Forrest E. “Slim” Hall, age 86, a resident of Ft. Scott, passed away Tuesday, January 8th at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg. Funeral services for Slim Hall will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott.
Category Archives: Obituary
Obituary for Shelby Frank Rice
Shelby Frank Rice, age 87, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Sunday, January 6, 2019, at his home. He was born June 12, 1931, in Valiant, Oklahoma, the son of Frank Rice and Nelia Thompson Rice. He married Sandra Brown in 1963. Following high school, Shelby graduated from barber school in Oklahoma.
He worked as a barber for several years and also worked for the Tulsa Fire Department. In addition to working for the fire department, Shelby also operated the Rice Cattle Company.
Following his retirement from the fire department, the Rice family moved from Oklahoma to a ranch west of Farlington, Kansas. They lived there for several years before moving to Ft. Scott in 1984.
Survivors include a son, Terry Rice, of San Francisco, California and a daughter, Nancy Boore and husband, Mark, of Pittsburg, Kansas and three grandchildren, Chelsea Kropp and husband, Caleb, of Parsons, Kansas, Morgan Samuels and husband, Preston, of Osawatomie, Kansas and and Aaron Boore, of Kansas City, Kansas.
His wife, Sandra, preceded him in death on March 6, 2016. He was also preceded in death by two sons, Ted Rice and David Comozzie and four sisters, Uela Gragg, Melba Songer, Betty Sullivent and Dorothy Rice.
There was cremation. A memorial service for both Shelby and Sandra will be held at a later date. Arrangements 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.
Obituary of Rolene Goodno
Rolene Louise Goodno (Regan), age 67, died Thursday, January 3, 2019, at KU Medical Center. She was born on September 15, 1951 in Fort Scott, Kansas, daughter of Clyde and Marie Goodno and sister of Fred Goodno. She graduated from Uniontown High School in 1969.
Rolene grew up on a farm northwest of Uniontown, and farm-life was integral to who she was. She met and married David Regan, and they raised their sons on the same farm that she and Fred grew up on. She loved gardening, hunting morel mushrooms, riding horses, fishing, sewing, cooking, and later being “Mimi” to her five grandkids.
Most of Rolene’s professional life revolved around her nursing career. Starting in her mid-20s, she began working in healthcare, then after putting her career on hold to raise her sons through childhood, she graduated from Fort Scott Community College Nursing School in 1995. She worked at Allen County Hospital in Iola from 1995 to 2010.
Survivors include her brother Fred and Fred’s companion Martha of LaHarpe, Kansas; three sons, Josh Regan and wife, Nikki, Fort Scott, Andrew Regan of Salina, Kansas, and Caleb Regan and wife Gwen, Lawrence, Kansas; five grandchildren, Elliana, Myla, David, Jack and Sawyer Regan. She was preceded in death by her parents and companion Glen Driskel.
There was cremation. Fr. Robert Wachter will conduct Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday January 9th at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Bronson Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Tuesday January 8th. The rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s Catholic School and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guest book at cheneywitt.com.
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The First Glimpse by Patty LaRoche
The notice, slid under our hotel room door, warned of “gale-like winds” and imminent danger. We were to “stay tuned to the National Weather Advisory for updates.” I didn’t need the NWA. Opening my hotel balcony door was proof that 40-mph gusts were nothing to compete against. Palm trees curved instead of standing upright, and no one braved an early morning walk. In four hours, our son Andy would marry Kristen at a beach ceremony, the same beach that now fought to hold back a rising tide destined for surfers, not a bride and groom.
Months ago, Kristen and her mother traveled to Florida to choose the perfect spot on Marco Island for this destination wedding. December “never had” weather issues, so with no climate worries, the date was chosen and preparations began.
The morning of the wedding, the bride, her five bridesmaids, her mother and I met with the professional hair stylists and make-up artists. John, the wedding planner, periodically knocked on the door to plead with Kristen to move the event inside, fearing dishes and glasses at the reception would become projectiles if not anchored properly. Kristen’s dream always had been to have a beach wedding. Why should a baby hurricane mess up her plans?
Only when the rain came did John get his way. I’m sure there was no small, behind-the-scenes panic as flowery, altar backdrops and musical equipment was moved inside, chairs set up and hotel personnel assigned to redirect the guests. Still, Kristen insisted the “first-viewing” would be outside. At least she would have that part of her dream come true.
