All posts by Submitted Story

Obituary: Lois Jean Wynn

Lois Jean Wynn, age 82, had the joy of being called home to Heaven to join our Lord and Savior on April 19, 2017.

Lois was born October 12, 1934, in Talmage, Kans., the daughter of James and Mary Luker.  She graduated from Uniontown High School and then began work at the Western Insurance Co. in Fort Scott, Kans.  This is when she met a very handsome young man named Don, who swept her off her feet.  They fell in love and were married on September 19, 1954.  Lois and Don had four children, two girls and two boys.  She was a charter member of Faith church of Fort Scott, and she loved her church.  She made sure that each of her children found a love for the Lord and she is happy because all of her kids, grandkids, and most of her great grandkids (babies excluded) know the Lord as their personal Savior. She taught kids in Sunday school, she worked with the youth and she loved teaching women’s bible studies.  She also loved to read, Louis Lamoure being one of her favorite authors. She enjoyed the way he described the old west and made you feel like you were a part of it.  She also enjoyed old and new quilts.  She liked the hand-quilting style and the design they had.  It was a joy to her when she would see one finished.  She also had a real desire to find out about the old one-room school houses in Bourbon County.  She would always talk with the old timers that were from the area and see where the school houses were and what they could tell her about them.

Survivors include her loving husband of 63 years, Don Wynn; her daughter Deborah Wynn, Mounds, Okla.; son and daughter in love Rick and Mary Wynn, Uniontown, Kans.; daughter and son in love Tina and Eromosele Aigbiremonlen of Mounds, Okla.; son and daughter in love Mark and Amy Wynn, College Station, Texas; seven grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; sisters Lucille Ward and Phyllis Randall and husband David; a brother Eldon Luker and wife Gloria; a sister-in-law Mary Lou Luker; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Kenneth Luker; and a sister, Bonnie Cornwell and husband Robert.

There was cremation. Pastor Matthew Hunt conducted memorial services at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 22, 2017, at Faith Church of Fort Scott. Memorials are suggested to either Mercy Hospice or Faith Church of Fort Scott and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Obituary: Douglas Blaine Hazelbaker

Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home

Douglas Blaine Hazelbaker, age 51, a resident of rural Redfield, passed away early Monday, May 1, 2017, at the Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott.

Doug was born May 31, 1965, to Alice and Norman Hazelbaker.  He and his wife, Jana, were married on August 17, 2002, and are the parents of daughters, Dylan and Dakota. In 1983, he graduated from Uniontown High School.  While in high school, he competed in the Kansas State High School Rodeo Association, and he was the state champion in both calf roping and steer wrestling, and the Reserve All-Around cowboy his senior year.  While attending Allen County Community College and Northwestern Oklahoma State University, he competed in both calf roping and steer wrestling, while earning a Bachelor’s degree in education.  Doug began his teaching career as a 4th grade teacher and was teaching middle school math at Jayhawk-Linn in Mound City, where he touched the lives of many young people and worked with wonderful friends over the past 25 years.  His passion for calf roping extended well beyond college, and he logged many miles from rodeo to rodeo, building great friendships over the years. Some of his accomplishments in calf roping include IPRA rookie of the year, Great Lakes PRCA circuit finals contestant, Cheyenne Frontier Days performance qualifier, and IFR qualifier in 1991.  In 2016, he qualified for the Interstates Rodeo Association finals, and Dylan wears his jacket from that association.  He also competed in the United Rodeo Association for many years, and in the year end finals for 2016 finished 5th overall in the over 40 calf roping. Dakota is honored to wear his URA jacket, and Dylan proudly wears the belt buckle he won.

Survivors include his wife Jana and daughters Dylan and Dakota of the home; parents, Norman and Alice Hazelbaker, Redfield, Kans.; a sister, Carol Camac and husband Joe, Augusta, Kans.; a brother, Mike Hazelbaker and wife Susan, Alma, Kans.; nieces and nephews, Cole, Travis, and Lucas Camac, Cole Fowles, Cassidy Anderson, Quincy and Emma Charleston, and Cooper, Colton, and Canyon Charleston.

Cowboy Preacher Marty Brock will conduct memorial services at 11 a.m. Friday, May 5, at the Fort Scott Fairgrounds Arena.  In case of inclement weather, the memorial service will be moved inside the Danny and Willa Ellis Fine Arts Center at FSCC.  The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. at the FSCC Agriculture Building (Armory).  In lieu of flowers, the family strongly suggests memorials to the Hazelbaker Girl’s Scholarship Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.

Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.  The family asks for any special memory or story of Doug to be brought to the service or mailed to Jana Hazelbaker, 1311 Hwy 54, Redfield, KS 66769.  These memories will be used to compile a scrapbook for Dylan and Dakota

Obituary: Ian Ray “Kirk” Keitzer

Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home

Ian Ray “Kirk” Keitzer, age 56, a resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, April 24, 2017.

