Lois LaVerne Swope, age 92, a former resident of Frontenac, Kansas and more recently of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at the home of her daughter in Ft. Scott. She was born May 26, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Cledies Dray and Ellen Cummings Dray. Lois graduated from the Pittsburg High School with the Class of 1947. She married Eddie L. Swope on June 12, 1949, at Pittsburg. Lois had worked for seventeen years at the Parsons Ammunition Plant. She was a life-long Methodist. She was a past member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Frontenac. She loved to play bingo.

Survivors include her son, Kevin K. Swope and wife, Trish, of Thomasville, Georgia and her daughter, Landia Antonetti and husband, Paul, of Ft. Scott; four grandchildren, Laurie Antonetti of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Alison Nelson (Jason), of St. Louis, Missouri, Samantha Peterson (Matt), of Thomasville, Georgia and Andrew Swope, of Tallahassee, Florida and six great-grandchildren, Conner Antonetti, Sophia and Seraph Nelson and Isaac, Ivy and Isla Swope. Also surviving are two sisters, Louise and Nancy.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Eddie, on July 22, 1996. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Ruby Chubb.

Private burial will take place in the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to 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.

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

My first horse was named Judy but she didn’t stick around very long after she fell from my good graces when she bit me in the belly. She used her teeth in a harmful way. My next horse was an 11-year-old sorrel gelding named Lucky. He hung around for a long time because he was disciplined and gentle. After a few years, his teeth started doing goofy things and he had to have them floated. Recently, I found myself in the dentist’s chair because a tiny piece of tooth chipped away and I had to have it repaired with some phony enamel stuff. As I scooted out of the chair and stood up, I put my upper and lower teeth together and exclaimed, “It’s too high, it’s too high!” I’m sure that wasn’t the proper description of my teeth catastrophe, but the dentist interpreted it correctly. He directed me to get back in the chair and he grabbed his Dremel and floated my tooth. I walked out with happy chompers because my bite was made right.

One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to gently nudge believers in the right direction when there’s a tiny piece of something wrong in our heart. When we tell our heavenly Father, “I really want to be like Jesus,” then the third person of the Godhead goes to work to help make that sincere prayer happen. “God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face Him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world” (1 John 4:16,17 NLT).

I am reading a daily devotional book that I previously read in 2018. The title for August 10 was “A Living Example of Love,” with the beginning scripture of Romans 5:5 NIRV: “And hope will never let us down. God has poured His love into our hearts. He did it through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given to us.” I found one underlined sentence in the devotional that pierced my heart with conviction. There was nothing to do but weep and ask for God’s forgiveness. I made a fresh and stronger commitment to live a life of love.

The Holy Spirit’s flashlight revealed that I had failed to talk in love. My words should always be seasoned with grace and mercy if I want to be a living example of love. There are times when my teeth do not come together to form words of love. The Bible says we are to put a guard on our mouth. “Lord, help me control my tongue; help me be careful about what I say” (Psalm 141:3 NCV). Christians are to talk in love, allowing the tenderness of Jesus to flow through us to others. As long as believers have an intense desire to come up higher in the love department, God is pleased. Our heavenly Father is patient and kind toward us and He expects us to be patient with ourselves and with others.

“Think before you speak” is a phrase we’ve all heard and it comes straight from the Bible. “Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you“ (Ephesians 4:29 GNT). The Holy Spirit can smooth off the rough edges of your words if you’ll surrender to Him, listen, and obey when He whispers, “Don‘t say that.“

The Key: If you don’t control your mouth, you probably need to have your teeth floated by the Holy Spirit.

Velma Jean (VJ) Stevens, 97, formerly of Prescott and most recently of Anamosa, Iowa, passed away peacefully on October 7, 2021, in Anamosa. She was born on April 2, 1924, in Stotesbury, Missouri. She lived in Prescott for much of her life but later moved to Rogers, Arkansas, Olathe, and Arlington, Texas. She was strong in faith throughout her life and was a faithful member of the local Catholic church in each community in which she lived. She married William P. Stevens, Jr. on April 20, 1943, and together, they celebrated their 67^th wedding anniversary prior to his death in 2010.

VJ studied art with several notable professionals in the Kansas City area over a fifteen-year period and later taught art lessons in her home in Olathe for many years. She painted hundreds of works of art in oil, pastels, and graphite which were sold, gifted to friends and family, and donated to churches and other organizations. She especially enjoyed doing portraits and religious works of art.

She is survived by her daughter, Beverly Behgam and husband, Roger, of Arlington, Texas; daughter, Patty Himel and husband, A.J., of Round Rock, Texas; son, Paul Stevens and wife, Debbie, of Cascade, Iowa; and daughter, Mary Murray and husband, Ernie, of Leavenworth, Kansas; a sister, Elaine Coffin, of New Orleans, Louisiana; 8 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank Orr Martin and Corda Walker Martin, along with six brothers and sisters.

