Elfie Marie Schnichels, age 95, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at Guest Home Estates in Ft. Scott. She was born July 27, 1926, in Shidler, OK, the daughter of Garrett Lawrence Schnichels and Lillian Oriole Reasoner.

She graduated from Fort Scott High School, then attended Fort Scott Community College, obtaining 18 credit hours. She then taught school in Bourbon County for three years.

Elfie then decided to become a missionary and attended one year of Bible College in Fort Worth, TX. She then went to Old Mexico as a missionary where she served as a teacher and worked with needy children. While in Mexico she adopted four children from the children’s home in which she worked.

After returning to the United States, she settled again in Bourbon County, KS with her children, Paul David, Mark Wayne, Linda Kathleen, and Rose Maria. She has 16 grandchildren. She had 23 great-grandchildren with 19 still living. She also has a least one great-great-grandchild, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.

Elfie lived at 1549 Key Road for many years where her children grew up. She dearly loved her flowers, plants, and even some gardening. While raising her children, she worked at Western Insurance Company for 8 years. Following that she worked at Mercy Hospital for 13 years.

She loved to do crafts and would make angels out of paper to occupy her time and give her a purpose. She will be sorely missed by many.

Only her daughters are still living, Linda Wurtz lives in Mesa AZ with her husband. Her younger daughter, Rose lives near Des Moines, IA, with three daughters that live nearby. She was preceded in death by her sons Paul David and Mark Wayne Schnichels.

Rev. Larry Stevicks will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Tuesday, January 4^th, at the Emmanuel Baptist Church.

Burial will follow in the Marmaton Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to either The Gideons or Emmanuel Baptist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Mary Irene “Sug” Beckford, 90, formerly of Fulton, Kansas passed away Thursday morning, December 23, 2021, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas. She was born February 13, 1931, in Devon, Kansas, the daughter of George Franklin and Mary Elizabeth (Townsend) Snyder. She married Charles L. Beckford on August 27, 1950, in Fulton, Kansas, and he preceded her in death on October 19, 2008.

Mary graduated from Fulton High School. She helped plan many alumni reunions. She was a member of the West Liberty United Methodist Church, West Liberty UMW, and Violet Chapter 200 OES. She was Past Matron and Past District Aide OES, Past Worthy High Priestess Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, and was a Reach to Recovery volunteer for 15 years. She served as Sunday School Treasurer for 25 years, was Past UMW President, member and secretary for the Osaga Historical Society, and a member of the Fulton Community Center Board. Mary also served as Mother Advisor of Fort Scott Assembly 39 Rainbow Girls. Mary never missed an opportunity to serve in any capacity.

She was a KU Basketball fan and loved angel food cake. She was known for her banana bread and homemade strawberry ice cream. Her grandkids thought she made the best vegetable soup and chili ever. She loved all of her family, but had a special relationship with her great-granddaughters Willow, Maddie, and Evie, and was looking forward to meeting her great-grandson Donovan.

Survivors include her children, Randy L. Beckford and wife Carmen, of Fulton, and Vickie S. Lord and husband Gerald, of Lawrence, Kansas; a brother, Alva Snyder, of Independence, Kansas; seven grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and numerous great-great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband Charles, she was also preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, John E. Snyder, and George J. Snyder, two granddaughters, and one grandson.

Following cremation, memorial services for Mary will take place at a later date and she will be interred with her husband Charles in the Mapleton Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Dorothy L. Marks, age 83, a former resident of Ozark, Missouri, more recently of Fort Scott, Kansas, died early Wednesday, December 29, 2021, in Fort Scott.

Dorothy was born on July 18, 1938, Corydon, Iowa, to Godfrey “Nick” and Olive Marks, the youngest of five children: Dallas, Eleanor, Jeanne, and Maxine.

Dorothy was proud to have grown up in Iowa, and graduated from Corydon schools, where she played basketball. She loved her high school years, and remained in contact with her classmates throughout her life.

Dorothy loved to travel, and took many trips all around the United States. She was especially fond of the ocean, and often went to the coast, but her favorite place to travel from Iowa was Branson, Missouri.

After her parents passed away, Dorothy moved to Ozark, Missouri, to be able to go to Branson anytime she wanted! Dorothy loved the Branson music scene, and even worked for a time at the Mel Tillis show.

Dorothy was employed as a supervisor in several garment factories throughout her life, but her dream was to own and operate her own publishing company, so she quit her job and did just that.

She spent the last years of her career as the owner and operator of a retirement newspaper called The Prime Time News, which she distributed throughout the Springfield and Branson area.

Her other loves were dogs and cars. For many years, she traded for a new car about every year. She had many special dogs throughout her life, but her Shih Tzus named Mopsi One, and then Mopsi Two, were especially dear to her heart.

She was also an avid collector of Coca-Cola memorabilia.

Dorothy never met a stranger, and she was generous to all those in need. She was active in the Assemblies of God churches throughout her life.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, and special friends that she made throughout her life.

Following cremation, private burial will be held at a later date in Corydon, Iowa.

In honor of Dorothy’s memory, donations are suggested to Fort Scott Paws and Claws Animal Shelter, and can be left in care of 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.

Jessie D. Burkett, age 58, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Tuesday, December 28, 2021, at Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg, KS. He was born July 17, 1963, in Columbus, GA, the son of George and Faye Mannix Burkett.

Jessie worked as a press operator for a newspaper and then drove a truck for many years. He enjoyed woodworking and could fix anything.

He married Kimberly Graham on June 16, 1989, in Belton, TX.

Survivors include his wife Kimberly of the home; two daughters, Amanda Griggs (Ty), St. Mary’s, GA, and Amber Burkett (Chris), Belton, TX; a son, Aaron Burkett, Belton, TX; a brother, Tommy Burkett, TX; eight grandchildren, Azrah, Miley, Marly, Foster, Joshua, Crista, Haleigh, and Ayden; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Donna Coggin, a grandson, Jacob, and his parents.

Cremation has taken place.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the Jessie Burkett memorial fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.