Helen Irene Carson passed away from life on this earth to her eternal home with Jesus on Sunday, April 16, 2023.  Helen was born August 2, 1932, to Earl and Lillian Reynolds in Fort Scott, KS.

She grew up in Fort Scott and married Kenneth Carson on November 21, 1951. They moved away for a time but returned to Fort Scott in 1979. Kenneth preceded Helen in death in 1984. Before Kenneth’s passing, Helen started and ran her own business, Helen’s Hilltop Fabrics, from her home just north of town to support her family.

In 2007, she moved to Missouri to live near her daughter, son in-law and grandson. She never thought she would live in Fort Scott again. Then, much to her own surprise, she decided to move back in May 2020 when her granddaughter and family moved to town.

She thrived the last 3 years of her life and enjoyed sharing the town with her family, taking care of some of her great grandkids, serving at her church, hosting visitors, and having fun with her girlfriends. In her family, Helen was the keeper of memories from this place, and she had an abundance of stories to tell of it. She loved it when her grandkids would come to visit, and she could drive them around sharing all her memories and the history of this town.

Helen was an only child and only grandchild, but from her life and love she grew a family of 3 children, 13 grandchildren, and 29 great grandchildren. Her cup truly did runneth over with blessing and many have been greatly blessed by her as well. She was a loving, strong, hardworking mother and grandmother. She was a kind and generous Mema to her great grandchildren.  She was a faithful friend and a devoted servant to her town and church.  Helen loved the Lord with all her heart and faithfully came to Him every day in prayer for her family and friends. More than anything she wanted them to know the love of God as she did.

Helen is survived by her children, Kenna & Drew Davis of Ozark, MO, Mimi & Mike Ross of Fort Scott, KS, and Andy & Denise Carson of Portland, OR. Also, by her grandchildren; Shannon & Del Wales, Kelly & Scott Evans, Krista & Matt Park, Luke Ross, Eric & Christmas Davis, Kayla & Ronnie Hardt, Carson & Ligia Davis, Chelsea & Kyle Marshall, Heather & Alex Cuilty, Sam Carson, Melynda & Harrison Schober, Dirk & Ella Davis, and Holly Carson. As well as her many great grandchildren.

Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct funeral services at 11:00 AM Wednesday, April 19^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until service time Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Community Christian Church Youth Building Fund 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 guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Cecil Lee Miller, age 86, a resident of rural Ft. Scott, Kansas passed away at his home on April 15, 2023.

Cecil was born the third child of Cleo Ambrose and Lela Darlene (Maley) Miller on a farm northwest of Neosho Falls, Kansas on April 2, 1937.The first few years of his life he lived on different farms in and around Neosho Falls, Geneva, and Vernon, Kansas.

His first four years of education were spent in country schools. When his father got a job with the Santa Fe railroad they moved to Colony, Kansas. There he lived until he graduated high school in 1955. Jobs were scarce, so on February 2, 1956, he joined the Air Force. Cecil took his basic training at Parks Air Force Base in California.

When he returned from basic training in May of 1956, he married Ethel LaMoine (Durbin) Lathrom at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Chanute Kansas on May 12, 1956.

In February 1960, he was discharged from the Air Force and the family moved back to Chanute, Kansas. He worked at the Burlington Overall factory until he took a job working for Churchill pumping units. In February of 1968, he went to work for the Boilermakers local 83, building and repairing coal fired and nuclear-powered generating plants for electricity. He worked there until he retired because of his heart in May of 1994. Cecil enjoyed dancing, fishing, buying and selling old cars, going to auctions, and tinkering around the farm. He was blessed with a wonderful wife for 57 years.

Survivors include four sons Stephen Miller and wife Robin of Fort Scott, Kansas,  David Miller and wife Jodie of Boxelder, South Dakota, Jeff Miller and wife Lisa of Parker, Kansas Ron Miller of Nevada, Missouri. Also surviving are a brother Gerald Miller and wife Audrey of Topeka, Kansas. 16 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cecil was preceded in death by his wife Ethel and son Larry, two brothers, Cleo Richard Miller, and Leo Dean Miller, three sisters Clara Mae (Miller) Harris Charlene  Mane Miller and Cleta Rosemary Miller. Cecil was also preceded by his parents Cleo Ambrose Miller and Lela Darlene (Maley) Miller.

