Obituary of Phyliss Plaster
Phyllis Plaster, age 82, resident of Hiattville, KS passed away Monday, October 28, 2024, at her home. She was born Phyllis Jean Fricke on October 6th, 1942, in Kansas City, MO. She was the daughter of Virgil and Helen Fricke of the same city.
She went to school at Southeast High School in Kansas City, where she met her husband, Steve, at age 13. In algebra class, she kept asking him what the algebra equation meant and what the answer was. And he, of course, provided the answers to this young blonde beauty. Later, at the age of 16 and 10 months both of them were brought together at the Fairyland Park swimming pool in July of 1959. They hit it off and were a steady couple from October 20th, 1959, until their marriage on September 1st, 1963. In between that time they were lavaliered, pinned, engaged, and then finally married. They were blessed to be kept together because Steve went to the University of Kansas and Phyllis went to Research Hospital and the University of Missouri, Kansas City. So they were 50 miles apart, but they made sure for three years, 1960 through 1963, that they were a couple on each and every weekend, whether in Kansas City or in Lawrence, KS.
In. late October 1964, their first son, Brad Plaster was born. What a joy. They now lived in Kansas City and Steve had gotten a job at Union Carbide in July of 1964. Phyllis had already been working from September 1963 at Research Hospital as a Registered Nurse. They were both interested in moving from Kansas City to have more opportunities on the East Coast. Steve in particular wanted to be with a large public corporation such as Union Carbide, which was headquartered in New York City, NY. So they moved in 1968 to Willingboro New Jersey. Then they moved to Yorktown, NY in 1970. Along the way, in 1967, their daughter Jennifer, or Jen as she’s called, was born in Kansas City and was with them there for one year before moving with her parents to New Jersey. What a joy she is. Eric Plaster, their third child, was born in 1968 in Willingboro, NJ where they resided. What a joy. Then in 1970, they moved another time 2 times in Yorktown.
The Lord found them at the age of 28 and they accepted the Lord at that time at Community Bible Church in Ossining, NY.
They worked at various places in the New York area and enjoyed bringing up their family. Steve continued to go to school throughout the many years they were married, which Phyllis tolerated graciously. They then transferred to Westlake, OH and spent four years raising high schoolers. In Westlake, OH. at Westlake High School all of their kids were athletes and Friday Night Lights was the big event. They then returned to the East Coast living and working in Connecticut, both Ridgefield and Danbury, CT and attended the same church, Community Bible Church. During this time, Phyllis worked in Connecticut and New York.
In all, she had 50 years of nursing work experience. In 1985, Union Carbide was challenged with a takeover and was ultimately broken up into divisions to be sold. The Eveready-Energizer Battery Company was sold to Ralston Purina of St. Louis, MO. So after four years in Connecticut, they moved to St. Louis, MO. And, at this time, Phyllis got her Bachelor’s Degree from Webster University in nursing. Steve worked at Ralston Purina with Eveready Battery Company from 1987 until his retirement in 1996.
In 1996, the oldest son Brad felt that our immediate family was too spread out and so he thought we ought to move together all in the same area. And so he scouted out the various areas and selected Florida as our next home, so in 1994-95. Eric and Brad moved down to Florida, Brad first to Clearwater and then on down to Naples. Brad married Kristin in 2004. Eric married Angie and moved to Naples in 1995. Then Jen and Chuck still living in Connecticut moved down in 2008, so that we were all together within 3 miles of each other. The boys started their own company and it was a pool building and service company that has been very successful. They live next door to each other and they work together in the same complex that they own. Chuck is a very successful Carpenter and skilled in those matters of repair and has his own business and also works for a franchise.
All three of Phyllis’s children live in Naples. A couple of years ago Phyllis and Steve decided to begin to transition more back to Missouri and Kansas, as Phyllis had inherited a farm and some acreage in Hiattville, Kansas in 1990, near Fort Scott, Kansas. Phyllis added some land and a couple more houses and she and Steve began to come down first on a couple of weekends in the summer and then for a month and then more and more, then as they were much older in their sixties and seventies, for example, they came down for two months and three months respectively. During the last three years, they decided to be in their beloved Hiattville for six months and in Naples, FL, where our family is for six months. They had always wanted to spend their last years together here. And also to be buried right next to their property in the cemetery next to Virgil Fricke, who is Phyllis’s father.
Phyllis is dear to many people both in Florida and every church and community she has lived in. They were transferred nine times with Steve’s job. Phyllis worked at a total of 28 different jobs in nursing, health care, and home care across the Eastern half of the country. So she was employed for a long time, 50 years, although sometimes part time.
