Obituaries
Clarence W. Barr 1927-2011
Clarence W. Barr, 83, Chanute died Wednesday, May 18, 2011 in Chanute. Born June 11, 1927, in Rose, Kansas, he was the son of Anna Elizabeth Goloby and James Chester Barr. They preceded him in death, along with his brothers; Harold and Richard Barr and a sister, Elizabeth Ann Barr. Clarence grew up on a farm and attended Maple Grove School. He knew the meaning of hard work. He was employed for many years at Mid America Refinery. He then retire...
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Velma Marie Grogan 1915-2011
Velma Marie Grogan, 95, Independence, formerly of Chanute, died Thursday, May 19, 2011 at Mercy Hospital in Independence. Velma was born in Chanute on Dec. 17, 1915, the daughter of Arthur Edwin and Edna C. Underhill Turner. She graduated from Chanute High School. She was a lifelong resident of Chanute where she lived at 1428 S. Highland for a majority of that time. In March 2010 she moved to Independence and lived at Regal Estate for the past...
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Clifford Ernest Welch 1913-2011
Clifford Ernest Welch, 97, died Monday, May 16, 2011 at Valley Gardens Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Stockton, Calif., after a short illness. He was born in Havana on Sept. 9, 1913 to John William and Eva Louise Davey Welch. The family moved to Chanute when he was a small child. He attended Chanute schools and was a WWII veteran.  He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Evelyn Marks and Louise Graham, two brothers John Jr...
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Wayne E. Dougherty 1927-2011
Wayne E. Dougherty, 84, Thayer, died Monday, May 16, 2011 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Wayne was born in rural Thayer on Feb. 28, 1927, the son of Paris Arthur and Louise Madison Dougherty. He attended schools in Thayer. He served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Wayne was united in marriage to Georgeann “Ann” Reece on Dec. 21, 1953. She preceded him in death in September 1991. H...
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Mary Frances Thummel 1931-2011
Mary Frances Thummel, 80, Iola, died Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute. Mary Frances was born Jan. 31, 1931 at Piqua, the daughter of Bernard and Julia Ulrich Konen. She grew up at Piqua where she attended St. Martin’s Catholic School through the 8th grade. She graduated from Iola High School. Mary Frances was married to Charles Thummel. They had four children and later divorced. Mary Frances has...
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Mary Alice Hughes 1929-2011
Mary Alice Hughes, 81, Thayer, died Sunday, May 15, 2011 at the Catholic Care Center in Bel Aire, Kan. Mary Alice was born Nov. 1, 1929 in Thayer, the daughter of Roy and Beulah Meigs McNutt.  Mary Alice was raised in the rural Morehead area and graduated from Thayer High School in 1947.  Following graduation she moved to Neodesha and was employed at the Ben Franklin store.  While in Neodesha she met Carl Wayne Hughes and they were married on ...
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Wayne D. Sparks 1920-2011
Wayne Dwight Sparks, 90, Chanute, died Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at his home. Wayne was born in Erie on June 22, 1920, the son of Floyd E. and Hazel M. Ellis Sparks. He graduated from Erie High School in 1938 and attended Parsons Community College and Pittsburg State University. He served his country in the United States 8th Army Air Corps (later called Air Force) during WWII. Wayne was united in marriage to Virginia Keas on July 7, 1942, in Chanu...
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Rexanna Olson 1957-2011
Rexanna Lynn Olson, 53, Humboldt, died Sunday, May 10, 2011 at the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. Rexanna was born in Chanute on July 27, 1957, the daughter of Rex and Bonnie Gormley Greve. She graduated from high school in Whitehall, Mich. She was united in marriage to Roland Olson on Dec. 21, 1986 at the Faith Bible Church in Chanute. He survives, of the home. Rexanna was a homemaker and owned and operated the Humboldt Flea Market. Along ...
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Beulabel Elliott Ray Watkins 1923-2011
Beulabel Elliott Ray Watkins, 87, died Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at the Everett Care & Rehabilitation in Everett, Wash. Beulabel was born June 20, 1923 to Earl and Lena Elliott in Bronson. She resided in Portland, Ore., until 2008 when she moved to Garden Court Retirement Community in Everett where she had made her home for the last three years. Beulabel was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Lena Elliott of Chanute, a brother, Roger E. El...
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Wayne D. Sparks 1920 – 2011
Wayne Dwight Sparks, 90, Chanute, died Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at his home. Cremation has taken place. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 20 at the First United Methodist Church in Chanute. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel in Chanute. A full obituary will follow in next week’s paper.
