Danny Lee Hall, age 72, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at the Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.  He was born November 3, 1952, in Ft. Scott, the son of Forrest Elvin “Slim” Hall and Betty Jean Wratchford Hall.

Danny was disabled since birth, and his life revolved around time spent at home with his mom and dad.  To occupy his time, Danny enjoyed listening to and recording country music as well as playing video games.  On nice days, he enjoyed walking around the Horton Street neighborhood.

He was a great fan of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Following his mother’s death in 2023, Danny moved to the Ft. Scott Medicalodge.  The staff and other residents became his second family.  He enjoyed all the activities, especially Bingo.

Survivors include an uncle, Cletis Hall, of Ft. Scott and two aunts, Wilma Wilson, also of Ft. Scott and Marilyn Hall of Dadeville, Missouri as well as several cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Slim and Betty Hall.

Rev. Paul Rooks will conduct funeral services at 1:00 P.M. Monday, February 24^th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Private burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Medicalodge Activity 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.

Patricia Margaret “Trish” Scott, age 63, resident of Fort Scott, KS passed away Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg, KS.  She was born January 12, 1962, in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of John Andrew Cleary and Catherine Horne Cleary.  Trish worked for Tri-Vally for several years prior to her disability.  In her younger years, she enjoyed deep sea fishing.  She would regularly welcome neighborhood kids for meals.  Trish liked animals especially dogs.  She loved spending time with her family.

Survivors include her companion of 21 years, Robert Jones; her children, Frank Scott (Caitlyn) Fort Scott, Kym Drum (Shawn) Elmira, NY, and Kenny Patrick, Leavenworth, KS; a brother, John Cleary (Despina); grandchildren A.J. Drum, Kaisley Scott, and two more on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by 2 sisters, Susan Fischer and Catherine Yuster; and her parents.

There was cremation.

Memorial services are scheduled for 10:00 AM Friday, February 28th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Trish Scott Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.

Penelope Sue Reasoner, age 73, resident of Fort Scott, KS passed away Monday, February 17, 2025, at Research Medical Center, Kansas City, MO. She was born on December 23, 1951, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Eugene and Grace Berniece Pottorff Coombs. She attended early school years in St. Paul, KS. Sue graduated from Fort Scott High School with the class of 1970. She married Randy Reasoner on August 17, 1979, in Miami, OK. Sue worked multiple jobs throughout her career including Mercy Hospital, Tri-Valley, Walmart, and Dollar General. She enjoyed different crafts including quilting and diamond art. Sue liked to visit Branson, MO regularly. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband Randy of the home; a son, Tim Ames (Chris), Bronson, KS; 2 daughters, Dolly Russell (Chad), Fort Scott, and Molly Giltner (Noah) Abilene, TX; 3 brothers, Paul Hawkins (Connie) Carterville, MO, Hugh “Leo” Hawkins (Brenda) Kearney, MO, and Mike Hawkins (Wanda) Kansas City, MO; 14 grandchildren, Tater Ames, Dawson Russell, Jodee Russell, Cameron Haviland, Hunter Russell, Mackynzee Russell, Rayleea Russell, Zandon Russell, Joseph Wunderly, Amber Johnson, Kincaid Hurst, Issac Hurst, Meda Hurst, and Trinity Giltner; 8 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Melisa Wunderly; a sister, Carol Hull; 3 brothers, Jerry “Butch”, Gary, and Larry Coombs; and her parents.

Rev. Kevin Moyers will conduct funeral services at 11:30 AM Tuesday, February 25th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:30 until service time Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to help with animal care at either Mill Creek Veterinary Clinic or Animal Care Center and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.

Charles Robert (Chuck) Smith of Kansas City, Missouri passed away at Research Hospital on Tuesday 2/18/25 after a brief illness. Charles was born on 8/8/1965 to Gerald (Firpo) and Patricia Smith.  Chuck grew up in Fort Scott, Kansas and graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1983.  During his high school days, he played football and basketball. After graduation Chuck attended Pittsburg State University and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, Chuck graduated PSU in 1988 with a degree in business.

Chuck moved to Newport Beach, CA after college and was employed at ITT Commercial Finance.  During his time with ITT, he also attended The University of Southern California and earned his MBA degree, this accomplishment was his pride and joy!  Chuck sported many shirts with the USC logo!

After many years in California, Chuck moved back to Fort Scott to take care of his mother Pat.  Chuck was a very dedicated caregiver to his mother for many years until her passing.  After his mother’s passing, he moved to KCMO where he resided until his passing.

While taking care of his mother, Chuck spearheaded the drive to get dialysis in Fort Scott.  Pat and Chuck made many trips to Pittsburg in order for her to receive the treatment she needed.

