Obituaries
Edith Birdell Rodgers Wiley 1916-2011
Edith Birdell Rodgers Wiley, 94, homemaker and retired Methodist pastor’s wife, died Sunday, March 6, 2011. Edith was born in Newton on April 28, 1916, the daughter of Charles Leroy and Emma Holdeman Rodgers. Edith graduated from Newton High School. She married Ira Wiley in 1940.  Ira worked for Santa Fe Railroad in Newton, Chanute, and Emporia, until he resigned and entered the ministry. He died in 2008. She attended Trinity Heights United Me...
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Vera Ellen Thurman 1916-2011
Vera Ellen Thurman, 95, died Sunday, March 6, 2011 at the Iola Nursing Center in Iola. She had lived in Iola the past three years. She was born March 1, 1916, at Covington, Okla., the sixth of 12 children born to William H. and Dorothea C. Jordening Bartels. She attended the country school in that area and grew up there. In 1942 she moved with her family to Beatrice, Neb. In 1952 she moved to Wichita, where she was employed by the Safeway S...
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Death notices
Vera Ellen Thurman, 95, Iola, formerly of Erie and Beatrice, Neb., died Sunday, March 6, 2011 at the Iola Nursing Center. She was the widow of C. R. “Pat” Thurman, who preceded her in death on Nov. 6, 1997. Funeral will be 4 p.m. Saturday, March 12 at the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Galesburg. The family will receive friends at the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Friday. Memorials are suggested to either the First ...
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Anna Mary “Annie” Berkey 1923-2011
Anna Mary “Annie” Berkey, 87, Chanute, died Friday, March 4, 2011 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center. Annie was born in Nova, Ohio on August 28, 1923, the daughter of Ed and Ella Barr Motter. Annie was united in marriage to Paul C. Berkey in Ashland, Ohio. He preceded her in death in 1986. She worked as an apartment manager in Fountain, Colo., where she lived for 27 years. She retired in 1988. Annie is survived by three sons, Jim ...
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Grace Ellen Houser 1931-2011
Grace Ellen Houser, 79, longtime resident of Fredonia, formerly of Neodesha, died Thursday, March 3, 2011 at Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita. She was born June 30, 1931 in Neodesha, the daughter of Isaac Newton and Ida Mae Lockard Phillips. Grace was married to Lester Houser. They were later divorced. Grace was a dispatcher several years for the Wilson County Sheriff’s Department. More recently, she worked for the Alco store in Fredonia. Sh...
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John Norval Sherman, Jr. 1918-2011
John Norval Sherman, Jr. Born Oct. 30, 1918 Samuels, Ky. Died: March 3, 2011 in Larence. Parents: Dr. John N. Sherman, Sr. Mother Mary Palmer (Hibbs) Sherman. Sister, Eunice C. Sherman died 1914. Brother Marvin H. Sherman died 1948. Chanute High School, Class of 1937. U.S. Åir Force 1942-1945. Pilot, heavy bombers in 14th Air Force China. Washburn University and Washburn University Law School graduate. Member Phi Delta Theta Social fraternity....
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Darlene Alger 1936-2011
Darlene Alger, 75, Tulsa, Okla., formerly of Chanute, died Tuesday, March 1, 2011 in Broken Arrow, Okla. She was born Jan. 28, 1936 in Topeka. She was a retired computer systems manager for American Airlines. Funeral will be 10 a.m. today, March 4 at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel in Broken Arrow, with a family graveside service following at Memorial Park Cemetery in Chanute.
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Raleigh Dale Prather 1936-2011
Raleigh Dale Prather, 75, former LaHarpe resident, died Thursday, March 3, 2011 at Homestead of Auburn Assisted Living in Auburn. Dale was born Jan. 11, 1936, at Sulphur Springs, Ark., the son of Mose Alfred and Mary Marie Harris Prather. He moved to LaHarpe with his family where he grew up. He married Patricia Swanson and they divorced later in life. He worked a number of years as a lineman for the City of Iola Electrical Department and opera...
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Jason Dean Claibourn 1974-2011
Jason Dean Claibourn, 36, Coyville, died unexpectedly on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011 at William Newton Memorial Hospital in Winfield. He was born Oct. 7, 1974 in Fredonia, the son of Samuel and Brenda Lour Claibourn. He attended grade school in Fredonia and Neodesha, middle school in Independence and Neodesha, and high school in Neodesha and Yates Center, where he was graduated in 1993. Jason was a welder and pipefitter by trade, currently emplo...
