Obituaries
Phillip G. Wilkinson 1943-2013
Phillip G. Wilkinson, 69, of Chanute, died Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center. He was born on March 28, 1943 in Great Bend, to Raymond and Bernice Elliott Wilkinson. On Dec. 1, 1963 he married Kaye Simek in Cuba, Kan. He was a member and served as a deacon at the First Presbyterian Church in Chanute. Phil helped his son-in-law manage the Iola American Legion Baseball for several years. He also coached his child...
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Carl Claus 1929-2013
Carl Claus, 83, a longtime resident of Fredonia, died Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 at Wilson Medical Center in Neodesha. He was born Sept. 14, 1929 near Lucas, S. D., at the family farm to Wilhelm Carl and Bessie Totton Claus. At the age of 15, Carl joined the United States Navy and was honorably discharged that same year due to his age. He married Hila Jane Culbertson Sept. 18, 1954 in Fredonia. Carl was the plant and production manager at IMCO ...
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Raymond E. Bauer 1918-2013
Raymond E. Bauer, 94, of Gas, died Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute surrounded by his loving family. Raymond was born August 1, 1918, in Ransom, the son of Conrad and Katherine Kraft Bauer. During his youth he worked cattledrives, worked on the railroad and joined the CCC Corps fighting fires and building ranger stations. On April 8, 1939, Raymond married Wyonna E. Johnson in Beeler, Kan., and the...
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Patsy Ruth Sigg McGowan 1934-2013
Patsy Ruth Sigg McGowan, 78, of Iola, died Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, at Iola Nursing Center. Patsy was born Sept. 11, 1934, in Iola, the daughter of James Frederick and Bertha Madlyn Dunton Weeks. She graduated from Iola High School. On May 30, 1955, Patsy married Don Sigg and they made their home in Iola. They later divorced. In 1992 she married James McGowan and he preceded her in death in 2010. Survivors include four children, Janice Carro...
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Jean L. Groves 1930-2013
Jean L. Groves, 82, of Parsons, formerly of Chanute, died Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 at the Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Mo. She was born Nov. 14, 1930 at Bronson, the daughter of Eugene F. and Luella V. Brooks Geyer. Her father worked for the Santa Fe Truck Line and Jean grew up in various communities across Kansas. She graduated from the Chanute High School and then attended Neosho County Community College. She later received a teaching cer...
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Armond Thearl Gray 1934-2013
Armond Thearl Gray, 78, of Buffalo, died Saturday, Feb 23, 2013 at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, Chanute. He was born on May 20, 1934 in Capron, Okla., to Elmer Earl and Mamie Mitchell Gray. On July 8, 1955 he married Marsha Munday in Fort Scott. Armond was self employed in sales with Sachs-Dolmar and Tilton Equipment Company for several years. He was a horse enthusiast and enjoyed hunting and fishing. Later in life he liked worki...
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Margaret Louise Kerr 1946-2013
Margaret Kerr, 66, died Monday, Feb 18, 2013 at Grand Lake Villa in Grove, Okla. Margaret was born on Dec 8, 1946 in Chanute, to Elmer F. Carder and Elsie MeHarry Hufford. On March 23, 1966 she married Berkley Kerr in Iola. She was a member of the Professional Pet Breeders and NRA. She enjoyed hair dressing, gardening, bird watching, and animal husbandry. Margaret is survived by her husband, Berkley Kerr of Wyandotte, Okla.; one son, Bret Ke...
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Glenice Ruth Kay 1931-2013
Glenice Kay, 81, of Chanute, died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013. Glenice was born in Chanute on Dec. 21, 1931, the daughter of Orlin and Bertha Kepley Hoffman. She graduated from Chanute High School in 1949. She attended Neosho County Community College after high school, taught for a year and then moved to Denver, Colo., where she worked for United Airlines. She later returned to Chanute where she worked at Walmart until her retirement. She loved f...
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Dorothy Jane Robb Hemphill 1926-2013
Dorothy Jane Robb Hemphill, 86, formerly of Humboldt, died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, at Clare Bridge Senior Living in Wichita. She was born July 4, 1926, on the family farm south of Moran to Harley and Mary Etta Harclerode Robb. She grew up on farms in the Moran and LaHarpe area and graduated from LaHarpe High School in 1944. She taught at the Independence country school in rural Allen County from 1944-1946. On Jan. 19, 1947, she married Fra...
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Lela Steeves Pugh 1925-2013
Lela Pugh, 87, of Chanute, died Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Lela was born in Thayer on Sept. 15, 1925 the daughter of Ira and Grace Cook Hague. She graduated from Thayer High School. In 1944 she married Cecil Steeves and he preceded her in death in 1955. She later married Clayton Pugh in 1965 and he preceded her in death in 1983. She was a member of Grace Episcopal Church in Chanute and did ma...
