Category Archives: Obituary

Obituary of Diane Fryda

Diane Lee Fryda, age 57, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, December 31, 2019, at the Via Christi Hospital Emergency Room in Ft. Scott.

She was born April 25, 1962, in Duluth, Minnesota, the daughter of Clifford Fryda and Rosemary Ruzinsky Fryda. The family lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Floodwood, Minnesota; Watertown, South Dakota and Lincoln, Nebraska before Diane found her way to Kansas and became part of the Tri-Valley family. While with Tri-Valley, Diane worked in janitorial services at Niece. She later worked for eleven years at Pizza Hut. She loved her job at Pizza Hut and could sometimes be seen waving in the lunch crowd. In addition, she occasionally worked at the receptionist desk at Tri-Valley. Diane enjoyed reading and doing word searches as well as looking up current events and science facts on her tablet. She also enjoyed cooking and researching health-friendly recipes.

Survivors include her mother, Rosemary Fryda; three sisters, Nadine (Ron), Debbie and Candice and five brothers, Daniel (Elaine), David, Dean (Lisa), Kim (Sarah) and Paul (Corisa) and numerous nieces and nephews and friends.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 11th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Tri-Valley Developmental Center 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.

Obituary For Geraldine Frances Rainey

Geraldine Frances Raney

Geraldine Frances Raney, age 98, a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away Saturday, December 21, 2019, at her home in Colorado Springs.

She was born August 30, 1921, at the family home near Devon, Kansas, the daughter of Bettus F. Young and Thelma H. Simmons Young. Geraldine graduated from the Fulton High School with the Class of 1939.

She married Cecil Raney on May 31, 1941, at Little Rock, Arkansas.

Cecil and Geraldine made their home in California
for many years. While in California, Geraldine worked twenty-one years in the business office of California State Polytech University at Pomona, California.

Following the death of her husband, Geraldine moved to Colorado Springs to be near her daughter. Geraldine loved to travel and made regular trips to Kansas to visit relatives and attend school reunions.

Survivor include her daughter, Cynthia Norcross and husband, Michael, of Colorado Springs, Colorado and a grandson, Mason Lee Pedotto.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Hazel Lois Young.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct graveside services at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, January 4th at the Glendale Cemetery south of Fulton.

Family and friends may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery at 12:45 P.M.

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

Obituary of Gary Dennison

Gary Wesley Dennison, 75 of Fort Scott, passed away Tuesday night, December 31, 2019 at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center. He was born January 18, 1943 in Booneville, Missouri, and became the son of Guy Wesley and Allie Faye (Maberry) Dennison.

Gary worked with Tri-Valley Developmental Center before taking up residency in the Medicalodge Nursing a few years ago.

He is survived by 4 cousins, Cheryl (Maberry) Blacklidge of Madison, Mississippi. Karen (Mabery) Atkins of Nixa, Missouri, Ray Gene Mabery and Elaine (Mabery) Marshall. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services for Gary Dennison will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 3, 2020 at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Large (Pleasant View) Cemetery. Memorials may be made to either the Tri-Valley Developmental Center or the Medicalodge Activity Fund, contributions may be sent to or left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Obituary of Vicky Lynne Nation

Vicky Lynne Nation, 57, of Fort Scott, passed away Thursday, December 26, 2019 at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.

She was born in Fort Scott, Kansas, June 15, 1962, the daughter of Fred Allen and Connie Arleata (Hanna) Pettyman.

She is survived by two sons, Bryan Nation of Fort Scott, Kansas and Blayne Nation of Reno, Nevada, her mother, Connie Prettyman, a sister, Toni Reece and two nephews, Victor and Emerson Reece all of Pomona, Kansas.

The family will receive friends, 3:00 p.m., Sunday, December 29, 2019 at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.

All other services will be private.

Obituary of Patricia German

Patricia Ann German, age 82, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, went to be with her personal Lord and Savior Thursday, December 26, 2019, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas.

She was born February 21, 1937, in Triadelphia, West Virginia, the daughter of Albert Martin King and Ruth Pauline Rhoades King.

Pat married Norman Dean German on December 23, 1968, at Miami, Oklahoma.

