Connie Sue Raymond, age 63, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at her home.  She was born November 10, 1960, in Paola, Kansas, the daughter of Jess Warren Edwards and Shirley Jean Thatcher Edwards.  She married David Hayes on June 10, 2008, in Ft. Scott.

Connie was disabled due to a car accident she had as a youth.  This same accident took the lives of her mother and older brother.  She was a woman of faith and was proud of her Cherokee heritage.  Connie enjoyed crocheting and spending time on her computer.  She was currently doing an online Bible study.

 

Survivors include her husband, David Hayes of the home.  She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.

 

There was cremation and no services are planned at this time.  Memorials are suggested to the Connie Raymond 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.

Susan Elaine McClure, age 72, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, went home to her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.  Susan was born to Raymond Roy Bassett and Virginia Bassett on April 21, 1951.  As a young girl, Susan enjoyed playing softball where she played first base.  She was a good seamstress and loved to sew.  As much as she loved to sew, she hated to dust and was often teased about it by her sister.  Susan graduated high school in 1969.  She married Kenneth Ray McClure on June 26, 1970.  To this union, three children were born, Bryan, Aimee and Amber.  One of Susan’s joys was attending as many of her grandchildren’s school activities as possible.  She could be seen sitting in the stands at football, basketball and even wrestling events.  Susan was also an avid collector of the Pillsbury Dough Boy.  Susan loved getting out and having an occasional girl’s day with her sister.  The day usually included a manicure and pedicure, visiting flea markets, and enjoying a piece of pie.  Everyone who knew her knew how much she loved God.  Susan was known for her card ministry and collecting magazines to give to the shut-ins.  Susan was looking forward to attending her granddaughter’s wedding in August and her other two granddaughters’ graduations in May.

Survivors include a son, Bryan McClure of the home; two daughters, Aimee McClure of Ft. Scott and Amber Goodbody and husband, Ryan, also of Ft. Scott; one sister, Nancy Orton and husband, Mike, of Joplin, Missouri; daughter-in-law, Debbie McClure of Ft. Scott and numerous nieces and nephews.  Also surviving are six grandchildren, Macayla, Emma and fiancé, Jeremiah, Brittany, Skyler, KW and Tristen.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two brothers and a grandchild.

Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Friday, February 2^nd at the Community Christian Church.

A graveside service will be held at 2:30 P.M. Friday at the Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery in Joplin, Missouri.

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

Memorials are suggested to the American Stroke Association 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

Patsy D. Sanders, age 86, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at her home. She was born April 9, 1937, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Coleman Eden and Belva Edwards Eden. She married Willis Orville Sanders. Patsy had worked as a jewelry associate at Wal-Mart in Ft. Scott for many years. After her retirement from Wal-Mart, she provided babysitting
services out of her home. Patsy loved to play Bingo and travel.

Survivors include two children, Pam Owenby (Russell) of Deerfield, Missouri and Greg Sanders of Ft. Scott; six grandchildren, Jamye Coffman (Tom), Patricia Brake, Kallie Stowe (Killian), Drew Howlingcrane, Brandon Owenby (Meghan) and Dani Owenby; twelve great-grandchildren, Brady, Sawyer and Sabrina
Coffman, Sami and Abi Rhynerson, Daniel, Darbi and David Brake, Oliver and Archer Stowe and Braxlynn and Memphis Owenby and a great-great-grandson, Ryker.

Patsy was preceded in death by her husband, a son, Shannon Sanders, a daughter, Linda Howlingcrane, two great-grandchildren, a brother, Floyd Eden and three sisters, Laura Miller, Berniece Stone and Pearl Thurston.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, February 6 th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Lath Branch Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Monday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Ronald McDonald House 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.

Johnny Lee Spears, Sr., age 65, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, January 29, 2024, at the Freeman West Health Center in Joplin, Missouri.  He was born September 30, 1958, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Marion Lee “John” Spears and Elsie Shaffer Spears.  Johnny grew up in Kansas City and later moved to Ft. Scott where he graduated from Ft. Scott High School in 1976.  Following graduation, he enlisted with the United States Navy.  He served with the Navy for nine and a half years and was stationed in Connecticut and Virginia.  He served as a missile technician on submarine crews.  Johnny married Kathy Seal in June 1983.  Following his discharge from military service, the family relocated to Texas for several years prior to returning to the Ft. Scott area.  Johnny completed the Harley Davidson program at Ft. Scott Community College.  He worked for a year at a Harley Davidson dealership in Louisiana.  Johnny loved listening to music and reading.  In earlier years he enjoyed fishing and recently had taken up the hobby of grilling and smoking meat.  He was a great fan of the Las Vegas Raiders and of NASCAR.  He also loved spending time with his grandchildren.

