Jacob H. “Jake” Underwood, age 98, a former resident of Uniontown, KS, and more recently of Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday, January 15, 2018, at Medicalodge of Ft. Scott.  He was born on July 6, 1919, on the family farm in Uniontown to Jay and Hazel McKinnis Underwood.

Mr. Underwood graduated from Uniontown High School in 1936 and Fort Scott Community College two years later.

In July of 1941, he was called to serve in the military.  For three years he was stationed at Camp Polk in Louisiana with the 7^th Armored Division.  Before leaving to fight the war in Europe, he married Doris Patterson on May 9, 1944.  They were married until her death in 2002.

He was shipped to Belgium in 1944 with the 106^th Infantry and was captured in the Battle of the Bulge.  He was a prisoner of war in Bad Orb Prison Camp in Germany from December 1944 and was liberated in April of 1945.

After returning to civilian life, he began his career as the County Clerk and later became the business manager for the Fort Scott School District where he faithfully served for 35 years.

Mr. Underwood was an active community member both in Fort Scott and Uniontown.  At the time of his death, he belonged to the Uniontown United Methodist Church and Ruritan.  Jake was proud to be a lifelong Democrat.  He was truly an example of the “Greatest Generation” – proud veteran, devoted family man, and dedicated civic leader.

He is survived by two daughters: Susan Karleskint, Uniontown, and Mary Gregory and husband Brad, Bolivar, MO; sister-in-law’s Janice Patterson of Fort Scott, and Erma Patterson of Atlanta; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and a niece in Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Doris Underwood, daughter, Ruth Ann Burleson, brother, Gilbert Underwood; and brother-in-law’s, John and Byron Patterson.

Rev. Connie McKee will conduct funeral services at 10:30 AM Saturday, January 20, at Uniontown United Methodist Church.  Burial will follow in the Uniontown Cemetery.  Military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 V.F.W.  Memorial are suggested to the Uniontown United Methodist Church and may be left in the care of Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S Main, Fort Scott, KS.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

 

 

Oka Ola Hare Clinesmith, age 98, of Fort Scott, passed away on January 13, 2018, in Columbia, MO.

Oka was born to Andrew Jackson Hare and Mae Johnston Hare in 1919 on a Bourbon County farm south of Fort Scott. She attended Katt School and Fort Scott Junior High before moving with her family to Tribune, Kansas. She graduated from Tribune Senior High School and married Carl Benjamin Clinesmith. They moved to Emporia, Kansas, where she attended Emporia State for one year while Carl taught music in Pretty Prairie. When Carl was called to duty in the Army Air Force Oka moved to Wichita and worked for Boeing. After the war, they returned to Fort Scott where she lived for over 70 years. Here they raised two children, Carl Benjamin Clinesmith, Jr. and Kaye Adele Clinesmith Miller.

Oka worked as the secretary and was assistant to the pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Fort Scott, from 1951 – 1985 while Carl taught band, choir and orchestra for Fort Scott Public Schools and Junior College. Oka served as a deacon and elder of the church, sang in the choir and was a member of the United Presbyterian Women. She was a private clarinet teacher and later enjoyed playing clarinet in the Fort Scott Civic Orchestra. She was a member of P.E.O.

Oka was a textile artist creating remarkable treasurers including braided rugs, English smocked music boxes, eggs and bells, and elegant petit point angels and Santas. And anyone who knew Oka will miss her practical and indispensable scrubbies.

Oka is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Carl, and her three sisters Eda Ruth Hare, Leta Mary Hare and Georgia Anne Hare Chesney. She is survived by her children Carl Benjamin, Jr. and his wife Kathleen of New York, NY; Kaye Adele Clinesmith Miller and her husband Bill of Columbia, MO; and their families including grandchildren Ellen Clinesmith (Jon Carr) of Uncasville, CT; Sarah Miller Coats (Kourtney Coats) of Enid, OK; Karen Miller Lutgen (Keith Lutgen) of Minneapolis, MN; and great-grandchildren Ryan Clinesmith, Wesley Coats, Wyatt Coats, Lucy Lutgen and Greta Lutgen.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. with a memorial service following at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Fort Scott, Kansas, on Saturday, January 20, 2018, with Rev. Dr. Jared Witt officiating.

Interment will be at the Fort Scott National Cemetery at a later date. The family suggests memorial contributions to First Presbyterian Church, Fort Scott, Kansas, or the Fort Scott Presbyterian Village Good Samaritan Fund. Donations may be sent to or 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.

