Category Archives: Obituary

Obituary of Richard Riley

Richard Jack Riley, age 85, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Saturday, March 16, 2024, at the Guest Home Estates in Ft. Scott.  He was born March 10, 1939, in Ft. Scott, the son of Wallace Riley and Dorothy Brotherton Riley.  Richard graduated from the Ft. Scott High School.

He married Phyllis Darlene Totman on August 31, 1957, at Miami, Oklahoma.  Following their marriage, Richard enlisted with the United States Air Force.  He served for six years and was stationed primarily at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base near Kansas City.

Following his military service, Richard returned to Ft. Scott.  He worked in the printing department of the Western Insurance Company which later became American States Insurance Company.  He also did printing work for Lincoln National Insurance Company and Sekan Printing.

During this time, Richard obtained his minister’s license from the Nazarene Church.  He was a long-time member of the Ft. Scott Church of the Nazarene.  After his retirement, he served as pastor of the Nazarene Church in Humboldt, Kansas for nearly ten years.

Richard was a man of many talents.  He enjoyed drawing and painting and was an accomplished cartoon artist.  He published a book of his cartoon series, The Lil’ Wrangler.  These cartoons were featured in a variety of periodicals including the Western Horseman.

Richard also worked as a sign painter.  He designed and painted numerous area signs including the Ruddick’s warehouse on the 69 Bypass in Ft. Scott and the Chicken Mary’s sign near Pittsburg.

Some of his favorite times were spent on the water.  He enjoyed deep sea fishing and going out on his sailboat.  He was fortunate enough to take a father and son cruise onboard the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy while his son, Nathan, was serving with the United States Navy.

Following the death of his first wife, Phyllis, on June 13, 2012, Richard married Linda June Hurd on April 6, 2013.  Richard and Linda enjoyed five years of married life until her death on May 30, 2018.  Richard left behind a legacy of faith and love and will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

 

Survivors include his three daughters, Belinda Yockey (Don) of Joplin, Missouri, Christine Bosley (Gary) of Ft. Scott and Carol Johnson (Michael) of Lawrence, Kansas.  Also surviving are eleven grandchildren, and numerous great and great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wives, Richard was also preceded in death by his son, Nathan Riley; two brothers, Ronnie and Paul Riley and a sister, Mary Ann Brenner.

 

Rev. Virgil Peck will conduct funeral services at 1:30 P.M. Friday, March 22nd at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Ft. Scott Church of the Nazarene Mission Department 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 Daniel Ellis

Daniel “Danny” Ellis, 92, of Fort Scott, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas. He was born on February 6, 1932, in Rich Hill, Missouri, the beloved son of Ben and AnnaLee (Henderson) Ellis. On February 8, 1948, he married his beloved Willa Jean Marlin in Nevada, Missouri, who preceded him in death on January 22, 2018.

 

Danny was a pioneering entrepreneur and a pillar of his community. He founded Midwestern Transportation in the early 1960s, later renamed Midwestern Distribution in the early 1970s. Under his leadership, Midwestern Distribution flourished, boasting a fleet of over 1000 trucks serving nationwide routes and employing over 500 locals in Fort Scott, where it stood as a cornerstone of employment. In the early 1980s, Danny sold Midwestern Distribution and embarked on another successful venture, founding Multi-Service Corporation to address the fuel access needs of truckers. Multi-Service also became a global leader in aviation credit.

 

In 1997, Danny, along with his wife Willa, established The Ellis Foundation in memory of their daughter, Kathy Ellis-Adriance. The Foundation, now overseen by Danny’s son, Chris Ellis, has touched countless lives by awarding over 5,000 scholarships to deserving students, ensuring access to higher education for those in need.

 

Danny was deeply committed to the growth and prosperity of Fort Scott. He actively supported local initiatives, serving on the board of the Fort Scott Beacon and contributing to the establishment of Ellis Park and The Danny & Willa Ellis Family Performing Arts Center at Fort Scott Community College. He also played a pivotal role in bolstering tourism and development in the area. His generosity knew no bounds, as evidenced by his donation of the city’s first trolley, fondly known as “Dolly the Trolley.”

 

Danny loved to work, but in his downtime enjoyed golfing with his longtime friends in Fort Scott, relished time spent on the waters of Fort Scott Lake with family and friends, and cherished his travels, particularly his visits to Stuart, Florida. 

