Michael Owen True, age 71, a resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, died late Friday, February 16, 2018, following a heart ailment.

He was born December 11, 1946, in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of Warren D. True and Lucille Leach True. He married Joyce Haller on June 15, 1968, in Shawnee, Kansas.

Mike was retired as trainmaster with the Burlington Northern Railroad. He served in the United States Marines from 1966 to 1969. He was an active member of the MG Club and owns two MG cars. He also loved target shooting and was a member of the Bourbon County Sharpshooters. Other hobbies include fishing and remote-control airplanes.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce, of the home; one son, Steve True and wife Victoria of Ottawa, Kansas; one daughter, Julie True of Topeka; two brothers, Dave True and wife Beverly, Shawnee, Kansas, and Brad True and wife, Mary, Olathe, Kansas. Also surviving are four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Scott True.

Following cremation, the family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. until noon, Wednesday in the Cheney Witt Chapel.

The celebration of life and memorial service will be announced at a later date to be held at his favorite fishing location. Memorials are suggested to a Grandchildren Scholarship Fund and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Corrected Obituary

Mary Elizabeth Stoughton, age 95, a resident of Ft. Scott, KS, formerly of rural Mapleton, KS, died Sunday, February 18, 2018, at Country Place Living in Ft. Scott. She was born January 16, 1923, in rural Bourbon County, the daughter of Nixon and Eula Hutcherson Blair. She married Ellis Stoughton. He preceded her in death on November 24, 2011. Mary worked for the Postal Service in Mapleton, Redfield, and the Devon office until it’s closing. She then transferred to Ft. Scott until her retirement. She enjoyed playing cards, bingo, bowling tours, fishing, crafts, and antique auctions. She played the organ at church for many years, lastly the Mapleton Methodist Church. She was a member of Eastern Star.

Survivors include a daughter, Karen Sue Peery and husband Ed, Mapleton, KS; grandchildren Kristian Fowler and husband Sid with sons Wyatt Ellis Fowler and Jesse Lee Fowler, Olathe, KS; Andy Peery, Grove, OK, and children Ian Peery and wife Brandee with son Barrett, Mapleton, and Andrea Peery, Joplin, MO, Susan Bancroft and husband Adam with children Bailie Elisabeth Brown, Gunnar Joe Brown, Allie Nacole Brown and Kynleah Claire Bancroft, Ft. Scott, Matt Martin, Ft. Scott, Troy Stoughton and children Laura Wray, Pittsburg, KS, and Sabra Stoughton, Ft. Scott, Drew Stoughton, Mapleton, Amy Stoughton and daughter Jandyn Stoughton, Ft. Scott, and Christina Logue and husband Jason with children Brayden and Emma of Ohio. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by sisters Wilma Kendrick Slick and Betty Nethercot; five brothers James, Marion, John, Robert, and Warren Blair; and a son, James Raymond Stoughton.

Pastor Joe Perkins will conduct funeral services at 11:00 AM Tuesday, February 20^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the West Plains Cemetery, Ft. Scott. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 Monday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to support Alzheimer’s research by contributing to KU Endowment – Alzheimer’s Research sent 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.

 

Sandra Sue “Sandy” Rylander, 75, passed away Wednesday afternoon, February 14, 2018, at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. She was born October 16, 1942, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the daughter of John C. and Nettie Caroline (Townsend) Stanbro.

She married Gary Rylander June 4, 1961, in Fort Scott, and he survives of the home.

Sandy graduated from Uniontown High School with the class of 1960. She was a member of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church and the Old Fort Genealogy Society.

In addition to her husband Gary, Sandy is also survived by her daughters, Susan Hedge, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Cheryl Huffman of Darien, Connecticut; a sister, Martha Murrow of Jupiter, Florida; and six grandchildren, Isabelle, Emily, Benjamin, Andrew, Nick, and Jane. She was preceded in death by her parents, and an infant daughter, Kelli Sue Rylander.

