All posts by Submitted Story

Southeast Kansas Library System July 2025 Newsletter: New Book Selections

The SEKnFind Newsletter
July 2025

We hope you enjoy this newsletter sent as a courtesy to adult patrons of a southeast Kansas library using the SEKnFind catalog.
This selection of titles are NEW at a SEKnFind library and available for a hold.
Need assistance? Your local librarian can show you how!
Happy Reading!

New Fiction

A summer for the books
by Michelle Lindo-Rice

“Jewel Stone has it all–the perfect marriage, a bestselling author career, her dream home–or so she likes everyone to believe. But between her writer’s block and her husband losing his job, her picture-perfect life is in shambles…until she receives acall she never expected: her former best friend needs her help. When Shelby Andrews wakes up in the hospital after a biking accident, she can’t remember the last twelve years…There’s only one person who can help Shelby through this–her bestie, Jewel. With so many secrets and heartbreaks between them, Jewel and Shelby haven’t spoken in years. Yet Jewel can’t turn away from the friend who doesn’t remember their fallout. Besides, the best writing she’s ever done was with Shelby”

Sunburned : a novel
by Katherine Wood

When a washed-up foot ties Audrey Collet and her eccentric billionaire ex Tyson to a buried past, she’s pulled into a high-stakes investigation on his St. Barth’s estate, where blackmail, betrayal, and a deadly birthday dive reveal a killer among their secret-laden inner circle

The fourth girl : a novel
by Wendy Corsi Staub

On the 25th anniversary of Caroline Winterfield’s disappearance, her three former best friends reunite at the now-restored Haven Cliff mansion, where a new murder forces them to confront buried secrets, shattered friendships, and the possibility that Caroline might still be alive. Original.

The Poppy Fields : a novel
by Nikki Erlick

“Welcome to the Poppy Fields, where there’s hope for even the most battered hearts to heal. Here, in a remote stretch of the California desert, lies an experimental and controversial treatment center that allows those suffering from the heartache of lossto sleep through their pain… and keep on sleeping. After patients awaken from this prolonged state of slumber, they will finally be healed. But only if they’re willing to accept the potential shadowy side effects. On a journey to this mystical destination are four very different strangers and one little dog: Ava, a book illustrator; Ray, a fireman; Sasha, an occupational therapist; Sky, a free spirit; and a friendly pup named PJ. As they attempt to make their way from the Midwest all the way to the Poppy Fields–where they hope to find Ellis, its brilliant, enigmatic founder–each of their past secrets and mysterious motivations threaten to derail their voyage”

The lost book of first loves
by RaeAnne Thayne

From a New York Times best-selling author comes a brand-new story about two women, a family secret and a lost manuscript that changes everything.

How freaking romantic : a novel
by Emily Harding

“A romantic comedy about a soon-to-be lawyer who doesn’t believe in marriage, her new colleague who makes his living off divorce, and the worst case of all: falling in love”

How to survive a horror story : a novel
by Mallory Arnold

“When legendary horror author Mortimer Queen passes, a group of authors find themselves invited to the last will and testament reading, expecting a piece of his massive fortune for themselves. Each have their own unique connection to the literary icon, some known, some soon to be discovered, and they’ve been waiting for their chance to step into the great author’s shoes for some time. They enter the manor and wait for their prize. Instead, they are invited to play a game. The rules are simple, solve the riddle and progress to the next room. If you don’t, someone dies. Because each of these authors has something to hide, and Mortimer, even from the grave, always delivers the best story. Only this time, his manor will help. You see, the Queen estate was built on the bones of the family, and the house is still very, very hungry.”

The Devils
by Joe Abercrombie

Brother Diaz has been summoned to the Sacred City, where he is certain a commendation and grand holy assignment awaits him. But his new flock is made up of unrepentant murderers, practitioners of ghastly magic, and outright monsters. The mission he is tasked with will require bloody measures from them all in order to achieve its righteous ends. Elves lurk at our borders and hunger for our flesh, while greedy princes care for nothing but their own ambitions and comfort. With a hellish journey before him, it’s a good thing Brother Diaz has the devils on his side.