 

Survivors include his wife, Kathy, of the home; three children, April Sloan (Robert) of Pittsburg, Kansas, Jennifer Spears of Covington, Kentucky and Johnny L. Spears, Jr., of Ft. Scott; eight grandchildren, Michael Woodward, Michelle Robinson, Kyle, Brady and Scott Sloan, and Aliziegh, Marley and Astonia Spears and three great-grandchildren, Anthony, Avery and Alexander Robinson.  Also surviving are four brothers, Danny Spears, Warsaw, Missouri, Kenny Spears Fulton, Kansas, Jessee Spears, Pleasanton, Kansas and John Jenkins, of Nevada, Missouri.  He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Crystal White and a sister, Lillian Vanderford.

 

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 A.M. Thursday, February 1^st at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the Johnny Spears 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.

David Doerfler, age 90, went home to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, January 27, 2024.  He was born on August 16, 1933, in Emmeram, KS, the son of Joseph and Albina Doerfler, the 7^th of 10 children.  As a child, the family moved from Hays, KS to Wichita, KS where he had childhood jobs such as shining shoes at the barber shop at age 12 and working with the Vornado fan company.  The family still has 3 green Vornado fans that still work.  In his teen years his family moved to Fort Scott, KS where he attended high school and worked at the NuGrill.

 

David served in the United States Army from 1954 – 1956 where he was stationed in Germany.  He had to eat a lot of liver and onions and thankfully that was a meal that was never allowed in our house when the family was growing up.  Upon returning home he took over the family-owned D & D Café, next to the railroad depot.  Hamburgers were 5 for $1.00.  He also met Kathryn Kalm at the Cottage – Inn and they were married in 1958.

Pam was born in 1960, being their only child.  In 1968, he  sold the D & D Café to begin his postal career and retired as supervisor in 1992.  David enjoyed his free time on the golf course.  Back in the day at the Fort Scott Country Club, there were many tournaments, and he was club champion 5 times with 5 hole-in-ones to his credit.  He passed his passion for golf on to his grandsons, Nick, and Alex, and relished the fact that they both played on the Jayhawk Linn high school golf team.  He was a member of the Community Christian Church.  Most of all he enjoyed the time spent with family.

 

Survivors include his wife, Kathy; daughter Pam Clark and husband David; grandsons Nicolas and Alex (Ellen) Clark; 2 great grandsons, Landen, and Arthur Clark; and a brother, Alan Doerfler, St. Louis, MO.

He was preceded in death by an infant grandson, Logan Clark; 4 brothers; 4 sisters; and his parents.

 

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, January 31^st, at the U. S. National Cemetery in Fort Scott.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM Wednesday until leaving for the cemetery at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to either Children’s Mercy Neo-Natal Unit or Community Christian Church 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 online at cheneywitt.com.

 

 

Joseph Wayne Rash, age 43, a resident of Garland, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly, Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at his home. He was born June 26, 1980, in Kansas City, the son of Wayne Cecil Rash and Donna Mae Cole Rash.

Joseph enjoyed reading about history, collecting comic books and movies, and spending time on the computer. He attended the Hannon Freewill Baptist Church in Liberal, Missouri. Joseph loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and had read the entire Bible.

Survivors include his mother, Donna Rash; three sisters, Rosemary Harris of Ft. Scott, Kay Wallace of Pittsburg, Kansas and Donna Hassan of Cady, Texas and three brothers, Glenn Rash of Ft. Scott, Cecil Rash of Topeka, Kansas and Roy Rash of Independence, Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his father, two brothers, Wesley Wallace and Henry Rash and a sister, Sherry Palmer.

There was cremation. A memorial service with burial in the Dayton Cemetery will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the Joseph Rash 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.

Joseph Wayne Rash, age 43, a resident of Garland, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly, Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at his home. He was born June 26, 1980, in Kansas City, the son of Wayne Cecil Rash and Donna Mae Cole Rash.

Joseph enjoyed reading about history, collecting comic books and movies, and spending time on the computer.

He attended the Hannon Freewill Baptist Church in Liberal, Missouri. Joseph loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and had read the entire Bible.

Survivors include his mother, Donna Rash; three sisters, Rosemary Harris of Ft. Scott, Kay Wallace of Pittsburg, Kansas and Donna Hassan of Cady, Texas and three brothers, Glenn Rash of Ft. Scott, Cecil Rash of Topeka, Kansas and Roy Rash of Independence, Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his father, two brothers, Wesley Wallace and Henry Rash and a sister, Sherry Palmer.

There was cremation. A memorial service with burial in the Dayton Cemetery will be held at a later.

Memorials are suggested to the Joseph Rash 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.

Linda Kay May, age 72, resident of Fort Scott, KS died unexpectedly Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin, MO.  She was born August 29, 1951, in Fort Scott, the daughter of William and Marilyn Hurd Fowler.  She graduated from FSHS with the class of 1969.  She was married to Palmer May for 25 years until they divorced.  She worked for over 20 years for Labconco in Fort Scott.  Linda was always making things with wood such as porch swings.  She enjoyed working in the yard and gardening.  She also raised chickens.  Linda was a wonderful cook, especially baking.  Her family was her life.  Linda was the caretaker of the family.  She loved spending time with her kids and grandkids.

