Douglas Duane “Big Doug” Bower, age 47, a resident of rural Deerfield, Missouri, left this earth for a better place on the other side, Saturday, May 26, 2018, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

He was born November 5, 1970, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the son of John Henry Bower and Amelia Elizabeth Jones Bower. Doug graduated from Nevada High School. He had been employed by Ward-Kraft and later for the Deerfield Conoco Station. Doug enjoyed nature. He liked hiking and camping and spending time with his family and friends.

Survivors include his parents, John and Amelia Bower, of Deerfield; a sister, Jill Love and husband, Ron, of Deerfield; three brothers, Rick Jones, of Ft. Scott, Jason Bower and wife, Thabena, of Deerfield, and Tony Bower of Clarksville, Tennessee. Also surviving are nieces, Jessica Bower, of Fresno, California, Rebecca Bower, of Clarksville, Tennessee, Alyson Love, of Deerfield, Micala and Preslee Bower, also of Deerfield, Kendria Brown and husband, Jerome, of Norcross, Georgia and Haley Jones of Ft. Scott; and nephews, Josh Jones and wife, Karen, of Ft. Scott, Dustin Jones and wife, Tabitha of Jacksonville, Florida and Quentin, Gavin and Evan Love of Deerfield; six great-nieces, four great-nephews and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Also surviving are his beloved dogs, Dapper Dan and Pete who were like his children.

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

Private burial will follow at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to Lee’s Paws & Claws 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.

Alice B. Ramsey, 86, formerly of Uniontown, KS, passed away May 26, 2018, at Country Place Living in Fort Scott, KS.

She was born March 7, 1932, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Glen and Grace (Konantz) Griffith of Uniontown.

Alice married Ed L. Ramsey in Uniontown, May 26, 1951. After 2 years in the US Air Force, they made their home on a farm north of Uniontown. He preceded her in death Feb 28, 2001.

She began part time employment at the Farmer’s Coop in Uniontown in the late 60’s. In 1971 she started working for Union State Bank and retired in March 1997, after 26 years.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Uniontown, serving as treasurer many of those years. After moving to Fort Scott, she transferred her membership to the First United Methodist Church.  Alice loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, serving Him daily.

She enjoyed playing cards with her Uniontown friends and attending sports activities to watch her grandchildren play. Alice served with the Ladies Auxiliary of Mercy Hospital.

Surviving are her four children, Gayle and husband Jim Sackett, Linda and husband Harold Rogers, Curtis and wife Darla Ramsey, all of Fort Scott, and Michael and wife Vicky Ramsey of Olathe, KS. Also surviving is her sister-in-law, Lucille Griffith, Fort Scott.

She is loved by her grandchildren Sam and Sarah Sackett, Christy (Sackett) and Nathan Bukowski, Joey and Michelle Sackett, Katya and Anya Sackett, Austin and Andrew Rogers, Melissa (Rogers) and Jonathan Carter, Megan (Rogers) and Matt Lamb, Trent and Emily Ramsey, Ryan and Sonya Ramsey, Monica Ramsey, Derek and Elise Ramsey, and Amber Ramsey.

She also has 17 great grandchildren.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers Charles Griffith, Uniontown, Henry Griffith and wife Dorothy, Topeka, and sisters Betty and husband Bill Perry, Montana, and Lois and husband John Clark, Shawnee Mission, KS.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, May 31 at the Community Christian Church.

The family will receive visitors one hour before the service. A private interment of her ashes will be in the Uniontown Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Blackboxinternational.org, a faith-based, Christ-centered, not-for-profit organization that exists to holistically rehabilitate sex-trafficked boys age 16 and under. They provide a critical aftercare component for rescued boys to help them find healing from their past, joy in the present, and purpose for their future.  Alice’s grandson, Andrew Rogers, is currently interning with this organization in the Dominican Republic.

Donations may be made directly to Community Christian Church or left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Kayden Blaes Samyn, age 11, Mound City, Kansas passed away on Sunday, May 20, 2018, as the result of an accident.

He was born at Olathe, Kansas on July 14, 2006, the son of Dale Samyn and Karrie Ortman Barnes. He was a student at Jayhawk Elementary School.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather Jess Ortman.

Kayden is survived by his parents, four brothers: Freddie Barnes, Ethan Wettstein, Miles and Landyn Samyn, three sisters: Jessica Ortman, Alyssa and Kelsie Nelson, maternal grandmother, Jessie Ortman, paternal grandparent Edward and Debbie Samyn and seven nieces and nephews: Andrew, Camdyn, Aunika, Tristan, Fynleigh, Rowan, and Daniel.