 

Danny will be remembered as a visionary businessman, and a cherished friend who loved his family. His legacy of hard work, determination, and generosity will continue to inspire all who knew him. He leaves behind a son, Chris Ellis, and wife Cathy of Louisburg, Kansas, eight grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, Willa, and daughter Kathy, Danny was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Ben Ellis, Jr., Delmar Ellis, half-brother Charles Cooper, and a sister, June Ellis.

 

The family will hold private services at a later date, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ellis Foundation for Scholarships, in care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com. Danny’s enduring legacy of kindness and generosity will continue to live on in the hearts of those he touched.

Obituary of Paulette Sayers

Paulette Sue Sayers, age 74, resident of Fort Scott, KS passed away Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at Mercy Hospital, Joplin, MO.  She was born December 23, 1949, in Pittsburg, KS the daughter of Emory and LaVon Geisler Arnold.  She graduated from FSHS where she played flute, directed the band, and sang in many plays.  She then graduated from FSCC and Pittsburg State.  Sue loved music and sang at many weddings and funerals as well as the church choir.  She taught school for over 30 years and touched the lives of many children.

She married Harry Sayers on May 29, 2004, in Fort Scott.  She enjoyed helping Harry on the farm.  She was a loving wife and mother who loved spending time with her family and her dog Cooper.

 

Survivors include her husband Harry of the home; children, Heather Davenport (Josh), Fort Scott, Kyle Green, Baldwin City, KS, Dean Sayers, Fort Scott, Stacy Sullivan (Casey) Tuscan, AZ, Eli Sayers, Northern CA, and her two nieces Crystal Arnold (fiancé Nathan Spurgeon) Fort Scott, and Ashley Mahnken (Drew) Farlington, KS; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Dan Arnold and his wife Wendy, and her mother and father.

 

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 am Friday, March 22nd at the Evergreen Cemetery Fort Scott.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until leaving for the cemetery at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Sue Sayers Memorial 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

Obituary of Maria Louise Smith

Maria Louise Smith, age 75, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at her home.

Maria was born June 20, 1948, to her parents, Charles Meek and Betty Graham.  She was the oldest of four children.  She was born in Ft. Scott, Kansas where she grew up and attended school.  Maria married James Linn, who she had three children with but later divorced.  Maria remarried in 1988 to Bill Smith.

She worked as a supervisor at Peerless for twenty-five years.  In Maria’s younger years, she enjoyed playing softball as a catcher and dancing whenever given the chance.  As she got older, Maria loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She also enjoyed listening to music on her record player and watching NBA basketball games.

 

Maria is survived by her three children, Cindy Marsh (Ashley Stark) of Ft. Scott, James Linn Jr., (Junie) of South Carolina and Ganette Davidson of Ft. Scott.  She is also survived by one brother, fifteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Maria was preceded in death by her two husbands, parents, two brothers, two nephews and a granddaughter.

 

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Friday, March 22nd at the Centerville Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Maria Smith 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 of Jess Kemp II

Jesse Clarence Kemp II was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 29th, 1939, to Iva Glen (Amos) Kemp and Jesse Clarence Kemp I. He joined the love of his life on March 13th, 2024, after passing peacefully.

Jesse helped his parents train and race greyhounds, even sleeping with the new pups to keep them safe. He attended grade school in Appleton City and Girard and graduated from College High in Pittsburg. After high school, he joined the Air Force obtaining a degree as a mechanic and serving one of his four years of service in Thule, Greenland. After his honorable discharge, he worked at Western Auto, Farmers Insurance, and Cessna in Wichita, Kansas. The family then moved to Fort Scott where he created and implemented the computerizing system at Mercy Hospital, then as finance manager at Ray Shepherd Motors before opening his own company in health care billing. After retirement, he was employed at Walmart Automotive.

 

Jesse married Josephine Marie Ruggero on June 30th, 1957. Together they raised Kathy O’Dell (Nick), Kris Haas (Kevin), Kim Branson (Bobby), Kenny Kemp (Christy), Melissa Dunkley (Eric), Frank Ruggero (Lucretia), Lynn Ruggero, Buddy Ruggero, and Vesta Beal (Blake). He was also blessed with many grandkids and great-grandkids. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, music, motorcycles, and most of all, spending time with his family.

He was preceded in death by his mother, father, sister June, two infant siblings, and wife.

 

Rev. Marty Dewitt will conduct funeral services at 11:30 AM on Monday, March 18th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

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

The family will receive friends from 10:30 AM until service time Monday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to either American Legion Post #25 or Arma American Legion Riders and may be left in the 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.

