Obituaries
Ozalee Elizabeth ‘Ozzie’ Slay Perkins 1929-2009
Ozalee Elizabeth “Ozzie” Slay Perkins, 79, died Sunday, May 24, 2009, at her home near Toronto. She was born July 30, 1929, in Snowball, Ark., to Lowell and Floyce Long Slay. She worked for many years in Wichita with physically and mentally challenged adults at Star Key and the Elks Training Center. On Dec. 11, 1976, she married Pete Perkins in Wichita. He died on Feb. 18, 1992. Survivors include a son, Doc Peerson, Rose Hill; two brothers, ...
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Bill Martin Williams 1929-2009
Bill Martin Williams, 80, Joplin, Mo., passed away at 3:05 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2009, at his home with his devoted wife Willa at his side, surrounded by all nine of his children and many grandchildren, in-laws and loved ones after a courageous 23 year battle with cancer. Bill was born Jan. 30, 1929, in Osawatomie to Curham and Esther Williams. Bill moved with his parents to Neodesha where he attended school and participated in football, ba...
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Ruth Maurine Caldwell 1920-2009
Ruth Maurine Caldwell, 88, Chanute, loving wife, Mother, Mimi, Mimi-Great, and friend to many, went to the Palace of the Lord on May 20, 2009. She was the first born of four children to Fred and Myrtle Elizabeth Simms Manley on Dec. 8, 1920. Her siblings were Robert “Bob,” Charles Eugene “Gene,” and Lawrence D. “Larry.” She graduated from Chanute High School and attended Neosho County Community College. She worked as the office manager for ...
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George Creekmore 1955-2009
George Creekmore, 53, Toronto, died Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at Allen County Hospital, Iola. He was born Sept. 14, 1955, in Blackwell, Okla., to George L. and Opal J. Roberts Creekmore. He was a construction worker for many years. Survivors include three brothers, Ray and Duane Creekmore, both of Toronto, and Jack Creekmore, Wichita; and a sister, Karen Moore, Tulsa, Okla. He was preceded in death by his parents. He was cremated and a memorial ...
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Marjorie I. Huffman Taylor 1913-2009
Marjorie I. Huffman Taylor, 95, died Wednesday, May 13, 2009, in Fort Myers, Fla. She was born Nov. 11, 1913, in Chanute to George E. and Minnie Endsley Huffman. She worked as an operator for the Bell Telephone Co. before marrying Donald M. Taylor on Feb. 22, 1941. She was a member of St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church. Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Taylor Fly, Fort Myers, Fla., and Sharon Rubenich, Cape Coral, Fla.; and four grandchil...
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Elizabeth I. Penner Thomas 1931-2009
Elizabeth I. Penner Thomas, 77, rural Fall River, died Friday, May 15, 2009, at her home. She was born Sept. 3, 1931, to Isaac and Anna Pauls Penner west of Inman. She graduated from Inman High School. She worked as a secretary for several organizations, most recently at the Institute of Logopedics in Wichita. On May 2, 1964, she married Charles Thomas of Fall River. He survives. She was a member of the Bethel Mennonite Church in Inman. Other...
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Ruth Webb 1925-2009
Ruth Marie Webb, 84, Cleora, Okla., loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many, died Sunday, May 17, 2009. She was born May 12, 1925 to Martha and Sam Williamson and married Howard Webb Oct. 17, 1942. He survives. Other survivors include daughter Patti and husband, Clarence Saar, of Claremore, Okla.; son Charles Webb, Chanute; 5 grandchildren, Kathy Saar, Wichita, Kris Webb and Chance Webb, Chanute, Catrina Ficke...
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Virginia Ruth Nelson 1919-2009
Virginia Ruth Nelson, 90, a lifelong resident of Fredonia, died Saturday, May 16, 2009 at Fredonia Regional Hospital. She was born April 23, 1919 in Fredonia, the daughter of Harry R. and Georgia Mae Armstrong Giles. In 1939, Virginia married William Earl Nelson. He preceded her in death November 10, 1979. She was employed as a telephone operator for United Telephone Company in Fredonia for several years. She also owned the Basement Beauty...
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Elizabeth I. Penner Thomas 1931-2009
Elizabeth I. Penner Thomas, 77, rural Fall River, died Friday, May 15, 2009, at her home. She was born Sept. 3, 1931, to Isaac and Anna Pauls Penner west of Inman. She graduated from Inman High School. She worked as a secretary for several organizations, most recently at the Institute of Logopedics in Wichita. On May 2, 1964, she married Charles Thomas of Fall River. He survives. She was a member of the Bethel Mennonite Church in Inman. Other ...
