Voneta V. Lewis, age 96, resident of Fort Scott, KS died peacefully at Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott on February 20, 2023. She was born January 26, 1927, in Coyle, Oklahoma to Nathaniel Arthur and Frances Vontelle (Morgan) Lamb. On October 3, 1948, she married John D. Lewis of Blue Mound, Kansas.

Together they owned and ran the Town and Country Insurance and Real Estate Agency in Fort Scott for many years.  Voneta was a member of Community Christian Church in Fort Scott.

She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sisters Glenda Ball and LaVerne McGee, an infant brother, nieces Linda & Becky Lamb and Marsha McGee Daves, and nephews Robert Ball and Ronald McGee.

Voneta is survived by her brother, LeRoy Lamb and his wife, Nadine of Mound City KS, her sister, Marjorie Campbell of Raytown MO, and several nieces and nephews, also several great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, February 27, 2023 at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

The family will receive friends from 9:30 AM until service time at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers Voneta’s family suggests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association 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.

Voneta V. Lewis, age 96, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Monday, February 20, 2023, at Presbyterian Village, Fort Scott.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday, February 27^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 9:30 until 10:00 Monday morning at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association and may be left at Cheney Witt Chapel.

JoAnn Sylvia Clark, age 88, former resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Friday, February 17, 2023, at The Maples Health & Rehab, Springfield, MO.  She was born September 29, 1934, in Emmeram, KS, the daughter of Joseph and Albina Weigel Doerfler.  She attended schools in Russel, KS, Wichita, KS, and graduated from Fort Scott High School.  She worked for Western Insurance Company/American States Insurance/Lincoln National Insurance for a combined 40 years.

Survivors include her two daughters, Sharyl Blackmore, and Carol Clark; nine grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and 2 brothers, Alan, and David Doerfler.  She was preceded in death by her husband James H. Clark, Jr., 2 sisters, 4 brothers, a daughter, Janet Clark, and her parents.

There was cremation.  Burial will take place in the U. S. National Cemetery in Fort Scott, KS, at a later date.  Memorials are suggested to the Old Fort Genealogical 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

Orval Ray Doty, age 88, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Thursday, February 16, 2023, at Arma Health & Rebab, Arma, KS.  Services for Orval Doty will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.

There was cremation. Services will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel.. Memorials are suggested to V.F.W. Post #1165 and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.

George Allen Johnson, lifelong resident of Bronson, Kansas passed away on February 8, 2023 at the age of 78. He was born the second of three sons to William Harold Allen Johnson and Georgia May (Harrison) Johnson in Kansas City, MO. He graduated from Bronson High School with the class of 1962.

After graduation George worked for the Southeastern Kansas Gas Company and in 1969 began a decades long career as a heavy-equipment mechanic repairing hundreds of Allis-Chalmers tractors throughout Bourbon and surrounding counties when he worked for Reasoner’s Repair in Bronson.

He then was employed with Hillenburg Oil Company and added oil field pump-jack repair to his list of talents. After hours he assisted his Dad with city superintendent duties such as treating the water at the city lake (good excuse to take the boat out and hammer it down) and repairing the light on top of the water tower.

In later years he mixed paint for the presses at Ward/Kraft in Fort Scott until he retired in 2007.

He had a unique talent to build or re-work just about anything. He was a good cook and enjoyed displaying his culinary skills at family dinners and reunions as he was a great host. His famous “big” breakfast was a favorite and always included items from his garden.

In his younger days he enjoyed working on and drag racing (including wheel popping) his 4-speed, dual 4-barrel 1964 Ford Galaxie with the 427 engine he built himself. Other favorite cars in his collection included his bought-new 1969 Mustang Fastback and his 1992 Mustang convertible that escorted the grand marshals each year in the annual Bronson Day Parade.

He enjoyed family camping adventures, boating and water skiing. He was often seen at Lake Fort Scott skiing on one foot (with the other foot in the rope handle) and cousin Richard driving the boat.

