Nancy Lee Kountz, age 72, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, July 8, 2019, at the Medicalodge in Ft. Scott.

She was born March 10, 1947, in Moline, Illinois, the daughter of Harry Albert DeWispeleare and Sylvia Darylene VanAusdall DeWispeleare.

Nancy had worked for Wal-Mart in Ft. Scott for several years. She enjoyed baking and quilting and was known for her feisty personality.

Nancy is survived by her friends James and Kellye Jackson who provided for her care.

There was cremation and no services are scheduled at this time. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott.

Survivors include her husband, Ron, of the home; a son, Richard Anthony Evans, of Newburg, Indiana and two daughters, Rachel Ann Barnette, of Columbia, Tennessee and Robin April Evans, of Danville, Illinois; two step-daughters, Kristine Logan and husband, Al, of Lansing, Kansas and Robin Stickle-Lucas of Lawrence, Kansas; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.  Also surviving is her mother, Dolores VanFleet and her brother, Jim VanFleet and wife, Michelle, all of Rockport, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her father.

There was cremation and no services are planned at this time.  Memorials are suggested to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital 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.

Joyce Ilene True, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Wednesday, July 3, 2019, at Country Place Living in Ft. Scott.

She was born December 28, 1946, in Kansas City, KS, the daughter of Lynn and Pearl Childs Haller. She graduated from Shawnee Mission North high school then obtained her bachelor’s in education from Emporia State University.

She married Michael True on June 15, 1968, in Shawnee, KS. He preceded her in death on February 16, 2018.

Joyce taught elementary school wherever Michael was stationed until her children were born.

Later, she worked as a substitute teacher. Joyce enjoyed crafts, sewing, painting, flower gardening, and traveling. She was a member of the Midwest MGA Club, D.A.R., and Pioneer Kiwanis.

Survivors include a son, Steve True and wife Victoria, Ottawa, KS; a daughter, Julie True, Joplin, MO; and four grandchildren.

Besides her husband Michael, she was preceded in death by her parents.

There was cremation.

A memorial visitation will be held at 3:00 PM Friday, July 26^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Private burial will take place at a later date in the U. S. National Cemetery, Ft. Scott.

Memorials are suggested to Pioneer Kiwanis Children’s Activity 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.

Karlene Kay Spencer, age 70, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at the Via Christi Hospital Emergency Room in Ft. Scott.

She was born September 15, 1948, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of William Karl Murn and Frances Rebecca Greer Murn.

Karlene graduated from the Ft. Scott High School and the Ft. Scott Junior College. She worked for several years for the Western Insurance Company.

She married Dr. Richard Spencer on October 12, 1971.

In earlier years, she was a member of the Grace Baptist Tabernacle. She latter attended Parkway Church of God (Holiness). She enjoyed playing the piano. Karlene was a devoted wife and mother. She faithfully cared for her son, Jonathan throughout his illness.

Survivors include her husband, Richard “Dick” Spencer, of the home.

She was preceded in death by her son, Jonathan, her parents, Bill and Becky Murn and her in-laws, Virgil and Dorothy Spencer.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Friday, July 5th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Ft. Scott Christian Heights 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.

Donald Gene ‘Butch’ Krug, 72, of Callahan, Florida, went home to be with his Lord and Savior June 19, 2019, at UF Health Shands Hospital, Gainesville, Florida.

He was born October 27, 1946 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Jacksonville to Walter Eugene and Ellen Blakley Krug. He moved to the Boys’ Home Association in Jacksonville at age 10.

Butch graduated from Ft. Scott Junior College and Pittsburg State College in Kansas. He played football at both schools. He married the love of his life, Connie Morehead June 5, 1970.

He was a Firefighter Engineer for the City of Jacksonville Beach for 28 years retiring in 2003. They lived in Jacksonville until 2009 when they moved to the home he built in Callahan.

He worked hard caring for his family. He enjoyed sports, racquetball, football, golf and softball.