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Jack Ray Noah 1935-2009
Jack Ray Noah, 73, died Friday, May 15, 2009, at Fredonia Regional Hospital. He was born June 30, 1935, in Harper to Millard and Blanche Kiser Noah. He was a member of Bible Baptist Church in Fredonia. He graduated from Altoona High School in 1953 and Chanute Junior college in 1955. On Aug. 17, 1958, he married Barbara Taylor at the First Christian Church in Chanute. She survives. He served in the Naval Reserves for eight years. He was a mec...
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William Wesley Moore 1950 – 2009
William Wesley Moore, 58, Moran, died Thursday, May 14, 2009 at his home. Wes was born in Buffalo on Sept. 24, 1950, the son of Robert Lee and Erma Grace Edwards Moore. He served his country in the United States Marine Corps from 1969 until 1971. Wes was united in marriage to Linda Bailey on Nov. 20, 1971 in Chanute. She survives, of the home. He was an over the road truck driver. Wes is survived by his wife, Linda, of the home; two sons, R...
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Beulah Carder Stephens
Beulah Carder Stephens, beloved wife and mother, passed away on Tuesday, May 12, 2009. She was born March 23, 1942, in Iola. A remembrance service will be held at the First Baptist Church, Ottawa, at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 20. Raised in Chanute, Beulah graduated from Chanute High School in 1959 and attended Wesley School of Nursing in Wichita. She married Byron Stephens on June 3, 1962. She received an Associate of Arts Degree from Jo...
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Cornelius Schultz 1913-2009
Cornelius Schultz, 95, died at his residence in Lafontaine Wednesday, May 13, 2009. He was born June 6, 1913, at Coy, Okla., the son of Peter and Lena Nightingale Schultz. He was a farmer and had worked at the Excelsior Brickyard for 21 years. On May 4, 1941, at Fredonia, he married Mary Ratzlaff. She survives, at the home. Also surviving are his children, Eugene Schultz, Neodesha, Wayne Schultz, Neodesha, Loretta Johnson, Rich Hill, Mo., M...
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Mary Elizabeth Browning
Memorial services for Mary Elizabeth Browning will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Potts Chapel, Independence. Inurnment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Independence.
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Paul E. ‘Corkey’ Smith
Paul E. “Corkey” Smith, 79, Erie, died Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. Funeral will be 2 p.m. Sunday at the First Christian Church, Erie. Private committal services will be held at Resthaven Cemetery in Wichita. Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Erie. Contributions to Prairie Mission Retirement Village may be made in care of the funeral home.
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Brandon Lee Bean 1982-2009
Brandon Lee Bean, 27, Thayer, died Monday, May 11, 2009, at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center. He was born Feb. 13, 1982, in Chanute to David Lynn and Judy Ann Huffmaster Bean. His favorite hobby was tracking the weather with his weather record books, starting in 1997, and watching the weather channel. He also loved studying geography and learning about mountains, as well as playing his Nintendo. He is survived by his parents, David an...
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Robert J. ‘Bob’ Gillihan 1931-2009
Robert J. “Bob” Gillihan, 78, Raytown, Mo., died Friday, April 24, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. He was born Feb. 4, 1931, in Chanute to Fred Michael and Reba L. Sparks Gillihan. He graduated from Chanute High School and attended Rockhurst College. He joined the Marine Corps in 1949 and served in Korea. He was employed with the Teamsters Union, eventually serving as president from 1990 until his retirement in 2003. Survivors include four children...
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Bobby Dale Hamilton 1939-2009
Bobby Dale Hamilton, 69, Chanute, died Sunday, May 10, 2009, at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita after suffering a heart attack. He was born Aug. 1, 1939, in Chanute to Floyd and Mildred Hamilton. He attended Chanute schools. He married Virginia Enos in 1969. He enjoyed sports and loved to fish and hunt. He cherished the time he spent with family, especially his grandchildren. Bobby’s memory will live forever joyfully in the hearts of ...
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Lee Leonard Tharp 1918-2009
Lee L. “Max” Tharp, 90, died Monday, May 11, 2009 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, Chanute. Born in Rogers, Ark., Dec. 5, 1918, he was the son of William Thomas Tharp and Grace Luker Tharp. At the age of three, he and his family moved to Chanute. After graduating from Chanute High School, he attended Chanute Junior College until enlisting in the United States Army in 1941. He served until the end of World War II, at which tim...
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Melba Lou Tindle 1933-2009
Melba Lou Tindle, 75, a resident of Longton, formerly of Fredonia, died Sunday, May 10, 2009 at Mercy Hospital in Independence. She was born Nov. 3, 1933 in rural Gridley, the daughter of Floyd and Lydia Ehrhardt Edwards. She was graduated from Garnett High School in 1951. Melba was a homemaker and served as the Board of Education clerk for USD 283-Longton for 10 years, retiring in 1991. In October of 1955, she married Gene Johnson. He preced...
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