 1955, Dale married Betty June Berg. She remained his best friend throughout their life together. In 1961, the family moved to Topeka where he continued his career in State government until retiring in 1993.
The last twenty-five years of his career were spent in management positions in the computer field. In 1979, Dale was President of the International Highway Engineers Exchange Program, an organization dedicated to the exchange of information regarding the use of computers in planning, design, and construction of highways.
Dale and Betty retired to Ft. Scott in 2002. They have always been active in the ministry of their local church. Dale had taught Sunday school for many years.
He was currently a member of Community Christian Church. Dale and Betty enjoyed being actively involved in the Ft. Scott community. Dale was a member of the Bourbon County Art Council, the Ft. Scott Kiwanis Club, the Bourbon County Garden Club, the Pioneer Harvest Fiesta Committee and also volunteered his time at the Beacon and at the Ft. Scott National Historic Site. He was also an active supporter of Ft. Scott High School athletics.
Survivors include his wife of sixty-seven years, Betty, of the home at the Presbyterian Village, a daughter, Brenda (Eric) Deeter of Kansas City, Kansas, and two sons, Bret Johnson of Spokane, Washington and Bart (Pam) Johnson, of Chattanooga, Tennessee; four grandchildren, Michael (Heather) Deeter of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dana (Joe) Patton of Kansas City, Kansas, Sarah Maike of Ft. Scott and Avery Johnson of Chattanooga, Tennessee and six great-grandchildren, Jacob (Andrea), Christopher (Madison), Judah, Brody, Ava and Brooklyn. Also surviving is a sister, Carol (Joe) Newby of Thayer, Kansas.
Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct a memorial service at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, July 9th at the Community Christian Church.
Burial will take place at a later date at the Star Cemetery near Thayer, Kansas.
Memorials are suggested to Show-Me-Christian Youth Home or to Community Christian 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.

Obituary of Ralph Stapp

Ralph Newton Stapp, 98, was promoted to be in the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, June 20, 2022, at his home in Fort Scott, Kansas.  He was born December 3, 1923, in Arcadia, Kansas, the son of Ralph Newton and Nellie Lucille (Montgomery) Stapp.  He married Mary Evelyn Lawhead on January 26, 1968, in Miami, Oklahoma.  She preceded him in death June 21, 2003.

 

Ralph graduated Fort Scott High School Class of 1942.  He was a lifelong farmer and rancher at the family farm west of Fort Scott.

 

He was a veteran of the US Navy, serving in the Pacific Fleet during World War II.  He sailed out of the San Francisco Bay, under the Golden Gate Bridge, to enter the war.  North of the Golden Gate Bridge is a statue honoring the sailors who sailed from there to enter World War II, and Ralph was one of those sailors.

 

Ralph was a faithful member of First Assembly of God, serving many years as a board member.  He was a man devoted to God and prayer.  He was a 50+ year member of the Olson-Frary-Burkhart Post 1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars.

 

Survivors include his sister, Joyce Platt of Livermore, California, nephews, Rev. John Gifford, Charles Gifford, Joe Bridgman, Scot Bridgman, David Platt, and great nieces and nephews.  Also surviving are Ralph and Mary’s dear friends who they considered their extended family; the McNutt Family, Craig, JoAnn, Travis, Tyler, Nicole and Tanner. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Mary, and two sisters, Margaret Stapp and Mary Ellen Gifford.

 

Rev. Don Payne, who served as Ralph’s Pastor for over 14 years, and Rev. John Gifford, his nephew, will conduct funeral services at 11:00 am Friday, July 1, 2022, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.  Burial will follow at the US National Cemetery with Military Honors presented by the US Navy Funeral Honor Detail out of Kansas City, Missouri. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

 

Obituary of Craig Hart

Craig Wynn Hart, 72, died on June 21, 2022, at the Girard Medical Center.  He was born January 25, 1950, in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Wilbur Wynn and Helen Maxine (McGrew) Hart. He was a resident of Fort Scott Medicalodge.

Craig graduated from Uniontown High School in 1968, FSCC in 1970, and PSU in 1975 with a history emphasis.  He was a long-time member of the Uniontown United Methodist Church and was currently a member of the Fort Scott First United Methodist Church.  He enjoyed his Sunday School class, working with Feeding Families, and fellowship with his church family.  He was a long-time member of the Fort Scott chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution where he held many different offices.  He was a genealogist.  He authored two books, several magazine articles, and consulted and helped many other genealogists in research.

