All posts by Submitted Story

Obituary: Linda June Harris Vann

Submitted by Cheney-Witt Funeral Home

Linda June Harris Vann, age 69, a resident of Fort Scott, Kans., went into glory to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 1, 2017.

She was born March 24, 1948, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Ray Hugh Harris and Cleta Mae Graham Harris.  Linda graduated from the Fort Scott High School in 1967.  Immediately out of high school, Linda began a career with Mercy Hospital. She started as an aide and later worked as a ward clerk.  She retired in March of 2010 after 43 years of service. She married Harry Glenn Vann on August 29, 1974, at Miami, Okla.  Linda enjoyed sports, reading, bowling, fishing and traveling. She was also an avid Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs fan.  She formerly attended the Mt. Olive Church of God in Christ and was currently a member of the Diamond Community Church.

Survivors include her three sons, Monty Vann, of Atlanta, Ga., and Gregory and Jonathan Vann, both of Fort Scott; four grandchildren, Elijah Wright, Ezekiel, Daniel and Violet Vann, all of Fort Scott.  Also surviving are three brothers, Leon Harris of New Mexico, Eugene Harris of Los Angeles, Calif., and Roger Harris of New York, N.Y.; and four sisters including her twin, Glenda Harris of Fort Scott, Deborah Nelson of Fort Scott, Rotena Gray of Denver, Colo., and Hattie Wright of Olathe, Kans.  Her husband, Glenn, preceded her in death on May 8, 2010.  She was also preceded in death by three brothers, William Graham, Buford Harris, and Donald Drake, and a sister, Phyllis Mason.

Elder Roger Harris, assisted by Rev. Jimmy Tucker, will conduct funeral services at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the Linda Vann Memorial Fund 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.

 

Obituary: Valeta Myrtle Kerr

Submitted by Cheney-Witt Funeral Home

Valeta Myrtle Kerr, age 89, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Friday, April 7, 2017, at the Medicalodge of Ft. Scott.

She was born October 5, 1927, in Garden City, Mo., the daughter of Samuel and Myrtle King.  She first married Benjamin Hicks.  He preceded her in death, and she then married Forrest Kerr.  He also preceded her in death.  Valeta had worked as a receptionist for Social and Rehabilitation Services in Arkansas.  She enjoyed gardening and sewing.  She was a member of the Community Christian Church.

Survivors include a sons, Larry Hicks and wife, Jessie, of Fort Scott, Brent Kerr and wife, Leona, of Van Buren, Ark., Tom Kerr and wife, Deborah, of Excelsior Springs, Mo., and Jim Kerr and wife, Emily, of St. Louis, Mo.; a sister, Leota Bradford of Shawnee Mission, Kans.; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews.  In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by an infant son, David Hicks; two sisters and a brother.

Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 14, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.  The family will receive friends on Friday from 10 a.m. until service time at the chapel.  Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kans.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

Obituary: Lewis Edson Farra, Jr.

Submitted by Cheney-Witt Funeral Home

Lewis Edson Farra, Jr., age 75, resident of Ft. Scott, Kans., went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, April 3, 2017, at Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott.

 

He was born on December 11, 1941, in Phoenixville, Pa., the son of Lewis Edson Farra, Sr. and Ferne Elizabeth Swisher Farra. He served our country in the United States Air Force. He married Pauline Shelton on December 19, 1964, in Bronson, Kans. Lewis worked as a diesel mechanic for a heavy equipment company. This later included traveling to do his work. He then worked as a tool salesman and later worked for Dayco in Fort Scott. In his younger days, he liked to hunt and fish. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening and raising fruit trees. He supported his children and all their athletic activities as they went through school. He was a great role model for his kids. Known as “Pappy” to his grandchildren, he read them stories with an occasional embellishment. When in Villanova, Pa., he attended the Old Gulf Mills Congregational Church. He was a member of the Ft. Scott Church of the Nazarene.

Survivors include his wife Pauline of the home; children L. Jeffrey Farra, Castle Rock, Colo., Cassie Jo Farra Vano and husband Michael, Hot Springs, Ark., and David R. Farra and wife Bernadette, DeSoto, Kans.; a brother, Norman K. Farra and wife Linda, Oxford, Pa.; a sister, Imogene M. Stremme and husband Bob, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.; a brother-in- law, John R. Shelton and wife Martha, Drexel, Mo.; seven grandchildren, Danielle, Jessica, Tyler, Emma, Anna, Nick and Zachary; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother-in-law, Charles L. Shelton; a sister-in-law, Linda L. Shelton; and a nephew, Brian Shelton.

Pastor Virgil Peck will conduct services at 10 a.m. Friday, April 7, at the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene. Burial will follow in the Moran Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by the United States Air Force Honor Guard. Memorials are suggested to either Fort Scott or Uniontown FFA or Care to Share, and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary: Allen Laverne Sather

Submitted by Cheney-Witt Funeral Home

Allen Laverne Sather, age 84, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Monday, April 3, 2017, at his home.

He was born September 2, 1932, in Shell Lake, Wis., the son of Ephraim and Inga Solie Sather. He married Donna Hefter on June 27, 1953, in Shell Lake. He purchased his first farm at the age of 18. He farmed until he began selling insurance. Everything he did in work was centered on helping people. Allen enjoyed bowling, golfing, fishing, camping and spending time with his family. He played board games and card games with his children and grandchildren. He also played guitar and enjoyed sing-a-longs with the kids. He had a gift of making people laugh. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife Donna of the home; children Sherrie Clark, Fort Scott, Ron Sather and wife Donna, Cottage Grove, Minn., Rick Sather and wife Jane, Shell Lake, Wis., Rhonda Ankrum and husband Floyd, Baldwin, Wis., Terri Bradley and husband Mark, Arlington, Texas, and Jim Sather and wife Chris, Fort Scott; a brother, John Sather and wife Mae, Willmar, Minn.; 16 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; two nieces and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

There was cremation. Vicar Michael Apfel will conduct memorial services at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Scott. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 Wednesday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Trinity Lutheran Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary: Carol Jean Bradley

Submitted by Cheney-Witt Funeral Home

Carol Jean Bradley, age 74, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kans., went to home to her Lord, on Saturday, April 1, 2017.

She was born June 9, 1942, in Pawhuska, Okla., the daughter of James Otto Stephenson and Verbel Viola King Stephenson.  She married Charles B. Bradley on June 9, 1960, at the Grace Baptist Tabernacle in Fort Scott.  In earlier years, Jean had worked for Campbell’s Laundry and for the Western Insurance Company. She was a long-time member of the Grace Baptist Tabernacle.

Survivors include her husband, Charles, of the home; a son, David Eugene Bradley and wife, Jonna, of Springfield, Mo., and a daughter, Kay Payne, of Fort Scott; five grandchildren, Wesley Payne and wife, Courtney, of Pittsburg, Kans., Geoff Payne, of Ft. Myers, Florida, and Benjamin, Erica and Jessica Bradley, all of Springfield; and five great-grandchildren, Lexi, Aaron, Syvhara, Oliviette and Naomi.  She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Betty Russell and Nadiene Bennett and an infant brother, Lowell Louis Stephenson.

Rev. Paul Rooks will conduct funeral services at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at the Grace Baptist Tabernacle.  Burial will follow in the Prescott Cemetery.  The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 1 p.m. until service time at the church.  Memorials are suggested to the Grace Baptist Tabernacle and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS.