Judy Kay Duffy, age 78, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, August 3, 2020, at Select Specialty Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas.

She was born September 13, 1941, at Emporia, Kansas, the daughter of Leonard Walker and Hildred America Standau Walker.

She first married Charles Turner. They later divorced. Judy later married Loyal Duffy on August 13, 1993, at Miami, Oklahoma.

In earlier years, Judy made her home in both Kansas City and Emporia. She worked in Human Resources for Montgomery-Ward. She later became a licensed dental hygienist and worked in this capacity for a time. She was later employed in document services at Wolf Creek Power Plant.

Following her marriage to Loyal in 1993, she moved to Ft. Scott. She enjoyed tending her flowers and watching birds as well as traveling and taking trips on the motorcycle. Following her husband’s retirement, Judy and Loyal spent several years working for the parks department at Beaver Lake.

Survivors include her husband, Loyal, of the home; a daughter, Brenda Gordon and husband, Robert, of Hartford, Kansas; two step-children, Kevin Duffy and wife, Shelley, of Burlington, Kansas and Deanna Duffy, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, six grandchildren, Josh Turner, Scott Turner, Trisha Ecton, Patrick Gordon, Mikel Duffy and Kenyon Duffy and several great-grandchildren. Also surviving are a brother, Quintin Walker of Kansas City, Kansas and Freda Birchmier, of Americus, Kansas.

She was preceded in death by a son, Charles “Chuck” Turner, Jr.; two sisters, Hildred Marie Barrett and Helen Sill and three brothers, Jack Walker, Leonard Walker, Jr. and Darrel Walker.

There was cremation. A memorial service with burial in the Chicago Mound Cemetery at Emporia, Kansas will take place at a later date. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes 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 to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Forestine Rosetta Hoover, 90, of Fort Scott, passed away early Friday morning, July 31, 2020, at the Medicalodge Nursing Home.

She was born December 4,1929, in Devon, Kansas, the daughter of Charles Frederick and Gladys Ida (Huss) Miller. She married Eldon Hoover August 5, 1951, in Fort Scott, and he preceded her in death March 5, 2003.

Forestine was a Registered Nurse and worked for Mercy Hospital early in her career, but most people will remember her as Dr. Pratt Irby’s nurse at Newman Young Clinic and then later for Dr. Dean Gettler.

She was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church, and Gideons International.

Forestine is survived by her children, Denise Arlene Imel and husband Chuck, of Tampa, Florida, Teresa Lee Maki and husband John, of Alma, Missouri, Linda Rose Prior and husband Ian, of Tampa, Florida, Sandra Lynn Fagan and husband Ed, of Honolulu, Hawaii, and James Eldon Hoover, of Joplin, Missouri; a brother, Arthur Calvin Miller, of Higginsville, Missouri; a sister, Esther Alpha Anderson, of Tuttle, Oklahoma; fourteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband Eldon, she was also preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter, Cheryl Ann Hoover, a grandson, Gabriel Thayer Hoover, and three brothers, Delbert, Louis, and Joe Miller.

Funeral services will be at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 4, 2020, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, followed by burial at the Fort Scott National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Southern Baptist Church and 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.

Wesley Allan Gress, 68, of Fort Scott, passed away late Sunday night July 19, 2020, at Via Christi Ascension in Fort Scott, Kansas. Wes was born March 22, 1952, in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of Warren Wesley and Dorothy Mae (Snyder) Gress. He married Colene Janette Summers August 24, 1975, in Kansas City, Kansas, and she preceded him in death January 15, 2020.

Wes attended Devry Institute of Electronics in Chicago, Illinois, and was an electrician for Niece Industries. He was a hands-on person that could fix anything. He played golf, loved gardening, was a master on the grill and loved to cook. He was an avid Chiefs and Royals fan.  He loved listening to music.

Wes is survived by his daughters, Andrea Weak of Pocahontas, Illinois, and Stephanie King, of Pittsburg, Kansas; a sister, Sherry Sugg, of Lakewood, Colorado; and two grandsons, Levi Weak and Kyran Weak. In addition to his wife Colene, he was also preceded in death by his parents, and a daughter, Renea Lynn Gress.

Following cremation, memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 1, 2020, at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Diabetes Association and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 West Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Earl “Poncho” Colley, Jr., age 55, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Tuesday, July 28, 2020, at his home.

He was born October 24, 1964, in Tahlequah, OK, the son of Earl Colley, Sr. and Pamela Rice Colley.

Earl worked for Rent-A-Center for 17 years. He never met a stranger and could always make you laugh. He enjoyed MOKAN races, football (Chiefs), swimming, and classical rock music.

Earl was a talented individual, from auto mechanic, to carpentry, to cooking.

He and wife Lisa never had an argument.

Survivors include his wife Lisa of the home; three sons, Zach Lyman, Ft. Scott, Andrew Colley and wife, Erica, CA, and Joseph Colley, CO; two daughters, Kaitie Lyman, Ft. Scott, and Enjoli Colley, CO; three brothers, Rusty Green, Joplin, MO, Earl Colley and wife, Froenie, Sulphur OK, and Jamie Allen Rice, Midland, TX; a sister, Missy Colley Carriger and husband Darren, Osawatomie, KS; 10 grandchildren including JayLynn and Lynkoln Lyman; and 7 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

There was cremation. Memorial graveside services will be held at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the Earl Colley, Jr. Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Edith Irene Brillhart passed from this life, on Wednesday evening, July 22, 2020, at the Olathe Medical Center Hospice House. 

 She was born December 10, 1928, the daughter of Ward and Edith Wellington of Mapleton, Kansas. She was a graduate of Blue Mound High School where she met and later married Carl Brillhart on June 29, 1946.

