James Randall Smith, 70, of Fort Scott passed away suddenly, Saturday evening, in Fort Scott, January 4, 2020. He was born June 24, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois the son of John Fred and Virginia Marie (Kedzior) Smith. He married Paulette Smetana, July 11, 1970 in Villa Park, Illinois, she survives of the home.

Jim was Owner/Operator of Smith and Chambers here in Fort Scott for years before retiring in 2008. After retiring he filled his time with the renovation of the Liberty Theatre and Crooner’s Lounge. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Fort Scott.

In addition to his wife, Paulette, he is survived by a son, Dallas Smith and his wife, Christie of Fort Scott, and a daughter, Darcy Smith and her husband, Scott of Fort Scott, a brother, David Smith of Wheaton, Illinois, three sisters, Donna Haddad of Fort Myers, Florida, Karen Smith and Kim Smith both of Plainfield, Illinois, and six granddaughters, Megan, Eleanor, Catherine, Addison, Ashley and Alyssa Smith all of Fort Scott.

Funeral services for Jim Smith will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 9, 2020 at the Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Michael Apfel officiating.

The family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. until the service starts and again when the services are concluded, Thursday at the Church.

The family suggests memorials to the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund or The Trinity Lutheran Church. Contributions 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 emailed to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney,com.

James Randall Smith, 70, of Fort Scott passed away unexpectedly, Saturday evening, in Fort Scott, January 4, 2020. Funeral arrangements for Jim Smith are incomplete and will be announced later by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Diane Lee Fryda, age 57, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, December 31, 2019, at the Via Christi Hospital Emergency Room in Ft. Scott.

She was born April 25, 1962, in Duluth, Minnesota, the daughter of Clifford Fryda and Rosemary Ruzinsky Fryda. The family lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Floodwood, Minnesota; Watertown, South Dakota and Lincoln, Nebraska before Diane found her way to Kansas and became part of the Tri-Valley family. While with Tri-Valley, Diane worked in janitorial services at Niece. She later worked for eleven years at Pizza Hut. She loved her job at Pizza Hut and could sometimes be seen waving in the lunch crowd. In addition, she occasionally worked at the receptionist desk at Tri-Valley. Diane enjoyed reading and doing word searches as well as looking up current events and science facts on her tablet. She also enjoyed cooking and researching health-friendly recipes.

Survivors include her mother, Rosemary Fryda; three sisters, Nadine (Ron), Debbie and Candice and five brothers, Daniel (Elaine), David, Dean (Lisa), Kim (Sarah) and Paul (Corisa) and numerous nieces and nephews and friends.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 11^th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Tri-Valley Developmental Center 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.

Geraldine Frances Raney, age 98, a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away Saturday, December 21, 2019, at her home in Colorado Springs.

She was born August 30, 1921, at the family home near Devon, Kansas, the daughter of Bettus F. Young and Thelma H. Simmons Young. Geraldine graduated from the Fulton High School with the Class of 1939.

She married Cecil Raney on May 31, 1941, at Little Rock, Arkansas.

Cecil and Geraldine made their home in California
for many years. While in California, Geraldine worked twenty-one years in the business office of California State Polytech University at Pomona, California.

Following the death of her husband, Geraldine moved to Colorado Springs to be near her daughter. Geraldine loved to travel and made regular trips to Kansas to visit relatives and attend school reunions.

Survivor include her daughter, Cynthia Norcross and husband, Michael, of Colorado Springs, Colorado and a grandson, Mason Lee Pedotto.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Hazel Lois Young.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct graveside services at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, January 4th at the Glendale Cemetery south of Fulton.

Family and friends may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery at 12:45 P.M.

Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott.

Gary Wesley Dennison, 75 of Fort Scott, passed away Tuesday night, December 31, 2019 at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center. He was born January 18, 1943 in Booneville, Missouri, and became the son of Guy Wesley and Allie Faye (Maberry) Dennison.

Gary worked with Tri-Valley Developmental Center before taking up residency in the Medicalodge Nursing a few years ago.

He is survived by 4 cousins, Cheryl (Maberry) Blacklidge of Madison, Mississippi. Karen (Mabery) Atkins of Nixa, Missouri, Ray Gene Mabery and Elaine (Mabery) Marshall. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services for Gary Dennison will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 3, 2020 at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Large (Pleasant View) Cemetery. Memorials may be made to either the Tri-Valley Developmental Center or the Medicalodge Activity Fund, contributions 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.

