Lorna May Smith, 79, of Redfield, Kansas, passed away suddenly on Monday, April 13, 2020, at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin, Missouri. Lorna was born August 23, 1940, the daughter of Albert Johnston and Mona (Shoemaker) Johnston in Tulare, California.

Lorna is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Glenn Smith of the home, daughter Glenna Hendrickson (Kevin) of Osceola, Missouri and son Craig Smith (Cathy) of Leavenworth, Kansas; siblings Earl Johnston (Sharon) of Ellsworth, Kansas, and Sharon (Lonnie) Horner of El Cajon, California; 5 nieces and 5 nephews.

Upon Lorna’s graduation from Fort Scott High School in 1958, she received her Associates of Arts Degree from Fort Scott Community College in 1960 before graduating from Pittsburg State University in 1962 with a BSED in secondary education and in 1991 with MSED in school counseling. Lorna also received her library science and journalism certifications while attending PSU.

Lorna put her education degrees to use by spending over 53 years in the field of education. Lorna taught for 2 years at Fort Scott Junior High, 35 years at Uniontown High School, and 19 years as an adjunct teacher at Fort Scott Community College. During her teaching career, Lorna taught English, speech, journalism, general business, psychology, and world geography along with being the school librarian and facilitator for the Interactive Distance Learning Center. As a coach, Lorna began the very successful volleyball program at Uniontown High School in 1969. Lorna was also the cheerleader coach, pom pom coach, Pep Club sponsor, student council sponsor, school newspaper sponsor, and play director. Lorna also assisted students in preparing for various contests in band, music, choir, FFA, and numerous other activities. Lorna has received numerous awards and honors during her educational and coaching careers. Lorna was also a member of numerous educational, coaching, professional, and community organizations.

Lorna has been a very active member of the Cherry Grove Baptist Church for the majority of her life. She has been the church organist and pianist for over 50 years. She participated in the Cherry Jammers musical group while performing throughout the community. Lorna used her musical talents in a variety of ways. She played for many weddings and funerals, accompanied many 4-H members and college students preparing for local, state, and national music contests. Lorna also spent 12 years playing for rodeos throughout the mid-west.

During her spare time, Lorna enjoyed spending time with her family, doing crafts, and traveling. She also enjoyed spending time with Glenn while he participated in sporting events, rodeos, team roping events, Corriente shows, and church.

The family will hold a private inurnment in Memory Gardens Cemetery.

A public memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Lorna’s name to Cherry Grove Baptist Church in Garland, Kansas, and may be left in care of Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Glen Richard “Rick” Singmaster, 74, of Arcadia, Kansas, passed away on April 13, 2020 at his home.

He was born March 19, 1946 in Fort Scott the son of Donald “Reece” and Luetta “June” Kitchen Singmaster.

Rick was a member of the Fort Scott High School graduating class of 1964. He married Phyllis Cullop in 1965 and from this union, a son was born. They later divorced. In 1985, he married Carol Jenkerson, and they lived a full and happy life together.

Rick was self-employed for most of his life, turning his passion for astronomy into a successful business, Starmaster Telescopes. In addition to astronomy, he had a great love for music, fast cars, motorcycles, and his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Carol, of the home, son Barry Rice and wife, Lynn, 2 daughters, Nicole Conner and husband, Russell, and Sylvia Stapleton and husband, Austin, all of Fort Scott, 7 grandchildren, Stephanie Rice, Madilyn Conner, Megan Conner, Alex Rice, Macey Conner, Donnie Stapleton and Reece Stapleton, sister, Judy Barrow and husband, Ron of Leawood, Kansas, brother, Gary Singmaster of Fort Scott, several nieces, nephews and extended family as well as, many friends in the amateur astronomy community.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Reece and June Singmaster, his beloved brother, Donnie Singmaster, an infant brother, William Singmaster, and a sister-in-law, Margie Singmaster.

Private burial will take place at Clarksburg Cemetery, and a celebration of life will be announced and held at a later date.

The family suggests memorials to the Leukemia Foundation in memory of his brother, Donnie Singmaster.

