Raymond Tyler Maxwell Harper, 19, of Fort Scott, passed away Sunday evening, September 13, 2020. He was born February 7, 2001, in Topeka, Kansas.

Ray attended Fort Scott schools, and worked for both Twister Trailers and Laco Guttering. He enjoyed fishing, carpentry and building things, and loved to be outdoors.

Survivors include his parents, Charles Ray and Connie Jean (Riley) Harper, of Fort Scott; numerous brothers and sisters: Melonie Harper, Donald Harper, Jessie Harper, all of the home, Nicole Hall and husband Derek, Tiffani Bradley and husband Keith, both of Uniontown, Kaylie Harper and husband Clayton Miller of Fort Scott, Jenna Clayton and husband Ty of Redfield, Elijah Roberts, Ethan Roberts, and Gloria Roberts, all of Texas, Taylor VanZant, Kristal Castillo, both of Fort Scott, Lorenza Burris of Pittsburg, Kansas, Angelica Gonzalez, Christina Ramirez, both of Girard, Kansas, and Cassidy Riley of Harrisonville, Missouri; grandmothers Leah Riley of Fort Scott, and Marguerite Harper of Kansas City, Kansas; great-grandmother Mary Ellen Harper of Devon, Kansas; numerous nieces and nephews.

Raymond was preceded in death by paternal grandfather Gary Harper and maternal grandfather Tommy Riley.

Jeff Michael will conduct graveside services at 1:00 p.m. Monday September 21, 2020, at the Centerville Cemetery in Fort Scott under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

A visitation will be held following the service at 3:00 p.m. at Gunn Park, Shelter #5.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Raymond Harper Fort Scott High School Cross Country Scholarship and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Esther Agnes Werling (nee Meyer), of Olathe, Kansas, died September 9, 2020, at the age of 98.

She was born in Grandfield, Oklahoma, February 13, 1922, to parents Reverend Walter H. and Anna Meyer. Esther was reared in Haven, Kansas, and as a child, attended the Lutheran Grade School.

Esther continued her Lutheran education by attending both St. John’s Academy and St. John’s College in Winfield, Kansas, where she met her future husband and the love of her life, SJC student Dick Werling. Esther treasured her years as a “Johnnie.” Following graduation from SJC in 1941, Esther was called to St. James Lutheran School, Quincy, Illinois, as a teacher at the primary grade level, while Dick enrolled at the University of Kansas to study medicine. With the onset of WWII, Dick enlisted and served in the US Navy and on November 21, 1943, the two were married in Kansas City, Kansas. Once the war ended, the couple eventually settled in Hill City, Kansas, where they reared seven children.

As a loving and devoted wife and mother, Esther excelled in her role as homemaker. She was a wonderful cook and her children still describe her cherry pie as “the best in the world!” Esther enjoyed sewing, painting, crafting, and needlework–and she loved music. Sharing that love of music with her family, Esther encouraged and supported music lessons whether piano, vocal, instrumental, or percussion. She also had a wonderful sense of humor and there was always music and laughter in the Werling household! With her warm and friendly personality, Esther made countless friends over the years while maintaining strong, long-established and loving relationships with her children, grandchildren, and extended family members.

Esther had a deep and abiding faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, which she shared with her family. In 1960, she and Dick were charter members of Grace Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, in Hill City. Esther was very active in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and taught Sunday School and pre-confirmation catechism class. She played the organ for Sunday church services and on Saturdays led a Bible class for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Esther also became a spokesperson for assisting Lutheran churches throughout the state of Kansas in starting Sunday School classes for children with disabilities.

As the mother of a son with Down Syndrome, Esther held a deep compassion for children with developmental disabilities. And as a parent seeking assistance in educating and training her son, she was instrumental in obtaining a grant which helped establish the Kobler Center, a facility in Hill City for individuals with disabilities. Esther accepted the responsibility for the position of Director.