Pat had worked at Peerless Products for over twenty years. She enjoyed crocheting and used this talent to make hundreds of hats for the burn unit at the Shriners Hospital.

Pat and Norman enjoyed traveling to various Shriners events especially parades. Pat also liked cooking and decorating cakes. Above all, Pat loved being a grandma to her three grandchildren, and made it her duty to faithfully pick them up after school. She was a past member of the First Christian Church and more recently a member of the First United Methodist Church as well as the Daughters of the Nile.

Survivors include her daughter, Dee Ann Davis and husband, Allen, of Ft. Scott and three grandchildren, Cody Allen Davis who is stationed at Al Udeid Air Force Base in Qatar; Jasmine Bradley and husband, Chad, of Ft. Carson, Colorado and Lee Patrick Davis, of Ft. Scott.

Her husband, Norman, preceded her in death on April 4, 2008.

Following cremation, Rev. Reed Hartford will conduct a memorial service at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 4th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

A private burial will take place at a later date at the U. S. National Cemetery. Instead of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Mirza Shrine Transportation Fund. This money will be used to take children to hospital visits and can be left in the 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.

Obituary of John Renard

John Arthur Renard, age 81, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Friday, December 20, 2019, at his home. He was born July 22, 1938, in Ellsworth, KS, the son of Carl E. and Myrtle E. Hundley Renard.

He married Judith Ann Hammons on May 17, 1964, in Mapleton, KS. Following high school, John served in the U. S. Navy.

He worked for Smoky Hill Electrical CO-OP in Ellsworth, KS. They moved to Newton, KS, for about a year before taking the job in Fort Scott in 1969. He worked for KG&E as a lineman and equipment operator until his retirement in 1992.

In 1979, John opened his shoe repair shop, Main Street Shoe Repair, inside Calico Cottage. The shop later moved to the most recent location at the back of Country Cupboard, 12 N. Main St. He enjoyed working in his shop, watching Kansas State football on television, checking boxes of Judy’s to-do lists, attending children’s and grandchildren’s events and attending family reunions.

John was a member of the First Christian Church and later attended the First United Methodist Church. He will be remembered as an awesome husband, dad, and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife Judy; three sons, Jim Renard and wife Melissa, Dallas, TX, Ron Renard wife Geila, Marshall, MO, and Dave Renard, Mapleton, KS; a daughter DeeAnne Miller and husband Kevin, Ft. Scott, KS; two sisters, Eunice Smith, Summerville, SC, and Mary Knottgen, Topeka, KS; four grandchildren, Kellen Renard, Kevin Miller, Jr., Sara “Todorovic.”  and Patrick Coman; three great -grandchildren, Vance Salazar, Lyric Coman and Violet Coman; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Leroy and Kenny Renard; five sisters, Velma Schwerdtfeger, Billie Harold, Rita George, Linda Boese, and infant sister Alma Renard.

There was cremation.

Rev. Reed Hartford will conduct memorial services at 11:00 AM Friday, December 27th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until service time at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Bourbon County Fair 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.

Obituary of Eric Stansbury

Eric Stansbury, age 52, resident of Holden, MO, passed away unexpectedly at his home December 15, 2019.

He was born June 23, 1967, in Iola, KS, the son of Ellis Stansbury, Kincaid, KS, and Donita Powell, Arcadia, KS.

Eric was a truck driver for over 25 years. He enjoyed fishing and all his family and friends. He will be missed.

Survivors include his wife Marsha Morris Stansbury of the home; siblings Lonnie Stansbury, Arcadia, KS, Brian Stansbury, Iola, KS, David Carson, LaHarpe, KS, Karen More, Iola, KS, Kristina Stansbury, Arma, Ks, Joanna Carson, Arma, KS, Christina Bruce, Lenexa, KS, and Ginger Stansbury, Manhattan, KS; step sister Tammy Westhoff, Franklin, KS; 2 sons Brandon Wilson, Austin, TX, and Corey Wilson, Ft. Scott, KS; two daughters, Erica Jones, Osage Beach, MO, and Jessica Byrd, Barre, VT; 7 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

There was cremation. A celebration of life service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary of Sandra Jacquinet

Sandra M. Jacquinet, age 74, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Monday, December 16, 2019, at Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, KS.

