Category Archives: Obituary

Obituary Of Mildred Bortzfield

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 8th, 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.

Obituary of Wylma Campbell

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.

Obituary Of Mary Ann Hurd

Mary Ann Hurd, 85, of Mapleton, Kansas, passed away, Thursday evening, January 25, 2018, at the Windsor Place Nursing Home in Coffeyville, Kansas.

She was born March 10, 1932, in Harding, Kansas the daughter of William Christopher and Grace Lee Wagener.

She is survived by her niece, Alice Myrick, of Mapleton, Kansas, and two brothers, Carl Wagener of Cottageville, South Carolina, and Lee Roy Wagener, of Mapleton, Kansas.

Following cremation, private family services will be held at a later date and are under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Obituary of Ella Louise Greenfield

Ella Louise Greenfield, 58, of Fort Scott, passed away late Wednesday evening, January 31, 2018, at Mercy Hospital. She was born November 14, 1959, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the daughter of John Calvin and Rachel Elinor (Hord) Greenfield.

Ella is survived by her children, Scarlett “Pete” Greenfield of Pittsburg, Kansas, and John Greenfield, of Fort Scott; nine brothers and sisters, John C. Greenfield, Kathie Wilson, Kurt Greenfield, Paul Greenfield, Cindy Jones, Brian Greenfield, Tracy Saker, and Karl Greenfield; and two grandchildren, and one more on the way. She was preceded in death by her father, and a sister, Cheryl Bagnall.

Following cremation, memorial services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 10, 2018, at 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.

Obituary for Donald Dale Simpson

Donald Dale Simpson, age 90, a resident of rural Garland, Kansas, passed away early Saturday, February 3, 2018, at the Country Place Assisted Living facility in Ft. Scott, Kansas.

He was born March 16, 1927, in Ft. Scott, the son of Maurice Simpson and Nina Alice McPheron Simpson. Don attended Fort Scott schools. He served in the United States Army from 1945 to 1947 where he was stationed in Italy. He married Charlene Mason on December 22, 1954.

Don farmed and raised cattle on the family farm near Garland for the remainder of his life. Don loved his life on the farm and enjoyed making things grow. He especially enjoyed tending to his strawberries and gladiolus. He also liked to collect arrowheads and toy tractors. In earlier years, he liked to do woodworking.

Survivors include his three sons, Mason (Paula), Scott (Becky), Brady (Patty), all of Ft. Scott and his daughter, Lisa Ireland (Lanny), of Stewartsville, Missouri; ten grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren.

His wife, Charlene, preceded him in death on November 27, 2017.

Pastor Lela Simpson will conduct funeral services at 11:30 A.M. Thursday, February 8 at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor’s choice 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.

Corrected Obituary Of Marilyn Love

Marilyn Jane Love, age 73, a resident of rural Redfield, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at the Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. 
She was born October 2, 1944, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Lawrence Homer “Jack” Query and Alberta Mae Duncan Query.  Marilyn graduated from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1963.  She married Charles A. Walker on February 4, 1966, at Ft. Scott. 
He preceded her in death on April 25, 2000.  She later married Gerald Love on February 16, 2001, at the Mt. Orum Baptist Church near Redfield. 
In earlier years, Marilyn had worked for the Western Insurance Company and then for the Pittsburg, Kansas, and Stillwater, Oklahoma school districts.  She was later employed by Wal-Mart in Ft. Scott for over twenty-five years. 
Marilyn loved her God and her family.  She was a member of the Mt. Orum Baptist Church and was also active with the Redfield Ruritan.  She also enjoyed taking care of her animals.
 
Survivors include her husband, Jerry, of the home; and her children, Shane Walker (Jana), Lane Walker (Crystal Sprague) and David Johnson (Christina) all of Ft. Scott; and her grandchildren, Olivia, Grace, Audrey and Ella Walker, Kirryn Sprague, Korbyn and Kayley Reyes, Rosa Martin and Kaden Johnson.  Also surviving are two brothers, Dwayne Query (Clyda), of Rochelle, Illinois and Robert Query (Lori), of Ft. Scott a sister, Marjorie Schwalm, of Ft. Scott and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles Walker and her parents, Jack and Mae Query. 
 
