James Otis Hill, age 80, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Saturday, June 13, 2020, at Medicalodge of Ft. Scott.

He was born January 23, 1940, in Ft. Scott, the son of Drexel and Ruth Roy Hill.

From a youth, he enjoyed playing games with the neighborhood kids and working on anything with a motor. He attended Ft. Scott public schools then Wichita electronic school.

He worked as a machinist in the U. S. Army while stationed in France.

Through the years he worked at MO-KAN Drive-In, Ft. Cablevision, Fox Theatre, and various other Ft. Scott businesses.

He loved animals, kids, seeing God’s country by car and with friends on many motorcycle trips. He also loved taking pictures.

James never met a stranger and loved to visit. James lived his entire life in Ft. Scott, being blessed to live at Medicalodge his last 3 years.

Thank you to Lynette Emmerson and the entire Medicalodge family for helping James feel at home.

Survivors include many cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by a sister, Charlotte, and his parents.

Graveside services will take place at 2:00 PM Monday, June 22^nd, in the Barnesville Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to either Ronald McDonald House or Medicalodge Activity 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.

Glenn Galen Isaac, 86, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died on Friday, June 12, 2020, at Country Place Assisted Living.

He was born to Glenn Charles Isaac and Thelma Charlaine Weathers Isaac in Kansas City, KS, on August 11, 1933.

Galen married Iva Jean Isaac, and they were blessed with six children. He later married Shirley Ann Isaac on March 22, 1985.

Galen graduated from Elsmore High School in 1951, where he was salutatorian of his class. After high school, he briefly worked in Ohio on a pipeline construction job before being drafted in 1956.

While in the Army, he served in Japan.

He spent most of his working career owning and operating his own trucking company. From 1987 to 1994, he served as an instructor in the Driver Transportation Program at FSCC. Then he moved to Texas to work with his eldest son in his cabinet building company. In 1999, he returned to Kansas to retire, but he occasionally helped his middle son with his landscaping business and transporting cars for Shephard Team Auto Plaza. He enjoyed driving the open highway and visiting with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Galen is survived by two sisters, Priscilla Sellers, Ft. Scott, and Miriam and Forest Tennant, West Covina, CA; five children, Steve and Kimberly (Isaac) Irby, Holiday Island, AR, Randall and Kelly (Isaac) Goss of Jasper, AR, Barry and Frankie Isaac, Pittsburg, KS, Mike and Tammy (Isaac) Townsend, Fort Scott, and Cody Isaac, Mission, KS; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Galen was preceded in death by his father and mother, his brother Eldon Isaac, his wife Shirley Isaac, and one son Randall Isaac.

Private family burial will take place in Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Care to Share 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.

Charles Lee Clark, age 83, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2020, at his home in Ft. Scott.

He was born June 22, 1936, in Ft. Scott, the son of Guy Clark and Minnie May Majors Clark.

Charles graduated from the Hume High School. He married Nina L. Orear on May 17, 1955, at the family farm near Foster, Missouri. Charles served with the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1958 where he was stationed in Germany. Following his military service, Charles was employed by the Johnson County Water Department. He later owned and operated his own dairy east of Hammond, Kansas, for many years. After retiring from the dairy business in the mid-1980’s, Charles began working for the Ft. Scott Water Department and later for the Bourbon County Landfill.

Charles enjoyed spending time outdoors and looking after his horse. He was a member of the West Liberty United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his son, Anthony Clark and wife, Linda, of Lebanon, Missouri and his daughter, Lozana Zimmerman, of Pittsburg, Kansas.

His wife, Nina, preceded him in death on November 8, 2010. He was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, John Zimmerman and three brothers, Joe, Kenneth and Gene Clark.

There was cremation.

Private burial will take place at a later date in the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to the West Liberty United Methodist Church 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.

Dale C. James, age 87, resident of Kemah, TX, died Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at Afton Oaks Nursing Home in Houston, TX, from chronic respiratory failure.

He was born June 16, 1932, in Crawford County, KS, the son of Kenneth and Jessie Coonrod James. After graduation from Arcadia High School, he served two years in the U. S. Army. Dale worked for the Western Insurance Company until retirement in 1990, then moved to Texas. Dale was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the American Legion for over 65 years.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Sue Herrill James; one daughter, Kelly Singer; one granddaughter, Autumn Singer; and four great-grandchildren, Davin, Hailey and Daniel Sanford, and Payton Broach.

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

There was cremation.

Private graveside services will take place Tuesday, June 16^th, in the U. S. National Cemetery, Ft. Scott.

Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Lawrence K. (Larry) Tinsley, 63, of Fort Scott, passed away Monday morning, June 8, 2020 at his home.