Funeral service will be 10:30 am Saturday, May 26, 2018, at the Mound City First Baptist Church.

Burial will be in the Curry Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm Friday at the Church.

Contributions are suggested to Kayden”s Memorial and can be sent to the Farmers State, P.O. Box 158, Blue Mound, KS 66010 or Schneider Funeral Home, P.O. Box J, Mound City, KS 66056. Online condolences for the family can be left at www.schneiderfuenrals.com. Arrangements: Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Mound City Chapel.

Shirley Mae Wescoat, 85, of Fort Scott passed away Friday morning, May 11, 2018, at Cavalry Crossing in Fort Scott, Kansas.

She was born December 28, 1932, in Parkersburg, West Virginia the daughter of Clair John and Sarah Inez (Vance) Butcher.

She married Herbert Jacob “Jake” Wescoat February 17, 1951, in Sacramento, California. He preceded her in death on September 2, 2000.

Survivors include her children, Gary Wescoat and wife Susan, of Fort Scott, Dorothea Sipe, of Topeka, Kansas, Carol Lathem and husband Lawrence, of Durant, Oklahoma, and Sandra Gates of Fort Scott; a brother, Clifton Butcher, of Parkersburg, West Virginia; eight grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. In addition to her husband Jake, Shirley was also preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Lois Claar, and a brother, Gene Butcher.

Following cremation, memorial services were held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 17, 2018, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, with interment following at the US National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to Care to Share or Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall 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.

Glen Eldon Dyer, age 96, resident of Clarksville, TN, went to be with the Lord on May 14, 2018, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center after a brief illness. Pastor Larry Stevicks will conduct graveside services at 11:00 Monday, May 21^st, in the U. S. National Cemetery.  Military honors will be provided by the U. S. Marine Honor Guard.  Local services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.

Alvin Wayne Metcalf, age 71, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Wednesday, May 16, 2018. He was born September 8, 1946, in Ft. Scott, the son of Wayne and Ellen Schubert Metcalf.

He graduated from Fort Scott high school with the class of 1964. He married Linda Lee Cox on November 10, 1964, in Ft. Scott.

Alvin served in the U. S. Army in Vietnam as Specialist 4th Class. He worked most of his career as a firefighter, retiring as Captain of the South Johnson County Fire Department.

He enjoyed coon hunting and raising greyhounds. He traded guns, knives, and dogs. He also drove the team bus for many out of town high school games.

Alvin was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his wife Linda of the home; a daughter, Kristen Metcalf, Lawrence, KS; a son, Clint Metcalf and wife Taira, Lawrence, KS; five grandchildren, Joseph Berkey, Keenan and Halle Gregory, and Amelia and Landon Metcalf; three great grandchildren, Emerald, Etain, and Eislin Berkey; two brothers, Delbert Metcalf, Ft. Scott, and Mike Metcalf and wife Debbie, Nevada, MO; a sister, Shirley Moberg and husband Henry, Melrude, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two grandsons, Kyle and Ian; and his parents.

There was cremation. Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct memorial services at 12:30 PM Friday, May 25th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the U. S. Army Honor Guard. The family will receive friends from 11:30 AM Friday prior to the service. Memorial contributions are suggested to the KU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or Lees Paws and Claws and may be left 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.

Carol Louise (Meme) Welch, age 77, a former resident of Fort Scott, and more recently of Overland Park, Kansas, died Sunday, April 29, 2018 at St. Luke’s South Hospital. 

She was born December 14, 1940, in Fort Scott, Kansas the daughter of Victor Carpenter and Lucille Willey Carpenter. 

Carol was a 1958 graduate of Fort Scott High School.  She attended Pittsburg State College.  She was previously employed by American States Insurance in Overland Park. 

She married Denny O. D. Welch Jr. on August 29, 1987, in Overland Park. 

Her joy was spending time with grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Denny O.D. (Papa) Welch; five sons, O. D. Welch III  and wife Melody, Chet Shellenberger, Stephen Shellenberger and wife Chris, Chuck Welch and wife Elizabeth, and Daniel Shellenberger; one daughter, Karin Shellenberger.  Also surviving are fourteen grandchildren; Lacey, Joseph, Lauren, Taylor, Kelsea, Phillip, Emma, Ashlyn, Victoria, Peyton, Charles, Meghan, Gabriel, and Oliver. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and a grandson, CPL Nicholas Gomez.

Following cremation, memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 5^th, in the Cheney Witt Chapel. 

The family will receive friends from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the Chapel.  Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warriors project and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com