Pete Contla, age 79, a resident of Ft. Scott, KS, formerly of Harbor City, CA, passed away Monday, November 26, 2018.  There was cremation.  Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct memorial services at 3:00 PM Saturday, December 1^st, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Memorials are suggested to the Pete Contla Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

James Albert Hegge, age 82, a resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, died Sunday, November 25, 2018, at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas, after a brief illness.

He was born February 29, 1936, in Butte Montana, the son of Albert Hegge and Inez Irene (Stufflebeam) Hegge.

Shortly after his father’s death, he and his mother moved to Fort Scott to be near family. He attended the Fort Scott school district.

Jim married Anita Marie Murphy on December 4, 1956, in Miami, Oklahoma.

He was a Tree Trimmer for KG&E for over 40 years.

Jim was an avid baseball player for several local leagues and was recruited to Marion, West Virginia, to play for the Class D Appalachian League in 1955. An injury prevented him from fulfilling his dream of being a professional pitcher for the Kansas City Athletics. He went on to coach for many years in the local baseball leagues with numerous players benefiting from his expertise.

Jim was also a member of the Lucky Strikes Bowling League.

In his younger years he enjoyed hunting.

One of his great joys was fishing at Table Rock Lake in Missouri while staying at Bridgeport Resort and Lake Fork in Texas as well as Lake Fort Scott.

Jim maintained a bountiful garden for years that he shared with the whole community. Many say he had the best tomatoes they had ever eaten.

He is survived by his wife, Anita Hegge of the home; daughter, Catrina (Hegge) Farmer of Fort Scott; son James A. Hegge Jr, of Garland, Kansas; daughter Rose Marie (Hegge) Wheeler and husband Ken of Fort Scott; and daughter Julie K. (Hegge) Beckley and husband John of Sedan, Kansas; ten grandchildren, Melissa Farmer, Johnathon Beckley, Ryan Wheeler, Levi Hegge Stewart, Dustin Wheeler, Michael Farmer, Jordan Beckley, Jaimie (Hegge) Anderson, Jefery Beckley, and Zachary Wheeler; and twenty great-grandchildren.

He was proceeded in death by his father, due to a car accident, when he was a newborn; his mother; and an infant grandchild, Jacqualine Kristean Beckley.

There was cremation with services being held at 2:00 PM Saturday December 1, 2018, at the First Church of God in Fort Scott.

Memorials are suggested to the James Hegge Memorial Fund and may be left in care of Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Pete Contla, age 79, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, formerly of Harbor City, CA, passed away Monday, November 26, 2018.

He was born October 24, 1939, in Los Angeles, CA, the son of Ygnacio A. Contla and Serafina Trujillo Contla.

He was a hard-working young man who followed in his father’s footsteps by working closely with him in the landscaping and masonry business. Even after his father’s passing, Pete continued this line of work in addition to cutting Palos Verdes flagstone by hand, which is a rare profession normally done by saw.

Pete was married three times. Out of those three unions came three children. With his first wife Vicki, Pete had daughter Cathie Lea Contla (Brower), with his second wife Ann, he had son Antonio Gilberto Contla, with his third wife Ingrid, a daughter, Melissa Anne Goff.

Pete loved playing cards, pool and darts. He was an avid Denver Broncos fan, loved to play golf, go fishing, and watch horseraces. His favorite thing above all was spending time with his granddaughters! Whether it included watching Monday Night RAW, fishing, teaching them to cook or going to the park, he was at his happiest being with them.

Survivors include his daughter, Melissa Goff, Ft. Scott; son-in-law, Frankie Schubert, Ft. Scott; daughter, Cathie Brower and husband Keith, Yreka, CA; son Antonio (Tony) Contla and wife Gina, Burnsville, NC; grandchildren, Hannah Grace-Marie Schubert and Tobyn Marianne Schubert, Ft. Scott, and Robin Nicole Contla, Las Vegas, NV; sisters Amelia De La Cruz and husband Gerardo (Lalo), Paramount, CA, and Serah Gurule, Long Beach, CA. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews, and his last wife Ingrid, who even through divorce, continued to care for him until his death.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ezekiel (Zeke) Contla, Robert (Bob) Contla, and Ignacio (Ruben) Contla; a sister, Gertrude (Trudie) Contla; nephew, Ruben Contla; a niece Delores (Penny) Bostick; a nephew, Genaro Acosta; and a special friend that was a 3^rd daughter, Amanda Leigh Thron.

There was cremation. Memorial services will be announced at a future date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com

Bobby G. Clayton, age 90, a resident of rural Mapleton, Kansas, passed away Saturday, November 24, 2018, at his home.

  He was born November 8, 1928, in Mapleton, the son of George E. Clayton and Minnie F. Cook Clayton.  He graduated from the Fulton High School.

  Bob served with the United States Army from March of 1951 to December of 1952 where he was stationed in Korea.

Following his military service, he married Betty Le Long on June 18, 1953, at Manty, Kansas.

Bob had worked for many years as a long-distance truck driver for Key Industries.

He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren’s sporting events as well as gardening and playing fantasy football.

He was a member of the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.

Survivors include his wife, Betty, of the home; his six children Terry (John) Erie, of Ft. Scott, Bobby Dean (Crystal) Clayton, of Mapleton, Tracy Clayton, of Ft. Scott, Danny (Janet) Clayton, of Redfield, Kansas, Kelly (Rodney) Fleming, of Ft. Scott and Tami Clayton, of Mapleton; twenty-four grandchildren and thirty-eight great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two grandsons, Eric and Drew Clayton, his brother and sister-in-law, John and Betty Clayton and sisters and brothers-in-law, Mildred and Johnny Farris, Marie and Kenneth Hueston, and Wilma and Clifford Underwood and sister-in-law, Jean Mayhew.