Following cremation, memorial services for Sandy will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 24, 2018, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home with interment following at the Deerfield Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Old Fort Genealogical Society and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, PO Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Shirley Mae Soto, age 79, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas passed away Thursday, February 8, 2018, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

She was born December 30, 1938, in California, the daughter of Lee Wurtz and Pauline Sharp Wurtz. Shirley married Paul Soto. Shirley lived the majority of her life in California where she worked in a poultry plant and later as an inspector for the U. S. D. A.

Following her retirement, she moved to Ft. Scott. She then provided care for elderly. She enjoyed her cats.

Survivors include her two children, James Bentley of Ft. Scott and Paula McClurg (David) of Fresno, California; and two step-children, Paul Soto and Cindy Soto, both of California; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a brother, Jerry Wurtz, of Oklahoma. Her husband, Paul, preceded her in death on March 11, 2017.

Family and friends may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, February 13 before going to the West Liberty Cemetery for burial. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.

Thomas P. Bowerman, age 72, a resident of Ft. Scott, passed through the gates of heaven Thursday, February 1, 2018, at his home.

He was born May 17, 1945, in Fayetteville, AR, the son of Jess and Hazel Bowerman. He attended South Side Grade School and Rogers High School in Rogers, AR.

He met his wife, Edith Diana Keehler, May 29, 1964. They have been married 53 years.

Tom was a master electrician for Loark Electrical.

They moved to Ft. Scott, KS, in 2001 to care for their oldest son Dana, who was battling M.S. He enjoyed his family and friends. He loved to work on cars with his friend and retired co-worker in the electrical trade. Tom’s life revolved around his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was greatly loved by all his family and friends and will be missed by all.

Survivors include his wife Diana, of the home; a son, Wesley Bowerman and wife Kalee, Ft. Scott; a daughter, Rebecca Bowerman and Mathew Gavin, of the home; a sister, Mary Reed, Rogers, AR; a grandson, Damion Gavin; four granddaughters, Essance Bowerman, Allain Tureskis, Madison Smith, Ft. Scott, and Dana Jean and husband Jeremy, Louisiana; a great-grandson, Tanner Jean. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Dana Bowerman; and two sisters, Virginia Chaney and Ann Jouett.

There was cremation. Memorial services will be conducted at 3:00 PM Friday, February 9^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Thomas Bowerman Memorial Fund and may be left in the 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.

Mildred Katie Bortzfield, age 86, formerly of Pleasanton, KS, died Sunday, February 4, 2018, at Pinnacle Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation, Olathe, KS.

She was born on October 26, 1931, in Fulton, KS, the daughter of Robert and Hazel Wurtz Clendening. She married LeRoy Bortzfield on June 8, 1949, in Salt Lake City, Utah. He preceded her in death on December 31, 1986. She later married Curtis Owenby on August 31, 1988. He preceded her in death on November 15, 2016.

Katie worked in her early years for the telephone company. She later worked for Braemore Coat Factory in Pleasanton. She then worked for Western Insurance Company in Fort Scott, KS, until her retirement. She was an avid hunter and fisherman. She also enjoyed bowling and attending Pickers and Fiddlers. She was a member of the West Liberty United Methodist Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Vickie Zugelder, Kansas City, MO; a son, Rick Bortzfield and wife Robin, Pleasanton, KS; five grandchildren, Chris Zugelder, Riki Barr, Eric Zugelder, Rylan Bortzfield, and Griffin Bortzfield; four great-grandchildren, Nicolas, Mackenzie, Alyssa and Zander; a sister, Elenora Courtois, Pleasanton, KS; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides both husbands, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Bill, Cecil, Frank and John Clendening; two sisters, Dorothy Nichols and Rosemary Ward; and her parents.

Pastor Tom Mullins will conduct funeral services at 2:30 PM Thursday, February 8^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the West Liberty Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:30 until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Good Shepherd Hospice and may be left in the care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Wylma Campbell, age 96, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, February 1, 2018, at the Hospice of the Valley, Eckstin Center in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Services will be held at 1:00 pm Friday, February 9, 2018, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will be in the U.S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.