Community News
Richard Swisher 1953-2013
Richard Swisher, 59, Fredonia, formerly of Walnut, Calif., died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 at Fredonia Regional Hospital. He was born July 9, 1953 in Wichita, the son of Franklin D. and Stella Honer Swisher. He was retired in 2002 from Air Capital Plating in Wichita. Richard’s survivors include his mother, Stella Swisher of Fredonia; companion Kathy Ross of Fredonia; children, Richard Swisher Jr. of Wichita, Tracey Moore of Fredonia, Randy Ross o...
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Ruth L. Yowell 1922-2012
Ruth Yowell, 90, of Humboldt died Jan. 21, 2013 at Windsor Place in Iola. Ruth was born east of Chanute on Feb. 5, 1922, the daughter of Oscar and Lillie Mar Inman LaSalle. She married Eldon Yowell on Dec. 7, 1941 in Caney. He preceded her in death in July of 1994. In addition to being a mother and wife she farmed with her husband for 25 years, managed Best Western Motels in Ottawa and Ark City for several years. She also worked at Johnson...
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Evelyn Jewel Simmons 1929-2013
Evelyn Simmons, 83, of Chanute died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013 at Chanute Healthcare. Evelyn was born in Cane Hill, Ark., on Jan. 25, 1929 the daughter of Alton and Beulah Whinery Mintz. She married Donald Simmons on Dec. 31, 1948 in Erie. He preceded her in death on March 2, 1992. She was a homemaker and volunteered for St. Patrick’s Thrift Store for several years. She loved quilting and especially spending time with her family. Evelyn is survi...
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Mary E. Jobe 1916-2013
Mary E. Jobe, 96, of Buffalo, Mo., and a former Erie resident, died early Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 at the Colonial Springs Healthcare Center in Buffalo. She was born on Oct. 3, 1916 at Humboldt to Fritz and Ruth Barr Domitz. She grew up at Humboldt and attended Humboldt schools. She moved to Erie and did domestic housework for several years. She later worked at the Hines Dairy, the Kansas Ordnance Plant during World War II and the Korean War, a...
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Louetta A. Turner 1928-2013
Louetta A. Turner, 84, of Chanute died Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Louetta was born in Liberal, Mo., on July 30, 1928, the daughter of James and Ada Craft Wiley. She attended school in Stark City, Mo. Louetta was united in marriage to Stanley Turner in Bentonville, Ark. He survives. She worked in health care facilities as a cook and housekeeper. Along with her husband, Stanley, she is survi...
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Delores Ann Moody 1938-2013
Delores Ann Moody, 74, Fredonia, and longtime resident of Erie, died Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 in Fredonia. She was born July 26, 1938 in Odense, the daughter of Loren Cecil and Roberta Pearl Mintz Trammell. In January 1955, Delores married John Ivan Handrich and they were later divorced. On July 1, 1966 in Erie, she was united in marriage to Donald Eugene Moody. Together they owned and operated their family farm for more than 30 years. Donald pr...
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Ruthann Canty Pringle 1930-2013
Ruthann Canty Pringle, of rural Woodson County, died at her home on Jan. 20, 2013, surrounded by those who love her dearly. She was born in Chanute on March 10, 1930, the first daughter of Bryan Canty and Mae Stewart Canty. Her early childhood years were spent in the Buffalo-area, then in Parsons, Lawrence, and Chanute. Her family returned to the family farm in Buffalo, where she graduated from high school in 1948. After finishing high schoo...
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Johnie Dean Dighero 1947-2013
Johnie Dighero, 65, of Chanute made his final move to heaven to join his family on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013 at Chanute HealthCare Johnie was born in Fort Scott on Sept. 30, 1947 the son of Dean and Dorothy Niemeir Dighero. He loved people and if anyone ever needed anything, especially moving or antiques, he was there for them. Johnie enjoyed going to auctions and his thought on life was, “Your junk is my treasure!” He also enjoyed fishing and r...
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Jeffrey Jackson 1957-2013
Jeffrey Jackson, 55, of Elsmore died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, at his home. Jeff was born June 17, 1957 in Iola, to Oliver Conrad and Lorella Brown Jackson. He graduated from Marmaton Valley High School in 1975 and attended Allen County Community College. He worked in the oil field industry and farmed his entire life. Jeff married Becky Lynn Mohler and they had three children and later divorced. Jeff was baptized and confirmed at Friends Home...
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Kenneth “Jerry” Wimsett 1934-2013
Jerry Wimsett, 78, of Chanute died Friday, Jan. 18, 2013 at Heritage Nursing Home in Chanute. Jerry was born in Humboldt on Sept. 20, 1934, the son of Walter and Jaunita Hunt Wimsett. He graduated from Humboldt High School in 1953 and later from Pittsburg University in 1962. After high school he enlisted in the Air Force. He married Carol Ann Pollman on April 26, 1958 in Humboldt. She preceded him in death on April 28, 2012. Jerry was a lifel...
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Donald Robert Mitchell 1932-2013
Donald Robert Mitchell, 80, beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend went to be with our Lord on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013.  Born on April 28, 1932 just before his twin sister Dorothy on a farm near Walnut. Don was the son of George Robert and Bertha May Eble Mitchell, who preceded him in death. After a hard-working but loving and fun-filled childhood, Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June of 1950. He proudly served his country ...
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George Edward North 1945-2013
George Edward North, 67, a resident of Altoona, died Friday, Jan. 18, 2013. He was born June 23, 1945 in Fredonia, to Francis Theaboy and Bonnie Jean Young North. On May 6, 1967, he was united in marriage to Marilyn June Szczerbacki. She survives, at their home. George was self-employed. His survivors, in addition to his wife, Marilyn, include one daughter, Beverly Ann Busby of Mulberry, two sons, Wayne Edward North of Galesburg, David Jay N...
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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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