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Loretta Marie Reinert Wagner 1920-2011
Loretta Marie Reinert Wagner, 90, Mankato, died Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011 at Golden Living Center, Downs, where she had resided since 2006. She was born Oct. 10, 1920 to Peter Anton and Barbara Boden Reinert on a farm southwest of Tipton. She attended school at Tipton through one year of high school. On Feb. 21, 1944 she married Edward Wagner. In 1959 they moved from Tipton to Mankato. Her husband preceded her in death. She was a member of St. ...
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Francis “Wayne” Umbarger 1918-2011
Francis “Wayne” Umbarger, 92, Chanute, died Friday, Feb. 25, 2011 at the Chanute Health Care Center. Wayne was born in Earlton on Nov. 24, 1918, the son of Winnie G. and Flossie Miller Umbarger. He graduated from Thayer High School in 1936, Chanute Junior College in 1940, and received his Bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State University in 1948. Wayne worked at Beech Aircraft in Wichita until being drafted into the U.S. Navy during WWII. Wayn...
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Pamela Mae “Pam” Hutton 1984-2011
Pamela Mae “Pam” Hutton, 26, Gas, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011. Pam was born Oct. 17, 1984, in Iola, the daughter of Keith Ray and Gloria Jeanette Budd Beeman. She grew up on the family farm southeast of Humboldt. She graduated from Humboldt High School in 2003. She continued her education at Neosho County Community College in Chanute where she participated in forensics and cheerleading. On Nov. 17, 2005, Pam married Tony R. Hutton at St. Pete...
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Leamon Leroy Hardman 1929-2011
Leamon Leroy Hardman, 81, Chanute, died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011 at the Heritage Health Care Center in Chanute. Leamon was born in Parsons on March 8, 1929, the son of Arthur “Deke” and Elizabeth Laisure Hardman. He graduated from Chanute High School. He was united in marriage to Betty Ann Lee on Sept. 19, 1948 in Texas. She survives, of the home. Leamon worked as a building inspector for the City of Chanute, retiring after 30 years of employment...
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Gerald Eugene Isaacs 1945-2011
Gerald Eugene Isaacs, 65, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 at Baxter Springs. He was born April 13, 1945 in Branson, Mo. He married Evelyn Gross of Branson and they were later divorced. He then married Penny Wolfe and they were divorced. He worked in the oil fields and for the last 15 years was employed as a mail courier in Fort Scott and Baxter Springs. His hobby was collecting and restoring antique automobiles. He is survived by brothers Garland...
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Lonnie Ray Kennedy 1934-2011
Lonnie Ray Kennedy died at his home in Norman, Okla., Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, surrounded by his loving family. He was born Dec. 24, 1934, in Erie, to Bertha Mae Stout and Samuel Dee Kennedy. He grew up in Chanute and graduated there. In 1956, he married Sallie Ward. This marriage was blessed with two children, Lea Ann and Chris. In 1997, he retired from the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad with a total of 45 years. He also completed 20 yea...
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Barbara "Babs" Koenig Daniels 1941-2011
Barbara "Babs" Koenig Daniels, 69, Cleveland, Miss., died Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011 at Bolivar Medical Center. She was born June 5, 1941 to Carl Koenig and Lavon Groome Koenig in Chanute. She married Dean Daniels on June 23, 1962. She attended Kansas State University and graduated from Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss., with a Bachelor's of Science in Education, Master's of Education and Education Specialists degrees. She was a tea...
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Bockover service
A Memorial Service for Lloyd W. Bockover, who passed away on Monday, Feb. 14, will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 at the New Life United Brethren Church, 500 N. Forest, Chanute.
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Floyd Wayne Gibson 1924-2011
Floyd Wayne Gibson, 86, died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 at Wichita. He was born on Oct. 25, 1924 near Toronto, the only son of Floyd and Addie Steele Gibson. He attended school in the Toronto area. He was employed by Woodson County as a truck driver, retiring in 1987. He was a member of the Jefferson Street Baptist Church in Eureka.  He and his wife, Freda, were married April 28, 1944.  Survivors include his wife, Freda;  his daughters, Judy Lawre...
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Claudia Jones Patry 1946-2011
Claudia Jones Patry, 64, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011.  She was born April 5, 1946 in Colby, the third daughter of Earl and Mildred Jones. She married James Patry on August 21, 1965 and settled in Wilson, Kan. James and Claudia spent more than 40 years in Wilson, raising their children and being part of the community. In November 2010, they chose to move to Salina to be closer to their children and grandchildren.   Claud...
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Phillip E. Lucke 1950-2011
Phillip E. Lucke, 60, Chanute, died Monday, Feb. 21, 2011 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Phil was born in Chanute on August 21, 1950, the son of James Henry and Edith Bade Lucke. He graduated from Chanute High School. He served his country in the United States Air Force. Phil was united in marriage to Linda Collyar on May 22, 1970. She survives, of the home. He worked as a diesel mechanic for more than 35 years, ret...
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