Velma Jean Russell, age 94, a former resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed peacefully December 6, 2023, at her daughter’s home in Emporia, Kansas. She was born May 17, 1929, in Redfield, Kansas, the daughter of Wesley and Marjorie Reasoner.

In 1938, the family moved to California, near Stockton. They returned to the Midwest nine years later. In 1946, Velma graduated from the Nevada High School in Nevada, Missouri. The following year, she returned to California by train. Her boarding did not go unnoticed by a young sailor returning from leave. He introduced himself somewhere between New Mexico and Arizona. They corresponded while he was at sea, met when they could, and were married on December 18, 1948, in Vallejo, California.

Of all her accomplishments in life, her marriage ot sixty-seven years, and her six children and their families were, by far, her most significant and what she cherished the most. Velma’s faith in Christ sustained and enriched her. She gave her best in whatever she endeavored. She was a wonderful wife, mother and friend. Those who knew her were glad they did.

She is survived by a daughter Jane Gorton (Chris) of Emporia, Kansas and their sons, Nathan, Wyatt and Lucas (Casie); four sons, Paul Russell of Ft. Scott, Kansas, Sam Russell (Debra) of Salina, Kansas and sons, Simeon, Gabriel and Austin; Rod Russell (Rene) of Lee’s Summit, Missouri and their children, Reed, Devon (Ben), and Chad (Casey) and Phil Russell (Misty) of Parsons, Kansas and their sons, Ben, Abe (Maddie) and Silas. Also, grandsons Wayne and Brian. Velma had eighteen great -grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William, son, Wesley, her parents and two brothers.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 A.M. Friday, December 15th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Friday from 10:30 A.M. until service time at the funeral home. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

I feel pretty brave when I have both of my kids by my side. Sometimes they convince me to do things I wouldn’t ordinarily do. For example, last year we vacationed in Grand Bahama and we spent one day at a local fishing/swimming hole. The waves were strong, the water was beautiful, clear and deep, and the dark rocks surrounding the hole were very jagged and tall. I was content to just sit and watch them spearfish, but Mariam convinced me to jump in. So I did. When I decided to climb out, I couldn’t. My daughter stood on the high rocks and tried to pull me out, but I have a weak shoulder which prevented a successful retrieval. So I yelled above the loud waves to my son to come and help. So with Aaron pushing on my bottom and Mariam pulling on my good arm, I came flying out of the hole like a dolphin. I was grateful that my kids were there and stood in the gap for me because I could not get out of my sticky situation by myself.

To “stand in the gap” means we’re working for the Kingdom of God. Believers are to  plant the seeds so the Holy Spirit can work in hearts. God has always used His willing followers to stand in the gap between good and evil. One of our responsibilities is to pray for God’s forgiveness and mercy to become a reality for those who are lost and can’t find their way. Pastors stand in the gap for their cities, parents pray down a firewall for their children, etc. Prayer is not a last resort, but a first response.

In today’s computer world, a firewall is comparable to standing in the gap. A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted network and a nontrusted network, such as the Internet. I believe one of the best firewall examples was Abraham.

Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family lived in Sodom. When the Lord came and visited with Abraham, He said, “’I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.’” Abraham asked the Lord if He would sweep away   the righteous with the wicked. And he ventured further and asked if He would destroy Sodom if 50 righteous people lived in the city. So the Lord said that He would spare the entire city for the sake of the righteous. Abraham was so deeply concerned for Lot that he pleaded with the Lord five more times, “Finally, Abraham said, ’Lord, please don’t be angry with me if I speak one more time. Suppose only ten are found there?’ And the Lord replied, ’Then I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten’” (Genesis 18:20,32 NLT.)

Sadly, not even ten righteous people were living in Sodom. But because Abraham had stood in the gap as a firewall, angels safely escorted Lot and his family out of the wicked city before it was completely destroyed. Abraham’s firewall protected Lot and his family when the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Like Abraham, we can be a friend of God (ref. James 2:23) with bold confidence to stand in the gap and be a relentless firewall for our loved ones.  

The Key: Gaps are everywhere. Find one and stand in it.