Norman L. Gates, age 91, formerly of Uniontown, KS, died Thursday, August 13, 2020, at the Franklin House, Ft. Scott, KS. He was born November 2, 1928, in Mapleton, KS, the son of Albert and Grace (Brillhart) Gates. The family later relocated to Uniontown, where Albert ran the local blacksmith/mechanic shop.

Norman graduated from Uniontown High School. After graduation, he enlisted with the United States Navy at the age of 18 and served on the U.S.S. America, U.S.S. Roosevelt, U.S.S. Forrestal, U.S.S. Intrepid, U.S.S. Shangri-La and the PBY aircraft, and Naval bases throughout the world.

On June 25th, 1950, he married the love of his life, Wilma Jean Kegerreis. Together they made their home in many different cities including Yokosuka, Japan; Pretty Prairie, KS; Memphis, TN, and several years in Jacksonville, FL during his military career. After attaining the rank of Leading Chief Petty Officer of VA 64 (Black Lancers), he retired from military life and the family moved back to Uniontown in 1966 where he took over his father’s mechanic shop.

Later he accepted a position as a Driver’s License Officer for the State of Kansas attaining the position of Supervising Drivers License Examiner and served in that position for 20 years until retirement.

Norman and Jean had a wide circle of friends and loved to entertain. Most weekends you would find them with friends and family, frequently hosting a card game, dinner, picnic, or some kind of holiday gathering. An annual event was his birthday “Weenie Burn” at the farm every November.

Camping was also a favorite pastime and the family enjoyed trips to Colorado, New York, California, and various other destinations together over the years. They were very involved in many local activities and groups including the Masonic Lodge and Mirza Shrine. Norman loved participating with his friends in all the group activities such as Shriner’s Oriental Band and Funny Cars to name a few. He also served in the Honor Guard at the National Cemetery in Ft. Scott for several years.

Norman was an avid hunter and fisherman and he taught Hunter Safety Classes for many years. He loved teaching young people the proper way to use guns safely and to respect the great outdoors. He received recognition from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Conservation and was awarded The Order of the Buffalo pin for his devoted service. He collected guns all his life and enjoyed showing them off to anyone interested in weaponry.

He loved music and in his later years taught himself to play the harmonica. He often composed original music for family and friends and loved to entertain with originals as well as old standards. He loved to dance, and he and Jean belonged to a square-dance group for several years. He was always willing for one more dance…whether it was on a proper dance floor, out on the deck or just through the kitchen. He was a gifted woodcarver and was always creating some new something.

Norman loved life and people. He never knew a stranger and could find someone to talk to no matter where he went. Kids knew him as the man who always had candy to give and you could always count on him to teach or entertain you with a joke or a good story.

He loved his family and his friends and if you were his friend you WERE family. He shared his passions and love of life with everyone he knew. He will be missed by many but please remember him with a smile. The family wishes to thank the staff of the Franklin House and their wonderful caregivers.

Norman was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, his parents Albert and Grace Gates, his sister Viola (Gates) Bowers, and his brother Marvin Gates.

He is survived by his children, Linda Kay Gates Morgan (Bill), Overland Park, KS; Norman Dale Gates (Cheryl), Niceville, FL, and Michael Jon Gates (Brandi), Mapleton, KS; eight grandchildren, Andrew Gates (Erin), Christopher Gates (Holly), Ryan Morgan (Miki), Christin McCullough (Zeb), Shane Gates, Lauren Lindiakos (Rick), Jason Gates (Kyli), and Kathryn Morgan; and eighteen great-grandchildren, Lenny, Tyler, Alexandra, Layla, Bryar, Korie, Scarlett, Masen, Lilianna, Austin, Libby, Vivienne, Landon, Breckett, Lexi, Lizbeth, Sophia, and Nikolas.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct graveside services at 10:00 AM Tuesday, August 18th, in the Mason Cemetery south of Uniontown.

Military honors will be provided by the U. S. Navy Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 until 6:00 Monday afternoon at the Cheney Witt Chapel with Masonic services at 5:00.

Memorials are suggested to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital 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.

Larry Lee Grimes, age 71, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Friday, August 7, 2020, at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, KS.

He was born on June 15, 1949, in Ft. Scott, the son of Claude and Frances Wolfe Grimes. He graduated from FSHS with the class of 1967.

Larry married Barbara Fry on August 18, 1968, in Hiattville, KS.

He served in the U. S. Airforce from 1968 until 1972. Larry then opened Grimes Texaco. He later worked for Bradbury Coal Company, Petromark Oil Company, the sale barn and as a volunteer for the fire department. He loved riding horses and spending time with his grandchildren.

He was a member of the Hiattville United Methodist Church and taught Sunday school.

Survivors include his wife Barbara of the home; two daughters, Tammy Grimes and Mike Marsh, Fulton, KS, and Kathy Bradbury and husband Steve, Carroll, OH; a sister, Alice Grimes; seven grandchildren, Breanne, Kolby, Tylar, Krista, Alexia, Kyle, and Nicole; 14 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a sister Lorene VanBuren; and his parents.

Pastor Carl Ellis will conduct graveside services at 1:30 PM Tuesday, August 11^th, at the Memory Gardens Cemetery.

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

Memorials are suggested to either the Hiattville United Methodist Church or Fort Scott Fire Department 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.