His greatest blessing was his family and friends; he always put their needs before his own. George will be missed but never forgotten. Those left to continue his legacy include daughter Melinda (Jim) Lambert of Wichita, KS, son Ryan (Renee) Johnson of Camdenton, MO, grandsons Ryland and Rowan Johnson, brother Roy (Nina) Johnson of Amherst, OH and treasured neighbors Mitch, Brandi and Harlyn Spainhoward of Bronson.

The last goodbye is the hardest one to say, this is where the cowboy rides away. Per his request, no public service will be held. George is now at peace and will be laid to rest next to his parents and older brother Glenn in the Bronson Cemetery.

To honor his memory and help beautify the community he loved, a memorial fund has been established with the city of Bronson to fund benches for the city park 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 cheneywittcom.

Carl Edward Hagan, Sr., age 70, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly Monday, February 6, 2023, in Ft. Scott.

He was born January 7, 1953, the son of Floyd E. Green and Teresia Waunettia Edna Pryor.

Carl graduated from the Ft. Scott High School.  Carl first married Bethany Ann Nolan and they had one son, Carl Jr.  He later married Kelli Thompson and later divorced.

In earlier years, he worked as a diesel mechanic for Mid-Western Distribution.  When that business closed, Carl found employment with Superior Industries in Pittsburg where he worked until his retirement.

Carl had a love for vintage automobiles and will be remembered for his ’56 yellow Chevy Nomad.

Survivors include his son, Carl Hagan, Jr. of Ft. Scott and a step-son, Kelley Olivas and two grandchildren, Jacob Magnus Hagan and Gwenyth Bethany Hagan.  Also surviving is a brother, Ernest P. Hagan, Jr. of Montgomery, Texas.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Marilyn McKey.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 1:30 P.M. Monday, February 13^th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Carl Hagan 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.

Gavonn Michaela Annette Elise Burk, age 24, resident of Fort Scott, KS, died Sunday, February 5, 2023, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, KS.  She was born on January 5, 1999, in Olathe, KS, the daughter of Jeff Burk and Mary McCully.  She grew up in Iola, KS.  Gavonn was a free spirit who stood for what she believed in.  She enjoyed attending live concerts and spending time with family and friends.  She adored her two daughters who meant everything to her.

Survivors include her daughters, Scarlett Burk and Gracelynn Jones; her mother, Mary Watson (Will), Fort Scott, KS; her father, Jeff Burk, Fort Scott, KS; 7 brothers, Tripp Chapman, Prestonn Burk, Daylonn Burk, Londonn Burk, Brittonn Burk, Ethan Watson, and Tylor Watson; 3 sisters, Railie Zimmerman, Peytonn Burk, and Kindra Watson; grandparents Irene and Dan Rhodes, Gary Hartman, and Theresa Burk and Marvin Hartman; great grandparents Loren and Ivana Higginbotham; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She was preceded in death by a grandfather, Mike Burk and stepfather Billy Chapman.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, February 11^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in Holmes Cemetery, Prescott, KS.

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

Memorials are suggested to the Gavonn Burk 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.

Sandra Kay (Laws) Woods, age 75, a resident of Bronson, KS passed on to her heavenly home on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, MO.

Sandy was born in Kansas City, KS on August 26th, 1947. She was the first child and only daughter of Lyman Allen Laws and Evelyn Ivon (Crowder) Laws.  After moving to California at the age of 18 she met her future husband, Charles Austin Woods.  The two love birds quickly started their adventurous life together.  They married on October 27th,1968 in Fort Scott, KS and went on to have three sons, Randell, Christopher, and Brian. Nevada, Iowa, Arkansas, and Texas were all states they called home until 1989, when they planted roots in Sandy’s beloved childhood hometown of Bronson, Kansas.

Sandy lived life to the fullest. She loved traveling, reading, listening to music, playing pinochle, crafting, collecting chicken decor, picking up a great find at a garage sale or antique store, occasionally pulling the handle on a slot machine and cheering for her favorite Chief’s player, Travis Kelce.

Family was by far the most important thing in her life. When her health took a turn in later years, it never held her back from any event she wanted to attend.

She enjoyed talking, laughing, telling stories of the past and spending time with family and friends.

Sandy was always the biggest fan of her kids, grandkids and great grandkids at sporting events and everything else they participated in.

