DEATH NOTICE
Barbara Lou Haggard, age 76, resident of Pittsburg, KS passed away Thursday, November 27, 2025, at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, MO. Services for Barb Haggard will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St.
Category Archives: Obituary
Funeral Notice for Marlean J. Roberts
Marlean J. Roberts, age 66, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas passed away October 12, 2025. Her husband, Weldon B. Roberts preceded her in death on May 9, 2020. A memorial service for both Marlean and Weldon Roberts were held at 10:00 A.M. Friday, November 28th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.
Obituary of Jim L. Scott
Jim (James) L. Scott, age 79, a former resident of Fort Scott, peacefully passed away on Monday, November 24, 2025, in Excelsior, Minnesota of heart failure.
Jim was born on November 18, 1946, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Lucille Smith. He was raised by his mother, Lucille, his Grandma Eva, and later his stepfather, Gene Smith. Some of his fondest childhood memories were spent swimming, boating, and water-skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks. In school, he was an avid basketball player and proudly represented Raytown High School, graduating in 1964.
Following graduation, Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force with hopes of seeing the world. He volunteered for three tours of duty in Vietnam, beginning a long and honorable military career.
In November 1969, Jim went on a blind date that would change the course of his life. He and Martha danced the night away, bonding over a shared love of Benson & Hedges Menthol cigarettes and their favorite Beatle, George Harrison. The very next day Jim visited Martha at Crown Drugstore, where she worked, and asked for a second date. She invited him over for dinner—an unforgettable meal that sealed their future. Just two weeks after meeting, they eloped at Kansas City’s City Hall on November 26, 1969, timing the wedding for Thanksgiving weekend so they’d have four days off to meet each other’s families.
Jim and Martha made their first home in Kansas City before moving to Nevada, Missouri, in 1972. There, Jim was active in the Jaycees, their church, and the National Guard. The young couple loved the outdoors and spent weekends camping, canoeing, and trout fishing. In 1976, Jim embraced one of his most cherished roles: Dad, when their daughter Sarah was born.
The family moved to Fort Scott in 1988, where Jim and Martha opened Scotty’s Wine and Spirits. They operated the business for more than 15 years and were honored with the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Award for their contributions to the community. Jim was also proud to serve as past president of the Kansas Liquor Dealers Association. In 2006, he retired as a highly decorated Master Sergeant with more than 25 years of combined active duty and National Guard service in both the Air Force and Army.
In 2013 and 2015, Jim became “Poppy” to his beloved granddaughters, Lucy and Piper, a role he cherished and embraced wholeheartedly.
Jim was deeply rooted in the Fort Scott community and was active in numerous organizations. He took great pride in his time as a Rotarian, helping organize countless fundraisers—from potato and spaghetti feeds to hosting Oktoberfest for 19 years, one of the club’s most celebrated events. Working alongside Martha, he also helped coordinate, fundraise for, and build the dog park at Gunn Park. For their extraordinary commitment to Fort Scott, Jim and Martha were jointly awarded the Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award—one of Jim’s proudest honors.
After losing Martha in 2022, Jim faced one of the hardest chapters of his life. At his daughter’s insistence, he moved to Minnesota, where he found renewed community at Presbyterian Homes in Spring Park. There, he sang in the choir, attended church, participated in the Veterans Association, and spent peaceful afternoons on the shores of Lake Minnetonka—often with a cigar in hand.
Jim is survived by his daughter, Sarah (Andrew) Punch, and their daughters, Lucy and Piper, of Excelsior, Minnesota. He is also survived by his sister, Patricia Templeton of Independence, Missouri, and his nephew, Nathan Templeton.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, December 5th, at Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:30 PM Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests supporting an organization meaningful to Jim, including Trinity Lutheran Church, VFW, or DAV and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary of Garin Richard Williams
Garin Richard Williams, 50, died on November 19, 2025. He was born on January 4, 1975, in Fort Scott, the oldest child and only son of Steve and Marci Williams—parents whose steady love shaped him, grounded him, and was returned to them a thousandfold. From an early age, they nurtured in him a deep devotion to family, a lifelong passion for sports, and a profound love for his heritage. He cherished the stories, the family history, and the land that tied generations together, holding those connections close throughout his life.
Garin grew up just north of Redfield, where his childhood was spent with a cowboy hat and a six-shooter, even sneaking his gun in his boot on the first day of kindergarten. After the West was won, he graduated to a dirt bike, pedaling hundreds of miles with his cousins and sister between their houses and their grandparents’—only a mile apart.