Rev. Jeff Cokeley will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Monday, February 5th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the Pittsburg Garden of Memories Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 P.M. Sunday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Memorials are suggested to Care to Share 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.    

Obituary Of Deborah Hawkins

Deborah Lee Hawkins, age 66, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Thursday, January 25, 2018, at her home.

She was born January 7, 1952, in Lawrence, Kansas, the daughter of Roy Cameron and Dorothy Tilton Cameron. She graduated from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1970. She married Gene Hawkins on June 9, 1979, at Ft. Scott.

In earlier years, she worked in the printing and insurance business. She later attended Ft. Scott Community College School of Nursing and became a Registered Nurse. She was then employed by the Nevada Regional Medical Center for several years. She loved gardening and tending to her flowers. She also enjoyed watching the wildlife around her rural home.

Survivors include her husband, Gene, of the home and two daughters, Amanda Hawkins (Steve Copsey), of Nevada, Missouri and Jennifer Hawkins, of Ft. Scott and two grandchildren, Ethan and Kinley. Also, surviving are two brothers, Mark Cameron of Kansas City, Missouri and Garry Cameron of Great Falls, Montana. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Joan Higgins and Ann Greenway and a brother, Charles Cameron.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, January 30 at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Chapel Grove Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Monday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Care to Share 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.

Obituary Of Willa Ellis

Willa Jean Ellis, 87, of Fort Scott, passed away peacefully Monday afternoon, January 22, 2018, at her home. She was born March 25, 1930, in Rich Hill, Missouri, the daughter of Howard and Gertie (Williams) Marlin.

She married her childhood sweetheart Danny Ellis February 8, 1948, in Nevada, Missouri.

Willa was a beloved mother and grandmother; a devoted wife and trusted friend to many.

Together she and her husband were strong supporters of the Fort Scott community including The Beacon, Ellis Family Performing Arts Center, and Ellis Park.

In the early 1960’s Willa and Danny started Midwestern Distribution with just three trucks. It eventually grew to 1,000 trucks and employed over 2,000 people. They sold the company to Leaseway Transportation in 1981 and started Multi Service Corp., a trucking and aviation credit card which is currently the largest aviation credit card in the world.

In 1998 Willa and Danny started the Ellis Foundation after the death of their daughter, Kathy Ellis-Adriance, The foundation has awarded over 4,000 scholarships and currently supports 738 students in college.

The Ellis Foundation will celebrate twenty years this June 2018 and has awarded over twenty-million dollars.

In addition to her husband Danny, Willa is survived by her son, Chris Daniel Ellis and wife Cathy, of Louisburg, Kansas; eight grandchildren, Daniel Marlin Ellis, Joshua James Shaffer, Christopher Charles Ellis, Nathan Cole Ellis, Sarah Freeman Spray, Sybil Claire Ramstad, Brooke Adriance Cade, and Erin Blaire Adriance; and ten great-grandchildren, Olive Madison Ellis, Emory Parker Ellis, Freeman Andrew Spray, Ellis Nicole Spray, Gabriel Rose Spray, Bennett John Ramstad, Davis Matthew Ramstad, Vivian Faye Shaffer, Leo Henry Cade, and Finlay George Cade.

Willa was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Wanda June Taylor, and her daughter, Kathy Lyn Ellis-Adriance.

Following cremation, Rev. Reed Hartford will conduct funeral services 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 27, 2018, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, with burial following in the Evergreen Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Friday evening, January 26, 2018, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ellis Foundation for Memorial Scholarships 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.

Obituary Of Lula Mae Piotrowski

Lula Mae “Lou” Piotrowski, age 80, a resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday, January 22, 2018, at Medicalodge of Ft. Scott.