She was extremely proud of every family member, always celebrating each accomplishment in their lives and supporting them during hard times.

Sandy had a deeply loving passionate, opinionated, and devoted personality that drew others to her.  She was a “people person” who never met a stranger. She was always in the loop about the latest happenings and eager to share her thoughts on any topic. As the Woods family grew throughout the years, Sandy continued to be the glue that brought everyone together for holidays and other events.

Through example, Sandy taught the importance of shopping local, having traditions, honoring family and loving the Lord.

Sandy is survived by her husband, Charles “Chuck” Woods of Bronson, KS; three sons, Randell and wife Sayda of Chanute, KS, Chris and wife Lael of Bronson, KS, Brian and wife Megan of Bronson, KS; two brothers, Ron Laws and wife Karen of Palacios, TX, Allen Laws and wife Karen of Magnolia, TX; nine grandchildren, Jordan, Logan, Alena, Kaydra, Makiah, Mackenzie, Daulton, Cayden and Nataliah; three great-grandchildren, Olivia, Copelan and Bryson; and many nieces and nephews.

Sandy was preceded in death by her parents and several other family members, including her beloved Grandmother, Ethel Crowder.

Funeral services will be held at the Cheney Witt Chapel on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023.

Visitation will begin at 1pm, with the service following at 2pm.

Burial will follow at Bronson Cemetery.

The family suggests contributions to the Sandra Woods Memorial Fund and may be left in care of Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main PO Box 347, Fort Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Josephine G. McDaniel, age 94, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Tuesday, January 31, 2023, at the Girard Medical Center in Girard, Kansas.

She was born March 9, 1928, in Arcadia, Kansas, the daughter of Joseph William McDaniel and Gracie Melissa Ridgway
McDaniel. She was the oldest of the seven McDaniel children. Josephine never had any formal schooling, but she faithfully took care of her brothers and sisters and later her nieces and
nephews. She enjoyed cleaning house and cooking. She especially enjoyed making homemade bread with her mother. One of Josephine’s chores was to hang clothes on the clothesline, and
she didn’t like anyone doing her job. She enjoyed playing with her dolls, working in her coloring book and doing puzzles, but most of all she loved Jesus. Her mother often read the
Bible to her in the evenings.

Josephine seldom missed attending the Assembly of God/Life Point
Church in Ft. Scott. For the last several years of her life, Josephine lived with her sister, Frances, in Ft. Scott.

Survivors include two brothers, William Leroy “Bill” McDaniel of Ft. Scott and Darrell McDaniel of Bentonville, Arkansas and two sisters, Frances Pearson and Ellen Morrow all of Ft. Scott. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Joseph McDaniel, Jr and John McDaniel.

Rev. Steve Bell will conduct funeral services at 10:30 A.M. Monday, February 6 th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the
Josephine 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.

Mary Louise (Scarbrough) Ramsey, age 80, went to meet her Lord and Savior on January 30, 2023.  Mary was born in Willow Springs, Missouri on November 12, 1942.  She was the daughter of Bertha Antoinette (Cotton) Scarbrough and Pete Scarbrough.  She had an extraordinary loving relationship with her sister Martha Ann (Scarbrough) Gentry.

Mary was the proud Mom of Edward Ramsey, Dana Ramsey, Bob Padgett and even prouder Grandma of Garrett Ramsey, Rebecca Ramsey, Tanner Ramsey, Ross Nolan, Brenna Schroeder, Spencer Nolan, Grady Ramsey, Emery Ramsey, Remington Ramsey, Ryleigh Bowen, Waylon Ramsey, Lauren and Clayton Riisoe, Braden Gipe, Kara Riisoe, Hope Riisoe, Bradley and Morgan Little, Adeline Little, Hunter and Lex Padgett, and Waylon Padgett.

Mom loved her family like no other.  She provided for them and loved working as a CMA for many years.  Her passion was for her children, her grandchildren, her sister, and her sports.  She was an iconic “Grandma” to so many in the Rose Hill Community – she loved you all.

Her final wish was to return home to the loving Uniontown community where she raised her family.  We will miss her so much, but she will be with each and every one of us every single day.