A Rebel’s History of Mars
by Nadia Afifi

Kezza, an aerialist in the Martian circus, can never return to Earth – but she can assassinate the man she blames for her grim life on the red planet. Her murderous plans take an unexpected turn, however, when she uncovers a sinister secret. A thousand years into the future, Azad lives a safe but controlled life on the beautiful desert planet of Nabatea. His world is upended when he joins a crew of space-traveling historians seeking to learn the true reason that their ancestors left Mars. Separated by time and space, Kezza and Azad’s stories collide in the Martian desert.

Lloyd McNeil’s last ride : a novel
by Will Leitch

“From the award-winning author of How Lucky and The Time Has Come, this heartfelt and humorous novel follows an Atlanta police officer who learns he has months to live and determines to get killed in the line of duty to provide for his son . . . but keeps failing in unexpected ways. Lloyd McNeil has served as an officer with the Atlanta Police Department for 20 years while being a devoted father to his teenage son. But then he learns the worst possible news: He has learned he has an inoperable brain tumor, and he has only months left to live. Lloyd begins throwing himself into a series of increasingly dangerous situations, but things don’t go according to plan. Instead of dying, he becomes a civic hero. Meanwhile, a malevolent force from his past shadows Lloyd as he tries to get his affairs in order, teach his son the lessons he needs to be a good person, and to say goodbye. Told in Lloyd’s wistful but wonderfully comedic voice, Untitled is a masterful blend of suspense, humor, and compassion. It is a novel about what we leave behind and what we learn along the way, a bighearted story that brings into focus the depths of a father’s love for his son”

So far gone : a novel
by Jess Walter

“From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins comes a lively, smart, and deliciously funny new novel in the vein of True Grit, about a reclusive journalist who is suddenly thrown into a wild, suspenseful journey to rescue his kidnapped grandchildren”

Return to sender
by Craig Johnson

“Walt Longmire is back after the escapades of First Frost, and encounters one of his most baffling cases. The Sheriff of Absaroka confronts a cabal of devious outlaws who are hell bent on getting what they want, even though they have to bend and break the law. Walt is stretched to his physical limits to try to stop them, and has to answer the question of just how far he will go to stop these outlaws. Fans of the series will love seeing Walt put into this almost impossible situation, and new fans will fall for the venerable Sheriff as he ties to uphold the law and his own values in this high-stakes mystery from the master of the Western crime novel”

New Audiobooks

The river is waiting : a novel
by Wally Lamb

“From the New York Times bestselling author of Oprah Bookclub Picks I Know This Much Is True and She’s Come Undone comes the heart wrenching story of a young father who, after an unbearable tragedy, reckons with the possibility of atonement for the unforgivable”

Never flinch : a novel
by Stephen King

“When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to “kill thirteen innocents and one guilty” in “an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man,” Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think. Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhinged act of retribution? As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help. Meanwhile, controversial and outspoken women’s rights activist Kate McKay is embarking on a multi-state lecture tour, drawing packed venues of both fans and detractors. Someone who vehemently opposes Kate’s message of female empowerment is targeting her and disrupting her events. At first, no one is hurt, but the stalker is growing bolder, and Holly is hired to be Kate’s bodyguard-a challenging task with a headstrong employer and a determined adversary driven by wrath and his belief in his own righteousness.”

Don’t Let Him In
by Lisa Jewell

Nick Radcliffe is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. He’s just what Nina Swann needed in her life after her husband’s unexpected death. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling. Martha is a florist living in a neighboring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t share the feeling that something isn’t right. Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined.

New Nonfiction

The CIA book club : the secret mission to win the Cold War with forbidden literature
by Charlie English

“Recounts a covert Cold War operation led by George Minden to smuggle banned literature into Eastern Europe, focusing on the cultural and psychological battle against Soviet censorship and the role underground reading networks played in weakening totalitarian control, especially in Poland”

Fired up : how to turn your spark into a flame and come alive at any age
by Shannon Watts

“From the founder of Moms Demand Action, a guide to harnessing your potential, living without fear, and coming alive at any age”

The carpool detectives / : Four Moms, Two Bodies, One Mysterious Cold Case
by Chuck Hogan

“In 2020, four women found themselves at a crossroads: Each of them had transitioned from full-time jobs to full-time parenting, and each was pushing against the new boundaries of her life as the pandemic looms. At a bowling night fundraiser for their kids’ school, they discover they all share a passion for true crime that crystalizes around a mysterious double homicide that took place a decade earlier. A married couple in their 60s vanished overnight from their home. A few days later, the family business was shuttered, and the bank financing it sued the missing couple for one million dollars. They were rumored to have absconded with the money until their bodies were discovered inside their car at the bottom of a steep ravine. And then the case went cold. But what if, the moms think, they could solve it?”– Provided by publisher

Mailman : my wild ride delivering the mail in Appalachia and finally finding home
by Stephen Starring Grant

This is an exuberant, hilarious, and profound memoir by a mailman in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, who found that the post office saved his life, taught him who he was, gave him purpose, and educated him deeply about a country he loves but had lost touch with.