Following Dick’s death in 1975 and prior to her retirement, Esther spent eight years as House Mother for Gamma Phi Beta Sorority at the University of Kansas. She then relocated to Fort Scott, Kansas, and during that time used her artistic ability as a crafts demonstrator in the local Walmart. In 2009, Esther moved to the Kansas City area where she resided in an independent living facility. As she required more care, Esther was moved into Nottingham Health and Rehabilitation Center, Olathe, Kansas.

Preceding Esther in death were her parents, her husband Dick, her son Billy, an infant granddaughter, and her three brothers: Reverend Karl Meyer, Arthur Meyer, and Reverend Walter Meyer. She leaves behind four daughters: Patricia Tenner (Allen), Prairie Village, KS; Bonnie Werling Marker, Anaheim, CA; Kristine Wetterhus (Jay), Morton, Il; and, Melinda Werling, Kansas City, MO; two sons: Dr. Richard Werling (Cathy), Fort Scott, KS; and, Reverend Gary Werling (Pam), Gretna, NE; 14 grandchildren; and, 33 great-grandchildren.

A private family service will be held at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Olathe, Kansas. Interment will be at Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Hill City, Kansas. The family suggests memorial gifts be sent to the St. John’s College Alumni Association, Winfield, Kansas, or to Kobler Center, Hill City, Kansas.

Sharon Lynn Short, 86, formerly of Fort Scott, passed away Monday morning September 7, 2020, in Overland Park, Kansas.

She was born November 6, 1933, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Roy G. and Leora Marian (Heitz) Miller.

She married Forrest E. “Skip” Short May 1, 1955, in Fort Scott, and he preceded her in death May 3, 2004.

Sharon graduated from Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1951 and earned her Associates Degree from Fort Scott Community College. Sharon was a homemaker, but she also worked for the telephone company, and then in 1986 became owner and operator of Leek’s Ladies Clothing, retiring after twelve years in 1998.

Sharon was a member of the First united Methodist Church, PEO, Pierian Beta, and was Chairperson for the Class of 1951.

Survivors include two daughters, Stacey Snodgrass and husband Kent of Prairie Village, Kansas, and Laurie Short, also of Prairie Village, Kansas; a brother, Don Miller of Fort Scott, and a sister, Diane Miller, of Smithville, Missouri.

In addition to her husband Skip, Sharon was also preceded in death by her parents, and a sister, Connie Miller Parks.

Rev. Steve Cole will conduct private family graveside services Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at the Fort Scott National Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lee’s Paws & Claws Animal Shelter and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Kenneth Leroy Wolf, 86, of Fort Scott, passed away Monday morning, September 7, 2020, at his home.

Kenneth was born September 19, 1933, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the son of “Ted” Theodore Roosevelt and Mary (Milburn) Wolf.

He married Sharron Tucker on February 23, 1965 and they divorced in 2009.

Kenneth is survived by his daughter, Tammie Bunn of Deerfield, Missouri; his son, Alvin Wolf, of Fort Scott; a sister, Sue Wiley and husband Jim; Sharron Tucker, of Fort Scott; sixteen grandchildren, thirty-seven great-grandchildren and three more on the way.

He was preceded in death by parents, and a brother, Pete Wolf.

Pastor Larry Stevicks will conduct graveside services at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 12, 2020, at the Deerfield Cemetery in Deerfield, Missouri, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Emmanuel Baptist Church and left in the care of the Konantz- Cheney Funeral Home, P.O. Box 309,15 W. Wall St. Fort Scott, KS, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at www.konantz-cheney.com.

James “Jim” Marshall Streeter, age 91, a longtime resident of Fort Scott, KS, passed away early Saturday morning, Sept 5, 2020, at Girard Medical Center in Girard, KS.

He had been a resident of Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott for the last six months.

Jim was born on Aug 7, 1929, on a farm north of Prescott Kansas, to Andrew Leo and Cora Alice (Summers) Streeter.