Donations may be sent to or left in the care of, the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, P.O. Box 309, 15 W. Wall Street, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Phyllis Norris, 88, of Fort Scott, passed away at her home Saturday morning, April 11, 2020. She was born March 11, 1932, in Liberty, Kansas, the daughter of Archibald Warren and Hazel Johanna (Johnson) Austin.

She married Claude Wayne Norris on September 24, 1950, in Cherryvale, Kansas, he preceded her in death on April 30, 2017.

Phyllis attended the Mercy School of Nursing and later worked at the Newman-Young Clinic from 1959 to 1997. She was a member of the Church of Christ.

She is survived by a daughter, Jonni Stanton, and husband, Steve, two sons, Mike Norris and wife, Kathy, and Phillip Norris and wife, Debbie all of Fort Scott, a sister-in-law, Joycelyn Malone and husband, Keith, grandchildren, Jerod Stanton, Lindsey Gulager, Linda Cabuay, Lisa Davis, Megan Vincent and Andy Norris, and 12 great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, Claude, she was preceded in death by her parents.

Phyllis was cremated per her wishes.

Memorial services will be held at a later date under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made in Phyllis’s name to The Beacon, Inc. contributions may be sent to, or left in the care of, the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home at P.O. Box 309, 15 W. Wall Street, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701

The family encourages friends to sign Phyllis’s memorial book at the funeral home. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Elder James O. Johnson, age 74, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at the Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri.

He was born June 16, 1945, in Supply, North Carolina, the son of Carlie Hughes and Laura Ruth Johnson.

He married Catherine Jackson on August 18, 1989, at Ft. Scott. James had served with the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.

He was currently serving as pastor of the Mt. Sinai Church of God in Christ.

Survivors include his wife, Catherine, of the home and his two children, Terrence Johnson and Elinor Johnson, both of Ft. Scott and a grandson, Isiah Johnson. Also surviving are a brother, Carl Johnson, Jr. (Barbara) of North Carolina and a sister, Orene Fullwood More, of Maryland.

He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Mia Johnson and a brother, Robert Johnson.

A memorial service will be held at a later date

. Private burial will take place Friday at the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott.

Memorials are suggested to the Mt. Sinai Church of God in Christ 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.

Marilyn Young, age 88, a resident of Leawood, Kansas, passed away Saturday, April 4, 2020, at the Glenwood Village of Overland Park.

She was born November 19, 1931, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Elmer Phillips and Marjorie Eagon Phillips. Marilyn graduated from the Ft. Scott High School and the Ft. Scott Junior College.

Shen married Jack A. Young in July of 1954, at Ft. Scott. Marilyn had worked as a reservationist for Braniff Airlines.

In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, tending to her flower garden and watching the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs on television.

She and Jack also enjoyed taking the occasional trip “down to the boats.”

Survivors include her son, John Young and his wife, Jeri, of Garland, Texas; her granddaughter, Lauren Minyard and her husband, Kyle and a great-granddaughter, Lucille Minyard.

Marilyn’s husband, Jack, preceded her in death on December 1, 2019. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Phil Phillips.

Private burial will take place Thursday, April 9^th at the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.

John Thomas Durbin Jr., 54, died suddenly on Monday, March 30th from complications related to illness.

John was born on May 21, 1965 in Salinas, California to John Durbin, Sr. and Mary Durbin, the youngest of five children.    

John is survived by his wife, Kelli Durbin (Long), his four children: Micheal Murphy, John, Micheal, and Jeffery Durbin; two step-daughters and a step-son:  Katelyn, Ladonna, and Dylan Long; his three older sisters: Kathy Biggert, Dee Anna Poole, and Faith Durbin; six grandchildren: Taylor, Rebecca, Ayden, Jorden, Knox, and Waylon; and one great-grandchild: Vincent, as well as four nephews and a niece: Jimmy Poole, Jr., Brandon Poole, Matt Brown, Jessica Brown, and Daniel Durbin.

 He was preceded in death by his parents:  John Thomas Durbin Sr. and Mary Durbin (Wicham); his older sister: Candy Brown, as well as his daughter, Justina Marie.

No public services will be held, nor are contributions necessary.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

E. Irene Stockstill, age 90, formerly of Uniontown, KS, went home to be with her lord. She died on April 3, 2020, at her daughters’ home.

