Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Kenneth Carnes
WEIR, Kan. - Kenneth L. Carnes, 70, Weir route 1, was pronounced dead at 9:37 a.m., Saturday, May 24, 1997, at Mt. Carmel Medical Center, Pittsburg, after a sudden illness.
Mr. Carnes was born Feb. 22, 1927, in rural Fort Scott. He attended schools in Fort Scott and later graduated from Fort Scott Community College and Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy.
He worked 30 years with the USDA's Farmers Home Administration, administering the largest unit Group Loan Program in Kansas during the early 1970s. He retired in April 1985 to become a full-time crop farmer and cattle rancher.
He served in the Navy during World War II and later taught farming techniques to other veterans.
He was a member of the Kansas Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers; president and vice-president of the Rotary Club, Wellington; an officer of the Lions Club, Wellington and St. John; a member of American Legion Post 64, Washington, Columbus and Pittsburg; a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; and a member of First United Methodist Church, Pittsburg.
He married Earline Laura Costley on Dec. 27, 1953, at First United Methodist Church in Joplin, Mo. She survives.
Additional survivors include two daughters, Suzanne Hildebrand, St. John, and Carol Carnes, Silver Spring, Md.; a brother, Leonard Carnes, Fort Scott, Kan.; two sisters, Rowena Neil, Fort Scott, and Alberta Russel, Boone, Colo.; and three grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott, with the Rev. Theodore Inman officiating.
Friends may call after 10 a.m. Tuesday at Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg.
The casket will remain closed.
Ernie Adamson
RIVERTON, Kan. - Ernie C. Adamson, 82, Riverton route 2, died at 8:20 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22, 1997, at his home after a short illness.
Mr. Adamson was born Oct. 8, 1914, at Hartville, Mo. He was a Riverton resident for 25 years, moving from Galena. He owned Adamson Tree Service and was a Baptist. During World War II, he worked at Camp Crowder for the WPA.
He was preceded in death by two sons and a daughter.
Survivors include five daughters, Mary Cusick, Joplin, Mo., Juanita Smith, Galena, Martha Green, Max Creek, Mo., Geraldine Brookey, Cookson, Okla., and Jo Ann Williams, Grove, Okla.; four brothers, Junior Adamson, Joplin, Harrison Adamson, Seneca, Mo.; Clyde Adamson, Neosho, Mo., and Esko Adamson, Carthage; three sisters, Irene Davis, Lottie Lee and Escena Owens, all of Joplin; 28 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Mason-Woodard Mortuary, Joplin, with Jeff Martin, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Joplin.
Pallbearers will be Roger Porter, Justin Titus, Billy Tucker, Justin Brown, Ricky Bebee and Tony Bebee.
Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. today at the mortuary.
David Ferguson
GALENA, Kan. - David Daniel Ferguson, 74, 2122 Main St., died at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, 1997, at a Galena nursing home after a four-month illness.
Mr. Ferguson was born Jan. 12, 1923, at Columbus. He was a lifetime Galena resident. He worked for a number of years at Wimer Tire Service, Joplin, Mo., retiring in 1985.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, serving as a heavy machine gunner in the 347th infantry regiment, Company M. He served from Feb. 2, 1943, to July 6, 1945, and was discharged with the rank of sergeant. He fought in the Rhineland Campaign and received a medal for expert rifle marksmanship, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater ribbon and the Good Conduct medal.
He was a member of First Christian Church, Galena, Masonic Lodge No. 194, Galena, the Shrine Consistory, Fort Scott, and the Spring River Boat and Ski Club, Galena.
He married Hazel Shrock Collins on June 8, 1953, at Columbus. She survives.
Additional survivors include two sons, Patrick Collins, Galena, and Ivan Collins, Columbus; a daughter, Helen Knetzer, Derby, Kan.; a brother, John Ferguson, Baxter Springs; two sisters, Nina Charles, Galena, and Garnett Baugh, Carthage; and nine grandchildren.
Masonic rites will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Derfelt Funeral Home, Galena.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Paul Sims, minister, officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Galena.
Military graveside rites will be conducted by the Northeast Oklahoma Veterans Funeral Detail.
Patricia Leach
COLUMBUS, Kan. - Patricia Jane Finley Leach, 51, Columbus, died at 7:50 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998, at Maude Norton Memorial Hospital, Columbus, after a long illness.
Mrs. Leach was born March 17, 1946, at St. Louis, Mo. She had lived in St. Louis most of her life, attending schools there and receiving a degree in nursing from Jefferson College. She moved to Columbus in 1992.