There was cremation.  A graveside service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, April 28th at the St. Michael’s Cemetery in Fulton, Kansas.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday April 27th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Memorials are suggested to Integrity Hospice or Care to Share 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.

Steven Ray Smith, age 77, of Pittsburg, Kansas, passed away on Monday. April 10, 2023, after a long battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.  He was a devoted Christian, husband, father, and grandfather.

Steve was born on April 17, 1945, in Pittsburg, to Gene and Helen Moody Smith. He attended Pittsburg schools, and graduated with Pittsburg High School’s class of 1963.  Following high school, he served his Country in the U.S. Army National Guard.

He married Karen Wilson of Fort Scott, Kansas, on April 30, 1980. After 43 years of devoted marriage, Karen survives of the home. Steve and Karen faithfully attended and supported the Pittsburg Church of the Nazarene.

Steve worked for Pittcraft Printing in Pittsburg, and at SeKan Printing in Fort Scott, along with Karen. Following their retirement, Steve and Karen enjoyed many happy years together.

Steve was an honest, honorable, and dependable community citizen, striving to lead by example as a positive role model for family and friends. While friendly to all, he had a quiet demeanor and a dry sense of humor, and was known for his funny stories.  A compassionate animal lover, Steve had several special pet dogs in his lifetime – most recently a beloved, yet spoiled, beagle named Maggie, who passed away last year.

Steve was also an auto enthusiast.  He took great pride in the meticulous maintenance and detailing of his ever-evolving fleet of cars and trucks, keeping them in pristine condition.  A light rain shower that ruined a fresh wax job would send shivers down his spine.  Some joked that Steve would nearly buff the paint off of his vehicles in his efforts to keep them looking showroom-perfect.

In addition to his wife, Karen, Steve is survived by a son Scott Smith (Gabriel Wiggins) of Albuquerque, NM, a daughter, Candice Bland (Kyle) of El Dorado Springs, MO, and grandchildren Jacob and Jeremey Smith and Camille Bland. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gene and Helen Smith and his grandparents, Gene and Helen Moody.

Steve and his family have been thankful for the doctors, caregivers, church, and community members who have provided comfort and support through medical treatments, therapy, and prayers over the past several years.

A service to honor Steve Smith’s memory will be held Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 10:00 AM at PittNaz Church, 816 E. Quincy Street in Pittsburg. Burial will follow in the Highland Park Cemetery in Pittsburg. Memorials are suggested to the SEK Humane Society 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 Guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

James “Jerry” Henry Lyons, 90, passed away at his home in Fulton, Kansas, on February 8, 2021. He was born on August 16, 1930, in Fulton, Kansas, the son of Luther Byron Lyons and Lucy Christine (Leitch) Lyons. He married Beverly Ann Kluge on June 27, 1964, in Joplin, Missouri. She preceded him in death on December 15, 2006.

Jerry graduated from Fulton High School and Pittsburg State University with a bachelor’s degree. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea from May 1, 1951, until April 22, 1953, and was decorated with the Korean Service Medal w/one Bronze Service Star plus the United Nations Service Medal. After Korea, Jerry joined the Army National Guard where he completed flight training in the L19 and then helicopters. He completed his military service with the guard as a Captain.  He met his future wife Beverly in the laboratory where he was working as a Medical Technologist (Med Tech) at General Hospital in Kansas City.  Once Beverly had completed her   Med Tech training, they both moved to Springfield together where they worked for seven years.  Beverly worked at St John’s Hospital and Jerry worked in bacteriology at the state veterinary diagnostic laboratory.  During his time away from Southeast Kansas, Jerry’s dream was to always move back to farm in the Fulton area.  That dream was finally realized when Jerry and Beverly moved to the 320-acre farm just west of Fulton, they had purchased from Jerry’s parents in 1969.  Their daughter Belinda was 7 months old when they moved into the house that Beverly’s parents helped them build.