Father Yancey Burgess will conduct the Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 14, 2021, at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Burial will be in the Prescott Cemetery

. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening, October 13, 2021, 6-7:00 p.m. at Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., Fort Scott, Kansas.

Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Patricia Maley Belkham, 77, a resident of Valrico, Florida died September 29, 2021. She was born on January 23, 1944, in Sandusky, Ohio to Eileen Murphy.

Pat is survived by her husband of 31 years Ernie Belkham, three children, Michael Maley (Diane) El Cajon, CA, Marty Maley Spanaway, WA, Kevin Maley (Krista) Pittsboro, NC, and six grandchildren.

Pat was a medical assistant for over 20 years in Sunnyvale before retiring to Valrico, FL in 2013. She was an avid begonia grower, hybridizer, show judge, and illustrator for the America Begonia Society’s publication, “The Begonian”.

Following cremation, interment will take place at a later date in the Belkham plot of Oak Grove cemetery in Fort Scott, Kansas under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., Fort Scott, Kansas. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

William Ray Mason, age 36, a former resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas and more recently of Joplin, Missouri, passed away Friday, October 1, 2021, in Joplin. He was born May 6, 1985, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of William Andrew Mason and Phyllis Irene Harris Mason.

Will graduated from the Ft. Scott High School. He was a self-taught musician and used his talents of singing and playing the piano and drums at area churches. He was of the Pentecostal faith. Will enjoyed traveling, cooking and spending time with his nieces and nephews.

Survivors include two sisters, Sabrina Wolfley and her husband, Dana and Christie Colbert both of Joplin; seven nieces and nephews, Zachary Mason, Justin Morrow, Alex Morrow, Keisha Morrow, MaryCybil Colbert, and True Colbert all of Joplin, and Ashley Colbert, of Wyandotte, Oklahoma and two great-nephews, Theodore and Callum. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Rev. Roger Harris will conduct funeral services at 1:30 P.M. Tuesday, October 12^th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Will Mason 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.

Wayne Jackson Houston, age 93, resident of Richards, MO, died Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at Medicalodge of Fort Scott, KS.

He was born on September 7, 1928, in Bagnall Dam, MO, the son of Andrew Jackson and Ida Mae Houston. He graduated from Richards, MO high school.

He served in the U. S. Army.

Wayne worked his entire life on the farm. He loved his tractors. In fact, he was still operating tractors up until a year ago.

Wayne worked for several years in groundskeeping for Fort Scott Community College until retirement.

He married Lois Darlene Cooper on July 20, 1981, in Fort Scott. She preceded him in death on May 20, 2017.

He enjoyed fishing and hunting through the years.

He was a member of the Unity Lodge #495 Richards, MO, and the Community of Christ Church in Fort Scott.

Survivors include two sons, Tim Ater and wife Pam, Nevada, MO, and Gregory D. Houston and wife Linda, Richards, MO; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two great great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides his wife Lois, he was preceded in death by two sons, Gary Houston, and Ron Ater; a brother, Willard Houston; a sister, Lois Cooper; and his parents.

Services will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, October 12th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Monday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to either Care to Share or Community of Christ 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 to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Jean Ellen Hanley, age 75, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday September 27, 2021, at the Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO. She was born November 6, 1945, in Walnut, KS, the daughter of Anna Hanley.

Jean loved people and let them know it.  She was always saying hello, asking for a picture, wanting a hug or calling you a pretty woman or good-looking guy. 

She was Tri-Valley’s own version of Groundhog Day, asking the same questions every day when arriving to the service center.  Letting staff know to tell their husband, children, parents hello and love you and asking how they were doing. 

Jean got upset and would say what does hurry mean, if you reminded her that she needed to get going, she was due to be somewhere. 

Jean enjoyed attending Community Christian Church.  She often talked about the people there, especially Donna. 

Jean loved to clean at home and at work.  She would get mad if it was someone else’s night to do the dishes.  Jean was one of the best window washers around and would try to take out the trash even if she wasn’t scheduled.  She loved going to Special Olympics with her friends and coming back to show off her ribbons.  Halloween was one of her favorite holidays and Jean dressed up every year.

Jean lived with various roommates over the years and always got along with everyone.  She liked to go on outings and help with grocery shopping. 

During the colder months, Jean was easy to spot in her shiny, pink ladies’ jacket.  Jean loved having her fingernails painted.  She would ask various Staff “what is your favorite color?” when trying to decide what color she wanted that week when going to the salon.  Usually, Jean came back with nails matching the outfit she had on.

  She always loved to watch the Brady Bunch every day.

Jean would call herself Mean Jean, staff would add Jellybean, since she didn’t have a mean bone in her body.  She brightened the day for everyone blessed to know her.

Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct services at 10:00 AM Wednesday, October 6^th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to Friends of Tri-Valley 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 to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.