JoAnn Copelin, age 89, of Mansfield, TX passed away peacefully, Saturday, October 12, 2024 at her home in the Isle at Watercrest Mansfield.  She was born June 23, 1935 in Enid, Oklahoma, the daughter of Alfred and Dulsa Clark.  She graduated from Rogers High School in Arkansas with the class of 1953.  Shortly after, she married the love of her life, Buddy Copelin, on May 18, 1953.  They built a life in the Kansas City area and had 69 wonderful years together.  She worked as a cosmetologist at Mr. Emery’s Salon for over 30 years.  JoAnn enjoyed gardening, sewing, knitting, oil painting and spending precious time with family and friends.  She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Peculiar for 50 years where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir.

JoAnn will be lovingly missed by her daughter, Debbie Taylor,  (husband, Steve), her 3 grandsons, Nathan Taylor, (wife, Sonya), Nick Copelin, (wife, Jennie), and Zack Copelin; 3 great-grandchildren, Presley, Foster and Judah Copelin; 2 sisters, Esther Tanner; Wanda Daniels, (husband, Tom), brother, Dean Clark, (wife Ardythe), and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Preceded in death by her parents; 2 sisters, Ruby Rounds and Melva Varnell; a brother, Eugene Clark and her husband, Buddy and son, Randy.

Graveside services will be held at 1:30 P.M. Thursday, October 24^th at the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas.

Family and friends may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel on Thursday prior to leaving for the cemetery at 1:15 P.M. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, Kansas.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Jacquin “Jacki” Lorraine Provence went home to meet our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Tuesday October 15th, 2024, at KU Medical Center.

Jacki was born on May 5^th, 1952, in Lenexa, KS to Donald and Neva Provence. Jacki grew up in Kansas City, KS but she spent many of her favorite childhood summers in Fort Scott, where she decided to move and raise her two children, Nic and Erika Provence.

Jacki worked as an insurance claims processor for Cobalt MedPlans/First Source until she retired and moved from Fort Scott, back to the Kansas City area.

She was an avid movie lover and frequent attendee of many cinemas across multiple cities. She will be remembered for not only her big laugh, but her even bigger heart. Anyone who frequented her household were not only guests but were welcomed with open arms into what many considered a second home, and this home will live on in the hearts of everyone she loved.

Jacki is survived by her oldest son Nicolas and wife Kelly Provence of Springfield, MO, their children Niccon Provence and Christian Provence-Harmon and husband Garret of Springfield, daughter Erika Provence and children Gideon Provence of Gardner as well as Isabella Virtue and husband Shaun of Topeka. She is also survived by her beloved sister and one of her best friends Trudy Briones of Kansas City, as well as nephews Isreal Briones and Angelo Briones, Angelo’s children Gisele and Gian Briones as well as niece Jessica Briones and son Zekiah Briones Hardgraves all of the Kansas City area.

She was preceded in death by her parents Donald and Neva.

A celebration of life will be held in her honor at a later date and time to be announced.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com.

“In the twinkling of an eye” on October 12, 2024, Alma Jean (Heer) Wright of Gardner, Kansas, slipped from this world and entered Heaven’s joys. The automobile accident that claimed her earthly life had no control over her eternal destiny. She is, without a doubt, present with the Lord whom she loved so well.

Alma Jean was born February 7, 1945, in Marion, Indiana, into the home of Leo Andrew and Alma Mae (Allison) Heer. As her father was a minister, the family lived in several locations throughout Alma Jean’s childhood.

Alma Jean graduated from high school in Eskridge, Kansas. After graduation, Alma Jean attended Kansas City College & Bible School for a year. Her jobs included telephone operator at Southwestern Bell, cook in the KCCBS cafeteria, and clerk in the KCCBS business office.

In 1963, Alma Jean moved to Kansas City and lived with some other young ladies – Kathy Wright among them. A young Joe Russell prodded Kathy’s younger brother Gary toward Alma Jean by saying, “You need to ask that girl for a date! She’s dying to date you.”

Gary calmly answered, “I could…I’ll think about it.” On June 1, 1968, the day after Gary’s college graduation, Gary and Alma Jean were married in Chanute, Kansas.

Life in Overland Park, Kansas, saw Alma Jean and Gary welcoming their daughter Sharmen Sue into their family, followed by their son Michael Jay the next year. Son Jonathan Lee completed their family unit seven years later. The family’s home on Craig Drive in Overland Park, KS, was the site of many family gatherings. 2008 brought change and a move to Gardner, KS, but no matter where she lived, Alma Jean LOVED having company. Family events sometimes included slideshows, but they always included memories and laughter. Lots of laughter.