Judy Kay Duffy, age 78, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, August 3, 2020, at Select Specialty Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas.

She was born September 13, 1941, at Emporia, Kansas, the daughter of Leonard Walker and Hildred America Standau Walker.

She first married Charles Turner. They later divorced. Judy later married Loyal Duffy on August 13, 1993, at Miami, Oklahoma.

In earlier years, Judy made her home in both Kansas City and Emporia. She worked in Human Resources for Montgomery-Ward. She later became a licensed dental hygienist and worked in this capacity for a time. She was later employed in document services at Wolf Creek Power Plant.

Following her marriage to Loyal in 1993, she moved to Ft. Scott. She enjoyed tending her flowers and watching birds as well as traveling and taking trips on the motorcycle. Following her husband’s retirement, Judy and Loyal spent several years working for the parks department at Beaver Lake.

Survivors include her husband, Loyal, of the home; a daughter, Brenda Gordon and husband, Robert, of Hartford, Kansas; two step-children, Kevin Duffy and wife, Shelley, of Burlington, Kansas and Deanna Duffy, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, six grandchildren, Josh Turner, Scott Turner, Trisha Ecton, Patrick Gordon, Mikel Duffy and Kenyon Duffy and several great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a brother, Quintin Walker of Kansas City, Kansas and Freda Birchmier, of Americus, Kansas.

She was preceded in death by a son, Charles “Chuck” Turner, Jr.; two sisters, Hildred Marie Barrett and Helen Sill and three brothers, Jack Walker, Leonard Walker, Jr. and Darrel Walker.

There was cremation. A memorial service with burial in the Chicago Mound Cemetery at Emporia, Kansas will take place at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association 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.

Forestine Rosetta Hoover, 90, of Fort Scott, passed away early Friday morning, July 31, 2020, at the Medicalodge Nursing Home.

She was born December 4,1929, in Devon, Kansas, the daughter of Charles Frederick and Gladys Ida (Huss) Miller. She married Eldon Hoover August 5, 1951, in Fort Scott, and he preceded her in death March 5, 2003.

Forestine was a Registered Nurse and worked for Mercy Hospital early in her career, but most people will remember her as Dr. Pratt Irby’s nurse at Newman Young Clinic and then later for Dr. Dean Gettler.

She was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church, and Gideons International.

Forestine is survived by her children, Denise Arlene Imel and husband Chuck, of Tampa, Florida, Teresa Lee Maki and husband John, of Alma, Missouri, Linda Rose Prior and husband Ian, of Tampa, Florida, Sandra Lynn Fagan and husband Ed, of Honolulu, Hawaii, and James Eldon Hoover, of Joplin, Missouri; a brother, Arthur Calvin Miller, of Higginsville, Missouri; a sister, Esther Alpha Anderson, of Tuttle, Oklahoma; fourteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband Eldon, she was also preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter, Cheryl Ann Hoover, a grandson, Gabriel Thayer Hoover, and three brothers, Delbert, Louis, and Joe Miller.

Funeral services will be at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 4, 2020, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, followed by burial at the Fort Scott National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Southern Baptist Church and 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.

Wesley Allan Gress, 68, of Fort Scott, passed away late Sunday night July 19, 2020, at Via Christi Ascension in Fort Scott, Kansas. Wes was born March 22, 1952, in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of Warren Wesley and Dorothy Mae (Snyder) Gress. He married Colene Janette Summers August 24, 1975, in Kansas City, Kansas, and she preceded him in death January 15, 2020.

Wes attended Devry Institute of Electronics in Chicago, Illinois, and was an electrician for Niece Industries. He was a hands-on person that could fix anything. He played golf, loved gardening, was a master on the grill and loved to cook. He was an avid Chiefs and Royals fan.  He loved listening to music.

Wes is survived by his daughters, Andrea Weak of Pocahontas, Illinois, and Stephanie King, of Pittsburg, Kansas; a sister, Sherry Sugg, of Lakewood, Colorado; and two grandsons, Levi Weak and Kyran Weak. In addition to his wife Colene, he was also preceded in death by his parents, and a daughter, Renea Lynn Gress.

Following cremation, memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 1, 2020, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Diabetes Association and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 West Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Earl “Poncho” Colley, Jr., age 55, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Tuesday, July 28, 2020, at his home.

He was born October 24, 1964, in Tahlequah, OK, the son of Earl Colley, Sr. and Pamela Rice Colley.

Earl worked for Rent-A-Center for 17 years. He never met a stranger and could always make you laugh. He enjoyed MOKAN races, football (Chiefs), swimming, and classical rock music.

Earl was a talented individual, from auto mechanic, to carpentry, to cooking.

He and wife Lisa never had an argument.

Survivors include his wife Lisa of the home; three sons, Zach Lyman, Ft. Scott, Andrew Colley and wife, Erica, CA, and Joseph Colley, CO; two daughters, Kaitie Lyman, Ft. Scott, and Enjoli Colley, CO; three brothers, Rusty Green, Joplin, MO, Earl Colley and wife, Froenie, Sulphur OK, and Jamie Allen Rice, Midland, TX; a sister, Missy Colley Carriger and husband Darren, Osawatomie, KS; 10 grandchildren including JayLynn and Lynkoln Lyman; and 7 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

There was cremation. Memorial graveside services will be held at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the Earl Colley, Jr. Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.