Rev. Virgil Peck will conduct funeral services at 11:30 P.M. Friday, November 30^th at the Ft. Scott Church of the Nazarene.

  Burial with military honors will be in the U. S. National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the First Church of the Nazarene Building Fund or the Wounded Warrior Project 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.

Eldon H. Underwood, age 93, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, November 14, 2018 at the Medicalodge in Fort Scott.

Eldon was born July 15, 1925, to Harvey and May Underwood in Garland, Kansas. Eldon and his four siblings grew up on the farm, without electricity and running water for most of their young lives.

Eldon married Elma Hawkins in January of 1952 at Girard, Kansas. They made their home in Garland where they had a feedlot business they incorporated in 1952. Eldon and Elma were lifelong fans of the St. Louis Cardinals and enjoyed traveling to Bluegrass Festivals. He also enjoyed coon hunting, raising goats, mules, and always had a hound or two.

He was a Korean War Veteran, serving as a Radio Man, receiving an honorable discharge, as a Corporal, June 12, 1952 and an active member of the Cherry Grove Baptist Church.

Survivors include a brother-in-law Eldon Hawkins of Sulphur, Louisiana, and many nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Elma, siblings; Carl and Clair Underwood, Mary Ham and JoAnn Caldwell.

Rev. Norman Tillotson will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM, Friday November 30^th at the Cherry Grove Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Large Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Cherry Grove Baptist Church and can be left in the care of Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S Main St., PO Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Golda Jean Young, age 68, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Wednesday, November 21, 2018, at her home. She was born March 3, 1950, in Mapleton, KS, the daughter of Goldie Lamont Young and Eula Faye Kerr (Young) Sullivan.

She graduated from Ft. Scott High School and Ft. Scott Community College. Golda worked her entire career as a home health aide. She worked for Mercy Hospital, Presbyterian Village, Medical Lodge, and Ft. Scott Manor in Ft. Scott, as well as the Arma Nursing Home. When not working, Golda enjoyed rummage sales, traveling, cooking for family and dining out. She always had a smile and was willing to help anyone in need. She was a member of the Community Christian Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Machelle Young, Boise, ID; a son, Joshua Ayers, Ft. Scott; her mother, Eula Faye Sullivan, Ft. Scott; six siblings: Katherine Guffin, Ft. Scott;Dolly Mitchell, Kansas City, KS; Craig “Chipper” Young; Kansas City, MO;Deborah Sullivan, Dallas, TX;Ricky Sullivan, Iola, KS; and Steven Sullivan, St. Joseph, MO; three grandchildren, Brittany, Illeah, and Brooke Young; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas and Monty Young; her father, Goldie Young; and her step-father, Lester Laverne Sullivan.

Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct graveside services at 11:00 AM Tuesday, November 27^th, in the West Plains Cemetery, Ft. Scott. Memorials are suggested to the Golda Young Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Francis Wayne Neden, age 90, a former resident of Forsyth, Missouri and more recently of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Wednesday, November 21, 2018, at the Medicalodge in Ft. Scott.

He was born February 18, 1928, in Iola, Kansas the son of Joseph Neden and Beulah Bessie Dozer Neden. Wayne graduated from the Iola High School and later from Kansas City College and Bible School in Overland Park, Kansas. He married Margaret Elizabeth Cowen on May 23, 1950, on the campus of KCCBS.

Throughout his life, Wayne had worked in a variety of jobs. He enjoyed aviation and had worked as a pilot and as a mechanic. While living in Ft. Scott, he worked with sheet metal in heating and air. He had also served as a police officer for both Littleton, Colorado and Ft. Scott, Kansas police departments. While in Ft. Scott, Wayne enjoyed assisting with the gospel music tent at the annual Good Ol’ Days celebrations. After moving to Forsyth, Wayne became a member of the Faith and Wisdom Church in Branson. He enjoyed spending his retirement fishing almost daily and was proud to be an honorary member of the Forsythe Men’s Bass Club.

Survivors include his three sons, Kerry Neden and wife, Machale, of Brenham, Texas; Terry Neden and wife, Beverly, of Richardson, Texas; and Joe Neden, of Ft. Scott; a daughter, Debbie Baumgartner and husband, Dave, of Castle Rock, Colorado; and a daughter-in-law, Karren Neden, of Carthage, Missouri. Also surviving are thirteen grandchildren and thirty-six great-grandchildren with two more on the way.

His wife, Margaret, preceded him in death on August 30, 2013. He was also preceded in death by a son, Michael Neden and a grandson.

Rev. Gary McSpadden will conduct funeral services at 1:30 P.M. Tuesday, November 27^th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 12:30 P.M. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Ft. Scott Christian Heights School 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.

Lenny Fox, age 85, a resident of Fort Scott, died, Wednesday, November 21, 2018, at the Guest Home Estates.

He was born March 22, 1933, in the Bronx, New York the son of Isadore and Becky Fox. He graduated high school in New York.

He married Bobbie Baquero “the love of his life” on October 9, 1960 in the Bronx. He worked for JC Penny’s as a data processor.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and liked to help with the fish fries on Friday nights during Lent. He enjoyed going out to dinner. Lenny loved old movies, music, and spending time with family.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years Bobbie Fox, of the home; a son Dr. John Fox and wife, Jordan of Fort Scott; a daughter, Diane Keith, and husband, Dave of Raymore, Missouri; six grandchildren, Tanner, Brityn, Beckham, and Jordy Fox, Devin and Davey Keith.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Frank Fox; three brothers; and a grandson, Tripp Fox.

Father Robert Wachter will conduct Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM Saturday, November 24, at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.

Burial Will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Friday from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s Catholic School 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.