Beverly was born in northeast Oklahoma on April 1^st, 1938.  She grew up on a 160-acre farm in northeast Oklahoma located just a few miles from where Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri join.  She helped her parents and siblings raise tomatoes that her dad sold to local grocery stores in Joplin, Galena and Baxter Springs.  She was a graduate of Joplin Junior College and the University of Missouri, earning a BA in Creative Writing.  After she determined that writing would not support her, she took an extra year of science courses to become a Registered Medical Technologist.  In the Ft Scott area, she worked for Mercy Health Systems until she retired after 31 years.  She put her creative writing skills to good use as she was an active member of the Fort Scott Writer’s Club and the Kansas Author’s Club, winning many state level awards for her writings.  She also was a favorite local writer as she published many of her works in the Ft Scott Tribune over the years.  Beverly loved flowers and gardening and graduated from two Master Gardener Programs offered in Nevada and Pittsburg.  She was a member of both the Missouri and Kansas Master Gardeners, the Ft Scott Garden Club and Kansas Native Plant Society.  She absolutely loved to write, garden, bird-watch, star watch and be in nature.  She often volunteered with the Master Gardening Club, and at Country View Nursing Home in Prescott, Kansas.

Always dedicated to farm conservation, Jerry along with his wife Beverly worked tirelessly to control the travel of topsoil from their farm.  Jerry had waterways and terraces built and monitored every inch of soil on their farm.  They were rewarded for these efforts with two Bourbon County Conservation awards over their lifetime of farming.  This was perhaps their proudest achievement.

Jerry and Beverly are survived by a daughter, Belinda Marie (Lyons) Zeitouni and her husband David, of Redmond, Washington; and two grandchildren, Rebecca “Becky” and Daniel.

Following cremation, Jerry and Beverly are being interred together at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, April 13, 2023, at the Fort Scott National Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Military honors will be presented at the cemetery by the United States Army Funeral Honors Detail. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

John William Page, age 71, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Friday, April 7, 2023, at his home.  He was born April 27, 1951, in Fort Scott, the son of Chris and Clara Chaplin Page.  Following high school, John served in the U. S. Navy.  He married Erlinda Llanita on April 16, 1973, in the Philippines.  John worked most of his life as a diesel mechanic in the farming industry.  He enjoyed riding and breaking horses, fishing, mechanical and bulldozing work, and anything outdoors.  He loved spending time with his family, especially the grandchildren.  He was a great husband, father, and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife Erlinda of the home; 2 daughters, Christan Page (Gage Brooks), Fort Scott, and Joy Kuns (Robert) Bronson, KS; 6 grandchildren, Ashton Anderson, Jazlynne Anderson, Haddlen Brooks, Madalynn Brooks, Avery Kuns, and Adeline Kuns; and 3 brothers, Carl Joe Page (Vicky), Jerry Lee Page (Leanna), and Gary Ray Page.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, April 12^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Hepler Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until service time Wednesday at the funeral home

.  Memorials are suggested to the John Page memorial fund 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 guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Richard L. “Rick” Nation, age 54, resident of Fort Scott, Kansas died Wednesday April 5, 2023, at Menorah Medical Center, Overland Park, Kansas after a lengthy battle with cancer. Rick was born in Fort Scott, Kansas to LD and Ruth Nation. He attended grade school at Mound City and Miami R-1 and graduated from Jayhawk Linn in 1987. He married Lisa Weddle in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 7th, 1997. Rick was an owner/operator of his dump truck for 15 years and then went to work for Union Pacific Railroad until the time of his passing. He was a man of many talents and could build anything from the ground up. We were truly blessed with a wonderful man that gave us the world.

Survivors of the home are wife Lisa, daughters Isabella, and Leah, and best furry companion Annie; parents LD and Ruth Nation, Butler Missouri; brothers Brent (Billie) of Hereford, Texas, Craig (Nikki) of Rich Hill, Missouri; sister Brenda (Travis) Anders of Adrian, Missouri; a daughter Kayla Poole, Pleasanton, Kansas; mother-in-law, Shirley (Tim) Goltra, father-in-Law, Ray (Connie) Weddle; bonus brother Steven (Stana) Weddle; sister and brother in-law Tessa (Adam) Feagins all of Fort Scott, Kansas. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, cousins, and numerous friends. He was preceded in death by paternal grandparents Les and Dorothy Nation, maternal grandparents Edward and Margaret Higgins, and brother in-law Larry Lee Shirley.

