Community News
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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L. Ollideen Wright 1917-2013
L. Ollideen Wright, 95, of Chanute, and a former Thayer resident, died Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013 at the Chanute Healthcare Center in Chanute. She had been in failing health. She was born on March 11, 1917 at Savonburg, to Frank and Anna Jordan Stierwalt. She grew up at Savonburg and attended Savonburg schools graduating from Savonburg High School. She moved to Topeka and worked at a clothing store for a few years before moving back to Savonburg ...
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Ray Leland Aikins 1925-2013
Ray Aikins, 87, of LaHarpe, died Saturday, Jan, 5, 2013 at his residence. Ray was born at South Mound on Sept, 30, 1925, the son of Oliver and Anna Beecher Aikins. He married Zana Neagle on June 29, 1945 in Girard. To this union, his children were born. They later divorced. On Feb. 5, 1982 he married Helen Christy in Miami, Okla. She preceded him in death on May 14, 2001. When Ray was young he and his family moved to a farm near Shaw, an...
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Ruth C. Wehlage 1929-2013
Ruth C. Wehlage, 83, of Erie, died Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013 at the Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. She was born July 23, 1929, at St. Paul, to John Michael and Catherine Mae Thomas Schoenhofer. She grew up there and attended local schools, graduating from St. Francis High School. After graduating from high school she worked at the Kansas Ordnance Plant in Parsons and for Hallmark Card Co. in Kansas City. On June 7, 1952 she and Gerald A. ...
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Thomas Barron Schaake 1953-2013
Thomas Barron Schaake, 59, of Benedict, died Friday, Jan. 4, 2013 at Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita.¬†¬† Tom was born on Feb. 12, 1953 in Wichita, the son of Donald Dean and Patricia Ruth Barron Schaake. Tom was a graduate of Lawrence High School.¬†On Sept/ 24, 1977 in Benedict, Tom married Mary Gallon.¬†Tom and Mary were married for 35 years. She survives, of the home. Tom worked several years for Cleaver’s in Chanute. Tom was a member o...
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Zana Mae Meadows 1921-2013
Zana Mae Meadows, 91, died Sunday morning, Jan. 6, 2013 at home in Fredonia. Zana was born Oct. 29, 1921 to Charles D. and Lula Blanche Ross Deal in Elk County, Liberty Township.¬†Zana graduated from Coyville High School in 1938.¬†On Jan. 4, 1941 in Independence, she was united in marriage to Carl Rayness Meadows. Zana completed her Normal School and taught in local rural schools. During the summers, she worked at Boeing as a “Rosie Riveter.”...
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David H. Moore 1938-2012
David H. Moore, 74, died on December 31, 2012 in Iola. He was born in Wichita on Dec. 3, 1938 to parents Richard H. and Annie Elizabeth Moore. Early childhood and adolescent years were carried out on the family farm east of Haven, working alongside his father. David married Myrna Jantz on March 30, 1961 in Haven. He entered the pastorate in August of 1963 and served churches including Iola, all for the Wesleyan denomination in Kansas. He al...
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Bernita Norma Sorensen Rusk 1917-2013
Bernita N. Sorensen Rusk died Jan. 1, 2013, at the age of 95 at Amethyst Gardens Retirement Community in Peoria, Ariz. She was born in rural Ruthven, Iowa. She was baptized and attended Sunday School and  church with her family at the South Walnut Lutheran Church, rural Graettinger, Iowa. She earned her high school diploma as an adult. She went on to take several college classes. She married her husband, Bless R. Rusk, when he was in the ...
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