He married Jessie Margie Dikeman on Dec 31, 1950, in Eureka Springs AR.

He attended schools in Linn and Miami counties in Kansas, East Wenatchee in Washington State and graduated in 1947 from Prescott High School.

He was drafted in the army in 1951 during the Korean Conflict, had basic training in Fort Chaffee, AR, and was stationed in Yokohama Japan for 18 months. He was a lifetime member of both the American Legion Post #25 and VFW Post #1165.

Jim was also a member of the First Baptist Church, Scottish Rite, and Rising Sun Lodge.

He enjoyed many sports including his favorite, basketball. Others were softball, boating, fishing, bowling, scouting, square dancing, golf, horseshoes and another favorite, the KC Royals.

After retiring from the Western Insurance Company after 38 ½ years, he enjoyed traveling to all 50 States, Mexico and Canada in their camper trailer, including many years as snowbirds in Texas and Arizona.

Survivors include Jessie, his wife of 69 years; a son, David Streeter and wife Debra, Carl Junction, MO; daughter Susan Kern and husband Steve, Loa, UT; six grandchildren, Chris, Kelsie, Jason, Angela, Nicholas and Wesley; thirteen great-grandchildren; a sister Alice Hazelbaker and husband Norman, Redfield, KS; and one brother George and wife Linda of Ellisforde, WA; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; five half-sisters; one half-brother; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at Cheney Witt Chapel in Fort Scott on Friday Sept 11th at 11:30 am with burial to follow in the Fort Scott National Cemetery.

Military Honors will be provided by the American Legion Honor Guard. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:30 until the service.

Memorials are suggested to Wounded Warrior 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.

Merleen Della Dean, age 76, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Friday, September 04, 2020, at her home.

She was born on April 7, 1944, in Canastota, NY, the daughter of William Harris King and Emma Wilma Kolar King.

She married Stephen Dean on January 28, 1961, in Peterborough, NY. She worked as a teacher’s aide, cooked for various restaurants in Parsons, KS, and ran her own daycare.

Merleen enjoyed gardening, cooking, watching Fox News and the Hallmark Channel, and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a member of Eastern Star and the Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband Stephen of the home; a son, James Dean, Ft. Scott; a daughter, Julie M. Van Becelaere and husband Ted, Monticello, MO; a sister, Karen King, Jamestown, NY; 5 grandchildren, Will Dean, Jerry Eddings, Micky Eddings, Rex David Lawhorn, and Rebekah Van Becelaere; 7 great-grandchildren, Cody, Canton, Will Jr., Ariel, Kenzly, Noelle, and Rex James; and 5 step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Lois Kilroy; and her parents.

Pastor Larry Stevicks will conduct funeral services at 11:00 am Wednesday, September 9^th, at the Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Tuesday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Emmanuel Baptist Church 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.

Camille Lynn Parnell, age 58, a resident of Fort Scott, died Sunday, August 23, 2020 at her home.

She was born July 11, 1962 in Ida Grove, Iowa, the daughter of Ronald Zimmer and Cherrie Clark Zimmer. Camille worked for Mid-Continental Restoration Company. She enjoyed reading, crocheting, and gardening. She loved spending time with her family especially her grandkids.

Camille is survived by her two children, Jimi Huntsman and husband, Garrett, of Peculiar, MO., Zach Parnell and, Cassidy Riley, of Harrisonville, MO.; three grandchildren, Athena Parnell, Collin Huntsman, and Riley Parnell; dad, Wayne Stehr, and wife Nell, of Newcastle, Ok.; three brothers, Chris Zimmer, of South Carolina, Andy Stehr, of Midwest City, OK., Adam Stehr, of Norman, OK., two sisters, Patti Sangster, of Norman, OK., and Karla Brinkley, of Blanchard, OK.

She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.

There was cremation. Pastor Michael Apfel will conduct a Memorial Service at 2:30 P.M. Friday, August 28, 2020 at the Trinity Lutheran Church.

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.