Community News
Junior Gerken 1920-2013
Junior Gerken received his gift of eternal life on Jan. 17, 2013 at Chanute HealthCare Center. Junior was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Gerken who came as newlyweds to take a homestead three miles east of Humboldt in 1861. They also were charter members of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church which was founded in 1863. Junior was born on Nov. 15, 1920 to Henry G. Gerken and Emma Pieper Gerken, and lived his entire life on the family farm, until ...
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Lyle K. Cuppet 1914-2013
Lyle K. Cuppet, 98, a former Erie resident, died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013 at the Prairie Mission Retirement Village at St. Paul where he has resided for the past seven months. He was born on Nov. 4, 1914 at Erie to Winder and Lettie Sower Cuppet. He grew up in the Odense area and attended country schools and graduated from Savonburg High School in 1935. He attended a Chanute trade school in 1936. He worked at the Kansas Ordnance Plant for a fe...
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Dreisbach - Madl
Mark and Sara Dreisbach, Thayer, Bernard and Lisa Madl, Walnut, and Lynn and Michelle Raida, Thayer, announce the engagement of their children, Katherine Colynn Dreisbach and Nathaniel Wayne Madl, both of Thayer, The bride-elect is also the daughter of the late Jon R. Dreisbach. She will be a May 2013 graduate of Cherryvale High School and is attending Neosho County Community College majoring in nursing. Madl is a 2011 graduate of Cherryvale ...
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Paul Loren Olson 1933-2013
Paul Olson, 79, of Humboldt died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center. Paul was born in Humboldt on Sept. 12, 1933 the son of Carl and Mary Byrum Olson. He graduated from Humboldt High School in 1951. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Navy where he was a heavy equipment operator for the Seabee’s and received the Good Conduct Medal. He later married Beverly Miller on Jan. 3, 1959 in Humboldt. Pa...
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Leonard G. Carlson 1918-2013
Leonard George Carlson, 94, of Chanute died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Leonard was born in Vilas on Dec. 20, 1918, the son of George Eli and Lennea Elizabeth Benson Carlson. He graduated from Vilas High School in 1936. He was united in marriage to Winona Cormack on April 11, 1948 in Abilene. She preceded him in death on July 22, 1997. Leonard was a farmer all of his life. He was a memb...
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Leighty service
The gathering of family and friends for George Leighty, 66, of Chanute, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 19 from 2 until 4 p.m., has been moved to the Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel, 101 N. Highland, Chanute.
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Ivy Bell Audiss 1925-2013
Ivy Bell Caudell Audiss, 87, Yates Center, left this life Jan. 14, 2013, after a fall that occurred at her home. She died peacefully surrounded by family at Coffey County Hospital in Burlington. Ivy Bell Caudell was born April 27, 1925, in Buffalo, the daughter of Robert Thomas Caudell and Bessie May Madison. She grew up in rural Wilson and Woodson counties. Ivy then married Orval Wesley Audiss on Sept. 13, 1941, the couple were blessed with ...
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Charles Sommars 1924-2013
Charles Sommars, 88, of Chanute died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013 at Chanute Healthcare with his family by his side. Charles was born in Perry, Okla., on June 14, 1924, the son Albert and Helena Benke Sommars. On Nov. 15, 1952 he married Twila Dill at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Chanute. He proudly served his country in WWII as a tail gunner for the Army’s 8th Air Corps 490th Bomb Group 851st Squadron. He and his wife farmed and had a cattle op...
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Beatrice Doane 1911-2013
Beatrice Doane, 101, a lifelong resident of Fredonia, died Thursday morning, Jan. 10, 2013 at the Golden Living Center in Fredonia. She was born March 17, 1911 in Fredonia, the daughter of Charlie and Zella Andrew Claiborn. On Nov. 18, 1929, in Fredonia, Beatrice was united in marriage to Bliss Delbert Doane. Bliss preceded her in death Jan. 2, 1991. They co-owned and operated Doane’s Furniture Store in Fredonia. Beatrice was a member of th...
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Kenneth Eugene Hartman, 1924-2013
Kenneth Eugene Hartman, age 88, of Moran died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013 at Windsor Place in Iola. He was born June 2, 1924, in Mound City, the son of Edward and Grace Huggins Hartman. Kenny married Nellie Ray Hickman on August 10, 1949 in Garnett. She preceded him in death. He then married Betty Jean Higginbottom-Bohnert on Nov. 25, 1966 in Vinita, Okla. She also preceded him in death. Kenny worked in the oil fields in the surrounding area. He ...