Alma Jean may not have worked outside the home while raising her children, but she was rarely idle. She prioritized her family and shepherded her children well, modeling how to love God and people.

Alma Jean had several hobbies – genealogy, scrapbooking, quilting, and more – but she was passionate about ministry. Her pet projects have included Women Alive, 60+, vacation Bible school, and more than forty years of Sunday school teaching. She blessed many with calls, texts, personal visits, and her monthly newsletters. She sent letters to college students, missionaries, prisoners, and shut-ins for years. Alma Jean’s big heart had her and Gary visiting many hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons.

Alma Jean has served well in every church she has attended. Most recently, the Olathe Church of God (Holiness) has benefited from her project vision, organizational skills, and outreach efforts. One ministry very close to Alma Jean’s heart was Samaritan’s Purse and their Operation Christmas Child shoebox distribution project.

Alma Jean Wright is enjoying the glorious sights of Heaven alongside her parents Leo and Alma Heer, her aunt Ila Heer, her son Michael Wright, and her son-in-law Rob McCollum.

Survivors include Gary Wright of Gardner, Kansas; daughter Sharmen McCollum, son Jonathan (Darla) Wright, and daughter-in-law Shawna Wright; grandchildren Luanna (Austin) Tolley, Esther (Timothy) Replogle, Julianna Wright, Joseph Wright, Karson Wright, and Leo Wright; great-grandchildren Evelyn Jay Tolley and Gage Harrison Tolley; and truly a host of family and friends, all of whom look forward to meeting Alma Jean Wright in Heaven someday.

Visitation will be held from 4:30-6:30 PM on October 24, 2024, at the Overland Park Church of God (Holiness), 6801 W 74th St., Overland Park, KS. The funeral will be held at the same location at 10 AM on October 25, 2024. Interment at Memory Gardens of Bourbon County, 2193 Indian Rd., Fort Scott, KS, will follow at 2:00 PM, October 25, 2024.

Robert Merrill McCollum, 72, of Gardner, Kansas, passed away on October 12, 2024, as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He gave so much of himself to us, and the family is devastated that such a kind, creative, and loving soul has left this earth.

Rob was born January 22, 1952, in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Walter Leroy & Nela Mae (Rodgers) McCollum. He graduated from Shawnee Heights High School in 1970.

Rob married Lora Jane Lewis in Olathe, Kansas, on July 29, 1972. They had been married for forty-three years when Lora preceded him in death on October 7, 2015. Rob and Lora shared two children: Brandon Michael McCollum and Jeffrey Allen McCollum.

Later in life, Rob was fortunate enough to fall in love with Sharmen Sue Wright, and he went on to marry her on May 4, 2019. They shared a home outside Gardner, Kansas. They liked traveling, gardening, and spending time with family.

Rob worked for Cities Service Gas Company (now Southern Star Gas Company) for thirty-eight years, retiring from there in 2011. For over thirty years, Rob also had an upholstery business in addition to his normal day job.

Rob especially liked riding his motorcycle and working on classic cars. He enjoyed driving his 1956 Chevy Bel Air and taking it to car shows.

Rob was a member of New Life Community Church in Gardner. He served as a deacon and was an important member of the men’s Bible study group.

Remaining to cherish Rob’s memory are his spouse, Sharmen Sue Wright McCollum; children Brandon (Karen) McCollum and Jeffrey (Stacy) McCollum; grandchildren Ty (Lauren) Thorp, Tyler (Karie) McCollum, Chance Thorp, Austin McCollum, Jarit (Alexis) Sparks, Carter McCollum, Ryan McCollum, and Emma McCollum; ten great-grandchildren; brothers Rodger (Tina) McCollum and Rodney McCollum; nieces and nephews Scott (Heather) McCollum, Drew (Melody) McCollum, and Sara (Miguel) McCollum.

Preceding Robert in death are his spouse Lora McCollum and parents Walter Leroy McCollum and Nela Mae McCollum.

Visitation will be held Saturday, October 26 at 10 AM at the New Life Community Church, 29200 W 188th St., Gardner, KS 66030. A funeral service will follow at 11 AM in the same location. Interment will be at 2:30 PM in Memorial Park Cemetery, 3616 SW 6th, Topeka, KS 66606.

Memorial donations in Robert’s memory may be directed to the New Life Community Church of Gardner, Kansas and may be left in care of the church or 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.