First-viewings are a relatively new concept. To prevent guests at the reception from waiting over an hour while post-ceremony photographs are taken, pictures now occur before the wedding. This, of course, prevents the groom from being dazzled when his lovely bride appears for the first time at the back of the church. To give the couple a semblance of that suspense, the groom’s back is turned until the bride walks up, taps him on the shoulder, and he pivots to see her for the first time. The moment is staged in precise detail by the photographer, but it is one that, in Andy and Kristen’s case, perfect strangers stopped to admire from the safety of the windowed corridor. The moment is tender and unforgettable.
As I watched, I couldn’t help but think of the “first viewing” we Christians will have when we one day meet Jesus face-to-face. Granted, details throughout Scripture are fuzzy, but I encourage you to read Acts 7 to get an idea of what it will be like. In this chapter, the Jewish leaders are stoning the apostle Stephen who has just blamed them for Jesus’ death. And he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”…And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
I don’t know if our “first viewing” with Jesus will be anything similar to Stephen’s, but if the tears I shed watching Andy being stunned by his bride’s radiance are any indication, Heaven better prepare for a gale-life storm when I see my Savior for the first time! Can you imagine seeing his nail-scarred wrists as he opens his arms to greet his bride? Now, that’s a wedding we don’t want to miss.
Obituary of Kathleen Marshall
Kathleen Denise Marshall, 55, of Fort Scott, passed away Saturday morning, December 29, 2018 at the Medicalodge Nursing Home. She was born January 13, 1963, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Melvin Lee and Shirley Dean (McCallum) Ransier. She married James Marshall February 7, 1994, and he survives of the home.
In addition to her husband Jim, Kathy is also survived by her four children; Kayla Reeves of Fort Scott, Kamisha Bassett, also of Fort Scott, Lee Reeves, of Pleasanton, Kansas, and Kalie Eastwood, of Fort Scott; four brothers, Robert McCallum of Pleasanton, Kansas, David Ransier, also of Pleasanton, Kansas, Ernest Ransier, of Kansas City, Kansas, and Billy Ransier, of Fort Scott; two sisters, Charlene Wynn, of Fort Scott, and Carol Hiel, also of Fort Scott; and eight grandchildren, Dalton Reeves, Elijah Bassett, Makiya Reeves, Audrey Reeves, Xzavier Brown, Norah Bassett, Fenton Reeves, and Allie Reeves.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and a sister, Mary Jane Ransier.
Following cremation, memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 4, 2019, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.
Interment will take place at a later date at the Trading Post Cemetery. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
Obituary of Carolyn Franklin
Carolyn Blanche Franklin, 63, of Fort Scott, passed away Saturday evening, December 29, 2018 at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. She was born April 11, 1955, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the daughter of James and LeOne Louise (McCreedy) Cullor. She married Richard Leon Franklin December 19, 1973 in Miami, Oklahoma. He preceded her in death March 20, 2009.
Carolyn is survived by her children, Jared Franklin, Josh Franklin, and Jessica Franklin, all of Fort Scott; a brother, James Cullor and wife Mary, of Woodland, California; a sister, Linda Cullor Smith and husband Bill, of Mission, Kansas; six grandchildren, Cameron, Courtland, Jayden, Tanis, Josiah, and Henley, and a great-grandchild on the way. In addition to her husband Richard, she was also preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 5, 2019, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home with burial following at the Memory Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday evening January 4, 2019, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Carolyn Franklin Memorial Fund 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.
Obituary of Edward Byerly
Edward Blair Byerley, 91, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2018, at Country Place Senior Living Center, Fort Scott, KS.
Ed was born in Mapleton, KS, on 20 April 1927. He was the only child of Blair D. “Sandy” Byerley and Myrtle P. Byerley (Brown). Ed graduated from Fulton H.S., KS, in 1945 and joined the U.S. Navy shortly thereafter.
Ed married Eva M. Byerley (White) on April 27, 1947. He worked his adult career for The Western Insurance Companies from September 1946 through 1986, supervising the computer room operations at the time of his retirement.
Ed and Eva moved from Fort Scott to Sun City West, AZ in the 1980s, where he enjoyed golf, bowling, and the warm weather.
Ed is survived by his wife, Eva, three sons, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
There was cremation. Memorial services will be announced at a future day by the Cheney Witt Chapel with burial at Fort Scott National Cemetery.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Dec. 28
Obituary of Ada Maxine Burnett
Ada Maxine Burnett, age 92, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Wednesday, December 26, 2018, at Guest Home Estates.
