Obituaries
Raymond Allen Whiting 1932-2011
Ray Whiting, age 79, passed away at his home on October 4, 2011. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Jeanie, children Gary, David, Kathy Greve, Tammy Marnell, Rick Murphy, Cindy Dismang and Chris Murphy, and siblings, Harlin, Barbara Riffle and Leonard. He enjoyed 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rod and Greta, first wife, Carol and grandchildren, Mitia Murphy and Brad Whiting. He will a...
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Leon Eugene Shook 1957-2011
Leon Eugene Shook, 54, Chanute, died Thursday, September 29, 2011 at his home in Chanute. Leon was born in Chanute on March 30, 1957, the son of Leon D. and Mable Reed Shook. He graduated from Chanute High School. He served his country in the U.S. Army during Desert Storm and in Iraq. Leon was united in marriage to Lori Croy on July 31, 1987 in Chanute. She survives, of the home. He worked as a groundskeeper for Kirby’s Super Sports in Chanut...
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Jeffrey D. Copley 1961-2011
Jeffrey D. Copley, 50, Colorado Springs, Colo., went home to be with Jesus Monday, Sept. 26, 2011. He battled kidney cancer for three months. He was born August 21, 1961 in Sacramento, Calif. Jeff worked 18 years for Pepsi, he served his country in the Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1986. He loved all of God’s creation, especially the mountains, the night sky, and his dogs. He is survived by his wife, Rhonda Copley; parents Donal...
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Leota Mae Waddell 1917-2011
Leota Mae Waddell, 94, Moran, formerly of Kincaid, died Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, at the Allen County Hospital in Iola. She was born on July 5, 1917, in the old Allen County Hospital of La Harpe, the daughter of Walter and Stella Leake Adams. Leota married George S. Waddell on June 5, 1937 at Kearney, Neb. In 1947, they purchased their 160-acre farm in Kincaid where they made their home for 52 years. She was a member of the Kincaid Methodist Ch...
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H. Owen Oliphant 1926-2011
H. Owen Oliphant, 85, Chanute, died Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center. He was born on Jan. 24, 1926 in Humboldt, the son of Riley O. and Myrtle Montgomery Oliphant. On Jan. 25, 1947 Owen and Nellie J. Taylor were married in Bentonville, Ark. They made their home in the Humboldt/Chanute area. Owen was employed by Monarch Cement Company for 42 years, retiring in 1988. Owen enjoyed fishing and hunting. He wa...
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Christine L. Elam 1919-2011
Christine L. Elam, 91, died Thursday, Sept. 28, 2011 in Youngtown, Ariz. Christine was born Dec. 20, 1919 in Shafter Township, Ill., to William Edgar and Rosa Blankenship Etcheson. She was raised and attended schools in Shafter and later attended Business College. She married Marvin R. Elam in 1940 and Marvin and she together pastored at more than 20 churches in six different states until their retirement in 1990. They retired from Colfax Ba...
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Nelda J. White 1921-2011
, 90, Fredonia, formerly of Wichita, died in Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011 at Wilson Medical Center in Neodesha due to complications she developed after a minor surgery. She was born July 18, 1921 in Independence, the daughter of Walter Franklin and Ferne McKay Head. Nelda also worked as a seamstress for Alco Interiors for five years, retiring in 1986. On June 15, 1968, Nelda married Alfred P. White. He survives, of the home. Also surviving are a ...
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Marion Wentler 1921-2011
Marion Wentler, 89, Chanute, died Thursday, February 3, 2011 at the Chanute Health Center in Chanute. Marion was born in Summit, S.D., on Dec. 16, 1921, the daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Buschenfeldt Munsen. Marion was united in marriage to Raymond Wentler on May 23, 1940 in Summit, S/D. He preceded her in death on March 15, 1993. She was a homemaker. Marion is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Lopeman, Chanute; a son, Rueben Wentler and...
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Carolyn Sue Patterson Heptig 1939-2011
Carolyn Sue Patterson Heptig, 71, Iola, formerly of Fredonia and Chanute, died Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011 at the Allen County Hospital in Iola. She was born Dec. 17, 1939 in Chanute, the daughter of Kenneth A. and Leta Sinclair Patterson. She was a homemaker and attended the Sacred Heart Church in Fredonia. On Jan. 13, 1983 in Fredonia, she married Fred G. Heptig. He preceded her in death July 29, 2004. Her survivors include a brother, Oren Patters...
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Lawrence Lee Shultz 1917-2011
Lawrence Lee Shultz, 94, a resident of Chanute, died Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011 at the Heritage Health Care Center in Chanute. He was born June 26, 1917 in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Lea Roy and Tilda Mae Moler Shultz. He served in the United States Army during World War II. On June 26, 1937 in Fredonia, he married Louise Baughn. She preceded him in death Sept. 10, 1991. Lawrence worked at various occupations throughout his life including d...