He was born on June 9, 1956 in Overland Park, KS the son of Lawrence O. and Jacqueline (Day) Tinsley. He grew up in the Overland Park and Paola, KS area and attended schools there.

He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War era from 1973 to 1975 and a member of the American Legion.

He graduated from Pittsburg State University (Welding) in 1982.

He enjoyed living life, bowling, reading, gardening, watching TV, and fishing.

Known to his family as Larry, LT, and Papa Larry/LT. Most of all he loved his family and enjoyed calling, texting, and visiting with them when well. He lived his life loving and was loved.

Larry is survived by his wife, Mary of the home, a brother: Mark and wife Cindy Tinsley of Paola, Kansas, a son, Michael and wife, Kayla Tinsley of Fort Scott and a daughter, Raechelle Tinsley of Rancho Cucamonga, California, grandchildren, Maggie, Kailen, Tesla, and Deacon, his aunt Charlotte and husband, Gary Earley, brothers/sisters In-Law: Vincent (Evelyn) Morales, Virginia (Tom) Moody, Christopher (Estella) Morales, Martha (Dennis) Miller, Abigail (Randy) Berning. As well as, several close loving relatives including: aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and large extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by, his grandparents, parents, and brother, Randall James (Randy) Tinsley.

Rev. James Collins, Chaplain of Post #25, American Legion will conduct Graveside Funeral Services for Lawrence K. Tinsley, 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 12, 2020 at the Fort Scott National Cemetery with the American Legion and the V.F.W. Post #1165 coordinating the Military Honors.

Attendance will be limited and social distancing rules still apply.

Masks are required and are not supplied by the cemetery.

The Family suggests memorials to the American Legion Post #25, donations may be sent to or left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

“Why me?” is the first question we ask when tragedy strikes. “Why me, Lord? Why did my loved one have to die?”

Some of us have the same question when we have a flat tire. “Why me, Lord? My car broke down and it cost $600 to get fixed… $600 that I don’t have. Why me? After all, I am as good as most people. In fact, I’ve been better than most. Why are You treating me this way? Why are You punishing me this way?”

Some of us have the same question when the internet goes out, or when the dishwasher quits working, or when the weed eater string gets tangled, or when the bathroom sink is clogged. “Why me, Lord? Why am I wasting time trying to fix this stupid thing? This is going to cost me more money to get this fixed. Jesus, You know I don’t have any money. By the way, why, at my age, should I still be having financial problems? Why have You denied me opportunities for fame and fortune that You have given to others? Why me, Lord?”

I don’t know about you, but when I find myself starting to think like this, which I often do, it sometimes helps for me to ask the same question about other aspects of my life. “Why me, Lord? What have I done that’s so great that You should have blessed me with a car, internet, a dishwasher, a weed eater, and a home? Why did You give me all these things anyway?”

Sometimes, it helps for me to ask, “Why me, Lord? Why did You permit me to be born in America with all its wealth? I could have been born in a poverty-stricken country like Ethiopia, or Haiti, or Afghanistan. Why was I born in rich America? Why me, Lord? Why did You allow me to have a job when so many, who are just as deserving as I am, are without work?”

Sometimes, it helps for me to ask, “Why me, Lord? Why am I in good health? Others my age have died of heart attacks. Others were crippled by accidents or disease. Others have cancer. Why should I escape sickness and injury when other people who believe in You are either suffering or dead?”

Sometimes, it helps for me to ask, “Why me, Lord? Why have You spared me from the heartaches that assault other families? Others, wonderful people, are seeing their families torn apart, but you have blessed me.”

The point is: Life is about perspective. If you would just stop and remember all the ways the Lord has blessed you, even though you don’t deserve it, I wonder how you could complain about the relatively insignificant things that go wrong in your life from time to time. If you and I could only remember to count our blessings.

Furthermore, if you are a Christian, it helps to ask, “Why me, Lord? Why would You go to a cross and die for me? Jesus, why would You love me so much when I am so unlovable?”

Years ago, the great songwriter, Kris Kristofferson, wrote a song titled, “Why me, Lord?” The song begins with Kristofferson pouring his soul out to God:

Why me Lord, what have I ever done
To deserve even one
Of the pleasures I’ve known
Tell me Lord, what did I ever do
That was worth loving You
Or the kindness You’ve shown.

Jesus showed kindness, grace, and love for us by dying for us. Even though, we are sinners, even though we don’t deserve it, even though we are ungrateful, Jesus died for us.

Why? Why me, Lord? Why would You love me? Why would you die for me?

Why me, indeed…

James Collins is the senior pastor at First Southern Baptist Church. For more information on his ministry, go to the website www.fortscottfsbc.com.