The Obituary of Peter Graham

On Saturday morning, March 9, 2024, Peter Michael Graham went to his true home in Heaven. His last hours were spent in his parents’ arms as he peacefully passed away at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., with his grandmothers nearby.

Peter was born January 9, 2020, at Ascencion Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan., to Doug and Kristen Graham of Girard, Kan. He was baptized by Fr. Floyd McKinney at St. Michael Catholic Church in Girard and attended regularly with his family when his health allowed.

Peter was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Edgar Henry Graham, Jr. of Uniontown, Kan., and Steven Francis VanLeeuwen of Brazilton, Kan., as well as an uncle, Christopher Andrew Graham. He is survived by his parents, his grandmothers, Nancy Sue Graham of Uniontown and Mary Deanne VanLeeuwen of Girard, and his five siblings: Gabrielle (11), Andrew (10), Elizabeth (8), Katherine (5), and Daniel (2).

Peter had been fighting a rare form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) since March 2023. He will be greatly missed by his family as well as the medical professionals and support staff who had become such an important part of his life over the past year.

Peter was a loving and playful boy with a big smile and a mischievous sense of humor. He enjoyed mixing up his Play-Doh colors and conducting “experiments” with his slime. He loved Mickey Mouse, superheroes, and the stuffed animals that kept him company when he wasn’t feeling well.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 15, at the church hall at St. Michael Catholic Church. A rosary will follow at 7 p.m. for anyone who would like to participate.

Fr. Daniel Vacca will conduct a funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16, at St. Michael Catholic Church.

Burial will follow at St. Aloysius Cemetery at Greenbush seven miles west of Girard.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family, who intend to distribute the funds to organizations that provided support throughout Peter’s treatment, and may be left in care of Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, 518 W. St. John St., Girard, KS 66743.

Obituary of Janice Good Waltmire

Janice (Good) Waltmire, AGE 86, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday, March 9, 2024.

 

She was born the youngest of four children in Mound City, Kansas on August 20th, 1937, to the late Ralph and Hayden Good. Janice met her lifelong love, the late Harvalee Waltmire in high school, and the two were married in 1958, sharing 65 years together. They moved to Overland Park, KS to raise their family before retiring and moving to their farm in Fulton, Kansas.

 

Janice found her greatest joy in the time she spent with family and friends. Whether vacations to Colorado, weekend motorcycling, singing in the church choir, or dancing with Harv in their living room, her stories of love, and laughter leave the most lasting memories.

 

She was known for her down-home charm and hospitality, making everyone feel like family. To her last moment, Janice left us with warmth, affection, and a lasting smile that will live on in those who will always love her.

 

Janice is survived by her children: Vera (Jeff) Heller of Houston, TX, Brian (Gina) Waltmire of Overland Park, KS; grandchildren: Rachel, Brooke, Samantha, Max; seven great-grandchildren; and brother: Bill Good of Nevada, MO.

 

Rev. Connie Edgerton will conduct funeral services at 10:30 am March 14, 2024, at Fulton Methodist Church, Fulton, KS. Burial will follow at Osaga Cemetery, Fulton, KS.  In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in memorial made to the Colon Cancer Coalition. Donations 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 Donald Russell

Donald “Don” Russell, 74, went to be with his heavenly father on March 8, 2024, after a long fight with kidney and heart disease.

He was born in Kansas City, KS on November 18, 1949, to James L. Russell and Ruth E. Selbe. He was accompanied in birth that day by his twin sister, Maurita “Rita” Garnette Russell (West).  Don and Rita were eventually a part of a family that included 12 boys and 2 girls.

While the family moved a number of times, a good part of Don’s formative years were spent in or near Fulton, Kansas.  Don’s father, James Lowell Russell passed away on November 29, 1964, at the age of 51.

He married Linda Sue Parrent in Shawnee, Kansas on March 27, 1971, at the home of Linda’s parents.  Don had one daughter Jamie Payton, and three sons, Casey, Les and Matthew “Matt” Russell.

Around 1974, Don and Linda came to Fort Scott, KS and settled to live.  Shortly after the move to Fort Scott he went to work for the City of Fort Scott in the water department.  He continued to work for the city of Fort Scott for his entire career, retiring as the city Economic Development Director.  Over the course of his career, he led, or supported numerous economic development initiatives for the city and Bourbon County.

He was also active in a number of community organizations, helping others.  For many years, he was an active sponsor for Alcoholics Anonymous and he served for years on the Bourbon County Drug and Alcohol Council.  He also served the community as a reserve police officer for a number of years in his free time from responsibilities at the city.