The headache : the science of a most confounding affliction — and a search for relief
by Tom Zeller

“Veteran science journalist Tom Zeller Jr. takes readers on an odyssey both intimate and panoramic, through his own decades-long struggle with cluster headaches and across the scientific landscape of a group of disorders that is-to the chagrin of sufferers-as much a curse as a cultural punchline. He visits cutting-edge clinics; interviews dozens of doctors, neurologists, and fellow headache patients; participates in clinical trials for multi-million-dollar new medicines; and even experiments with psilocybin in search of relief. Along the way, Zeller traces the longer arc of mystery around headaches, from prehistoric skull surgery to Virginia Woolf’s assertion that, in the throes of a migraine, “language runs dry,” to reveal how headaches became one of the most under-researched afflictions in medicine-and how that is slowly starting to change. With warmth, wit, and infectious curiosity, Zeller’s search for the origins of his own headaches becomes a journey into the inner workings of the human nervous system, and an illuminating look at the nature of pain itself”

ArnieTex : over 100 recipes for Mexican-American cooking and Texas-style BBQ
by Arnie Segovia

“Arnie Segovia is a Texas guy with Mexican roots, and his cooking is a blend of Texas and Mexican cuisines in the comdia casera (comfort food) and carne asada (Mexican grilling) styles. His creations are a traditional blend of Southwest, Texas, and Norteäno cooking techniques, both in the kitchen and over open fire. For authentic Mexican cooking combined with a little bit of Texas and open-fire barbecue, look no further than ArnieTex!”

The book of home how-to : complete photo guide to home repair + improvement
by Cool Springs Press

“This updated 3rd edition, the ultimate reference for maintaining any type of home, from a small apartment to a mega mansion, is now completely up to code–featuring code updates and current best practices for all electrical, plumbing, and deck-related concerns. This A-to-Z encyclopedia offers precise how-to instructions and clear photos on every page. With an expanded index that is incredibly intuitive and a simple, alphabetical strategy for organizing the information, you won’t spend precious time wading through stuff you don’t need to know”

A marriage at sea : obsession, shipwreck, and other catastrophes
by Sophie Elmhirst

“The electrifying true story of a young couple shipwrecked at sea: a mind-blowing tale of obsession, survival, and partnership stretched to its limits. Maurice and Maralyn make an odd couple. He’s a loner, awkward and obsessive; she’s charismatic and ambitious. But they share a horror of wasting their lives. And they dream – as we all dream – of running away from it all. What if they quit their jobs, sold their house, bought a boat, and sailed away? Most of us begin and end with the daydream. But Maurice began to study nautical navigation. Maralyn made detailed lists of provisions. And in June 1972, they set sail. For nearly a year all went well, until deep in the Pacific, a breaching whale knocked a hole in their boat and it sank beneath the waves. What ensues is a jaw-dropping fight to survive on the wild ocean, with little hope of rescue. Alone together for months in a tiny rubber raft, starving and exhausted, Maurice and Maralyn have to find not only ways to stay alive but ways to get along, as their inner demons emerge and their marriage is put to the greatest of tests. Although they could run away from the world, they can’t run away from themselves.”

The ride : Paul Revere and the night that saved America
by Kostya Kennedy

Reexamines the famous midnight ride, revealing it as a complex, collaborative effort involving multiple riders and several near-disasters, while exploring its pivotal role in the early stages of the American Revolution through fresh archival research and overlooked historical accounts. Maps.