He was (at first) a reluctant sibling—he had his heart set on brothers—but quickly became an adoring and protective big brother to his two little sisters, Jayci and Kelci. He loved spending time with them, inventing new “Williams games” like Stuffed Animal Carry and Deck Ball, or refusing to let them beat him in checkers or, frankly, any other game on the planet. When he left for college, he regularly sent long letters and cards for every occasion to his family, and once even hid in a cardboard box to surprise Kelci after sneaking home from Sterling. His family never had to wonder if he loved them; he told them often and without hesitation.
Garin attended school at Uniontown from kindergarten through graduation with the class of 1993. Being mischievous enough to keep his friends laughing, yet mindful that his Grandma Carol was the grade school secretary, required a delicate balance.
A gifted athlete, Garin played football, basketball, and track. Though small in stature, he ran the football with fearless intensity, lowering his head to fight for one more yard. His real legend, however, was on the track. In grade school and junior high, he competed in AAU and the Hershey Track program, qualifying for three national track meets. He earned numerous state and regional championships, along with two third-place medals and one fourth-place medal at the national level. Forty years later, he still holds state and regional AAU records.
In high school, he won three individual state championships and still holds four school records—including all three distance events. Following graduation, he attended Pittsburg State University for one year, running track and cross country. He transferred to Sterling College in 1994 to follow his love of football. He continued to wear #20, just like his dad before him and his sisters after him, graduating in 1998 with a degree in History Education.
Garin married Treva Russell on December 20, 1997. They later divorced.
Garin’s greatest joy in life was being a father to his two children, Shayd and Finean. In 1998 Garin and his family moved to Lexington, Kentucky, returning to Kansas in 2001 so he could take a teaching job.
He taught high school history and was the head football and track coach at Crest High School for two years. In 2003, Garin and Treva moved to Fort Scott, where Garin stepped into the role he was truly made for – a stay-at-home dad and homeschool teacher to Shayd and Fin. He poured his whole heart into raising them and they were the center of his world. He was immensely proud of them and loved them fiercely. The family moved to Charleston, South Carolina in 2012 and Garin returned home to Kansas in 2022.
Garin was also a beloved uncle to six nephews – all of whom considered him the funniest person who ever lived. Garin had a rare gift for humor, turning any situation- no matter how ordinary-into something worth laughing about. People who knew him remember the same thing: if you were with Garin, you were laughing.
Garin grew up in the First Missionary Baptist Church, where he was baptized at the age of 8 by Reverend Deane Endicott. He was later a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Scott, where he was part of the youth group ministry. The foundation laid in his childhood never left him. We trust in the God who knew him fully, loved him completely, and held him even on the days when Garin felt far away.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jack and Doris Williams and Don and Carol Mix. He especially loved his grandmothers—visiting them often, sending them cards and handwritten letters, going with them to concerts, plays, and movies, and spending plenty of time playing card games. He delighted in making them laugh: one summer he even carried out a months-long practical joke involving a stuffed animal gorilla that Grandma Doris found endlessly funny. And when Grandma Carol decided the squirrels had declared war on her birdhouses, she hired Garin as her squirrel bounty hunter, paying him ten dollars a squirrel. He carried out the job with enthusiasm and capped it off by taping a stuffed animal squirrel to her birdhouse just to get one more laugh. It was classic Garin—equal parts helpful, mischievous, and full of heart.
Garin is survived by his parents, Steve and Marci Williams; his children, Shayd Williams and Finean Williams; his sisters, Jayci (Chad) Cosens and Kelci Ebrecht; his nephews, Dryden and Cal Cosens, Kreedyn Smith, and Colby, Cameron, and Boden Ebrecht. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who cherished him.
Garin leaves us with a thousand memories that make us smile through our tears. His love and humor will live on in the family who adored him.
Private family services were held Tuesday. Memorials are suggested to the Uniontown First Missionary Baptist Church Summer Youth Camp or Ft. Scott’s Community Christian Church Playground 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.
Death Notice of James Lee “Jim” Scott
DEATH NOTICE
James Lee “Jim” Scott, age 79, formerly of Fort Scott, KS and more recently of Excelsior, MN passed away Monday, November 24, 2025, at the Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia, MN. Services for Jim Scott will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Obituary of Sharon Smith
Sharon Kay Smith, age 80, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the Medicalodge in Ft. Scott. She was born December 7, 1944, in Wichita, Kansas, the daughter of Rex Hurst and Dolores Swartzetrub Hurst. The family left Wichita when Sharon was young and relocated to Mountain Grove, Missouri. Sharon spent her growing up years in Mountain Grove and graduated from the Mountain Grove High School. Sharon enlisted with the United States Army where she was stationed in Germany. Following her military service, Sharon married William R. Smith on June 13, 1975. Together they made their home in Washington State for many years. Sharon was employed by the State of Washington as a key punch operator. She later worked as an auditor for the IRS. In earlier years, Sharon enjoyed bowling. After her health failed, Sharon moved to be close to her sister, Anita. While in Ft. Scott, Sharon was a member of the Church of Christ at 15th and Crawford.
