James Hargraves Belknap, Jr., 84, of Fort Scott, Kansas, passed away Thursday evening, January 19, 2023, at his home surrounded by his loved ones. He was born March 3, 1938, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of James Hargraves Belknap, Sr. and Thelma Francine (Warwick) Belknap.

James graduated from Chetopa High School in 1956, and served in the US Army as a Radar Technician from 1958 until 1960. He was a Press Operator for Ennis Business forms from 1984 until retiring in 2003. He owned and operated Bronson Locker in Bronson, Kansas from 1974 until 1984, and Jim’s Lawn Mower Service and Repair for twenty years. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Chetopa, Kansas, a Lifetime Member of the Columbus Masonic Lodge, and a former member of the Bronson Ruritan.

James is survived by a son, Joseph Allen Belknap (Anita), of Chetopa, Kansas; two daughters, Deborah Kaye Fouts (Dean), of Mound Valley, Kansas, and Kimberly Diane Roberts (Tom), of Fort Scott; six grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Robert H. Belknap, and a sister, Thelma Sue DeMent.

Following cremation, Darren McColm will conduct graveside services at 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 30, 2023, at the Oswego City Cemetery in Oswego, Kansas, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Sarah Eugenia Wesner Eckles, 83, passed away peacefully in her home on January 22, 2023. Sally was born November 23, 1939, to Ermal and Hulon Albright Wesner in Ida, Louisiana.

She attended college at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where she was a member of Phi Mu sorority, the Honor Society, and met her husband-to-be, Robert Lee Eckles. At LSU, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and had a long career as a social worker in New Orleans.

Sally and Bob were married September 4,1960, at the Church of the Covenant, New Orleans. They celebrated 62 years of marriage in September, 2022.

She was a devoted wife, mother, friend and member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Bob and Sally arrived in Fort Scott from Pittsburg, Kansas in the early seventies to raise their three young daughters. For 33 years she worked for Bourbon County SRS (now CFS) as a caseworker and supervisor. There she built true and lasting friendships with her co-workers. Her concern for those in need was a primary concern for her in both her public and private life.

Her parents preceded her in death.

Sally is survived by her devoted husband, Bob, their daughters, Margaret (Harvie Jordan), Mobile, Alabama; Alice Eckles (Ross Conrad), Middlebury, Vermont; and Ruth Eckles (Joe Rizzolo), Bahama, North Carolina, as well as five grandchildren: Kate Jordan, the Rev. Sarah Jordan, Violet Eckles-Jordan (Rose’ Hernandez), Thea Price-Eckles and Ana Price-Eckles, and her brother Jim Wesner (GeorgeAnn Wesner), Cincinnati, Ohio.

Sally will be remembered by many who love her as a kind and wise friend, a devoted mother, and a gifted vocalist who gave so richly of her talents in the choir at First Presbyterian Church as well as community choirs for many years. She performed with the Madrigals, a dinner-theater style presentation through Fort Scott Community College, and played Mother Superior in a local theater production of “Sound of Music,”among other roles over the years.

Among her many sources of pleasure were her memberships in a birthday club lunch group and a women’s supper club, Second Shift, in Chapter CA of the PEO Sisterhood and in Presbyterian Women.

She loved nature, adventures, travel, and took her family on many vacations over the years – from the Grand Canyon to Yellowstone National Park to a cruise on the Mediterranean Sea. One of the special joys of her life was that she and Bob were able to take each grandchild on a graduation trip of their choice, this included excursions to Paris, Spain, Scotland, and Ireland.

In 2010, she received the Presbyterian Women’s annual Life Membership for Faithful Service. She was an ordained Elder in the church, and over the years served as a mentor to confirmands, worked with the Logos program, and hosted the Monday Lunch for Senior High students.

She was thankful for her church community and noted many times over the course of her illness how their prayers gave her peace, comfort, and held her up in her time of need.

Rev. Dr. Jared Witt will officiate funeral services at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at the First Presbyterian Church under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Visitation is at 10:00 a.m., prior to service time.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to First Presbyterian Church and The Beacon, and may be left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com..

Clarence William “Bill” Willey, age 69, resident of Deerfield, MO, formerly of Lane, KS, passed away Thursday morning January 19^th, 2023, at Cox Barton County Hospital in Lamar, MO.  He was born July 3^rd, 1953, in Garnett, KS to Lloyd Warren Willey and Ester Rebecca Ashburn Willey.

Clearance, “Bill”, or “Billy” was raised in Lane, KS, and graduated from Central Heights in Richmond, KS.  Bill would serve thirty-five years in the military before his retirement. Bill spent three years in the U.S. Marine Corp from 1972 to 1975, and then he served thirty-two years between the Kansas Army Reserves and Kansas Army National Guard before retiring from the military in April for 2007.

Survivors include his three children, Brian Willey of Louisburg, KS, Jeremy Willey (wife Nikki) of Deerfield, MO, Deedra Doherty (husband Josh) of Columbus, KS; six grandchildren Brooke, Kayla and Carter Willey, Christian Doherty, Haven Cooper, and Neaveh Doherty; his brother David Willey and Helen Johnson; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by two brothers Lloyd and Johnny Willey, his sister Sally Willey, a niece Vona Jo Willey, and his parents.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, January 27^th, at the U.S. National Cemetery Fort Scott with military honors.

Memorials are suggested to the Bill Willey Memorial Fund 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 to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.