Lincoln’s lady spymaster : the untold story of the abolitionist Southern belle who helped win the Civil War
by Gerri Willis

“A historical account of wealthy Southern belle Elizabeth Van Lew, whose espionage for Abraham Lincoln and the Union helped win the Civil War”– Provided by publisher

Even more reading suggestions

NextReads Sneak Peek
Looking for something else to read? Try NextReads!
Newsletters are divided into genres and topics. Get recommendations tailored to your interests sent directly to your inbox.
If we don’t yet own a suggested title, make a purchase suggestion or ask your library about interlibrary loan. Here’s a sneak peek of titles from the latest issue:
Fantasy & Science Fiction

More Newsletters…

If you would like to unsubscribe to this newsletter, use the “Manage Subscriptions or Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of this message.
Want even more book suggestions? Subscribe to this and other newsletters using the “Subscribe here!” button below:
See something we don’t have? Make a purchase suggestion.

Southeast Kansas Library System
218 E. Madison Ave.
Iola, Kansas 66749
620-365-5136sekls.org

Chamber Coffee is Today at Twister Trailer at 8 a.m.

Join us for Chamber Coffee

hosted by

Twister Trailer

Today! Thursday, July 31st

8am

400 N. National Ave.

(across the street to the west of Riverfront Park)

We hope to see you there!

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce invites members and guests to a Chamber Coffee hosted by Twister Trailer, 400 N. National Ave., this Thursday, July 31st, at 8am. The business is located across the street to the west of Riverfront Park. Coffee, juice, and refreshments will be served, and attendees may register to win a special drawing.

Twister Trailer was born from a deep-rooted passion for the western lifestyle and a commitment to unmatched quality in horse trailers. Since 1998, every Twister has been proudly manufactured in Fort Scott, Kansas – setting the standard for excellence in the industry. Built with the highest quality materials and custom-made components, Twister trailers are known for their durability, craftsmanship, and unmatched reliability. It’s no surprise Twister remains the trusted name in premier trailers.

For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce at (620) 223-3566. Visit the Events Calendar and category of Chamber Coffees on fortscott.com for upcoming locations.

Click HERE to visit the

Twister Trailer Facebook Page!

Click HERE to view their website!

Thank you to our Chamber Champion members shown below…
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce

231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701

620-223-3566

fortscott.com

Facebook  X  Instagram
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce | 231 E. Wall Street | Fort Scott, KS 66701 US
 

KS DCF Denies USDA Data Request

Kansas Department for Children and Families Protects Kansans’ Data, Denies USDA Data Request

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) announced in a July 30, 2025, letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that, at this time, the agency is denying the USDA’s demand for the release of personal information of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applicants, recipients and members of their households.

The requested data would include sensitive personal information for any Kansan who lived in a household that applied for and/or received SNAP benefits from Jan. 1, 2020, to July 30, 2025. The data request includes, but is not limited to, names, social security numbers, dates of birth, and addresses. The purpose of the USDA demand is to create a federal database of SNAP participant information that may be disclosed to other federal, state and local agencies. In addition to personal data of Kansans, the data request includes retailer and business data documenting SNAP usage.

The USDA stated in its July 25, 2025, letter to state agency directors that state agencies must be compliant with the requirement to transmit this data to the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) no later than July 30, 2025.

DCF is required by state and federal law to protect personal identifiable SNAP data except when strictly necessary for the administration of the SNAP program. In response to the USDA data request, states have filed suit, see California et al. v. U.S. Dep’t of Agriculture et al., Civ. Action No. 3:25-6310 (N.D. Cal.), to stop the forced production of this data. Releasing the requested information at this time could put DCF in the position of potential liability if a court finds that the USDA’s demand violates federal law.

“DCF is committed to the security of Kansans’ personal information and maintaining confidentiality consistent with state and federal law,” said DCF Secretary Laura Howard. “This demand for personal information goes beyond the scope of administering the program and puts in jeopardy the privacy of hundreds of thousands of Kansans who depend on SNAP to put food on their tables.”

DCF will monitor the pending litigation and continue to administer and enforce SNAP in accordance with federal and state law.