Craig was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his sister, Gayla Croan and brother, Kirk Hart and wife Jeanie.  He is survived by nieces Samantha (Hart) McGinnis and husband Dan, Morgan (Croan) Felt and husband Carson, and Blair Croan; great nieces and nephews Ethan McGinnis, Connor McGinnis, Perry McGinnis, Ryker Felt, Beckett Felt, Hayden Blair, and Paxton Blair.

Private family graveside services will be held later in the summer.

The family suggests memorials to the Fort Scott First United Methodist Church and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

 

Obituary of Betty Simpson

Betty Jean Simpson, age 87, resident of Bronson, KS, died Monday, June 20, 2022, at her home.  She was born October 10, 1934, in Ft. Scott, KS, the daughter of Samuel and Mable Brown Evans

She graduated from Uniontown High School in 1952.  Betty married Forrest Simpson on August 23, 1954, in Ft. Scott.  He preceded her in death on February 14, 1997.

She worked for Montgomery Ward from 1953 until 1973.  She then worked for the Western Insurance Company from 1974 until retiring in 1987.  Betty then worked part-time at Walmart for several years.

She enjoyed cross stitching, watching Andy Griffith shows, and collecting antiques.  She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

 

Survivors include 3 grandchildren, Rachel Pearson and husband Arthur, Jenise Reinkens, and Samuel Reinkens; 6 great grandchildren; and 8 great-great grandchildren.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Gayla Reinkens; 4 brothers, Norman, Samuel, Daniel, and James Evans; and a sister, Mary Simmons.

 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, June 27th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Centerville Cemetery.

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

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

Obituary of Derrick Johnson

Derrick Wayne Johnson, age 40, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, June 16, 2022, in Ft. Scott.

He was born March 2, 1982, in Ft. Scott, the son of Robert Michael Johnson and Linda Linnett Boyd Johnson.

Derrick graduated from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 2000.  He went on to attend Pittsburg State University.

Derrick will be remembered for his singing talent.

In earlier years, he spent many hours performing and helping with the Ft. Scott Jubilee.  He had employed in the deli at Price Chopper and later G & W grocery stores.

He grew up attending the First Christian Church in Ft. Scott.

 

Survivors include his brother, Michael Johnson and wife, Jana, of Ft. Scott and two nephews, Randy and Liam.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Linda Johnson and his grandparents, Bob and Margie Johnson and Bill and Celesteele Boyd.

 

Rev. Rob Carr will conduct a memorial service at 3:30 P.M. Thursday, June 30th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Private burial take place in the Memory Gardens Cemetery in Ft. Scott.

Memorials are suggested to the Derrick Johnson memorial fund 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.

Obituary of Joseph Clary

Joseph Ross Clary, age 81, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at his home.  He was born June 22, 1940, on the family farm east of Garland, Kansas, the son of Noah Frederick Clary and Lois Vivian Thurman Clary.  Joe received his early education at a rural school near Garland.  He went on to graduate from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1958.  He then graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in agricultural education.

Joe married Betty Palmer on August 19, 1967, at the First Baptist Church in Ft. Scott.

He served with the Kansas Army National Guard from 1963 to 1969.

From his early childhood, Joe developed a love for agriculture.

After graduating from K-State, he chose to return to farming rather than pursue a teaching position.  He ran a diversified farming operation until 1983.  At this time, because of the depressed farming economy, he accepted a position with the USD #234 school system where he continued to work for thirty-five years.

He was a member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Garland.

 

Survivors include his wife, Betty, of the home; two sons, Tim Clary (Jocie) of Sedalia, Missouri and Adam Clary (Elisa) of Ft. Scott; four grandchildren, Mariah Wiles (Aaron), and Marissa, Matthew and Kaiden Clary and two great-granddaughters, Adaline and Natalie.  Also surviving are a brother, Kenneth Clary (Shawnee) of Ft. Scott and three sisters, Marilyn Webster (Marion) of Bronaugh, Missouri, Martha Barwick (Eric) of Nevada, Missouri and Linda Crain (Bob) of Chicago, Illinois and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Lois Clary, a brother, Gerald Clary and a sister, Wanda June Clary.

 

Pastor Rick Womack will conduct a memorial service at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, June 28th at the First Baptist Church in Ft. Scott.

Burial will follow in the Clarksburg Cemetery.

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

Memorials are suggested to the Mt. Zion Baptist Church or Avalon Hospice 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.