Survivors include a sister, Anita Thomas (Skip) of Ft. Scott; a niece, Stephanie Kinsley, two nephews, Shawn Thomas (Christy) and David Ferre; three great-nephews, Ryan (Sierra), Quentin, and Collin, two great-nieces, Rylee and Allie and a great-great-niece, Braxton. Sharon was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, her parents and a sister, Cheryl Stubbs.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, November 26th at the U. S. National Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Parkinson’s Foundation 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 Ronald Charles Palmer
Ronald Charles Palmer, age 82, resident of Fort Scott, KS passed away Thursday, November 20, 2025, at his home. He was born November 23, 1942, in Fort Scott, Kansas, at Burke Street Mercy Hospital. He was the son of Dorothy (Elbrader) Palmer and Charles Palmer. He attended Fort Scott public schools and graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1960. He graduated from Fort Scott Junior College in 1962.
Ron was known as a hard worker and had quite a variety of jobs throughout his life. He worked as a “curb hop” at the Dairy Mug until 1958. He then drove a delivery truck for Brown’s Grocery and Meat Market until it closed in 1959. He was in the production departments of newspaper businesses for 17 years – starting in 1960 with the Fort Scott Tribune through 1964, then with the Leavenworth Times until 1968, then back with the Fort Scott Tribune until 1969, then for the Morning Sun in Pittsburg, Kansas, until 1977. He also drove a Mail delivery route to Wichita, Kansas during part of these years. He then spent 15 years working for Fort Cablevision as the Chief Technician until 1991. During the 1987 flood, he worked from a boat restoring service to customers in Fort Scott. He also designed cable systems for other communities and worked as Chief Engineer for the local radio station. When there was a job to be done, Ron was determined to complete a job well and on time.
He became a Master Electrician and started his own family corporation including businesses operating as the Fort Scott Ice Company, Suds-Yer-Duds Laundromat, Palmer Brothers Service Company, and the R&S cattle farm until his retirement in 2001. He was also a part-owner of the Fort Scott Lumber Company and served as President there for many years.
Ron was a member of the First Baptist Church in Fort Scott, was baptized there, and served several roles there including Deacon and Trustee. He was also a member of the Memphis Lodge in Garland, Kansas. He supported local 4-H clubs as an electricity leader, enjoyed quail hunting, boating, building and improving machinery, being a Corvette owner, and a NASCAR racing fan, but he especially loved the farm and being with family.
Ron married Shirley (Hoggatt) Palmer on June 2, 1963, and they had nearly 60 years together. They had 2 sons, Brian and wife Carla of Olathe, Kansas, and Gary and wife Kylene, of Fort Scott. He had 6 grandchildren including John and wife Katelyn of Lenexa, Kansas, Elizabeth and husband Elijah Vandepol of Spring Hill, Kansas, and Sadie Marchiano of Fort Scott, Lexi and husband Cody Wilson of Fort Scott, Riley Marchiano and Jentry Palmer of Fort Scott, and 4 great-grandchildren: Noah Palmer, Emma Palmer, Brooks Vandepol, and Braden Vandepol.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Shirley, and his sister Nancy Ransom. He is survived by his sister Betty Kay Clary of Fort Scott and his brother Robert and wife Vanessa Palmer of Garnett, Kansas.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, November 25th at the First Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Clarksburg Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until service time at the Church. Memorials are suggested to either the First Baptist Church or the Ronald and Shirley Palmer FSCC Scholarship Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
Death Notice of Ronald Palmer
Ronald Charles Palmer, age 82, resident of Fort Scott, KS passed away Thursday, November 20, 2025, at his home.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, November 25th at the First Baptist Church.
Burial will follow in the Clarksburg Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until service time at the Church.