She was born January 25, 1926, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Ernest Goddard and Ruby Hazel Evans Goddard.
Maxine graduated from Richards, Missouri high school where she excelled at basketball.
She married Frederick Burnett, Sr. on October 16, 1944, in Ft. Scott. He preceded her in death.
Maxine retired from Key Industries after many years of service. She also took up babysitting and managed Acre U Storage for numerous years reaching past retirement at the age of 80.
She enjoyed bird watching, collecting Redbirds, jigsaw puzzles, word searches, quilting, and flower gardening. She would sew for anyone from measurements including no-scent fabric in hunting clothing and period clothing for Good O’l Days.
She was a very giving person, willing to help anyone in need. Maxine was a charter member of Westpark Church of the Nazarene. More recently she attended Community Christian Church.
Survivors include two sons, Fred Burnett and wife Janice, Greenfield, MO, and Tom Burnett and wife Norma Jean, Clinton, MO; a daughter, Marilyn McCutcheon, Ft. Scott; 14 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 27 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Ruby Katherine Wunderly; a great-great-grandson; 8 siblings; and her parents.
Pastor Paul Martin will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Saturday, December 29th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 9:00 AM until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to Mercy Hospice 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.
Obituary of Mark Lynn McDaniel
Mark Lynn McDaniel, age 51, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Sunday, December 23, 2018, at his home.
He was born December 28, 1966, in Ft. Scott, the son of Donald Lee McDaniel and Barbara Sue Wolfe McDaniel. He graduated from the Ft. Scott High School and later completed welding and truck driving courses at Ft. Scott Community College. He operated his own mechanic shop. He was an avid stock car racer and fan. He used his mechanical abilities to further his own racing career and was always willing to help his friends as well. He married Tammy Peacock on July 28, 2000, at Ft. Scott.
Survivors include his wife, Tammy, and his children, Derek Miner, of El Dorado Springs, Missouri, Brittani Ledbetter and Cody McDaniel, both of Springfield, Missouri and Kimberly Skaggs and Taylor Shook, both of Ft. Scott and nine grandchildren. Also surviving is his father, Don McDaniel, of Ft. Scott; three brothers, Randall McDaniel, of Carthage, Missouri, Rick McDaniel, of Ft. Scott and Ron McDaniel, of Pittsburg, Kansas and three sisters, Patricia Flanigan, of Carthage, and Jeanise Malone and Tanya Lockwood, both of Ft. Scott.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Barbara McDaniel.
Graveside services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, December 29th at the Evergreen Cemetery.
Family and friends may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery at 12:45 P.M.
Memorials are suggested to the Mark McDaniel Memorial Fund 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.
Obituary for Elvis “Sode” Myrle Reeder
Elvis “Sode” Myrle Reeder, age 87, of Bronson, KS, passed away peacefully into the arms of our Lord on Friday, December 21, 2018, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, MO, after a sudden illness.
Elvis was born January 31, 1931, in Uniontown, KS, the firstborn of three children to Eldon “Buzz” Delois Reeder and Hazel Levonia “Vone” (Shull) Reeder.
He was raised in the Uniontown and Bronson area on his family’s farm. His family lived in the area for several generations and Elvis worked on the family farm as well as for other farmers in the area as a young man while attending school. He graduated from Bronson High School, where he excelled in the sports he loved: football, basketball, track and boxing.
While attending high school, he met the love of his life, Geraldine “Geri” Patricia Wolford. Following graduation, they were married at the Bronson Methodist Church on July 16, 1950.
In 1952, he received his draft notification to report for induction into the United States Marine Corps for service in the Korean War. He proudly served his country for two years from 1952 through 1954, serving overseas in Korea.
He was honorably discharged following his service to his country and he and his wife Geri became an inseparable pair for the remainder of their 68-year marriage. To their union was born two sons, Elvis Erwin and Steven Wayne.
In the early days of their marriage, Elvis worked on the construction crews of Highway 54 near Bronson and in construction as Moran Grade School was being built. He then began work for the Bronson Grain Company where he was employed for 45 years. During his employment with Bronson Grain, Elvis also learned by correspondence course how to repair appliances and ran Reeder Appliance Repair. Not only did he repair appliances, but he did electrical work and repairs in the area as well. These things were all done in the small amount of time he had to spare while working for Bronson Grain, completely remodeling and nearly rebuilding his own home, raising a family and being active in community organizations.