She was born January 2, 1945, in Girard, KS, the daughter of John Douglas and Virginia Katherine Thomas Owen. Sandra worked for Mercy Hospital as a ward clerk. She retired after 32 years.

She was a strong supporter of Relay for Life for many years. She enjoyed reading novels, especially mysteries and westerns. She liked going to rummage sales and eating out with friends.

Sandra help raise her youngest grandson Bart. While at Medicalodge for the past 3 ½ years, she took pride in making sure everyone at her dining table was well taken care of.

Survivors include a son, Brad Jacquinet and wife Tanya, Keller, TX; grandchildren Maura, Max, Emma, and Bart Jacquinet; two brothers, Michael Owen and wife Ginger, Girard, KS, and Danny Owen and wife Cindy, Farlington, KS; two sisters, Linda Farmer and Terrie Sprague and husband Sonny, all of Ft. Scott; an aunt, Lucinda McCormick, Girard, KS; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a nephew, Timothy Farmer; and her parents.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Thursday, December 19th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Farlington Cemetery, Farlington, KS.

The family will receive friends from 9:00 until service time Thursday morning 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., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Obituary of Opal Binford

Opal G. Binford, age 85, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Sunday, December 15, 2019, at her home.

She was born July 29, 1934, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of Alvin and Bertha Graves Gray. Opal married Earl “Doc” Binford on November 23, 1979. He preceded her in death.

Opal worked for Western Insurance Company in Ft. Scott for 21 years. She enjoyed flower gardening, cooking, and baking, her specialty being banana cake and deviled eggs.

She was a member of Daughters of the Nile and White Shrine. Opal was always happy and liked to have a good time.

Survivors include a daughter, Lisa “Genan” Boone Constantine; a step-son, Dick Binford; step-daughters Sheri Buntain, Belinda Skiles, Ruth Ricci, and Betsie Binford; a brother, Jerry Gray and wife Kathy; a sister, Jeanette Schweikert; sister-in-law Diane Gray; 16 grandchildren; numerous great and great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Bob and Louis Gray; an infant sister Calvina Marie Gray; brother-in-law Bob Schweikert; one granddaughter; and her parents.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct graveside services at 2:00 Thursday, December 19th, in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to either American Heart Association or Mirza Transportation Fund 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.

Obituary of Lorene Lockwood

Lorene Lockwood, age 89, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday, November 28, 2019, at the Medicalodge in Ft. Scott.

She was born February 6, 1930, in Salem, Arkansas, the daughter of William Foster and Ethel Martin Foster.

After graduating high school in Arkansas, Lorene moved to Kansas City.

She first married William Mills and they moved around the country until settling back in Johnson County in the 1960’s. Lorene had worked on The Plaza in Kansas City as a model and was also a ground hostess for Braniff International Airline.

She married James E. Lockwood in 1966. Together they bought a home in South Kansas City where they lived for forty years.

Together, they traveled the world and enjoyed Jim’s love of the sea and explored many ports of call on sailboats. From the Greek Isles to Tahiti, Virgin Gorda to the Yangtze, they did it all. They visited South America in 1967 and she even made it up to Machu Pichu along with Sugar Loaf in Brazil and Punta del Este in Uruguay. Throughout their marriage they loved to travel and there is hardly a country they did not visit together.

Along the way Lorene worked as a manager of a beauty salon and then found her niche as a realtor. She spent thirty years in the real estate business with several outstanding Johnson County companies

. Lorene was also very involved with charity organizations in the KC Metro – the Ballet Ball, the Philharmonic and especially the United Way where she served a term as chairperson. She was truly instrumental in helping Kansas City, Missouri be a City for the Arts.

Survivors include two sons, Jeffrey Mills and Ronald Mills.

Following cremation, private burial will take place in the Evergreen Cemetery in Ft. Scott. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, Kansas.

Obituary of Wilma Leach

Wilma Earlene (Koger) Leach, age 81, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at her home.

