Community News
Joseph Michael Bilgere 1938-2011
Joseph Michael Bilgere, 73, died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011, at Baylor Medical Center of Garland, Texas. Mike was born in Oklahoma City, Okla., on August 23, 1938, the only child of Joseph Edward and Mary Geraldine O’Reily Bilgere. He graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Wichita In 1956. He graduated from St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City. Joseph Michael “Mike” Bilgere and Mary Jean “Jeanie” Brazil were married on Feb, 2...
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Judith Kay Routh 1972-2011
, 39, Altoona, died Monday, Nov. 7, 2011 at the Fredonia Regional Medical Center in Fredonia. Judy was born in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Feb. 8, 1972, the daughter of Eva Mitchel Maile. She was united in marriage to Jesse Routh on July 15, 2000 in Grand Rapids. He survives, of the home. Judy worked as a clerk at Pumping Pete’s Convenience Store in Chanute. Along with her husband Jesse Routh of Altoona; she is survived by her mother and stepfat...
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E.E. “Gene” Sloan 1920-2011
E.E. “Gene” Sloan, 91, Humboldt, died Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at his home. Gene was born July 16, 1920, at Vincentville, in Allen County, the son of James Austin and Nora Ellen Rhodes Sloan. On Feb. 16, 1941, Gene married Grace I. Carroll in Iola and they made their home on a dairy farm just southeast of Iola until moving to a farm northeast of LaHarpe. They moved to Humboldt four years ago. Along with farming and raising livestock he worke...
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Zachary Scott ‘Zach’ Harding 1990-2011
Zachary Scott “Zach” Harding, 21, Parsons, died Saturday morning, Nov. 5, 2011, near Erie, from injuries sustained in a car-train accident. He was born July 24, 1990, in Parsons, to Scott William and Rachael Lynn Looney Harding. He grew up and attended school in St. Paul and was a 2008 graduate of St. Paul High School. He had also attended Labette Community College and Pittsburg State University. For a time, he worked at Stafford & Westervelt...
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Margery Streets Whitney 1912-2011
Margery Streets Whitney, 98, Wauconda, Ill., died at Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Ill., on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011. She was born Nov. 21, 1912 in Altoona, to Arthur and Sarah Streets. She taught elementary school in Altoona and later worked for Koss Construction Company where she met her future husband Edgar “Whit” Brooks Whitney. Margery married Whit on Jan. 16, 1944 and they had one son, Robert Brooks Whitney, who survives. Her ...
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Virginia Lee Larson 1927-2011
Virginia Lee Larson, 84, Elsmore, died Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, at Mercy Hospital, Independence. She was born Sept. 30, 1927, the daughter of Roscoe and Lilly Shelton Tice. She graduated in 1944 from Moran High School, then received a teaching certificate after attending training in Pittsburg. She was united in marriage to Bernard LaMarr Larson in 1946 for 57 years until his death in 2003. Virginia worked and lived most of her adult life in t...
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Leroy Melvin John 1929-2011
The God of perfect timing has called his faithful servant, Leroy M. John, 82, home Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at his residence in Chanute. Leroy was born in Argonia, KS on March 24, 1929, the son of W. C. “Johnie” and Mary Ann (Stephens) John. Leroy spent his childhood and youth in Argonia and graduated from Argonia High School in 1947. After graduation he joined the Army and served during the Korean War from 1951-1953, where his life was fo...
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Alva Paul Haller 1927-2011
Alva Paul Haller, 84, Chanute, died Friday, Nov. 4, 2011 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Paul was born on July 13, 1927 in Benedict, the son of William Paul and Gladys DeWhitt Haller. He was united in marriage to Lillie McGaugh on Jan. 25, 1960 in Erie. She preceded him in death. Paul worked as an instrumentation engineer for Ash Grove Cement until his retirement in 1989. He was preceded in death by his parents, his...
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Lacey Carey 1975-2011
Lacey Carey, 36, Chanute, died Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 in Chanute. Lacey was born in Kansas City, Mo., on July 15, 1975, the daughter of Carolyn Wells Tipton. She attended Burlington High School and graduated from Neosho County Community Junior College. She worked as a CNA\CMA at Applewood Rehabilitation Center. Lacey is survived by her mother of Chanute; two children, Dylan Carey and Kirsten Carey, Chanute; three brothers, William Lee Weston,...
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Clyde August Breiner 1918-2011
Clyde A. Breiner, 93, Chanute, died Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center. Clyde was born in Erie on August 25, 1918, the son of Henry and Ida Friederich Breiner. He graduated from Chanute High School in 1936. He married Frances Dietrich on August 19, 1940 in Chanute. She preceded him in death on Sept. 13, 1988. He served with the 712th Railroad Operating Battalion in World War II. He retired after 38 years as an ...