He was saved at the age of 23 at the First Baptist Church in Ft. Scott, Kansas. He was later a member of Arlington Baptist Church Jacksonville. He was currently a very active member of Callahan First Baptist Church. He made friends everywhere he went. He enjoyed telling stories and didn’t mind telling on himself! His favorite Bible verse was Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” He tried to embody that verse in his life.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Connie; his son Aaron Samuel (Amanda) Krug of Midlothian, Virginia; one granddaughter Samantha Jo Krug; two sisters-in-law Betty (George) Colgin of Fort Scott; Cheryl (Danny) Craig; and brother in-law David (Melissa Albers) Morehead; and a host of special friends in Kansas, Virginia, Jacksonville, Callahan and everywhere he traveled.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ellen Wiggins.

A graveside service will be held in the Maple Grove Cemetery, Ft. Scott, Kansas, in the fall.

Donations in memory of Donald Krug are suggested to the American Lung Association 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.

Marian Thomas of Alamogordo, NM, formerly of Sedalia, Mo, died Monday, June 24, 2019, at Gerald Chapman Hospital in Alamogordo. She was 88 years old.

The daughter of Preston K and Julia Rife, she was born October 13, 1930, at Shaw, Kansas.

On March 2, 1958, she married James “Jake” Thomas in Iola, Kansas. They made their home in various states including Kansas, Oregon and Missouri.

Survivors include three sons, Paul (Tammy) of Neosho, Missouri, Hank (Eileen) of Seneca, Missouri, Lewis (Kelly) of Alamogordo, a daughter Joy (Dan) Crum of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; a brother Sam (Helen) Rife of Mildred, Kansas; eight grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, many nephews, nieces and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Preston and Julia Rife, her husband, Jake Thomas, a son Bill Thomas, and a grandson Torry Thomas.

Memorial services will be held graveside, Wednesday, July 10th, at 10:30 a.m., at the Osage Cemetery, northeast of Mildred, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her name to the association of your choice and 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.

Patricia Cowan, age 73, passed away peacefully Saturday, June 29, 2019, in Topeka, KS.

Patricia lived in Fort Scott, KS, the majority of her life. She worked for Western Insurance companies and then American States for many years.

She retired in the mid 90’s to spend more time with her loving husband and new grandchildren. They were what meant the most to her. She loved children. Not just her children, she loved all children. She would tell you spending time with children keeps you young…. young at heart anyway. The most precious memories were time spent with her grandchildren then as they grew older spending time with Jackson, Olivia, Grace, Audrey and Ella. They all meant so much to her.

She is survived by her two children, Jeri (Jeff) Keller and John (Helen) Harding, two grandchildren – Ashley (Sam) Brooks and Austin Keller, one brother- Donalle (Barbara) Walker and one sister – Linda (Bert) Fisher.

She is predeceased by her husband, Homer Cowan, Jr. as well as her parents, Orville and Doris Walker, her brother Charles Walker and sister Shirley Burford.

There was cremation.

A graveside committal service will be held at 1:30 PM Friday, July 5th, in the U. S. National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 11:30 until 12:30 Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society 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.

Anna Darlene Woods, age 85, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Friday, June 28, 2019, in Kansas,

OK. She was born September 2, 1933, in Ft. Scott, the daughter of John and Pearl Martin Mitzner. She attended Ft. Scott area schools and received her LPN degree from St. Luke’s nursing program. She worked for several different hospitals and nursing homes in her career. Her devotion to nursing led to her daughter becoming a surgical technician and granddaughters becoming nurses.

She married Warren Henry Woods. He preceded her in death in 1985.

She enjoyed fishing, gardening, knitting and sewing.

Survivors include a son, Warren Woods and wife Donna, Osawatomie, KS; two daughters, Deborah Kelly and husband Bill, Kansas, OK, and Cheryl Loyd and husband Kevin, Shawnee, KS; five brothers, Fred Mitzner and wife Erma, Ft. Scott, Bill Mitzner and wife Mary Beth, Paola, KS, Dave Mitzner and wife Geneva, Beagle, KS, Jerry Mitzner and wife Joy, Mindenmines, MO, and Steve Mitzner, Columbia; and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by two sisters, Martha Petrie and Pat Ballou; two brothers, Johnny and Larry Mitzner; and her parents.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Wednesday, July 3rd at the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.

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

Memorials are suggested to donor’s local hospice of choice. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.