He was born September 9, 1960, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of James Keitzer and Joyce Smith Keitzer.  Kirk grew up in the Brookside area of Kansas City.  He attended and graduated from the Kansas City Christian High School in Merriam, Kans., with the Class of 1978.  He later attended College of the Ozarks in Branson, Mo.  Kirk was an avid sportsman who enjoyed baseball, basketball, football, golf and fishing.  He moved to Fort Scott in 2003 and worked for Carlisle Company until his illness forced his retirement.

Survivors include his sweeties and companion of thirty years, Rhonda Chinn, of Fort Scott and her children, Rachelle Sprague and Bart Chinn, both of Fort Scott; his grandchildren, Lee Sprague, Justice Sprague, Mia Hull, Garrett Chinn, and Darius Chinn, all of Fort Scott, Sarah English and husband, Josh and great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Elijah and Sophia English all of Peculiar, Mo.  Also surviving is a sister, Renee Grainger and husband, Frank of Belton, Missouri.  He was preceded in death by both his parents and his two brothers, Allen and Eric Keitzer and his beloved grandmother, Helen Stonebreaker Smith Tanner.

A private graveside service will be held Thursday at the Fairview Cemetery east of Mildred, Kansas.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Obituary: Lewis Kelley Arnold

Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home

Lewis Kelley Arnold, age 91, a former resident of Fort Scott, Kans., and more recently of Pittsburg, Kansas, died Monday, April 24, 2017, at Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg.

He was born September 21, 1925, in Fort Scott, the son of Lewis B. Arnold and Susie M. Kelley Arnold.  Kelley graduated from the Fort Scott High School.  He served with the United States Army during World War II.  He first married Maxine Ashford on September 9, 1951, at Fort Scott.  She preceded him in death on July 14, 1998.  He later married Carol Simmerman. She preceded him in death on March 5, 2015.

Kelley had managed the Ben Franklin Store in downtown Fort Scott for many years.  He later operated his own mechanic shop.  He was a member of the Community Christian Church.  He was also a member of the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Garland Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite Consistory and the Mirza Shrine.

Survivors include two granddaughters, Natasha Carballo and husband, Eric, and Nacole Smith and fiancé, John Williams, all of Dallas, Texas, and several nieces and nephews.  In addition to his wives, he was preceded in death by a son, Stephen Arnold and a daughter, Susan Smith.

Funeral services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars.  The family will receive friends on Friday from noon until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Avalon Hospice’s Blossom for Hearts Program 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: Troy Dale Beerbower

Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home

Troy Dale Beerbower, age 54, a resident of Fort Scott, Kans., passed away Saturday, April 22, 2017, at the Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott.

He was born April 24, 1962, in Fort Scott, the son of Lowell William Beerbower and Donna Kay Lawson Beerbower.  He graduated from Fort Scott High School and Pittsburg State University.  He married Kim Felt in May of 1989. Troy owned and operated Troy Beerbower Restoration which specialized in masonry and roofing as well as other construction related projects.  He enjoyed fishing and spending time outdoors.  He also liked playing softball and basketball as well as cards.  He was a member of the Faith Church.

Survivors include his wife, Kim of the home; three children, Derek Stumfoll and wife, Samantha, and Amanda Larsen, all of Fort Scott, and Kandyce Cox and husband, Blake, of Uniontown, Kans., and also a grandson who he was raising, Brian Stumfoll, of the home in Fort Scott; eleven additional grandchildren, Bailey, Blakely, Catherine, Christian, Lyrics, Braxtyn, Daetyn, McKennon, Peighton, Kamden and Gabriel.  Also surviving are four brothers, David Beerbower and wife, Donna Jo, of Fort Scott, Allen Beerbower and wife, Kim, of Redfield, Kans., Gary Beerbower, and L. W. Beerbower and wife, Julie, also of Fort Scott and a sister, Rhonda Tinkey and husband, Preston, of Fort Scott as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

Pastor Matthew Hunt will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Friday, April 28, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the Marmaton Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Memorials are suggested to the Troy Beerbower 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: Rose Alene Feagins

Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home

Rose Alene Feagins, age 83, a resident of Fort Scott, Kans., passed away Sunday, April 16, 2017, at her home.

She was born October 9, 1933, in Alpena Pass, Ark., the daughter of Alex C. Craig and Stella Garrison Craig.  She married Billy Joe Feagins on December 9, 1951.  They later divorced.  Alene had worked in housekeeping and as a nurse’s aide for Mercy Hospital for thirty years.  She retired in 1996.  She enjoyed gardening, embroidering and reading as well as spending time with children and her dogs.  She also collected glass baskets and salt and pepper shakers.  She was a member of the Marmaton Community Church.

Survivors include her seven children, Wanda Ogle and husband, Dale, of Fort Scott, Margaret Spencer, of Pittsburg, Kans., Ruth Hawkins, of Fort Scott, Randy Feagins of Fort Scott, Karen Bley and husband, Randy, of Deerfield, Mo., Michelle Cunningham and husband, Mike, of Leavenworth, Kans., and Michael Feagins and wife, Kim, of Fort Scott. She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Irene Feagins and Dorothy Wiebeck.

Pastor Jeff Feagins will conduct funeral services at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 19, at the Marmaton Community Church.  Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Marmaton Community Church or to Paws & Claws Animal Shelter and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.