Obituary of Jeremy Blankenship

Jeremy Michael Blankenship, age 44, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Thursday, June 16, 2022, at his home.  He was born October 28, 1977, in Ft. Scott, the son of Kregg and Mary Rogers Blankenship.  He graduated from FSHS with the class of 1995.  Jeremy worked as a freelance writer.  He enjoyed music, art, online gaming, and doing online research.  He was a passionate secular humanist.  He will be greatly missed.

 

Survivors include his fiancée Beth Parker of the home; his parents Kregg and Mary Blankenship, Ft. Scott; 2 sons, Damion Blankenship, and wife Valorie, Ft. Scott, and Conner Parker and Alyssa Martin, Ft. Scott; a daughter, Marra Parker and fiancée Gabe Holt, Ft. Scott; a brother, Mark Blankenship and Jenna Cuthbertson, Pittsburg, KS; 2 sisters, Lori Smith and husband Jessie, Ft. Scott, and Michelle Heaton and husband Charles, Ft. Scott; 3 grandchildren, Adrionna , Colton, and Mazikeen Blankenship; special nephew Alex Heaton; nieces Samatha, Sarah, and Shenna; numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews; and his best friend who was always by his side, “Yuffie”.

 

David Weber will conduct memorial services at 11:00 AM Wednesday, June 22nd, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Graveside service will follow in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Fulton, KS.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 AM prior to the service.

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

Obituary of Don Miller

Norman “Don” Miller, age 79, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Thursday, June 16, 2022, at Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada, MO.

He was born July 26, 1942, in Ft. Scott, the son of Roy and Leora Heitz Miller.  He graduated from Fort Scott High School with the class of 1960 where he played sports and was a self-proclaimed terrible student.  He attended Fort Scott Community College in prior to entering service in the U. S. Army.

Following the Army, Don graduated from Pittsburg State University with a master’s in education.  He married Shauneen Bond on August 29, 1964, in Ft. Scott.  She preceded him in death on January 25, 2007.

He began his teaching and coaching career in Coffeyville, KS.  After moving back to Ft. Scott, Don taught at the Junior High School and Ft. Scott JUCO.  His teaching and coaching career garnered many awards including Master Teacher Award 1981, and the Kansas Teacher Hall of Fame 2001.  He established the middle school Pride Program as well as Washington Workshop.  He was a member of KNEA, served as HPA board President and was a member of Community Christian Church.

Don’s sense of humor never failed when reminiscing with former students and athletes.

 

Survivors include two daughters, Tanya Miller, Ft. Scott, and Erin Ponte and husband Brian, Fresno, CA; a sister, Diane Yager, Smithville, MO; a granddaughter, Madison Ponte as well as Tanner, Brityn, Beckham, and Jordy Fox; and nieces and nephews Kim Boham, David Bond, Lindsay Schossow, Morgan Boham, Elise Yager, Kristy Yager, Tony Yager, Justin Parks, Stacey Snodgrass, and Laurie Short.

Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Connie Miller Parks, and Sharon Short; and his parents.

 

Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct funeral services at 10:30 AM Tuesday, June 21st, at the Community Christian Church.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.

A memorial gathering will take place at 6:30 PM Monday June 20th, at the Ft. Scott Middle School, with casual “Tiger” gear encouraged.

Memorials are suggested to either HPA or the Don Miller Scholarship Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Obituary of Florence Long

obituary image

Florence Barbara Long, age 101, a resident of Plano, TX. Died Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at the T Boone Pickens Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Dallas, TX.

She was born December 3, 1920 in Blackhawk, CO. to William John Webster and Florence Meyer Webster. Florence married Wilson Allen Long on March 5, 1940 in Denver, CO.

She had a special relationship with her grandchildren as they would spend summers at grandma and grandpa’s house in Fort Scott.

Survivors include her two children, a son, William Long, and wife Margo, a daughter, Barbara Rotunda, and husband James; four grandchildren, Doug Lipscomb, Randy Lipscomb, Melynda Larson, and husband Curtis, and Marc Long, and wife, Nicole; nine great-grandchildren, Nicole Lipscomb, and husband, Warren, Samantha Lipscomb, Griffin Larson, Amanda Larson, Isabel Long, Brooklyn Gray, Nolan Gray, Harper Gray, and Mila Long; three great-great-grandchildren, Cheyanne Brundidge, Abigail Wilson, and Mia Martin. She was preceded in death by her husband, and parents.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, June 16th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.