Survivors include two sons, Wesley Brian Leach, Columbus, and John Travers Leach, St. Louis; her parents, Harry and Brownie Finley, Columbus; and a sister, Judith Franklin, Williamsburg, Va.
Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Murdock Funeral Home, Columbus. The Rev. Garland Bohn will officiate. Burial will be later in Columbus City Cemetery.
Jack Quier
PITTSBURG, Kan. - Jack Wallace Quier, 77, 1607 S. Olive St., died at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, 1998, at Mount Carmel Medical Center, Pittsburg, after an illness.
Mr. Quier was born March 24, 1920, at Pittsburg. He graduated from College High School and attended Pittsburg State University, where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He was a partner with his father in the Quier Meat and Grocery Market. In 1954, he opened a restaurant at Asbury. He later operated The College Inn, west of the PSU campus.
In 1967, he purchased the Tower Steakhouse, which was renamed Jack's Steakhouse and Tower Ballroom. The steakhouse was managed by the family for 28 years.
He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Kansas State Restaurant Association. He was a past member of the Asbury Lions Club, the Pittsburg Noon Rotary, the American Legion and the Century Club of the YMCA. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, the National Rifle Association, the Fishing Club of America, the Black Diamond Lodge of Weir and the Mirza Shrine Temple.
He was a century member of the Boy Scouts of America, serving on the local Board of Directors. He served many years as a scout master and assistant scout master. He was a member of the Order of the Arrow and received the Golden Sun Award.
He was an Army veteran of World War II.
He was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. He attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
He married Adele Vodicka on July 9, 1953, at Girard. She survives.
Additional survivors include a son, Zack T. Quier, Pittsburg; a daughter, Susan Ellen Murray, Frontenac; a sister, Bette Deane Slayman, Osawatomie; a brother, George T. Quier, Joplin, Mo.; and three grandchildren.
Mass will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Our Lady Of Lourdes Catholic Church. The Rev. Samuel Pinkerton will officiate. Burial will be in Hosey Hill Cemetery, Weir.
Parish rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday at Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg. The family will receive friends after the rosary. Friends may call after 11 a.m. at the chapel.
Donations may be made to the Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Fund, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, the Boy Scouts of America or the Alzheimer's Association, in care of the mortuary.
Geneva Cairns
GALENA, Kan. - Geneva Cairns, 66, Galena, died at 2:58 p.m., Monday, Jan. 5, 1998, at Freeman-East Hospital, Joplin, after an illness.
Mrs. Cairns was born Jan. 13, 1931, at Wilburton, Kan. She lived in Galena as a child, later moving to the State of California. She returned to Galena 26 years ago. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include four daughters, Marsha R. Burwick, Carl Junction, Mo., Glenda R. Ray, Riverton, Linda R. Hendrix, Hollister, Mo., and Martha R. Wells, Joplin,Mo.; two brothers, "Sonny" Alan Walton, Richmond, Va., and Jerry Glen Walton, Las Vegas, Nev.; and a sister, Jeanette Clingenpeel, Lawrenceville, Ga.
The body was cremated.
Private graveside services were held at 1 p.m. Friday at Baxter Cemetery, Baxter Springs. Roy Derfelt officiated.
Arrangements were under the direction of Derfelt Funeral Home, Galena.
Elizabeth Fischer
COLUMBUS, Kan. - Elizabeth Jean Fischer, 73, Columbus, died at 10:08 p.m. Saturday, March 22, 1997, at her home after an illness.
Mrs. Fischer was born April 1, 1923, at Kit Carson, Colo. She was a 1941 graduate of Columbus High School. She had lived since 1962 in Columbus, where she was a member of United Presbyterian Church, the Bridge Club and the former Columbus Country Club. She was an adult Sunday school leader and a church clerk. She went on several mission trips for the church, including one to Central America.
She married Donald R. Fischer on July 26, 1943, at Oklahoma City, Okla. He died June 20, 1989.
Survivors include a daughter, Toni Spieth, Columbus; a son, Ford Fischer, Valley, Neb.; a foster daughter, Tina Thompson, state of California; six grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at United Presbyterian Church, Columbus.
The Rev. Christine Iannucilli will officiate. Burial will be in Park Cemetery, Columbus.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Murdock Funeral Home, Columbus.
Contributions may be made to United Presbyterian Church, Columbus, and Columbus Public Library, in care of the funeral home.