Chuck was an avid KC Chiefs and Royals fan, as well as KU and PSU. You could find him sporting his Chiefs jerseys every Sunday. Chuck loved Chicken Annie’s restaurant and always made a point to go anytime he was in the area. He spent many hours researching our family in his spare time and became the family historian. Chuck set up a family tree on Ancestry.com with many pictures from years back.

No matter if it was a family reunion or class reunion, Chuck always attended and made many memories with everyone.

Charles Robert Smith was preceded in death by his parents, Gerald (Firpo) and Patricia Smith, many aunts and uncles as well as cousins.

There was cremation.  There will be a celebration of life at a later date.  Memorials are suggested to the Charles Smith Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.

Opal Maxine Hunziker, age 84, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, died unexpectedly Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at her home.  She was born July 29, 1940, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Leland Christy and Eileen Colvin Christy.  Maxine graduated from the Uniontown High School.  She married Donald Glen Hunziker in 1957.  Maxine worked as a bookkeeper for Tower Metal for several years.  She also kept the books for her family’s drilling and restaurant businesses, Max’s Enterprises and Max’s Way Station.  She enjoyed reading and crocheting.  She was also an accomplished seamstress and made many outfits for her grandchildren.  Maxine loved sports and was a great fan of the Dallas Cowboys and the KU Jayhawks.  She also faithfully attended her grandchildren’s sporting events.  Maxine loved time spent outdoors working in her yard and watching and feeding the birds and squirrels.  She was currently attending the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.

Survivors include her son, David Hunziker of Kansas City, Missouri, thirteen grandchildren and several great and grandchildren.  Also surviving are a son-in-law, Dwight Belcher, a daughter-in-law, Carol Hunziker both of Ft. Scott and two brothers, Gene Christy of Girard, Kansas and Sam Christy of Poplar Bluff, Missouri.  Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Don, a daughter, Christie Belcher, a son, Doug Hunziker, a grandson, Drew Pelzer and two great-grandchildren, Noel Belcher and Tyler Claypool.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, February 21^st at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery.  The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Hospital 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.

Opal Maxine Hunziker, age 84, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, died unexpectedly Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at her home.  She was born July 29, 1940, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Leland Christy and Eileen Colvin Christy.  Maxine graduated from the Uniontown High School.  She married Donald Glen Hunziker in 1957.

Maxine worked as a bookkeeper for Tower Metal for several years.  She also kept the books for her family’s drilling and restaurant businesses, Max’s Enterprises and Max’s Weigh Station.  She enjoyed reading and crocheting.  She was also and accomplished seamstress and made many outfits for her grandchildren.  Maxine loved sports and was a great fan of the Dallas Cowboys and the KU Jayhawks.  She also faithfully attended her grandchildren’s sporting events.  Maxine loved time spent outdoors working in her yard and watching and feeding the birds and squirrels.  She was currently attending the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.

Survivors include her son, David Hunziker of Kansas City, Missouri, thirteen grandchildren and several great and great-grandchildren.  Also surviving are a son-in-law, Dwight Belcher, a daughter-in-law, Carol Hunziker both of Ft. Scott and two brothers, Gene Christy of Girard, Kansas and Sam Christy of Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Don, a daughter, Christie Belcher, a son, Doug Hunziker, a grandson, Drew Pelzer and two great-grandchildren, Noel Belcher and Tyler Claypool.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, February 19^th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Hospital 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.

Jean Russell, age 74, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Saturday, February 8, 2025, at her home.  Leota Jean Russell was born September 9, 1950, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Charles Gruver and Doris Hillman Gruver.  Jean’s father passed away when she was very young and she was raised by her mother and stepfather, Floyd Camp.

Jean graduated from the Shawnee Mission West High School with the Class of 1968.  She married Wayne Russell on August 17, 1968, in Lenexa, Kansas.  Jean and Wayne lived most of their married life in Easton, Kansas.  Jean was employed as a management analyst for the United States Government based out of Ft. Leavenworth.  Following retirement, Jean and Wayne returned to Ft. Scott.

In her spare time, Jean enjoyed reading and coloring.  She also loved to crochet.  The many blankets she made for her children and grandchildren are cherished heirlooms.

Jean is survived by her husband of fifty-six years, Wayne Russell of the home; four children, Angela Mishler of Ft. Scott, Wayne “Tony” Russell (Dawn) of Easton, Kansas, Cindy Russell of Ft. Scott and Jesse Russell (Angie) of Liberty, Missouri; eight grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren with one more on the way.  Also surviving is a brother, Charles Gruver.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Cheryl and Beth.

Rev. Connie Edgerton will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Friday, February 14^th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the St. Michael’s Cemetery in Fulton, Kansas.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel

Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital 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.