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Otheda Faye Hartin 1934-2011
Otheda Faye Hartin, 76, Bellevue, Neb., died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011. She was born Dec. 31, 1934. She was a retired realtor. She is survived by her mother , Faye Lenora Pruitt, Chanute; daughters: Veronica Hunt, Bellevue, Neb.,. Linda Hartin, Omaha, Neb.; a son, Daniel Hartin, Half Moon Bay, Calif.; granddaughter-in-law, Mary Todero and husband, Dana Spaccarotella, Papillion, Neb.; two grandchildren, Gina Todero, Bellevue, Shaun Hartin, Sac...
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Joan Toon Curtis 1929-2011
Joan Toon Curtis, 82, Chanute, died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3 at 1st Assembly of God, 1102 Washington St., Fredonia, Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Burial to follow at Fredonia City Cemetery. Joan was preceded in death by husband, John L., and grandson Kristopher Keenan. Survivors are sons, John M., Jeffrey L. and wife, Debbie, and Logan Curtis, all of Chanute; daughters, Debra K. Wright, Topeka, ...
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Deborah Kay Conner 1954-2011
Deborah Kay Conner, 57, Fredonia, formerly of Oxford and Winfield, died Monday, Sept. 26, 2011, at her home following an extensive battle with cancer. She was born Feb. 28, 1954, in Wellington, the daughter of Don and Louise Riggs Sawyer. On Nov. 5, 1970, in Winfield, Debbie married Jim Conner. He survives, at the home. Together they owned and operated Conner Construction. Debbie also worked in the food service department for Fredonia USD 484...
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Doyle Dennis Houk 1947-2011
Doyle Dennis Houk, 64, Erie, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011 at Labette Health, Parsons. He was born Aug. 28, 1947 at the family homestead near Humansville, Mo.,, a son of Walter Russell and Beulah Irene Burchett Houk. He attended school at Humansville and graduated from the Humansville High School. He attended church growing up and was saved in May 1959 and baptized in June. He married Esther Jeanette Mann on June 17, 1967 at Pleasant Grove...
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Donald Richard Miller 1929-2011
Donald Richard Miller, 82, Kansas City, died at home on August 30, 2011. Born on Feb. 10, 1929 in Savonburg, Don was a farmer at heart. Don was an Air Force veteran and retired from Gates Rubber Co. in 1990 after 30 years of service. Don is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Isobel; his children: Patty McKaig, David Humbles, Karen Hoctor, Dawn Gordon, Mary Beth Klein; 13 grandchildren: three great-grandchildren; and a brother, George Mi...
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Garcell ‘Buddy’ Hatfield 1930-2011
Garcell “Buddy” Hatfield, 81, Thayer, died Friday, Sept. 24, 2011 at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. He was born Jan. 16, 1930, in Independence, the son of Amy Virgie Porter and Garcell McKinley Hatfield. On Aug. 23, 1964, he was united in marriage to Carol Marsh in Belton, Mo. Buddy graduated from Independence High School in 1949. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1949 to 1953, and upon discharge was an Air Controlman Airman. Buddy was...
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Marie Fail McBride 1928-2011
Marie Fail McBride, 83, Garnett, and a former Parsons resident, died at Friday, Sept. 23, 2011 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. She was a resident of the Golden Heights Nursing Home in Garnett. She was born in Parsons on July 9, 1928, to Joe and Ruby Hanna Chalker. She graduated from Parsons High School and attended Parsons Junior College. Later, she earned a certificate as a dietary manager from the Coffeyville Community College Vo...
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James Edward Pavlu 1961-2011
James Pavlu, 49, Chanute, died Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 at his residence. James was born in Santa Ana, Calif., on Oct. 13, 1961, the son of James A. and Darlene Bundy Pavlu. He graduated from Ocean View High School in 1979. He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Chanute. He is survived by father, James A. Pavlu, Huntington Beach, Calif.; one son, Austin James Haws, Oklahoma City, Okla.; two sisters, Cathrine M. Pavlu, Chanute, a...
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Garry Smedra 1936-2011
Garry F. Smedra, 75, Overland Park, formerly of Loup City and Chanute, died Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, at the Grand Island Veterans Home in Grand Island. Services were at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 16 at St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City, with graveside military honors by Offutt Air Force Base Honor Guard. Peters Funeral Home of Loup City was in charge of the arrangements. Mr. Smedra was...
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Ruth Nadine Schroder 1924-2011
Ruth Nadine Schroder, 87, a lifelong resident of Fredonia, died Monday, Sept. 19, 2011 at Fredonia Regional Hospital. She was born Jan. 13, 1924 in Fredonia, the daughter of John Eugene and Inez P. Wertz Brinegar. Ruth was a 1942 graduate of Fredonia High School. On April 21, 1946 in Fredonia, Ruth was united in marriage to Bruce V. Schroder. Together they owned and operated Schroder Plumbing, retiring in October of 2007. They also owned Schr...
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