Pastor Marty DeWitt will conduct funeral services at 1:00 pm. on Friday, February 3, 2023, at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Burial will follow in the Uniontown Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2023, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Missionary Baptist 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.

James Hargraves Belknap, Jr., 84, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday evening, January 19, 2023, at his home surrounded by his loved ones. He was born March 3, 1938, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of James Hargraves Belknap, Sr. and Thelma Francine (Warwick) Belknap.

James graduated from Chetopa High School in 1956, and served in the US Army as a Radar Technician from 1958 until 1960. He was a Press Operator for Ennis Business forms from 1984 until retiring in 2003. He owned and operated Bronson Locker in Bronson, Kansas from 1974 until 1984, and Jim’s Lawn Mower Service and Repair for twenty years. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Chetopa, Kansas, a Lifetime Member of the Columbus Masonic Lodge, and a former member of the Bronson Ruritan.

James is survived by a son, Joseph Allen Belknap (Anita), of Chetopa, Kansas; two daughters, Deborah Kaye Fouts (Dean), of Mound Valley, Kansas, and Kimberly Diane Roberts (Tom), of Fort Scott; six grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Robert H. Belknap, and a sister, Thelma Sue DeMent.

Following cremation, Darren McColm will conduct graveside services at 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 30, 2023, at the Oswego City Cemetery in Oswego, Kansas, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Sarah Eugenia Wesner Eckles, 83, passed away peacefully in her home on January 22, 2023. Sally was born November 23, 1939, to Ermal and Hulon Albright Wesner in Ida, Louisiana.

She attended college at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where she was a member of Phi Mu sorority, the Honor Society, and met her husband-to-be, Robert Lee Eckles. At LSU, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and had a long career as a social worker in New Orleans.

Sally and Bob were married September 4,1960, at the Church of the Covenant, New Orleans. They celebrated 62 years of marriage in September, 2022.

She was a devoted wife, mother, friend and member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Bob and Sally arrived in Fort Scott from Pittsburg, Kansas in the early seventies to raise their three young daughters. For 33 years she worked for Bourbon County SRS (now CFS) as a caseworker and supervisor. There she built true and lasting friendships with her co-workers. Her concern for those in need was a primary concern for her in both her public and private life.

Her parents preceded her in death.

Sally is survived by her devoted husband, Bob, their daughters, Margaret (Harvie Jordan), Mobile, Alabama; Alice Eckles (Ross Conrad), Middlebury, Vermont; and Ruth Eckles (Joe Rizzolo), Bahama, North Carolina, as well as five grandchildren: Kate Jordan, the Rev. Sarah Jordan, Violet Eckles-Jordan (Rose’ Hernandez), Thea Price-Eckles and Ana Price-Eckles, and her brother Jim Wesner (GeorgeAnn Wesner), Cincinnati, Ohio.

Sally will be remembered by many who love her as a kind and wise friend, a devoted mother, and a gifted vocalist who gave so richly of her talents in the choir at First Presbyterian Church as well as community choirs for many years. She performed with the Madrigals, a dinner-theater style presentation through Fort Scott Community College, and played Mother Superior in a local theater production of “Sound of Music,”among other roles over the years.

Among her many sources of pleasure were her memberships in a birthday club lunch group and a women’s supper club, Second Shift, in Chapter CA of the PEO Sisterhood and in Presbyterian Women.

She loved nature, adventures, travel, and took her family on many vacations over the years – from the Grand Canyon to Yellowstone National Park to a cruise on the Mediterranean Sea. One of the special joys of her life was that she and Bob were able to take each grandchild on a graduation trip of their choice, this included excursions to Paris, Spain, Scotland, and Ireland.

In 2010, she received the Presbyterian Women’s annual Life Membership for Faithful Service. She was an ordained Elder in the church, and over the years served as a mentor to confirmands, worked with the Logos program, and hosted the Monday Lunch for Senior High students.

She was thankful for her church community and noted many times over the course of her illness how their prayers gave her peace, comfort, and held her up in her time of need.

Rev. Dr. Jared Witt will officiate funeral services at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at the First Presbyterian Church under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Visitation is at 10:00 a.m., prior to service time.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to First Presbyterian Church and The Beacon, 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..