Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home

Raymond Dean O’Dell, age 87, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Wednesday, July 26, 2017, at the Mercy Hospital Emergency Room in Fort Scott.

He was born November 13, 1929, in Bourbon County, Kan., the son of Albert Milton O’Dell and Anna Mabel Carpenter O’Dell. He married Ruby May Larson on August 30, 1948, at Fort Scott. Ray worked as the produce manager for Whiteside’s IGA for forty-five years. Following his retirement, he operated his own lawn care business. Ray enjoyed playing the guitar and singing. In earlier years, he played in a band that often performed at the Eagles Lodge and area communities. He was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Survivors include his four children, Rick O’Dell and wife, Amy, of Carthage, Mo., Deborah Graham and husband, David, of Orange Beach, Ala., Marquita Lamer and husband, Raymond, of Kansas City, Mo., and Dion O’Dell and wife, Holly, of Joplin, Mo.; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. His wife, Ruby, preceded him in death on September 26, 2013. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Merlin O’Dell and George Carpenter, and three sisters, Naomi Wise, Pearl Kellogg and Audrey Wise.

Pastor Larry Stevicks will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 29, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the White Cemetery near Richards, Mo. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Emmanuel Baptist Church 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.

Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home

Thomas Marvin Heter, of Garland, Kan., passed away peacefully on July 20, 2017. He was 79 years old.

Tom will be remembered for his passion, intelligence and his love of art, photography and music. An excellent musician who performed on guitar, keyboards and vocals, Tom’s record collection ran into the thousands. Since the 1960s, his and Jean’s home has been a hub for folk, jazz and blues musicians. Tom was also gifted as a visual artist, specializing in 35 millimeter black and white photography. Working as a professional photographer he took special pride in the printmaking process, which he mastered in his kitchen darkroom.

Tom is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jean Heter, and by his two children, Annette and Storm. Tom is survived by his siblings David, Charles, Gracie and Steve. He was a proud grandfather and great grandfather.

On Monday, July 23, at noon, a memorial service will be held at Cheney-Witt funeral chapel, Fort Scott, Kan. Services were under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kan.

Submitted by Cheney Witt Funeral Home

Evalena McCracken Pate-Rash, age 88, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kan.

She was born September 16, 1928, in Excelsior Springs, Mo., the daughter of Walter Ira Pate and Anna Irena Carmer Pate. She worked outside the home at various jobs, yet her biggest responsibility was that of homemaker for her family. She enjoyed the outdoors, traveling, camping and fishing. She loved spending holidays with family, especially Christmas. She liked to play cards with the family, and really hated to lose at any game. She liked cooking for her family, especially German chocolate cake and spaghetti red. She was a member of the Grace Baptist Tabernacle.

Survivors include four children; Cecil Rash, Topeka, Kan., Roy Rash, Independence, Mo., Donna Marie Hassan and husband Ahmad, Katy, Texas, and Glenn Rash and wife Vana, Fort Scott, Kan.; two sisters-in-law, Edna Pate, Mustang, Okla., and Ina Mae Rash, Vail, Colo.; 10 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a son, Henry Rash; a daughter, Sherry Palmer; a sister, Emma Anna Pate; a brother, Emmet Ira Pate; three half-brothers, Chester Atwood, Gailen Atwood, and Oray Pate; a half-sister, Sarah Mae Atwood; and her parents.

Rev. Paul Rooks will conduct funeral services at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 27, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time on Thursday. Memorials are suggested to Care to Share, 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.

Submitted by the Cheney Witt Funeral Home

Laura Mae Benson Croan, age 94, a resident of Fort Scott, died Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at the Fort Scott Manor.

She was born August 11, 1922, in Gardendale, Ala., the daughter of Thomas Alexander Benson and Pearl Luvada Moncreif Benson. She married Dr.  Harold C. Croan on September 3, 1949, in Hernando, Miss., he preceded her in death on March 19, 2008.

She is survived by a son, Randall Scott Croan, and wife Sharon of Overland Park, Kan., a daughter-in-law, Gayla Croan, of Fort Scott; two granddaughters, Morgan Felt and husband Carson, of Fort Scott, and Blair Croan and husband Parikshit Singh, of Phoenix, Ariz.; as well as several nieces and nephews; she was preceded in death by her Husband Dr. Harold C. Croan; a son, Allan Benson Croan; four sisters, Marie Craddock, Pearl Melville, Christine Arnold-Hook and Carolyn Farmer; and her parents.

There was cremation. Rev. Steve Cole will conduct a memorial graveside service at 10 a.m. Monday, July 24, 2017, at the U. S. National Cemetery. Memorial are suggested to the Fort Scott Manor Activity 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.