Alberta Grace Weddle, 90, formerly of Fort Scott, passed away Thursday morning, October 17, 2024, at Ascension St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was born on April 2, 1934, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Lars Huggins and Hazel Leona (Hawks) Huggins. She married Russell Marvin Weddle on July 21, 1949, in Kansas City, Missouri, and he preceded her in death May 26, 1994.

Alberta grew up in hard times as an only child, having lost an infant sister, Ilene, and a young brother, Freddy. She stayed with her Great-grandma McCoy and Grandma Grace most of the time, and because things were so hard, she often didn’t have much food to eat, toys, or the simple things that other children had. Alberta, however, was not defined by her circumstances, and instead chose who she would grow up to become.

Alberta found and fell in love with Russell Weddle, a career-military man, and in July of 1949, they began their lives together. She followed him from the East Coast to the West Coast as he served our great country first in WWII and then combat in Korea. Eventually, along came their children, Ray, Marie, Julie, and Morine. Russell wanted to stop having children at four, but Alberta always wanted seven children, having grown up an only child. Otherwise, Connie, Albert, and Carol, their children, and the children following them would not be on this planet.

Alberta treasured each and every one of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. Everything centered around family for her. She “took care of business,” always giving, and touched the lives of everyone who entered her home and who she met. She was a doer, not a talker. She loved kids, no matter who they were: her own family, children she met in restaurants, especially babies. She was “Mom” to her children’s friends in many ways. Alberta was not a social butterfly, but instead spoke in a genuine way, conveying that she was listening and truly cared.

Alberta had beautiful, soul-piercing eyes, and loved shiny, sparkly, glittery everything! She loved red birds, flamingos, and flowers, and purple was her favorite color. She was not a complainer, instead she was always thankful and grateful. She was sweet and peaceful, and would wash your mouth out with soap if you even THOUGHT about the F-word! Alberta accepted and loved Jesus, and taught her family about the need to ask for forgiveness, and to just to talk to Him. Read John 3:16 and Romans 10:9-10, and believe in His Word. She built character into each of her children while still letting them be themselves. She gave them the power to choose who they could be.

Alberta is survived her children, Ray Weddle (Connie), Deerfield, Missouri, Morine Santmeyer (Jim), Tulsa, Oklahoma, Connie Snyder (Roger), Chelsea, Oklahoma, Albert Weddle (Susan), Fort Scott, Carol Carter (James), Owasso, Oklahoma, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents; infant sister Ilene, brother, Freddy; two daughters, Grace Weddle and Julie (Skaggs) Kantz; a grandson, Matthew Weddle, and great-granddaughter Cadence Marie Crumbly.

Matthew Kendrick will officiate funeral services at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 24, 22024, at the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene, with burial following at the Evergreen Cemetery, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

A family visitation will be Wednesday evening, October 23, 2024, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.

William “Will/Bill” James Sampson, Jr., age 45, a native of Fort Scott, KS passed away Saturday, October 19, 2024.  He was born July 23, 1979, in Fort Scott, KS the son of William James Sampson, Sr. and Mary Lynn Wiggans Sampson, both Fort Scott natives.  He attended school in Fort Scott from kindergarten through high school.  Bill was married to Jennifer Leighty for 21 years.  They later divorced.  He worked at Ward Kraft for 13 years.  He later transitioned to BNSF Railroad where he worked for 12 years as a Union Signalman.

Bill enjoyed surrounding himself with family and friends, wind therapy, fixing things, working on cars, hunting, and exploring nature.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; paternal grandparents Harry and Wilma Sampson; and maternal grandfather, Donald Wesley Wiggans.

He is survived by his daughter, Kaitlynn Sampson (Jonathan Harp); and son Dakota Wiley (Amelia); grandchildren Emmett and Hudson Harp, and Henry Wiley; girlfriend Catrina Canfield-Hurl and her children, Jarika and Preston, Johnny and Dora, and Jamison, and grandchildren Autumn, Mayleigh, and Rowan; maternal grandmother Betty Wiggans; cousin Patrick Earnest; and friend Doug Sinn.  Also surviving are his biker brothers, BNSF Union family, and many family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Monday, October 28^th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Cremation will follow.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until service time Monday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.

Sheryl Irene Harper (Garten) 85, formerly of Peculiar, MO passed away Sunday, October 20, 2024 at her home in Ft. Scott, KS.

Sheryl was born April 7, 1939 at the family farm in rural Peculiar. She was the eldest child of John L. Garten and Glessie I. Garten (Phillips).

She married Donald Gene Harper Sr. on May 18, 1957 at Harrisonville Baptist Church. They were blessed with six children Donnie, Jonalin, Sherri, Jeff, John Philip, and Tim.

Sheryl lived most of her life in and around Peculiar and worked as Postmaster at Peculiar Post office, where she retired. She also worked as the secretary for the Superintendent of Raymore-Peculiar School District for many years. She played the piano at Peculiar First Baptist Church and Pleasant Prairie Baptist Church.

Sheryl was preceded in death by her beloved sons, Jeffrey Harper and John Philip Harper, her parents John and Glessie Garten and one brother J. L. Garten Jr.

Cherishing her memory are her loving husband of 67 years Donald Gene Harper Sr., her surviving children Donald Harper Jr. (Julie), Hutchinson KS, Jonalin Witt (Larry), Raymore, MO, Sherri Catron, Harrisonville, MO, and Timothy Harper (Janet), Ft. Scott, KS; two sisters, Saleta Hentschel (David), Dee Ora Hunter (Joe), one brother, Mark Garten (Gale); ten grandchildren: Amanda, Matthew, Laura, Ashleigh, Zach, Michael, Katie, Seth, Jonathan, and Shaydon – plus numerous beloved great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 28th at 1:00pm at the First Baptist Church of Freeman, 303 N. Washington St, Freeman, MO 64746.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Mount Carmel Hospice left in care of Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, PO Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guest book at cheneywitt.com.