She was a lifetime member of First Missionary Baptist Church of Uniontown, KS. She taught Sunday School to the sandbox kids for years at the church every Sunday. She was always ready to help if there was something that needed to be done. She had perfect attendance at church for 25 years. She was always ready with a smile, a kind word or a hug to anyone who was present.

She also worked in the kitchen and lunchroom at Uniontown High School for a number of years. She enjoyed all the people she worked with but especially all the children who came in to eat lunch at school.

Private burial will take place in the U. S. National Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

In the month of May, 1939 in the central Kansas town of Natoma Roberta Mae (Reynolds) Peck was born into the family of Pastor W.R. and Essie Faye Reynolds.  Her next address would be Covington, Tennessee, then on to West Virginia where her parents ministered to churches in Ashford, Chapmanville, and Huntington.  During those growing-up years she learned to take great pride in being a “West Virginia girl” and often referred to herself as such.   She and her older brother, Arnold Lee, and younger sister, Donna Faye were gifted singers.  At a very young age they were involved in musical concerts, contests, Lion’s Club, Eastern Star, revivals and camp meetings.

In response to the desire to have their children attend a Christian school, the Reynolds family moved to Kansas in 1953.  Roberta began the ’53-’54 school year at Fort Scott Bible School (later known as Fort Scott Christian Heights) in Fort Scott, Kansas as a high school freshman, graduating in 1957.  When a caring, perceptive high school teacher, Marjorie Boldra, told Roberta that she should become a teacher, she took it to heart and established that as her goal.  After graduation she went on to Pittsburg State University to earn her Bachelor of Science in Education and Master of Arts in Elementary Education.  Roberta began her teaching career as a third grade teacher in Lee’s Summit, MO.  Later, she joined the faculty at Fort Scott Christian Heights, where she taught for seven years.  In 1972 she responded to a need for Fort Scott USD 234 to begin a Special Needs Education Program.  She taught there four years before moving into the third grade classroom for USD 234.  She served for many years in that capacity, dearly loved by her superiors, co-workers, students, parents – actually, by all who knew her.  Roberta truly loved to teach.  It seems it was what she was born to do, and she fulfilled her calling with excellence.  One of her oft-repeated joys was to have a former student come up to her and tell her she was his/her favorite teacher ever.  She has stayed in close contact with many of those students.  The last day of her career coincided with her 70th birthday, after 45 years of teaching.

During the busy years of her teaching career, Roberta also found time for her ALL-TIME FAVORITES, her family!  On December 21, 1964 she married Wayne L. Peck, who farmed several acres of land southeast of Fort Scott.  Though she once said “I will never marry a farmer,” she did!  She embraced it and learned to love the farm.  She took a year off from teaching on two very worthy occasions, for the birth of daughter Kimberly Dawn and the birth of son Keniston Wayne.  Her family now includes grandchildren: Braden, Aubrey, Nick, Paige, and her husband, Jeff, and great grandson, Caden.  They are genuinely her greatest pride and joy!  Her retired life revolved around her grandchildren’s sporting events, planning special celebrations for the family and establishing unique traditions for them.

Anyone who knew Roberta knows how much she enjoyed laughter and good times with family and friends.  Those good times might even involve a prank or two!  They also know she was a strong Christian and prayer warrior, often sharing your prayer burden as though it were her own.  Those prayers will be greatly missed by her immediate and extended family members!  She will be missed by a multitude, but her spirit will be with us always, a spirit we would all do well to emulate.

Roberta traded her treasured farm home for her heavenly home on April 4, 2020.  She is survived by her husband, Wayne; her daughter and her husband, Kim and Bruce Murphy of Olathe, KS; her son and his wife, Keniston and Tonya Peck of Webb City, MO; her grandchildren: Braden and Aubrey Peck, Nick Murphy, Paige (Murphy) and her husband, Jeff Wixson; and a great grandson, Caden Wixson.  She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Marcy Reynolds of Fort Scott, KS; two sisters and their husbands: Donna and Gerald Carlson of Pinson, AL; Mary Lou and Wayne Sams of Harrisonville, MO; one brother and his wife, Bob and Sharon Reynolds of Olathe, KS; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, W.R. and Essie F. Reynolds, and her brother, Arnold Reynolds.

Private family burial will take place in the Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Fort Scott Christian Heights and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.