  Irene was preceded in death by her husband Carl of 60 years who died January 2006, her brother Paul Wellington and wife Fay of Independence, Mo., her parents, Ward and Edith Wellington of Mapleton, Ks, and great-grandson, Rueben Brillhart of Hutchinson, Ks. 

Irene is survived by her brother Joe Wellington and wife Betty of Edmond, OK, as well as four children, David Brillhart and wife Brenda of Aurora, CO, Sue Sackett and husband George if Olathe, KS, Steve Brillhart and wife Mary of Hutchinson, KS, and Sheila Marmon of Gainesville, TX, as well as 11 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Irene was a member and actively involved in the Community of Christ in Mapleton, KS.  Her most important and valued positions in life were that of devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend.

She enjoyed an active social life with friends of the Scott Avenue Apartments where she lived and with longtime friends of her surrounding farm community.

Richard Long and David Nickelson will officiate at the graveside service at 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 24^th, at Mapleton Cemetery under the direction of Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel. 

The family asks that donations be made to your local Hospice House. Words of remembrance and condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Claudia Marie Maberry, a former resident of Fort Scott, died July 17, 2020 (one day after her 96^th birthday) in Vaiden Community Living Center, Vaiden, Mississippi).

She was born July 16, 1924, the daughter of Roy Francis Kennedy and Anna Maria Fagerberg Kennedy, in Fort Scott. She attended Fort Scott schools, graduating with the senior class of 1941. She then attended Fort Scott Junior College briefly.

She married Oscar C. Maberry of Garland, Kansas on April 5, 1946. They would have celebrated their 58^th anniversary six days after Oscar’s death on March 30, 2004.

Claudia’s first job was at the local ice cream parlor. She then opened and managed Elmer Pargen’s first restaurant before going to work as a seamstress for Key Work Clothes for several years.

Claudia’s most important and valued positions in life were that of devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She was an active, member of the now-closed First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, for 58 years. She was, also, a member of the Builder’s Class, Anna Bender Guild, and served as a board member and deaconess and could be found frequently working in the kitchen preparing meals for various church events. Claudia was proud to be a charter member of Starlite FCE and continued her membership throughout her life.

Claudia moved to Madison, MS in December 2016, to live with her daughter and son-in-law.

Claudia was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one brother, Earl R. Kennedy, and one sister, Elizabeth (Betty) Lee Clinkenbeard.

Survivors include her daughter, Cheryl Blacklidge and husband Robert of Madison, MS, one grandson, Brandon Blacklidge of Madison, MS., and a much loved niece, Shirley Marie Freeman of Kansas City, Kansas and her children Kenny Wilson, and family, and Kimberlee McCannon, and family. Other survivors include a niece, Amy Kennedy, and family, of Portland, Oregon, and two nephews, Jeff Kennedy, and family of Portland, Oregon, and David Kennedy, and family, of Salem, Oregon. She is also survived by one first cousin, Ron Wood and wife Barbara of Fort Scott.

Rev. Reed Hartford will officiate graveside services 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 25, 2020, at Evergreen Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Evergreen Cemetery. Contributions may be mailed or dropped off at Evergreen Cemetery 914 215^th St., Fort Scott, Kansas 666701, or Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home 15 West Wall St. Fort Scott, Kansas. 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guest book at konantz-cheney.com.

George Daniel Weber, age 75, resident of Hepler, Kansas, passed away at 7:05 a.m., Thursday, July 16^th, 2020, at his home surrounded by family.

George was born September 19^th, 1944, in Nevada, Missouri, the son of Lewis Daniel Weber and Marzie Etheleen (Cocke) Weber. He attended the Hackberry Country School, Nevada High School and Fort Scott Community College.

George married Arlene Ausemus on March 29^th, 1982, in Grove, Oklahoma. She survives of the home.

George, enlisted in the United States Army on November 19^th, 1966, and attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and then advanced individual training at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Following his completion of his military training, George was deployed to the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam in support of United States Military forces in the Vietnam War. During his time in service, George served as primary motor pool sergeant and was instrumental in his unit’s success in the completion of numerous reconnaissance missions for retrieval and repair of military equipment throughout his time in Vietnam. After returning home from Vietnam, George was station at Fort Carson, Colorado until he was honorably discharged at the rank of E5/Sergeant on November 16^th, 1969.

During his life George worked as a journeyman roofer as a part of the roofers union while employed by Maloney Roofing, Delivery and Sales for Fort Scott Beverage Company, Sales and Service for Henkley Beverage/ 7up International, lead carpenter for Joe Richards construction, 13+ years as a convenience store manager for Severy’s Conoco in Fort Scott, Kansas, as well as spent many years working for local farmers and ranchers.

He enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, family fish fry’s, vacationing in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and spending time with his family.

He was also a member of the VFW and American Legion.

Survivors include his wife Arlene Weber, of Hepler; son David Weber, and his wife, Betty, of Fort Scott; daughter Robin Weber, and spouse, Justin Edwards, of Girard; daughter Sheril Murray, and husband, Evan, of Toronto; daughter Sara Conkling, and husband, Joseph, of Fort Scott; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his sister Verna Helen Steele of Springfield, MO; and his brother Woody Weber of Rich Hill, MO.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister Lois Weber; two brothers, William and Claud Weber; and two nephews, David Leon Weber and Gary Weber.

The family will receive friends from 11:30 AM to 1:15 PM Tuesday July 21^st, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Private family burial will take place in the U. S. National Cemetery, Ft. Scott.

Memorials are suggested to either Donate Life or American Diabetes Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.