Vicky Lynne Nation, 57, of Fort Scott, passed away Thursday, December 26, 2019 at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.

She was born in Fort Scott, Kansas, June 15, 1962, the daughter of Fred Allen and Connie Arleata (Hanna) Pettyman.

She is survived by two sons, Bryan Nation of Fort Scott, Kansas and Blayne Nation of Reno, Nevada, her mother, Connie Prettyman, a sister, Toni Reece and two nephews, Victor and Emerson Reece all of Pomona, Kansas.

The family will receive friends, 3:00 p.m., Sunday, December 29, 2019 at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.

All other services will be private.

Patricia Ann German, age 82, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, went to be with her personal Lord and Savior Thursday, December 26, 2019, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.

She was born February 21, 1937, in Triadelphia, West Virginia, the daughter of Albert Martin King and Ruth Pauline Rhoades King.

Pat married Norman Dean German on December 23, 1968, at Miami, Oklahoma.

Pat had worked at Peerless Products for over twenty years. She enjoyed crocheting and used this talent to make hundreds of hats for the burn unit at the Shriners Hospital.

Pat and Norman enjoyed traveling to various Shriners events especially parades. Pat also liked cooking and decorating cakes. Above all, Pat loved being a grandma to her three grandchildren, and made it her duty to faithfully pick them up after school. She was a past member of the First Christian Church and more recently a member of the First United Methodist Church as well as the Daughters of the Nile.

Survivors include her daughter, Dee Ann Davis and husband, Allen, of Ft. Scott and three grandchildren, Cody Allen Davis who is stationed at Al Udeid Air Force Base in Qatar; Jasmine Bradley and husband, Chad, of Ft. Carson, Colorado and Lee Patrick Davis, of Ft. Scott.

Her husband, Norman, preceded her in death on April 4, 2008.

Following cremation, Rev. Reed Hartford will conduct a memorial service at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 4^th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

A private burial will take place at a later date at the U. S. National Cemetery. Instead of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Mirza Shrine Transportation Fund. This money will be used to take children to hospital visits and can be left in the 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.

John Arthur Renard, age 81, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Friday, December 20, 2019, at his home. He was born July 22, 1938, in Ellsworth, KS, the son of Carl E. and Myrtle E. Hundley Renard.

He married Judith Ann Hammons on May 17, 1964, in Mapleton, KS. Following high school, John served in the U. S. Navy.

He worked for Smoky Hill Electrical CO-OP in Ellsworth, KS. They moved to Newton, KS, for about a year before taking the job in Fort Scott in 1969. He worked for KG&E as a lineman and equipment operator until his retirement in 1992.

In 1979, John opened his shoe repair shop, Main Street Shoe Repair, inside Calico Cottage. The shop later moved to the most recent location at the back of Country Cupboard, 12 N. Main St. He enjoyed working in his shop, watching Kansas State football on television, checking boxes of Judy’s to-do lists, attending children’s and grandchildren’s events and attending family reunions.

John was a member of the First Christian Church and later attended the First United Methodist Church. He will be remembered as an awesome husband, dad, and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife Judy; three sons, Jim Renard and wife Melissa, Dallas, TX, Ron Renard wife Geila, Marshall, MO, and Dave Renard, Mapleton, KS; a daughter DeeAnne Miller and husband Kevin, Ft. Scott, KS; two sisters, Eunice Smith, Summerville, SC, and Mary Knottgen, Topeka, KS; four grandchildren, Kellen Renard, Kevin Miller, Jr., Sara “Todorovic.”  and Patrick Coman; three great -grandchildren, Vance Salazar, Lyric Coman and Violet Coman; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Leroy and Kenny Renard; five sisters, Velma Schwerdtfeger, Billie Harold, Rita George, Linda Boese, and infant sister Alma Renard.

There was cremation.

Rev. Reed Hartford will conduct memorial services at 11:00 AM Friday, December 27^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until service time at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Bourbon County Fair 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.

Eric Stansbury, age 52, resident of Holden, MO, passed away unexpectedly at his home December 15, 2019.

He was born June 23, 1967, in Iola, KS, the son of Ellis Stansbury, Kincaid, KS, and Donita Powell, Arcadia, KS.

Eric was a truck driver for over 25 years. He enjoyed fishing and all his family and friends. He will be missed.