They accepted the Lord together at age 28. And were determined to raise their three children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. They’ve been blessed with seven grandchildren and that would be: Brad’s children, who are Dietrich and Harrison, with Jen’s four children who are Erica, Rachel, Alli and Luke, and then with Eric’s five children, who are Zane, Cheyenne, Josephine, Grant, and Olivia. Erica and Rachel live in on the East Coast in Stuart, and West Palm. Alli lives in North Carolina. Luke lives in Nashville, TN and Zane is in the Los Angeles area of California. Erica is married to Andy Hall with their two children Marley Jeane and Julie. Rachel is married to Garrett Bechtel with their three children Reagan, Joshua, and Grady. Alli is married to Jacob Van Proyen. Cheyenne is married to Nic Hannigan with two children Anakin and Rohan. So Phyllis has three children, eleven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Phyllis has been a person that has been a blessing all of her life. She loves the outdoors, she loves exercise, and she loves projects. She loves serving others and she is a giver rather than a receiver. She has been the love of her husband’s life, for a total of 65 years. They’ve been married for 61 years since September 1, 1963. They presently are residing in Hiattville, Kansas. They have attended multiple churches. Between the ages of 18 to 28, Phyllis was a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Then she was a member of a Bible church for eleven years, and then a member of a Baptist Church for four years, each time they were transferred to a different state. Then she was a Plymouth Brethren for about 22 years and then, a member of a Bible church in Naples and then, a Southern Baptist Church for the past 18 years. Phyllis has enjoyed sewing, cooking, bike riding, swimming, and particularly buying little gifts for her great-grandchildren. Steve says. “To have friends like you here today and some who are not here because of distances and other encumbrances is a blessing. Phyllis wanted each one that hears this message to know that she loves them and that she prays for them and has done that for many years, particularly the family and close friends.” Phyllis has probably 50 cousins in the Sedalia, Warrensburg, and Concordia, MO area. Her closest cousins are Kathy Wilburn, Connie Skelton, Mary Siard and Carl Ray Colson.
Rev. Joel Crippen will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Thursday, October 31st, at the Hiattville United Methodist Church.
Burial will follow in the Hiattville Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Wednesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to the First Southern Baptist Church, Fort Scott 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 online at cheneywitt.com.
Fire Engulfs Farm Combine on Oct. 28: Community Steps In
The unusually warm weather—almost 90 degrees—and the strong winds have created dangerous conditions for fires once they have started.
Stacy Racy stated on her Facebook page last night that her dad, Bill Keith , had a piece of farm equipment engulfed in fire.
Her dad was combining wheat on his farm near Hammond, about 12 miles north of Fort Scott on Monday evening, October 28.
“You can’t see right behind you on a combine,” Racy said. “The combine died and he stood on the platform on it and saw that it was on fire.”
“Tonight, my dad’s combine caught fire. Once again, Jerry Nafzger, my dad’s guardian angel here on earth, came to his rescue,” she said on her Facebook page. “My dad didn’t know the combine was on fire until it died in the field. Jerry had seen the fire and called the fire department as he headed to the field.”
“Two young men Kyler Tweedy and Clint Barker from the Muddy Waters Farms elevator (in Hammond) arrived and plowed around the north side of the combine since the wind was blowing fiercely,” she said. “They plowed around… to keep the fire from jumping.”
Racy thanked the Bourbon County Fire District #3 for aiding in putting out the fire. This rural fire department had just come from a grass fire in the area.
“Thank you to Bourbon County Fire District 3. This rural fire district covers the Devon, Uniontown, Hiattville, Fulton, Bronson, and Redfield areas in the county,” she said
“Most of these young men and women are volunteers and all worked together to get the fire under control quickly,” she said.
Racy noted that the fire crew had to wait on a train at Soldier Road in traveling to the site of the fire.
Racy posted the above photo on her Facebook page and said:
“I have several pictures ( she took of the combine fire) but this one spoke volumes as a 80-year-old man watches his combine go up in smoke,” she said. “We can replace the combine, it’s just materialistic, but once again Jesus protected him and sent people to help him. Jerry (Nafger)even came back later to pray with him!”
“Numerous neighbors came to check on him,” Racy said.” Living in this community is such a blessing.”
The combine is a total loss, she said.
This morning she received a text from a young farmer neighbor, Charles Johnson, who volunteered to come combine the rest of the wheat, she said.
“When people need help, people step up,” she said. “We have such good people as neighbors.”
This is the proclamation against all outside fires in Bourbon County, until lifted.
“Due to the extreme heat and little rain, fire-hazard conditions in Bourbon County are very high. Because of the limitations of water usage by rural fire districts, there is concern for the capabilities of those fire districts to address any fire. Once started, with the present weather conditions, a fire will be difficult to control by fire departments. Water usage is of great concern to all fire departments, and the availability of enough water to contain a fire.
The dry conditions, above-normal temperatures and fire danger will continue unabated until sufficient rainfall occurs across the area.
It is hereby proclaimed, directed, and ordered by the Bourbon County Commissioners, in accordance with K.S.A. 48-932, that the following acts are prohibited within the boundaries of this County by all citizens and visitors:
- All outside burning, unless specifically approved in writing by the Fire Chief, with the exception of covered barbeque grills.