###

Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition Agenda for August 6

Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition

General Membership Meeting Agenda

 

August 6, 2025 1:00 PM

Scottview Conference Room

315 S. Scott Ave

 

 

  1.  Welcome: 

 

 

  1.  Member Introductions and Announcements:

 

 

  1.  Program:  Pamela Thompson, Family Strong Community Outreach Liaison

 

 

  1.  Open Forum:

 

 

  1.  Adjournment:  The next General Membership meeting will be September 3, 2025.

 

AUTHENTIC REPRODUCTION SABER DRAWING TO BENEFIT FORT SCOTT NHS

 

 If you are from Southeast Kansas, chances are you have visited Fort Scott National Historic Site and learned about the elite fighting force, known as the Dragoons.  One of the essential tools in the Dragoon’s arsenal was the saber. Measuring 39 inches long and weighing nearly 2 pounds, Dragoons were trained to use them to fight on foot as well as on horseback.

You may become the proud owner of one of these impressive historic weapons, as the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site are offering chances to win an authentic reproduction of a 1833 Dragoon saber. Tickets are $10 each or $25 for 3 tickets.  Funds raised will be used to benefit programs and operations at Fort Scott National Historic Site.

Chances will be sold throughout the summer at the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce during their operating hours or from any Friends of FSNHS board member.  The drawing will take place on September 8, 2025, at the Friends of FSNHS annual meeting. Don’t miss this opportunity to own a piece of history!

The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site is a non-profit organization established in partnership with the National Park Service to support and promote the preservation and interpretation of FSNHS.

#####

Notice of Services for Nicholas R. Payne

Nicholas R. Payne, age 34, passed away July 4, 2025.  A memorial service will be held at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, August 2nd at the Pittsburg Adventist Church, 430 E. 21st St., Pittsburg, Kansas.  Private burial will take place at a later date in the Clarksburg Cemetery near Garland, Kansas.  Memorials are suggested to the Nicholas Payne Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.

Obituary of Jo Ann Thomas

Jo Ann Thomas, 83, of Fort Scott, passed away peacefully on the morning of July 27, 2025, surrounded by family.

Jo Ann was born on May 4, 1942, in Ft Scott, KS to Oscar and Jimmie Sapp. As a young girl, a serious bicycle accident with her sister led her to Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott for recovery. It was there she first felt called to become a nurse—a decision that would define much of her life.

She attended the Mercy School of Nursing, living in the convent with the sisters. After briefly parting ways with her boyfriend at the time, Hubert, the sisters themselves summoned Hubert and encouraged a reunion as her grades were being impacted. Those same sisters would later be present for the births of their children.

Jo Ann’s passion for nursing guided a remarkable career. After earning her bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State University, she went on to receive her master’s from the University of Kansas and later graduated with the first class of Nurse Practitioners at KU. She began her career as a supervisor at Mercy Hospital before moving with her husband, Hubert, to Germany, where they worked at the same hospital. Hubert often joked that the Army had made him a medic just so Jo Ann could serve as a civilian nurse at the Army Hospital.

When they returned to Kansas, Jo Ann resumed her work at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, eventually serving in multiple leadership roles, including Chief Nursing Officer. She later founded Executive Rural Nurses, a consulting group dedicated to helping rural hospitals move from operating “in the red back into the black”. Her success in that role led to her appointment at Allen County Hospital as Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer, where she achieved financial stability for the hospital after years of losses.

Even in retirement, Jo Ann continued to give back, accepting the role of Director of the School of Nursing at Fort Scott Community College to ensure a local pathway for future nurses. During these years, she was also elected by her peers to the Kansas State Board of Nursing, where she served for several years as President, leaving an enduring mark on the profession she loved so deeply.

Jo Ann’s Catholic faith was a constant source of strength and meaning throughout her life. She gave generously of her time to Saint Mary’s Catholic Church and School, where she was a familiar and devoted presence. While she cherished her faith deeply, she also delighted in life’s simple joys—music, sunshine, and long afternoons at Thomas Lake, floating in the water and making sure her hair stayed perfectly dry.

Jo Ann and Hubert, whom she lovingly called Tommy, built a life together that was full of kindness, patience, and unwavering love. They raised three children—Gregory Owen, Elizabeth Ann, and Natalie Sue—and their home was later filled with the laughter and love of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Some of the family’s fondest memories are of the many trips Jo Ann and Hubert took their grandchildren on in their motor home. Adventures that were always filled with joy and togetherness. Passing only months apart, Hubert and Jo Ann leave their family with the peace of knowing their love story continues beyond this life.