Rev. Paul Rooks will conduct funeral services at 1:00 PM Tuesday, April 11^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the Linnville Cemetery, Mound City, KS.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Monday evening at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to Nation Children’s Scholarship Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, Kansas 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Richard L. “Rick” Nation, age 54, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at Menorah Medical Center, Overland Park, KS.  Services for Rick Nation will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.

Allen Dale “AJ” Soverns, Jr., age 40, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Thursday, March 30, 2023, at his home.  There was cremation.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, April 15^th, at Gunn Park Shelter House #6.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the AJ Soverns Memorial Fund 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 guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Allen Dale “AJ” Soverns, Jr., age 40, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Thursday, March 30, 2023, at his home.  He was born April 8, 1982, in Kansas City, KS, the son of Allen Sr. and Colleen Vaughan Soverns.  He married Angie Hall on July 11, 2020, in Fort Scott.

AJ enjoyed working outside in the yard, mowing and gardening.  He liked music, playing video games, watching movies, dogs, and cats.

Survivors include his wife Angie of the home; his mother, Colleen Pellett; a son Kiel Hall; daughters Rayne Soverns, Zoie Joles, and Rylee Joles; a sister Amy Majors (Trevor); nieces Alyson Howser (Brock), Bryttny Hall, Alexia Hall and Maize Hall; nephews Luke Majors, and Bentley Hall, and several others; as well as many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father.

There was cremation.  The family will announce services at a later date.

Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel.  In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the AJ Soverns Memorial Fund 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 guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Shirley Jean (Hoggatt) Palmer passed into the loving arms of Jesus on March 28, 2023.  She was born January 26, 1943, in Fort Scott, Kansas.  Her parents were Fred (Tony) and Verna (Ater) Hoggatt.  She grew up in Garland, Kansas, and attended the one-room Clarksburg Rural School from kindergarten through the eighth grade with her mother being her teacher.  During her youth, Shirley was actively involved in 4-H especially showing Angus beef cattle and cooking.  She graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1961, Fort Scott Junior College in 1963, and from Kansas State College of Pittsburg with a B.S. in Elementary Education degree in 1965, a Masters Degree in Education in 1971, and an Education Specialists Degree in School Administration from Pittsburg State University in 1979.

Shirley married Ron Palmer on June 2, 1963.  They have two sons, Brian and wife Carla Palmer and Gary and wife Kylene Palmer.  She also enjoyed her grandchildren: John and wife Katelyn, Elizabeth and husband Elijah, Sadie, Lexi, Riley, and Jentry.  She cherished all family time together.

Shirley taught nearly 40 years as a second-grade teacher in Leavenworth and Fort Scott, Kansas.  She was named Kansas Teacher of the Year in 1982 and was inducted into the Kansas Teachers’ Hall of Fame in 2002.  Shirley served as the first ever female Student Body President of Fort Scott Junior College in 1963.  Shirley was named Fort Scott Community College Outstanding Alum in 1987 and Pittsburg State University Outstanding Alum in 2016.  She served as both a member and President of the Alumni Associations for both the Fort Scott Community College and Pittsburg State University.  She was appointed by then Kansas Governor, Mike Hayden, to the Advisory Council of Community Colleges during 1989-1993 and she served seven years on the Kansas Board of Regents from 1987-1993 overseeing the state colleges including Chair of the Board in 1993.

Shirley was also very active in her community and held memberships in many civic organizations.  She served many years as a Democratic Precinct Committee Person and was elected to two terms as Kansas State Representative for the Fourth District of Kansas from 2006-2010.  Other organizations included Fort Scott Rotary, Delta Kappa Gamma now called AWE, American Association of University Women, Progressive Mother’s Club, Retired Teachers, Family Consumer Education, Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, the Bourbon County Fair Board, and she served 30 years volunteering as a county-wide 4-H leader in Horticulture.  She was also a Mercy Hospital Auxiliary volunteer for many years.  Shirley was an active member of the Order of the Eastern Star of Kansas for over 60 years and served as the Worthy Grand Matron from 1998-1999.