 

Rebecca Marie Murray

Rebecca Marie Murray, 66, of Fort Scott, passed away Wednesday, January 10, 2018, at the Olathe Medical Center.

She was born April 5, 1951, in Coffeyville, Kansas, the daughter of John F. and Madilyn Louise (Slater) Troutman. She married Wayne Murray July 10, 1982, in Fort Scott, and he preceded her in death July 3, 1999.

Rebecca worked for Fort Scott Community College for twenty-five years, and for Five Corners Mini Mart for the last fifteen years. She had a bachelor’s degree in English.

Survivors include her daughter, Amy L. Murray of Pittsburg, Kansas, her son Geoffery A. Murray of Fort Scott, Kansas; step-daughter Julie Workman of Girard, Kansas; her granddaughter, Stephanie Eastwood; a nephew, Jason Sack, and Kevin Taliaferro, who was like a son to her. In addition to her husband Wayne, she was preceded in death by her parents, and a sister, Kathryn Sack.

Bishop Walter Simpson will conduct funeral services 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 19, 2018, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home with burial following at the Fort Scott National Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday evening, January 18, 2018, from 6:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the FSCC Endowed Scholarship Fund and 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.

Ruth O’Dell, age 84, a former resident of Mapleton, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2018, at the Ft. Scott Manor in Ft. Scott, Kansas.

She was born January 21, 1933, on the family farm near Lacygne, Kansas, the daughter of Clemmit Anderson and Edith Reynolds Anderson.

She married Donald Eugene O’Dell on February 28, 1953, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Ruth lived in Kansas City for a time where she was employed by the Wonder Bread Bakery. She later worked at a service station in Ft. Scott and helped her husband with their own service station in Mapleton. She was a past member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Survivors include two sons, David Hearn and wife, Rosemary, of McPherson, Kansas and Claude O’Dell, of Ft. Scott and a daughter, Donna Thomas, and husband, Danny, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and three grandsons. Also surviving is a sister, Betty Hall, and husband, Allen, of Pittsburg and numerous nieces and nephews.

Her husband, Don, preceded her in death on October 30, 2004. She was also preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, Clarence, James, Howard and Henry Anderson and two sisters, Velma Miller and Viola Collins.

Jay Lotterer will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Monday, January 15 at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Mapleton Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Lee’s Paws and Claws and may 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.

 

Evelyn Lucille Reynolds, age 95, a former resident of Uniontown, KS, died Thursday, January 4, 2018, at Windsor Place, Iola, KS.  She was born on June 5, 1922, in Elgin, KS, the daughter of Charles C. and Bertie Macher Mumbower.

She married Willis J. Reynolds on August 17, 1940, in Nevada, MO.  He preceded her in death on October 16, 2009.

Lucille was employed by USD 235 School District as a part-time custodian from 1967 until retiring in 1984.  She loved outside work including gardening with her husband.  She was a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Uniontown since 1960.

Survivors include her son, Jimmy L. Reynolds, Uniontown; as well as several nieces and nephews.  Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Gilbert and Bob Mumbower; and two sisters, Minnie McBride and Beulah Sipe.

Rev. Marty DeWitt will conduct funeral services at 10 AM Monday, January 8, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the Uniontown Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the First Missionary Baptist Church of Uniontown 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.

Emil Charles Mashek, age 85, a resident of rural Richards, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at the Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. He was born December 24, 1932, in Seward, Nebraska, the son of James Lewis Mashek and Mary Hromas Mashek. He served in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Following his military service, he relocated to the Mashek family farm near Richards, where he farmed and raised cattle for the remainder of his life. He married Carmen Dobry on December 11, 1959, at Girard, Kansas. Emil was a member of the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of
Foreign Wars of Ft. Scott, the Ft. Scott Elks Lodge and the American Legion Post of Dwight, Nebraska. In addition to his life on the farm, he enjoyed going to casinos and playing cards.

Survivors include his wife, Carmen, of the home; two sons, Steven Mashek, and wife, Jodee, and David Mashek, all of Richards; a grandson, Skylur Emil Mashek also of Richards and two step-grandchildren, Victoria Krohn and husband, Stephon and Jonathon Ireland, all of Moore, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, James Mashek and a sister, Mary Ann Shane Jauernig.

Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 1:30 P.M. Saturday, January 6 at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial with military honors will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery in Ft. Scott. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Vernon County Youth Fair and may 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.