She is survived by her three children Gregory Thomas, Elizabeth (Joe) Wright, Natalie (John) Snyder, her seven grandchildren, Bart (Nicole) Wright, Nicholas (Chelsea) Thomas, Drew (Hannah) Wright, Zachary (Stevie) Snyder, Lucas Snyder, Ella Snyder, Thanya Brown-Thomas, and four great grandchildren, Raelynn Wright, Sofia Thomas, Brooks Wright, and Ellison Thomas. One sister Bobbi Kemna.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Hubert Owen Thomas, and her parents Oscar & Gladys “Jimmie” Sapp, grandsons Nathanial Wright, Hunter Thomas and soon to be daughter-in-law Nong Brown.

A Funeral Mass will be held on August 1st at 10am at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, with burial to follow at Clarksburg Cemetery. A Rosary will be held at Cheney Witt Funeral Home on Thursday, July 31 at 5:00 PM with Visitation to follow at 5:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jo Ann Thomas Memorial Nursing Scholarship in care of Cheney Witt. Donations may also be dropped off at City State Bank, Ft. Scott, KS.

Jo Ann will be remembered for her compassion, her unwavering love, and her devotion to both her family and her profession. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched.

Obituary of Julie Ann Elbrader

Julie Ann Elbrader, 79, passed away tragically on July 8, 2025, in a fire at her lifelong home. She was born on July 7, 1946, to Levi Albert Thompson and Elnora Josephine (Lewis) Thompson. Julie was the second youngest of six siblings, all of whom have passed away: Mary, Marjorie, George, Doug, and Levi. On August 14, 1964, Julie married Robert Elbrader, who preceded her in death after 60 years of marriage.

Julie’s life was marked by selflessness and quiet strength. She opened her heart and home to those in need, especially children, and was a steady and loving presence. Julie was an unofficial historian, the keeper of her family’s stories, memories, and photographs. Her gentle spirit, unwavering generosity, and deep love for her family leave a lasting legacy.

A devoted mother of five, Julie is survived by her children Ricky (Archie) Thompson of Colorado Springs, CO; Marty (Dena) Thompson of Ft. Scott, KS; Ambrosia (James Greene) Shapiro of Richmond, CA; Tara (Jason) Peters of Puyallup, WA; and Jessica (Matt Bower) Shapiro of Iola, KS. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, including Natasha Thompson of Fort Scott, KS and great-great niece Claire Bower, of the home.

Following cremation, graveside services will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, August 1, 2025, at the Fort Scott National Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Clair Bower fund and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS, 66701.  Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.

Obituary of Peggy Ann Lowery “Hill”

Peggy Ann Lowry “Hill”, walked through the gates of Heaven on Monday, July 28th, 2025.  Peggy was born on October 12, 1955, to Donald Eugene and Rosetta Mae (Proctor) Lowry.  Peggy had two children, Jennifer Rose Lowry and James Robert Lucas.

Peggy loved to cook and everything she made was amazing, from her special Hawaiian Chicken to fried chicken and baking was her way of showing love.  If she found a new recipe that she liked, she would write it down on whatever she could find.  Peggy will be remembered for her famous Black Walnut Banana Bread.  Peggy worked as a waitress in Fort Scott, Kansas at the Flamingo, Flanner’s Owl Roost, and the Colonial restaurants.  Peggy also worked as a CNA in Arma Kansas and in Nevada, Missouri (where she lived for many years).

Peggy graduated in 2016 with her diploma from Chanute High School in Chanute, Kansas.  Peggy had a quick smile and an infectious laugh.  Peggy loved dancing and listening to music, her favorite artists being Elvis Presley, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Gary Allen.  Peggy enjoyed driving in the country, listening to music and spending time with her friends.  She loved day trips to wherever the road took them.  Peggy was a bright spot in this world that will continue to shine in the hearts and minds of all that knew her.

Peggy is survived by a daughter, Jennifer Arnold (Troy) of Fort Scott, Kansas; a son, James Lucas, Fort Scott; and a brother, Bobby Proctor of Wichita, Kansas.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Donald Eugene and Rosetta Mae Lowry; two brothers, Donald “Donnie” Eugene Lowry and Jeffrey “Jeff” Roe Lowry; one of her best friends/sister-in-law Debra Sue (Long) Lowry; and many aunts and uncles.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, July 31st, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM Thursday until service time at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, Kansas 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.