 

Survivors include her daughter Tracy May, Kansas City, MO; her son, Jeffrey May, Fort Scott, KS; siblings, Shorty Cooper, Mike Fowler (Carla), Rusty Fowler (Johnna), Pam Fowler, Carla Flennigan (Doug), Diana Ballou (Charlie), Sandy Tiri (Mike), and Chris Perry; 8 grandchildren, Jacob May (Leslie), Dalton Davis (Stacey), Bailey May, Xane May (Morgan), Katie May, Zoey May, Brandon Gardner, and Bradley Bernall; 7 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents and 2 nieces, Shelly Gray, and Jessie Ballou.

 

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 PM Friday, January 26^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Cremation will follow.  The family will receive friends from 2:30 PM until service time Friday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to Care to Share 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 online at cheneywitt.com.

Gene Richey, 86, of Fort Scott, passed away peacefully on Wednesday afternoon, January 17, 2024, at Medicalodges of Fort Scott. He was born March 14, 1937, in Bourbon County, Kansas, to John Richey and Lilian (Bailey) Richey. He married Margaret “Peggy” L. Rylander March 25, 1962, in Richards, Missouri. She preceded him in death August 13, 2008.

 

Gene lived his entire life right here in Fort Scott. He graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1955. He served in the U.S. Army from 1959 until 1961. He retired from the Western Insurance Co. and American States after thirty-plus years in 1998.

 

Gene is survived by his son Jeffrey and daughter-in-law Pam Richey, grandkids, Denise Engelhardt, Lucas Marshall, and Christopher Richey; great-grandson Carter Richey, and sister Peggy Mason. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife Peggy, of forty-six years, he was also preceded in death by his brother, John Richey, his sister Jackie Peterson, and his nephew, Johnny Richey.

 

Services for Gene will be at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, January 29, 2024, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Private family burial due to inclement weather will be at the Fort Scott National Cemetery following the service. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

 

 

 

Bernice Faye Carriger, age 89, resident of Fort Scott, KS died Thursday, January 18, 2024, at Credo Senior Living, Fort Scott.  Bernice was born, along with her fraternal twin sister, Innes Mae, on October 22, 1934, in Augusta, KS to Ernest Vay and Osa Matle (Johnson) Gardner.  She was raised and educated in Augusta, graduating from high school in 1952.  Right out of high school, she married Jimmie Dale Ropp. They were blessed with three children, Craig Allen, Douglas Randall, and Laura Lynn, before the marriage ended.

 

Bernice was an extremely hard worker and known by many as a perfectionist. As a single parent, she worked tirelessly and many long hours while living in Wichita to support and provide for her children.

If Bernice taught her children anything it was to love the Lord and have a strong work ethic. She always led by example!  Bernice loved people and they loved her.  She was a great cook and was extremely generous with her family and anyone in need.

 

On November 13, 1965, Bernice married Richard E. Carriger. They were married for 51 years before Richard passed away in 2016. Richard and his new family were transferred with KG & E to Fort Scott, KS in 1966.  Darren Scott Carriger was born in 1967.  Shortly after, Bernice went to work as a dental assistant for Dr. James Taylor.  She worked there for 28 years before going to work for General Anesthesia Services as the office manager.  She finished her career there, working for Bob Carillo, Will Guilfoyle, and Randy Braswell, happily working until the age of 80.

Bernice considered shopping as her mission in life. Special thanks to her shopping buddies, Carolyn Wenderott, Rita Schroeder, Patty Hutchison, and daughter-in-law, Missy Carriger.

She moved to Credo Senior Living in January of 2018. The staff there provided excellent care to Bernice until her passing. The family wishes to especially thank Betty Allen, Joni Hall, PersianCallahan, Irene Burton and Terri Cox for their loving attention and care over the past six years.

Bernice is survived by four children, Craig and Doug (Patty) Ropp of Fort Scott, Laura (Bill) Dalton of Parsons, KS, and Darren (Missy) Carriger of Osawatomie, KS. Also surviving are twelve grandchildren, twenty-six great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Rick Carriger, and three sisters, Helen Spivey, Dorie Shryock and Innes Wike, and daughter-in-law Elaine Ropp.

 

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, January 26^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Graveside committal services will take place at 1:30 PM at the U. S. National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until 11:00 Friday prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Care to Share 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 online at cheneywitt.com.

Bernice Faye Carriger, age 89, resident of Fort Scott, KS died Thursday, January 18, 2024, at Credo Senior Living, Fort Scott.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, January 26^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Graveside committal services will take place at 1:30 PM at the U. S. National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until 11:00 Friday prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Care to Share 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 online at cheneywitt.com.