Shirley lived on a farm with Ron southwest of Fort Scott.  They were small business owners together in Fort Scott.  Her hobbies included gardening, entertaining, baking, canning, competing at the Bourbon County Fair, playing the accordion and piano, and spending time with family and friends.  Shirley often won awards for her homemade pies of various flavors, with her Cherry Pie earning top awards.

Throughout her life Shirley’s strong faith in God and love for Jesus motivated her to serve Him and others.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Fort Scott where she served on many committees including Chair of the Christian Board of Education and was a pianist for several years.

Shirley was a dearly loved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother-to-be, sister-in-law, and friend to many people.  As a friend described her, she was “dedicated, smart, talented, and caring.  Irreplaceable.”  She will be truly missed and her impact on our lives will only be fully known someday in heaven.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Verna Hoggatt.  She is survived by her husband Ron Palmer of the home in Fort Scott, Brian and Carla Palmer of Olathe, Gary and Kylene, Sadie, Lexi, Riley and Jentry of Fort Scott, John and Katelyn Palmer of Lenexa, and Elizabeth and Elijah Vandepol of Spring Hill, Kansas.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, April 7^th, at the First Baptist Church in Fort Scott.

Burial will follow in the Clarksburg Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel with the Order of Eastern Star service beginning at 6:00 PM.

Memorials are suggested to either the First Baptist Church of Fort Scott, the Ron & Shirley Palmer Scholarship Fund at Fort Scott Community College, or to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for cancer research and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, Kansas 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Sandra Sue “Sandy” Stinnett, 79, a resident of Fort Scott, passed away Tuesday morning, March 28, 2023. She was born February 29, 1944, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Roy William “Bill” Danley and Marie (Faulhaber) Danley.

She married Bud Stinnett on November 16, 1963, in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Fulton, Kansas. He preceded her in death on May 14, 1996.

Sandy graduated from Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1962, and she was a lifetime member of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church. She worked for the City of Fort Scott as a clerk in the Water Department, and retired after thirty-five years in 2006.

Sandy is survived by her daughter, Dena Engelland (Tom) of Sterling, Kansas; her longtime companion, Tom McNeil, of the home; two grandchildren, Kathleen Engelland Huelskamp (Leo), and Eric Engelland (Katharina); two great-grandchildren, Wade Huelskamp, Ty Huelskamp, and a third great-grandchild, Baby Engelland, arriving in July. Sandy is also survived by many wonderful friends.

In addition to her husband, Bud, she was also preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Ronnie Danley.

Father Yancey Burgess will celebrate the Funeral Mass at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 1, 2023, at Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church (Kennedy Gym), with the Rosary beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Merle Mayfield, 80, resident of Fort Scott, passed away Friday, March 24, 2023. He was born December 16, 1942, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the son of Wayne and Leona (Bean) Mayfield. He married Betty L. Jack on August 12, 1967, in Arcadia, Kansas. They later divorced. He later married Judy Shankle, and they divorced.

Merle worked for The Western Insurance Co. for six years before going into law enforcement, in which he spent twenty years. He retired in 1996, after working for Ward Kraft Printing for four years, due to health problems.

Merle is survived by Margaret Parker, his companion of twenty-five years, and two sons, Jason “Jay” Mayfield (Jonna), of Pensacola, Florida, and Joel Mayfield (Nicki), of Nevada, Missouri; a sister, Janice Mayfield, of Fort Scott; a sister-in-law, Diane Mayfield; three grandchildren, Trey Mayfield (Karen), Trenton Mayfield (Kasie), and Bethany Mayfield, and his step-grandchildren, John Varner (Kathryn), Matthew Varner (Paige), Lauren Meyers (Ben), Kris Varner (Katie), Samuel Varner, Morgan Trujillo (Jeff), and Myla Manly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Gary Mayfield.

Pastor Dusty Drake will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 1, 2023, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Visitation will be Friday evening, March 31, 2023, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Private burial will take place at a later date, following cremation.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fort Scott Police Department and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.