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Gary L. Nordt 1936-2011
Gary L. Nordt, 75, Humboldt, died Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011, at his home. Gary was born Feb. 21, 1936, on a farm east of Humboldt, the son of Henry Carl and Edna Charlotta Groennert Nordt. The family moved to Humboldt when he was 10 and he graduated from Humboldt High School in 1954. On July 27, 1956, Gary married Wanda L. Scott at Trinity United Methodist Church in Iola. They have made their home in Humboldt most of their married lives. Gar...
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Verl A. Pontious 1916-2011
Verl A. Pontious, 95, rural Parsons, died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011 at Labette Health. He was born Jan. 8, 1916 at Hertha, (south of Erie), a son of Arthur Theodore and Rose Compton Pontious. He attended Liberty Elementary School and later attended Erie High School. He later began farming and did this the remainder of his life. On Dec. 24, 1940 he and Marie P. Burnett were united in marriage at Parsons. She preceded him in death on April 10, 19...
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Betty Mae Wrestler 1940-2011
Betty Wrestler, 71, Elsmore, went to be with Jesus on Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. Betty was born in Humboldt on June 20, 1940, the daughter of Orian and Gertrude Voss Galemore. She was united in marriage to Ron Wrestler on April 29, 1957 in Erie. She attended Humboldt High School. Betty was a champion trap shooter and won the National Trap Shooting Championship in 1991. She has won hundreds of trapshooting competitions and is a member of the Kans...
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Chester ‘Chet’ Ray Petty 1935-2011
Chester “Chet” Ray Petty was born on Oct. 1, 1935 and died on Monday, Oct. 31, 2011 at his home with his family by his side. Chet was born in Chanute to James and Ethel Petty who preceded him in death. Chester had four brothers and five sisters. He is survived by one sister, Maxine Wilson, Chanute, and his twin brother, Lester Petty, also of Chanute. ¬†Chester Ray Petty and Gertrude Eileen Brooks, also known as “Eileen,” of Erie, were mar...
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Velma Cleo Scantlin 1926-2011
Velma Cleo Scantlin, 85, Humboldt, died Monday, Oct. 31, 2011, at Arrowood Lane Residential Care Facility in Humboldt. Velma was born May 25, 1926, in Deerfield, Mo., the daughter of Raymond and Velma Roth Ashley. She was married to Don Scantlin Jan. 29, 1943. They were married for 60 years until his death on July 13, 2003. Velma is survived by one son, Dave Scantlin and wife, Sue, Iola, three daughters, Donna Vohs and husband, Bob, Wichita,...
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Janet Elaine Tabor Sill 1931-2011
Janet Elaine Tabor Sill, 80, Black Diamond, Wash., died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011 in Auburn, Wash. She was born Oct, 3, 1931 to Jay and Fay Hiatt Tabor in Independence. On March 21, 1952 Janet married Albert Sill in Chanute. She worked in and retired from the banking industry. Janet was a very fun person to be with at all times. She kept busy with many household duties and loved cooking new recipes, baking her famous hand decorated Christmas co...
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Marietta Norman 1926-2011
Marietta Norman died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011, after a short stay at a Hurst nursing center. Memorial service will be 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, at St. Luke United Methodist Church, 3200 Denton Highway, Haltom City, Texas. A private graveside service will be held later in Neosho County Memorial Park, East 21st Street, Chanute. Marietta was born Jan. 17, 1926, in Chanute, to Siera B. and Chelsea C. Norman. She was always interested in aviation and...
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Larry Eugene Umbarger 1938-2011
Larry Eugene Umbarger, 73, Thayer, died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Larry was born in rural Thayer on Jan. 4, 1938, the son of Leo and Mattie Cottrell Umbarger. He graduated from Thayer High School in 1955. He was united in marriage to Carol May Thornton on Jan. 15, 1956 at the Thayer Christian Church. She survives, of the home. Larry was a farmer and worked as a manager for Coop, Chanute...
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Patricia Gail Fugitt Flaugher 1943-2011
Patricia Gail Fugitt Flaugher, 67, died Oct. 20, 2011 in Kindred Hospital of Hollywood, Fla. She was born Oct. 21, 1943 in Eureka, to David “Pat” Arland and Wyvona Mae Reeder Fugitt. As a small child she grew up and attended school in Humboldt until the age of 12 when she moved to Florida. She is survived by her mother, Wyvona Cahill, Coconut Creek, Fla.; son Wilson Edward Flaugher, Jr., Miami, Fla.; daughter Gail Ann Jackson and husband, Lar...
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Margarett L. Stroup 1917-2011
Margarett L. Stroup, 94, Derby, and a longtime former Erie resident, died Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011 at the Derby Rehabilitation Center at Derby. She was born on Oct. 19, 1917 at Savonburg, to Samuel and Martha Beckstein Williamson. She grew up at Chanute and attended schools there. She and Willis “Brownie” Stroup were married on Feb, 7, 1937 at Fredonia. He preceded her in death on Jan. 1, 2003. She was a homemaker and resided at the same hom...
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