However, as a member of such a large family, his largest presence was as a husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather.  The Russell family (and the varying surnames that branch off from them) are a large family that loves to gather together.  Don was an integral, and beloved part of those gatherings, and will be greatly missed by all of his siblings, children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.

Wherever the Russell family gathered together, cars played an important role in those gatherings.  Don and many of his brothers loved restoring automobiles.  If you drove past Don’s home (or one of the assorted garages they worked from) you regularly saw antique vehicles in some stage of restoration.  That love of vehicles continued into retirement when Don and his brothers, bought, scrapped, and continued working on old cars.  When pulling a hulk into the driveway, with assorted parts in the bed of the pickup he would have to explain to Linda (who was unconvinced) “look at it, It’s got potential”.  Many, many of the Russell children (Don’s nieces and nephews) learned to drive in cars from the 1930’s – 1960’s.

He is survived by his wife Linda, sons Casey and wife (Mindy), Les and wife (Jena), and Matt, daughter Jamie Payton, brothers, Jesse, Dennis, Bob, Wayne,Chuck, and Kevin, four grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Brysen (DeChant), Madilyn, and Max, two great-grandchildren, Landon and Kylie DeChant, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Jim, Leo (Jay), Joe, Jerry, and Les, his sisters Louise, and Rita as well as numerous other loved ones.

There was cremation.

A memorial visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday, March 14, 2024 at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Care to Share 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 for Ronnie Felt

Ronnie Lee Felt, age 85, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at the Via Christi Medical Center, Pittsburg, KS. He was born November 4, 1938, in Fort Scott, the oldest son of Kenneth Marcellus Felt and Sylvia Mae Beerbower Felt. He graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1956. Ronnie married Laura Lea Coonrod on April 5, 1959, at Cato, KS. Ronnie started trucking right out of high school. He was also a farmer and a rancher after purchasing his parents’ farm in 1972. Ronnie and Laura would become the owners and operators of Felt & Sons Trucking Company out of Redfield, KS in 1982. He chased that white line for over three million miles with his sons and family by his side. Through his time trucking, Ronnie, also known as Bigfoot, made many friends and built relationships that would last his lifetime. He served as a Deacon at Mt. Orum Baptist Church.

 

Ronnie retired at the age of 72. His pride and joy was his family, especially the grandkids and great grandkids. He could often be found in his recliner with multiple great grandchildren piled on his lap. He led his family for 85 years with knowledge and wisdom. At the end of his life, he was surrounded by the family that loved and adored him.

 

Survivors include his wife Laura of the home, and children Rickie Felt and wife, Cindy of San Antonio, Troy Felt and partner, Tami Shirley of Redfield, and Rhonda Kellstadt and husband Robert of Mound City. Six grandchildren, Kathy Felt, Kenny Felt (Megan), Clayton Dierksen (McKenna), Tyler Felt (Skylar), Haley Arnold (Adam), and Cade Kellstadt (Avery) and his great-grandchildren: Blair, Waylon, Easton, Knox, Smith, Carver, Creek, Olivia, and Macy. Ronnie is also survived by his siblings Shirley Felt Cary, CH Felt, and Gary Felt.

He was preceded in death by a grandson Scott Felt, his parents Kenneth and Sylvia Felt, and a sister Marcella Felt Butler.

 

Pastor Tom Bevard will conduct funeral services at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, March 13th, at the Mt. Orum Baptist Church, Redfield, KS.

Burial will follow in the Mt. Orum Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Tuesday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to either Shriner’s Hospital or St. Jude’s Hospital 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 Mary Louise Todd Beveridge

 

Mary Louise Todd Beveridge, age 98, a former resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, and more recently of Olathe, Kansas, passed away Friday, March 1, 2024, at her home in Olathe.

She was born February 19, 1926, at Pittsburg, Kansas, the daughter of Isaac H. Todd and Hallie Swett Todd.  Mary was a graduate of Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, Ft. Scott Junior College and Pittsburg State University.  She also did graduate work at the University of Kansas.

On graduating college, Mary was employed as society editor for the Ft. Scott Tribune.  She later worked for USD #234 and then as assistant library director for Ft. Scott Community College.  She retired in May of 1992 and moved to Olathe to be near her family.

Mary was a past member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ft. Scott where she served as an elder.  She later became a member of the Village Presbyterian Church on Antioch in Overland Park, Kansas.  She was also a member of the American Library Association, the Greek societies, Phi Alpha Theta and Delta Kappa Gamma, and the American Association of University Women.  In earlier years in Ft. Scott, she had served as Vice-President of the Old Fort Historic Governing Board as well as the Bourbon County Historic Preservation Association.  Following her retirement, she volunteered her time to the Olathe Public Library and the Harmony Public School of Overland Park.