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James Otis¬†“J.O.” Adams 1918-2013
James Otis¬†“J.O.” Adams, 94, died Friday, Feb. 8, 2013 at Brewster Place in Topeka. Jim was born on June 14, 1918 in Eureka, the son of William F. and Hattie Claycomb Adams. He graduated from Eureka High School and then from Kansas State College in 1941 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War. He retired from the Army Reserve with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was employed as a Civil ...
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Mary Ethel Close Moore 1908-2013
Mary Ethel Close Moore, 104, of Chanute, died Friday, Feb. 8, 2013 at the Chanute Health Care Center. Ethel was born Nov. 10, 1908 at the family homestead, Cedardale, southwest of Buffalo. She was the youngest child of her parents, Philip and Alice “Allie” Roney Close. She was preceded in birth by brothers Wilbur, Martin and Earl as well as a sister, Rena. Ethel grew to adulthood on the family farm, graduated from Buffalo High School, then at...
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Christy Kay Wiles Thomas 1976-2013
Christy Kay Wiles Thomas, 36, of Independence, was found deceased on Feb. 6, 2013 after a house fire in Chanute. Cremation has taken place and memorial services will be held at 6 p.m. this evening, Feb. 12, at the Thayer Christian Church, with the Pastor David Camp officiating under the direction of the Loran Fawcett Chapel in Neodesha. The family has suggested memorials to a trust fund for her children that is set up at the Community Nationa...
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Pansy Ward 1912-2013
Pansy Ward, 101, of Parsons, formerly of Altamont, died Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor. She was born Jan. 31, 1912, in Lawrenceburg, Mo., to William W. and Nancy L. Vanderpool Ballinger. As a young girl, she moved with her family to Chanute, where she grew up and attended school.  For several years, she worked as a beautician in Sterling before returning to Chanute. In 1985, she moved to Altamont to be near her daught...
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Jeffrey Dean Scobee 1961-2013
Jeffrey Dean Scobee, 51, of Chanute, died Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013 at his home. Jeff was born in Garnett on May 3, 1961, the son of Roland and Paula Koehler Scobee. He graduated from Garnett High School in 1979. Jeff graduated from Drury College where he received a degree as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. He married Marianne Hughes on Dec. 6, 1980 in Columbus. He was employed by Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center as the Director of Resp...
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Max V. Wilson 1928-2013
Max V. Wilson, 84, a longtime resident of Fredonia, died Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 in Wichita. He was born March 5, 1928 in Neodesha, the son of John Robert and Dolly Bradley Wilson. Max was raised in Neodesha by his grandmother, Emily Bradley, following the death of his mother when he was five years old. He was a 1946 graduate of Neodesha High School. Max served in the United States Air Force 1946-1947. On Oct. 21, 1946 in Independence, he was ...
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Steven Brett Finley, Sr. 1955-2013
Steven Brett Finley, 57, of Chanute, died Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 at the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. Steve was born in Chanute, on March 13, 1955, the son of Carroll and Shirley Myers Finley. He graduated from Chanute High School in 1973. After high school, he graduated from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1996. He spent several years managing funeral homes in Texas. After returning to Kansas, he was self employed, working ...
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Madge O. Nelson Swinney 1915-2013
Madge Nelson Swinney, 97, of Chanute, died Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013 at the Chanute Healthcare Center. Madge was born in Altoona on Sept. 16, 1915, the daughter of Charles and Sarah McLaren Carroll. She graduated from Altoona High School and attended Pittsburg State College, Pittsburg, receiving a 3-year teaching certificate. She was united in marriage to Clarence Nelson on Feb. 6, 1936 in Vilas. He preceded her in death on Dec. 28, 1969. She...
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Sylvia Faye Wools 1918-2013
Sylvia Faye Wools, 94, of Colony, died on Feb. 5, 2013 at Windsor Place in Iola. She was born on May 24, 1918 in Bronson, the daughter of Anthony Wayne and Jessie Rose Thompson. Sylvia attended Welda High School before she married Wayne William Wools on August 16, 1934 in Garnett. She attended the Colony Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Wools on Nov. 2, 1977; son, Larry Wayne Wools on Feb. 5, 1987; grandson, ...
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Gwen Raines 1921-2013
Gwen Raines, age 91, born June 25, 1921 in Chanute, died Jan. 28, 2013 in Castle Rock, Colo. She was preceded in death by her husband, Buddy Raines, and daughter, Kathleen Sue Raines. She is survived by her daugher, Lois Price, Elizabeth Colo.; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A resident of Albuquerque from 1951 to 2003, Gwen moved to Elizabeth, Colo. and remained until 2005 when she moved to Castle Rock Care Center. A memor...
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