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Ferguson memorial
A memorial service for Charley Ferguson, Jr., 90, Thayer, who died Jan. 1 at his home, is planned 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 at the senior center in Thayer.
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Bright - Towson
Bradford and Carmen L. Bright, University Park, Texas, announce the engagement of their daughter Holly Marie Bright, Santa Monica, Calif., formerly from University Park, Texas, to Christopher Michael Towson, Santa Monica, formerly from Lake Forest, Ill. He is the son of Mary Towson, Grosse Point Farms, Mich., and Tom Towson, Lake Forest, Ill The bride-elect is a 2002 graduate of Highland Park High School, Highland Park, Texas. She received he...
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Reed King Cole 1922-2013
Reed King Cole, age 90, passed away on Thursday, January 10, 2013 at the Deseret Health and Rehab Center in Smith Center, KS. He was born in Cedar, KS on September 28, 1922 the son of Harry and Goldia (King) Cole. He was a farmer. Reed was a faithful husband to Marple. They had just celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary. His life was spent farming, raising cattle, riding horses and spending time with family. He always had a story to tell ...
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Wanda Louise Carter 1952-2013
Wanda Louise Carter, 60, Bronson, died early Friday morning, Jan. 11, 2013, at her home. She was born June 13, 1952, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Louie and Trevah Powell Harris. She enjoyed fishing, camping and spending time with her family. She attended the Mapleton United Methodist Church. Survivors include her longtime companion, Danny Spriggs of the home; three daughters, Tammy Eaton and husband Billy, Oklahoma City, Okla., Chris Ames a...
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The Rev. John S. Zerby 1925-2012
The Rev. John S. Zerby, 87, of McKeesport, Pa., formerly of Sewickley, died peacefully at home on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013. He was born August 27, 1925 in Coffeyville. His wife of 48 years, Ardith Mikesell Zerby, survives, and his sister, Mary Lee Zerby of Kansas City, Mo. Rev. John was a World War II veteran. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a member of Disabled American Veterans. For many years John traveled as an Evangelist and held chur...
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Leona Emma Cowen 1927-2013
Leona Cowen, 85, of Chanute died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, at Heritage Health Care in Chanute. Leona was born Chanute on June 12, 1927, the daughter of Sylvester and Pearl Young Reed. She attended Chanute High School. She married Delmer Cowen on June 10, 1944 in Tyronza, Ark. He preceded her in death on Sept. 23, 2000. She worked as a seamstress in Cherryvale and retired from KAAP in Parsons. Leona is survived by her children, Delmer Cowen of...
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George Leighty 1946-2013
George Leighty, 66, of Chanute died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013 at Chanute Healthcare. George was born on August 3, 1946, the son of Ivan and Ida Vatterodt Leighty. He was a truck driver and enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. George is survived by his three children, Samantha McMillan of Chanute, and Austin and Jamie Burke and Sierra and Craig Kirkpatrick, all of Walnut; seven grandchildren, Megan McMillan of Chan...
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Mariellen Bradley Meeker 1924-2013
Mariellen Bradley Meeker, 88, of Erie went home to be with the Lord Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence. She was born July 24, 1924 in Milton, the daughter of Edward Leon and Lena Fulkerson Bradley. She grew up in the Milton and Conway Springs area. Mariellen went to grade school in Milton, and was so proud of the fact that she got to ride a school bus. Her parents farmed during her early childhood, and there were m...
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Richard Almus Davis 1941-2013
Richard Almus Davis, 71, of St. Paul, died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, at Girard Medical Center. He was born Nov. 18, 1941, in Bolivar, Mo., to Jess Harrison and Nellie May Craft Davis. He resided at the Winfield State Hospital and Training Center from 1970 through 1977. He then lived at Hardtner, the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, Living Skills and most recently Connections in St. Paul. Survivors include a brother, Merle Davis, Chan...
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Richard “Dick” Coykendall 1926-2013
Richard “Dick” Coykendall, 86, of Humboldt, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 at Midland Care Hospice House in Topeka. Dick was born August 26, 1926, on the family farm south of LaHarpe, the son of John O. and Ruth Winscott Coykendall. He grew up on the farm and graduated from Humboldt High School in 1944. On Oct.11, 1953, Dick married Janice Clements at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Humboldt. They always made their home in Humboldt where they rai...
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