 

Survivors include her son, John Beveridge of Overland Park, Kansas, a grandson Christopher D. Beveridge and wife, Moria and a great-grandson, Callan Beveridge all of Shawnee, Kansas.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Melvin O. Beveridge who was Superintendent of Postal Operation in Ft. Scott for many years.

 

Graveside services will be held at the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft Scott at 11 a.m. on March 8, 2024.  Memorials are suggested to the Ft. Scott Community College Endowment Association, the First Presbyterian Church of Ft. Scott, the Village Presbyterian Church on Antioch in Overland Park, Kansas or any organization supporting nature conservation 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 Lolita Mumbower

Lolita Dawn Mumbower, age 59, a resident of Devon, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at her home.  She was born March 16, 1964, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Wayne Robinson and Rosalee Burch Robinson. Lolita married Delwin Mumbower on January 24, 1986, at Ft. Scott, Kansas.  In earlier years, Lolita had worked as a waitress, but the majority of her life was spent making a home for her family.  Lolita will be remembered for her friendly personality.  She loved spending time in the coffee shop making new friends.  She enjoyed doing many things; however, fishing was not one of them.  She will be dearly missed by her family and those who loved her.

 

Survivors include her husband, Delwin, of the home; three children, Cody Mumbower (Mary) of Fulton, Kansas, Kara Mumbower of Devon, Kansas and Krista Wyatt (Shawn) of Ft. Scott and sixteen grandchildren, Madalynn, Mason, Miranda, Meredith, Molly, Marshall, Montgomery, Micah, Martin, Emilee, Elijah, Bradyn, Blayce, Bricyn, Blaetyn, and Paisley with another grandchild expected to arrive in August.  Also surviving are two bonus grandchildren, Marla and Glynda.  Lolita was preceded in death by her parents and an infant granddaughter, Kamrynn.

 

Pastor Randy Smith will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, March 12th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the Centerville Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Monday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Memorials are suggested to Care to Share 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 Donald Woods

 

Donald L. Woods was born November 15, 1954, in Fort Scott, Kansas, and passed away March 2, 2024, at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Donald was a life-long Fort Scott resident who attended Fort Scott schools including Fort Scott Community College. He graduated from Fort Scott High School with the class of 1972. Basketball was his sport of choice not only while attending high school but also as an adult in the local Industrial League.

 

Donald was a modest man, but he could not hide his outstanding work ethic. He mowed grass, shoveled snow, and cleaned office buildings all while working a full-time job, first at Whitesides West IGA and later as a custodian for USD 234 at Fort Scott High School.

 

If Donald had a passion other than riding his Honda Goldwing Motorcycle, it was his love for the moving business. As Donald told the story, he began working for his grandfather Clarence Wright’s moving business as soon as he was big enough to pick up a piece of furniture. After working for his grandfather, Donald then began working part-time for his brother Marvin Woods at Fort Scott Transfer. In 1999 Donald finally started his own household goods moving business: Don Woods Moving, LLC. Neither the cold, heat, rain, snow nor a pandemic kept Donald away from a moving job. Donald moved pianos, gun safes, jewelers’ safes, churches, hospitals, parts of a petting zoo and even St. Benedict. Moves took Donald (and Cindy) to Massachusetts, Florida, Texas and Reno, Nevada. Donald told Cindy that these were “mini-vacations” and that the real one would come soon. After retiring from USD 234 and selling his moving business in 2022, Donald dreamed of traveling on that orange bike.

 

Donald L. Woods is survived by his wife of 49 years, Frances L. “Cindy” Woods, a son, Arthur Hodge II of Las Vegas, Nevada, a brother Melvin Woods and wife Raisa of Olathe, Kansas, and a sister Jackie M. Vann of Joplin, Missouri. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Donald was preceded in death by his mother Rachel Maxine Woods, and by four sisters: JoAnn Fewell, Mickie E. Brown, Joyce E. Woods, and Marita Eileen Bullock. Also preceding Donald in death were two brothers: Gerald L. Woods and Marvin R. Woods. Donald is also survived by his friend and cousin Idella Brown and her husband D.K. Brown.

 

Services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 2024, at the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Scott, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

A private family burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery.

Instead of flowers memorial contributions may be made to either the Kansas University Cancer Center, or Mount Olive Church of God in Christ Scholarship Fund, and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.