Survivors include his wife Marsha Morris Stansbury of the home; siblings Lonnie Stansbury, Arcadia, KS, Brian Stansbury, Iola, KS, David Carson, LaHarpe, KS, Karen More, Iola, KS, Kristina Stansbury, Arma, Ks, Joanna Carson, Arma, KS, Christina Bruce, Lenexa, KS, and Ginger Stansbury, Manhattan, KS; step sister Tammy Westhoff, Franklin, KS; 2 sons Brandon Wilson, Austin, TX, and Corey Wilson, Ft. Scott, KS; two daughters, Erica Jones, Osage Beach, MO, and Jessica Byrd, Barre, VT; 7 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

There was cremation. A celebration of life service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Sandra M. Jacquinet, age 74, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday, December 16, 2019, at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, KS.

She was born January 2, 1945, in Girard, KS, the daughter of John Douglas and Virginia Katherine Thomas Owen. Sandra worked for Mercy Hospital as a ward clerk. She retired after 32 years.

She was a strong supporter of Relay for Life for many years. She enjoyed reading novels, especially mysteries and westerns. She liked going to rummage sales and eating out with friends.

Sandra help raise her youngest grandson Bart. While at Medicalodge for the past 3 ½ years, she took pride in making sure everyone at her dining table was well taken care of.

Survivors include a son, Brad Jacquinet and wife Tanya, Keller, TX; grandchildren Maura, Max, Emma, and Bart Jacquinet; two brothers, Michael Owen and wife Ginger, Girard, KS, and Danny Owen and wife Cindy, Farlington, KS; two sisters, Linda Farmer and Terrie Sprague and husband Sonny, all of Ft. Scott; an aunt, Lucinda McCormick, Girard, KS; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a nephew, Timothy Farmer; and her parents.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Thursday, December 19^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Farlington Cemetery, Farlington, KS.

The family will receive friends from 9:00 until service time Thursday morning at the funeral home.

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.

Opal G. Binford, age 85, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Sunday, December 15, 2019, at her home.

She was born July 29, 1934, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Alvin and Bertha Graves Gray. Opal married Earl “Doc” Binford on November 23, 1979. He preceded her in death.

Opal worked for Western Insurance Company in Ft. Scott for 21 years. She enjoyed flower gardening, cooking, and baking, her specialty being banana cake and deviled eggs.

She was a member of Daughters of the Nile and White Shrine. Opal was always happy and liked to have a good time.

Survivors include a daughter, Lisa “Genan” Boone Constantine; a step-son, Dick Binford; step-daughters Sheri Buntain, Belinda Skiles, Ruth Ricci, and Betsie Binford; a brother, Jerry Gray and wife Kathy; a sister, Jeanette Schweikert; sister-in-law Diane Gray; 16 grandchildren; numerous great and great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Bob and Louis Gray; an infant sister Calvina Marie Gray; brother-in-law Bob Schweikert; one granddaughter; and her parents.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct graveside services at 2:00 Thursday, December 19^th, in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to either American Heart Association or Mirza Transportation Fund 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.

Lorene Lockwood, age 89, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, November 28, 2019, at the Medicalodge in Ft. Scott.

She was born February 6, 1930, in Salem, Arkansas, the daughter of William Foster and Ethel Martin Foster.

After graduating high school in Arkansas, Lorene moved to Kansas City.

She first married William Mills and they moved around the country until settling back in Johnson County in the 1960’s. Lorene had worked on The Plaza in Kansas City as a model and was also a ground hostess for Braniff International Airline.

She married James E. Lockwood in 1966. Together they bought a home in South Kansas City where they lived for forty years.

Together, they traveled the world and enjoyed Jim’s love of the sea and explored many ports of call on sailboats. From the Greek Isles to Tahiti, Virgin Gorda to the Yangtze, they did it all. They visited South America in 1967 and she even made it up to Machu Pichu along with Sugar Loaf in Brazil and Punta del Este in Uruguay. Throughout their marriage they loved to travel and there is hardly a country they did not visit together.

Along the way Lorene worked as a manager of a beauty salon and then found her niche as a realtor. She spent thirty years in the real estate business with several outstanding Johnson County companies

. Lorene was also very involved with charity organizations in the KC Metro – the Ballet Ball, the Philharmonic and especially the United Way where she served a term as chairperson. She was truly instrumental in helping Kansas City, Missouri be a City for the Arts.

Survivors include two sons, Jeffrey Mills and Ronald Mills.

Following cremation, private burial will take place in the Evergreen Cemetery in Ft. Scott. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, Kansas.