Gordon Leon Phillips, age 67, recently of Englewood, Colorado, passed away peacefully in his sleep while at home on Sunday, February 2, 2025.

Gordon was born August 28, 1957, in Fort Scott Kansas, the son of Thomas E Phillips and Josephine Marie(nee McDaniel) Phillips.

Gordon worked as a mechanic for various businesses throughout his career.

He was a graduate of the Fort Scott Senior High, class of 1975.
He had a passion for music and played several types of guitars. He also had a passion for gardening and cooking, often sharing his garden harvests and food creations with his neighbors and friends.

Gordon is survived by his eldest daughter, Heather Phillips, a son Robert Phillips, a daughter Nicole Phillips Sweat, a son Adam Phillips, grandchildren are Shyanne, Skylar, Shane, Shelby, Cody, Mindy, Kaden, Jase, and great-grandchildren Trinity, Gabriel, Raelynn, and twins Brantley and Lilyana.

He is also survived by several cousins, friends, and his dog Chico.

He was preceded in death by his mother and his father, a brother Thomas Phillips Jr., half-brothers James and Robert Hughes, and a half-sister Nancy Hughes Wells.

He was a baptized Christian.

There are no services planned. His final resting place will be chosen at a later date.

Tammy Marie Gode, age 49, a resident of Fulton, Kansas, passed away early Tuesday morning, January 21, 2025, at her home. She was better known by Kansas relatives as Marie, to California relatives as Tammy, and to her grandchildren as Grandi.

Marie was born on July 23, 1975, in California and is the daughter of Paula Snavely (nee Adams). Paula and her daughter Marie moved to Fort Scott, Kansas, in the early 90’s, where Marie became a mother several years later at age 23, to her daughter Danielle.

She is survived by her mother, daughter, her grandchildren, her spouse, two younger siblings – a brother and sister, and several nephews and a niece. Marie was preceded in death by her grandparents, and several other beloved family members.

Following cremation, friends, family, and community members are invited to a Celebration of Life service at 1:00 p.m. on March 1, 2025, at Gunn Park, Shelter House No. 6. A private burial will take place at a later date at the Oak Grove Cemetery. Services are under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.

Linda Caroline Defebaugh, age 80, resident of Nevada, MO died Monday, February 3, 2025, at the Nevada Regional Medical Center.  She was born June 28, 1944, in Fort Scott, KS the daughter of Wilbur and Hattie Frances Leonard.  Linda married the love of her life, Glen A. Defebaugh, on September 3, 1961, in Fort Scott.  He preceded her in death on January 17, 2019.  She lovingly supported Glen through his college studies to become a chiropractor.  Upon establishing his practice in Fort Scott, they worked together for 35 years until retirement.

Linda was always supporting her kids and grandkids with all their activities.  She loved cooking for them, especially her meatballs and pies.

She enjoyed playing cards, mowing the grass, driving to destinations and the casino on occasion.  Linda always had a project going, especially when Glen was away on a fishing trip.  She would constantly give items away if someone expressed a need.

Survivors include her five children, Teresa Ivey (John), Wichita, KS, Cheryl Eason (Curt), Eldorado Springs, MO, Brian Defebaugh (Shelby), Nevada, MO, David Defebaugh (Michelle), Fort Scott, KS, and Doug Defebaugh (Tonya), Fort Scott, KS; 3 sisters, Frances Brown, Shawnee, KS, Wanda Leonard, Pittsburg, KS, and Jeannie Wild, Broken Arrow, OK; 16 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by 4 brothers, Warren, Hubert, Edwin, and Larry Leonard; 4 sisters, infant Mary Leonard, Bernice Clame, Nadene Wurtz, and Wanita Monroe; and her parents.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct memorial services at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 8^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Interment will follow in the Deerfield Cemetery.

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

Memorials are suggested to either St. Jude’s Hospital or Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.

Lisa Jayne Coyan, age 55, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Saturday, February 1, 2025, at the Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. She was born January 2, 1970, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Gerald Beerbower and Jo Ann McCracken. Lisa married Timothy L. Coyan on August 3, 2011, at Ft. Scott.

Lisa had worked as a cook at various restaurants and had also worked in housekeeping at the Ft. Scott Inn. Lisa enjoyed art and graphic design. She was also an avid fan of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Survivors include her husband, Tim, of Ft. Scott; three sons, Kenny Withers, William Hubbard and Jason Hubbard and special neighbors, Aaron and Andy Cowlishaw. Also surviving are five brothers, Scott Beerbower, Christopher Thurston, Dearl Stufflebeam, Flint Roufs and Aaron Roufs and two sisters, Chanel Thrush and Jeanette Sisseck.

Lisa was preceded in death by her parents, Gerald Beerbower and Jo Ann Roufs.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Lisa Coyan 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.