She was born September 25, 1938, in Neodesha, Kansas, the daughter of William Earl and Aileen Koger.  Wilma attended Neodesha Schools and graduated from the Neodesha High School in 1956.  She attended Junior Colleges part-time in Coffeyville, Ark City and Fort Scott.

She was married to Adin Leach on April 26, 1958, at the Holy Name Catholic Church in Coffeyville, Kansas.

Wilma worked at Mercy Hospital while living in Independence, Kansas and received training and education in pastoral care.  After moving to Ft. Scott in 1990, Wilma began working at Mercy Hospital in pastoral care.

Wilma started Mother to Mother Ministry of Bourbon County, Kansas with a grant from Catherine’s Legacy in 1998.  The mission was to serve single mothers or any person or family in need.  Her service to those that she helped lasted almost twenty-two years until closing September 16, 2019 because of her health.  Her ministry was made possible by the initial grant, some government programs, local individuals, organizations, and churches including many wonderful volunteers and benefactors.

 

Wilma is survived by her husband, Adin, of the home; daughters, Angie Plaisance and husband, Marc, of Peachtree City, Georgia, Amy Stephens and Mark Ferrell, of Independence, Kansas, Dee Dee O’Malley and husband, Mike, also of Independence, Alison Leach, of Ft. Scott, Kansas and Mimi Turner and husband, Josh, of Ottawa, Kansas.  Also surviving are fifteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

Her son Alan Leach, of Washington, DC passed away in January of 2015.

 

Father Yancey Burgess and Father John Marconi will celebrate Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, December 18th at the Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Ft. Scott.

A graveside service will be held at 2:30 P.M. Wednesday at the Calvary Cemetery in Independence, Kansas.

The rosary will be recited at 6:00 P.M. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Visitation will follow from 6:30 to 8:00 P.M.

Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s Catholic School 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.

Obituary of Ruth Wells

On December 11, 2019, the Good Lord called a faithful servant home to glory.  Ruth Fidelia (Culler) Wells, age 88, a former resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, entered her heavenly home on Wednesday evening at the Medicalodge in Girard, Kansas.  She was born January 23, 1931, at the family farm home in Vernon County, Missouri.  She was happily married to Kenneth Earl Wells on April 16, 1950, a union that lasted for over fifty-six years.  God gave them six children; Steven E. Wells, Kathryn E.  (Kathy) Wells, Deloris E. (Lorie) Wells, Faith E. Varner, Warren E. Wells and Dwayne E. Wells.  Her surviving grandchildren are Melissa J. Love, Clifton Varner, Daniel Varner, Michael Wells, Cassandra (LeeAnn) Wells, Rose Wells, Matthew Wells and Jamie Judy.  There are also several surviving great-grandchildren.   Ruth is now enjoying seeing her Savior’s face and sharing Heaven with her husband who passed away August 1, 2006; two of her children were also awaiting her there, Warren and Deloris (Lorie).  Ruth’s parents, William B. Culler and Mary (Marie) Leer Culler and brothers, William (Bud) Culler and John Culler are all deceased.  Ruth has two younger siblings, Donna Marie Culler and Dorothy Jane Hicks.

 

Ruth loved family.  She cared for children of all ages during her life.  She was a teacher at a country school at the age of seventeen, after only one years of college.  She was a teen Sunday School teacher in a Baptist church in Wichita.  Ruth worked in the nursery at the First Southern Baptist Church and she was the primary care giver in the church nursery at Grace Baptist Tabernacle for 13 years. During the last few years of her life, she started a small church called Cross Road in the former Catt School building, in rural Fort Scott.

 

She was well known for her homemade pies and cast-iron skillet fried chicken. Her children’s friends were always welcome at any time to sit down at the supper table and enjoy farm raised meals. Ruth spent her last months telling others about her Savior, Jesus Christ in the nursing homes in southeast Kansas. Residents in the Girard facility called her “Grandma” and some would ask her to pray for them. She will be missed here on earth but she is welcomed up there in Heaven by her Creator and family members as well as Christian friends.

 

Pastor Bradley Friesen will conduct a graveside service, at 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 17, 2019 in the Deerfield Cemetery in Deerfield, Missouri. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 10:00 – 10:45 AM, prior to leaving for the cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Bible Believers Baptist Church Mission 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.