The knowing and willful violation of this order shall constitute a Class A misdemeanor and any person convicted of such violation shall be punished as provided by law. [K.S.A. 48-939]
This Proclamation shall be in full force and effect until lifted.
Passed in open session by the Board of County Commissioners of Bourbon County, Kansas, this 15th day of October 2024.”
Chamber Coffee Hosted by FSNHS On Oct. 31
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Fort Scott High School Performs Disney’s Frozen Jr.
Fort Scott High School performs Disney’s Frozen Jr. musical at 7 p.m. on Nov. 12, 14, and 16 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 16 at the FSHS Auditorium.
The music and lyrics for Frozen Jr. are by Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez with a book by Jennifer Lee. It is based on the Disney film written by Jennifer Lee and directed by Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee.
“A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen JR. expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood,” according to publisher Music Theatre International.
The production features Junior Junie Fisher as Elsa, Junior Chris Newman as Anna, sophomore Theodore Bowman as puppeteer for Olaf, senior Cooper George as Hans, senior Mykael Lewis as Kristoff, and junior Sypher Cannon as puppeteer for Sven. Eugene Ware students Olivia Ford and Nevaeh Fialkowski play Young Elsa and Young Anna and freshmen Gianna Gorman and Mary Racer portray Middle Elsa and Middle Anna.
Tickets are reserved seating in advance and available at fortscotthighschool.ludus.com. Seating is limited, but some tickets may be available at the door. Adults are $8 and children are $6. A $14 VIP Ticket experience includes the opportunity to meet the Frozen cast and take an exclusive photo, a Frozen gift bag, concession snack, and concession drink.
Frozen Jr. is directed by Theatre Director Angie Bin, Music Director Taylor Jones, Choreographer Abby Stepps, and Assistant Director Mesa Jones.
The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office Daily Reports Oct. 29
The 2024 Kansas Museums Association Conference will be held in Fort Scott
The Gordon Parks Museum is pleased to announce that Fort Scott, KS will be the host site for the 2024 Kansas Museums Association Conference, November 6 – 8, 2024. The Gordon Parks Museum will serve as the Member Host Organization and both The Fort Scott National Historic Site and The Lowell Milken Center will also serve as Additional Hosts.
Fort Scott’s local host planning committee put together a competitive bid proposal almost three years ago to host this annual event. This three-day annual conference will attract 125-150 museum professionals from around the state of Kansas. The conference will provide breakout sessions and workshops with a wide range of topics and the latest trends in museums and preservation.
The conference will use several venues in Fort Scott such as: The Gordon Parks Museum, Ellis Fine Arts Center, and The River Room Events Center. Conference attendees will also go on tours and site visits at some of the attractions in the community to include, the Fort Scott National Historic Site, Lowell Milken Center, 110 S. Main (Cohn’s Café), The Liberty Theater and many others along with other site visits in the surrounding area.
“We are very excited about this great opportunity to bring such large group of museum professionals from across the state to our town, to not only show what we have to offer, but for them to shop, dine, stay and support our museums and other attractions in our community.” said, Kirk Sharp, Executive Director, Gordon Parks Museum.
For 55 years, the KMA Annual Conference has served as a focal point for its member institutions that range from Stanton County Museum in Johnson, Kansas to the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka. Officially formed in spring 1969 when its first organizational meeting was held in Abilene. The Kansas Museums Association offers numerous networking and professional development gatherings and opportunities across the state each year. The KMA is headquartered in Wichita.
The SEK Library Newsletter October 2024
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AD: Vote Republican On November 5
Fundraiser for the New Ice Skating Rink is at Sharky’s on November 4
The plan for the new ice skating rink is to open during the Christmas on the Bricks Festival, Friday, December 7th at the Gathering Pavilion on North National Avenue, according to Diane Striler, project coordinator.
“The high school carpentry class led by Jason Johnson, is starting to build the shed that will house the skates,” said Striler.
“Sharky’s Pub and Grub, 16 N. National will be hosting on Nov. 4th to help us raise funds for the rink,” she said. Ten percent of the net sales that day will be donated to help fund the ice skating rink.
“I have also included links for people who would like to help us with a donation. We are getting closer, but still need a little over $20,000.00.” The total goal of the rink that will last approximately 15 years is $50,000 which includes the skates, rink, sharpeners, and building that will house the skates and take the $5 fee for skating.
See the flyer below to scan and donate to the ice skating rink.
The rink is a new addition to the Christmas on The Bricks festival that began last year in Historic Downtown Fort Scott.
Senator Moran Will Tour Fort Scott High School On Oct. 29
Sen. Moran to Tour Fort Scott High School
TOMORROW, October 29
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What:
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U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) today announced he will tour Fort Scott High School at 9:45 a.m. CT on Tuesday, October 29. Media is invited to attend. | |
When:
Where: |
Tuesday, October 29 9:45 a.m. CT
Fort Scott High School |