Elvis was a 66-year member of Bourbon Masonic Lodge #268, having served in all or nearly every office and throughout that time made many friends and acquaintances. He was a 63-year member of the American Legion, first in Bronson and most recently in Moran, KS, having also served in many positions within. He was a faithful longtime member of the Bronson United Methodist Church, having served in many positions as well as maintaining the church building, church grounds and annex. Elvis was an active, longtime and faithful member of the Bronson Ruritan Club, serving in offices within the local organization, participating in each of the fundraising activities, working to maintain the local ball field as well as volunteering during events there. Elvis served on the Bronson Volunteer Fire Dept. in his earlier years and also served in elected Bronson city government positions.
He was fully committed to his hometown and believed in it and was a selfless volunteer, willing to help out anytime a neighbor or friend needed a hand. Elvis was known as an honest, hard worker, as someone who could repair or fix nearly anything, and a dependable man of his word. He was a man of few words, rather quiet and unassuming but never short on action.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing in his younger years as well as bowling with his fellow employees for Bronson Grain. Elvis also enjoyed raising a few calves a couple of times each year, had an immaculate and productive garden, loved working in and maintaining his yard and home, helping others, building, and woodworking. There was not a season that he didn’t enjoy just being outside.
More than anything, Elvis loved his dear wife Geri, his family, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He looked forward to each and every time he got to speak with them or see them. The great-grandchildren dearly loved the times that “Granddad” would take them on rides in the old gas-powered golf cart. Each will remember the ways in which he loved them with his kind but ornery smile and the ways in which he would tease them in a loving way.
Elvis was preceded in death by his parents Eldon and Vone; a son Elvis Erwin; and brother Lynn.
Elvis is survived by his wife, Geraldine “Geri”, of the home; son Steve and wife Betty of Carl Junction, MO; granddaughter Sonia and husband Paul Jones of Garnett, KS; granddaughter Andrea and husband Mike Page of College Grove, TN; grandson Bill Reeder of Garnett; grandson Todd Reeder and wife Ashley of Smyrna, TN; granddaughter Kattia Andrews of Iola, KS; grandson Zach Andrews, currently serving in the U.S. Navy; sister Maxine Kruse of Cape Coral, FL; ten great-grandchildren: Sophia, Gavin, McKenzy, Cooper, Wyatt, Madison, Abigail, Corban, Brynnlee and Braxten; beloved nieces and nephews; many other beloved family and friends.
Rev. Jim Stigall will conduct memorial services on Sunday, January 6, at 3:00 PM, at the Bronson United Methodist Church.
Private burial of cremains will take place at a later date in Bronson Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Bronson United Methodist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Obituary of Tom Lawrence
Tom (Moose) Lawrence, age 58, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Friday, December 21, 2018, at the Mercy Hospital Emergency Room.
He was born July 20, 1960, in Ft. Scott, the son of Lloyd D. Lawrence and Shirley J. Sears Lawrence. He graduated from Fort Scott High School with the class of 1978. Tom excelled in both football and track and field, and still holds the school record in the shot put. He also broke numerous Junior Olympic records.
He married Norma Williams on July 8, 1989, in Ft. Scott. Norma was the love of his life. Together they did everything, especially enjoying traveling. Tom was a dedicated worker for Extrusions in Ft. Scott for over 26 years. He was always willing and able to accomplish anything needed.
Tom enjoyed woodworking, golfing, arcade games and was a KC Chiefs and Royals fan. He was a loyal FSHS athletic event attendee, especially football. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and family.
Survivors include his wife Norma and their grandson Brayden of the home; a sister, Cindy O’Rear, Ft. Scott; two brothers, Larry Lawrence and Terry Lawrence and wife Linda, all of Ft. Scott; sons Brad Peterson and wife Crystal, Joplin, MO, and Cody Lawrence and wife Rebecca, Oronogo, MO; a daughter, Kortney McGehee and husband Alex, Ft. Scott; grandchildren Bailey Peterson, Tyler Bradley, Zoey Lawrence, Lexi Lawrence, Kaylynn McGehee, and Jaxson McGehee; and six nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Robert and Kathy Clark will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Friday, December 28th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Thursday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the FSHS Athletic Department 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.