Memorials are suggested to either the First Baptist Church or the Ronald and Shirley Palmer FSCC Scholarship Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary of Edward L. LaRue
Edward L. LaRue, age 79, a resident of Bronson, Kansas, passed away Monday, November 17, 2025, at the Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. He was born December 19, 1945. Ed grew in the Xenia area where he was raised by his grandparents, Tom & Myra Johnson. Ed graduated from Bronson High School. He was later drafted into the United States Army where he served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1967. Following his military service, Ed began a career in gas service. He worked as a pipeline installer and customer service representative for many years. Ed was united in marriage to Mary L. Esch on May 4, 1968, at Pittsburg, Kansas. Ed and Mary settled on their farm south of Bronson where he remained for the remainder of his days. He enjoyed life in the country where he fished and hunted deer. He also liked driving around the countryside and playing the occasional game of pitch. Many memories were made while traveling on their many family vacations.
Ed is survived by his children, Jeff LaRue, Jennifer LaRue (Rusty) and Jason LaRue (Heather) as well as two additional daughters he and Mary raised, Tess Johnson and Tina Gossett (David), five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, on February 25, 2015.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, November 22nd at the Bronson Cemetery. Following services, the family will receive friends at the Bronson Community Center. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Hospital or the Shriner’s Hospital 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 left on the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary of Billy Joe Cowan
Billy Joe Cowan, 95, originally of Devon, Kansas and later of Nevada, Missouri, passed away November 10, 2025, at the Crystal Coast Hospice House in Newport, North Carolina. He was born in Walnut, Kansas April 11, 1930, the son of Charles Oscar and Grace Olive Boileau Cowan. He married Norma Jean Riggs on August 12, 1951. She preceded him in death on September 21, 2021. His son, Phillip Cowan, also preceded him in death August 8, 2022.
He is survived by his daughter, Diana Cowan, Beaufort, North Carolina, daughter-in-law, Lisa Walker Cowan, Tulsa, OK, grandsons Zachary, Tulsa, OK, and Seth (Lizbeth), Houston, TX. Additionally, he is survived by great-grandchildren Brooklyn, Haidyn, and Camdyn, sister, Chalene Bruns, and several nieces and nephews.
Bill owned and operated a service station and tire business in Devon, Kansas for several years. Later he sold cars and eventually he sold insurance. He was a member of both Devon Masonic Lodge and Ft. Scott Scottish Rite. He was a member of Devon and Nevada United Methodist Churches.
Services for Bill Cowan will be at 1:00 p.m., November 21, 2025, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home in Fort Scott. Burial will follow at the Centerville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association, or the SECU Crystal Coast Hospice House, 100 Big Rock Weigh, Newport, NC 28570. Friends and Family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.
Obituary of Lavon Middleton
Lavon K. Middleton (Richard), 84, of Uniontown, Kansas, passed away Thursday, November 6, 2025, at Moran Manor in Moran, Kansas, surrounded by her loved ones.
She was born on Nov. 30, 1940, in Redfield, KS to Vern Richard and Mary Richard (Reinecke). Lavon graduated from High School in Uniontown, KS in 1958. She was Uniontown’s first ever Homecoming Queen. She went on to marry Kenneth Middleton her high school sweetheart on July 22, 1961, at Paint Creek Church in Redfield, KS.
Lavon followed her beloved husband all over the world during his time in the Navy as they raised their family before settling in their home in Uniontown.
Lavon was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was an excellent homemaker and cook. She babysat many local kids for her family and friends. Lavon enjoyed spending time with her family and playing cards weekly with her lady’s group. She was an active member of the Methodist Church until her health would no longer allow it. She enjoyed attending her grandkids’ events and family get togethers. She loved the small-town community life of Uniontown, and her morning coffee club get togethers at Union Station. Lavon was a devout Christian, believing in the Lord, Jesus Christ, for her eternal destiny.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth, of 64 years. Their 3 children: Sandy (Perry) Lackey of Eldorado Springs, Mo., Steve (Chris) Middleton and Greg (Semina) Middleton of Uniontown, Ks., 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and beloved brother Lester Richard.
The family has chosen to hold a private Celebration of Life ceremony.
Obituary of Jason Todd Perryman
Jason Todd Perryman age 58, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Sunday, November 9, 2025, at his home. He was born July 22, 1967, in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of Jack Thomas Perryman and Emma Cornine Perryman. Jason had helped Don Woods with his moving company for several years. He enjoyed spending time with his friends, fishing and going to cookouts. He also enjoyed the occasional motorcycle ride and going on walks with his beloved dog, Baby.
Jason is survived by a sister, Rose Hay of Overland Park, Kansas and a good friend, Kenneth “Squeak” Meek who provided for his care. Jason was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Jacqueline Perryman and Brenda Lewis and two brothers, David and Neil Perryman.
Cremation was handled by Cheney Witt Chapel of Ft. Scott, Kansas and no services are planned at this time.