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Arlo L. Crawshaw 1920-2011
Arlo L. Crawshaw, 91, lifelong resident of Wilson County, died Saturday, May 7, 2011 at the Golden Living Center in Neodesha. He was born Jan. 15, 1920 in Fredonia, the son of Thomas James and Lulu Elizabeth Leiss Crawshaw. He attended school in Wilson County. On Feb. 12, 1941 in Fredonia, Arlo married Vivian Shue. Together they owned and operated The Punkin Creek Ranch in Chetopa Township since 1947. Vivian preceded him in death Oct.r 7, 1986...
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Wayne Wilkins 1942-2011
Wayne Wilkins, 68, Erie, died Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at the St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin. He was born Dec. 23, 1942 at Roxton, Texas to J.C. and L.E. Wilkins. He grew up in the Roxton area and attended schools there. He moved to the Erie area in 1976 where he owned and operated Wilkins Construction for 35 years. He and Delores “Dee” Mattox were married on Nov, 18, 1977 at Miami, Okla. She survives, of the home. He was a member o...
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Larry Thompson
Larry Thompson died in Leawood on Wednesday, May 11, 2011. He was born in Chanute to Gus and Litha Thompson, who, along with his son Yale and his grandson Liam, preceded him in death. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Emerson College in Boston and his Master’s degree from the University of Kansas. He is survived by his wife, Oksana, daughter, Tiffany, and grandson, Ocea. Larry began his film and photography career at the Parsons State Ho...
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Ruth Cecilia Sommer 1924-2011
Ruth Cecilia Sommer, 86, Fredonia, Kansas, died Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at Fredonia Regional Hospital. She was born Sept. 5, 1924 in Kansas City, Kan., the daughter of Herman F. and Cecilia C. Meyer Hobelman. Ruth was a graduate of Cathedral High School in Wichita, as well as a graduate of the Wichita Business College. Following college, she was a bookkeeper for Continental Trailways in Wichita for several years. On Jan. 8, 1946, at St. Mary’s...
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Helen Isabel Young Ashcraft 1921-2011
Helen Isabel Young Ashcraft, 89, Kingfisher, Okla., died Saturday, May 7, 2011 at Cimarron Nursing Center where she had been living for the last few years. She was born August 31, 1921 to William Blaine and Bessie O’Conner Young in Chanute. Helen graduated high school in 1939. She joined the cadet program and graduated from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Fort Scott on Oct. 22, 1945. She was then transferred to Fitzsimons Army Hospital in ...
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Death notice
Wayne Wilkins, 68, Erie, died at the St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin.  Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 14 at the First Christian Church in Erie.  Burial will follow in the East Hill Cemetery at Erie.  The family will receive friends at the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie from 6 to 8 Friday.  Memorials are suggested to the Wayne Wilkins Memorial Fund and these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home P...
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Alice Faye Fitzmorris Walsh and William “Bill” John Walsh
Alice Faye Fitzmorris Walsh, Austin, Texas, died at her home Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. Alice was born Dec. 2, 1921 in Fredonia. She graduated from Fredonia High School, then business prep school in Wichita. Later she was employed as a TWA Hostess where she met her pilot husband, William J. Walsh. They were married April 19, 1947 at Sacred Heart Church in Fredonia. The couple had three children, Bill, Diane, and Kathleen, and three grandchildren...
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Cleto Demetrio Coronado 1929-2011
Cleto Demetrio Coronado, 82, Humboldt, died Friday, May 6, 2011 at his home. Cleto was born April 26, 1929 in Deerfield, to Catarino and Francisca Trevino Coronado. His family moved to Mexico when he was in the third grade. He spent much time at el rancho “El Almagre” near Sierra Mojada, Coahuila in Mexico. He began working at Monarch Cement in the 1950s and married Celia Melendez in Jimenez, Chihuahua on April 30, 1960. They made their home i...
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Cordia VanWinkle-Isaacs 1924-2011
Cordia VanWinkle-Isaacs 1924-2011 Cordia VanWinkle-Isaacs, 87, Chanute, died Friday, May 6, 2011 at her residence in Chanute. Cordia was born at Taney County, Mo., on Jan. 25, 1924, the daughter of Cal and Ora Jackson Strahan. She married Orville Elleck VanWinkle on June 11, 1939. He preceded her in death on April 25, 1971. She is survived by her sons, Orville Eugene VanWinkle, Benedict, Wilbur VanWinkle and wife, Becky, Chanute, and Lar...
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Ann Marie Smith 1926-2011
Ann Marie Smith, 85, lifelong resident of Erie, died Tuesday, May 3, 2011 surrounded by her family at the Guest Home Estates in Erie.  She was born April 30, 1926, in Walnut, the daughter of Herbert and Gladys Noland Mudd. As a young girl, she grew up in Walnut where she attended schools and was a graduate of Walnut High School. She and Harold R. Smith were married May 25, 1926, in Walnut. Following marriage, they lived in Wichita before retur...
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