She was born February 18, 1937, in St. Paul, KS, the daughter of Chares “Bud” and Vera Mudd Groner. She graduated from St. Paul high school. Lou married Robert “Pete” Piotrowski on June 6, 1959, in St. Paul.

She worked as a seamstress for Key Work Clothes. She then worked for many years as the bookkeeper for the family business, Sunflower Supply.

She enjoyed collecting dolls, sewing, crafts, refinishing furniture, making miniature furniture, and flower gardening.

She loved spending time with her grandchildren.

She was a member of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, St. Anne’s Altar Society, and participated in the Adoration Chapel for many years.

Survivors include her husband Pete; three children, Patty West and husband Terry, Redfield, KS; Robert “Bob” Piotrowski and wife Julie, Ft. Scott; and Mary Younggren and husband Mike, Ft. Scott; a brother, Warren Groner, Pittsburg, KS; seven grandchildren: Chrystal Cowan and husband Josh, Ashlee Piotrowski and fiancé Taylor, Gregg Piotrowski, Kayla Collins and husband J.D., Heather Chavis and husband Josh, Emilee Piotrowski and Zach, Casey Proctor and husband Travis; seven great grandchildren, “the grandkids who made her great”, Raylee, Laramee, Jace, Cheyann, Caroline, Hayes, Jackson, and one more on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, Joe Groner; three sisters, Mary Ann Groner, Ruth Read, and Virginia Payne; and her parents.

Father Robert Wachter will conduct the Funeral Mass at 10:00 am Monday, January 29, at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

The Rosary will be prayed at 5:30 pm Sunday, January 28, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Visitation will follow from 6:00 until 8:00 pm.

Memorials are suggested to either St. Mary’s Catholic School or Mercy Hospice 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.

Obituary Of Hattie Homan

Hattie Lela Homan, 99, of Uniontown, Kansas passed away Friday evening, January 19, 2018, at the Medicalodge Nursing Home. She was born December 17, 1918, in Rolla, Kansas, the daughter of LeRoy Johnathan and Lena Effie (Saul) McMillan.

She married Leslie Otto Homan September 28, 1944, in Lawrence, Illinois. He preceded her in death March 2, 1982.

Hattie was a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Uniontown.

She played the guitar and the banjo with the Kansas Old Time Fiddlers, and also the Pickers & Singers.

Hattie is survived by her two sons, Leslie Marvin Homan and wife Rachel, of Manteca, California, and Henry O. Homan and wife Patty, of Redfield, Kansas; a sister, Velma Hittle of Hugoton, Kansas; six grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, Hattie was also preceded in death by her parents; twin infant daughters; a grandson, Christopher Homan; a daughter-in-law, Mary Homan. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Isaac, who died when he was just three years old. Her other brother, Marvin, died when his submarine, the Sugar Deuce 8 (S-28), went down during WWII.

Rev. Marty DeWitt and Steve Hittle will conduct funeral services for Hattie at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 25, 2018, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home with burial following at the Fort Scott National Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening January 24, 2018, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Uniontown Missionary Baptist Church Building 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.

 

Obituary for Ruth Ann Sickles

Obituary for Ruth Ann Sickles

Ruth Ann Sickles, age 55, a former resident of Ft. Scott, and more recently of LaHarpe, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at her home in LaHarpe. She was born October 27, 1962, in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, the daughter of Ralph A. Crawford, Sr. and Hazel Ellen Webber Crawford. Ruth married Roger L. Sickles on February 14, 1983. While living in Ft. Scott, Ruth had worked as a waitress for Boone and Dauben and also the Sale Barn Café. She later did spraying work for Green Touch.

Survivors include a brother, Ralph A. Crawford, and wife, Shelly, of Excelsior Springs, Missouri; a half-sister, Candie Horton of Topeka, Kansas and Adryan and Landen Nading who affectionately called her Aunt Ruth.

Rev. Trena Cooper will conduct funeral services at 7:00 P.M. Monday, January 22 at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Following funeral services, there will be cremation. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 5:00 P.M. until service time at the chapel. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.