Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Donnie Ray Main
DALEVILLE, Ala. -- Donnie Ray Main, E-7 SFC (Ret.), 61, of Daleville, Ala., died Saturday morning, Jan. 5, 2002, at his home, following an illness.
He was born March 25, 1940, at Mindenmines, Mo., to Walter L. and Mary A. Main. He was raised at Mindenmines.
After high school, Mr. Main joined the U.S. Army. He served 21 1/2 years before retiring at Fort Rucker, Ala. He served tours in Korea, Germany, and South Vietnam, and had many stateside duty assignments. He served as a civilian air traffic control senior master instructor with civil service at Kelly Hall, Fort Rucker, for 12 1/2 years.
Survivors include his wife, Donna K. McKnight Main of the home; six sons, Patrick Main of Orlando, Fla., Mark Main of Bunnel, Fla., Michael Main of Roseville, Mich., Donnie R. Main Jr. of Michigan, Randy Main of Orlando and Dale Main of Warren, Mich.; two daughters, Sharol Stein of Joplin, Mo., and Donna G. Callihan of Houston; two brothers, Jimmie J. Main of Towanda and William J. Main of Pittsburg; four sisters, Mary L. Frayer of Mindenmines, Peggy Chambers of Kansas City, Kan., Janice Gott of Kansas and Patricia White of Pittsburg; a special mother-in-law, Lula M. Dease; and a special friend, Ginger Main.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Kenneth LeRoy and Walter LeRoy Jr.; and a sister, Gladys L. Main Elliott.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday at Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home Chapel, Ozark, Ala. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, Ozark, with full military rites. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. today at the funeral home chapel. Arrangements are under the direction of Fuqua-Bankston Funeral Home.
Mary F. Goff
HEPLER -- Mary F. Goff, 85, of Hepler, died at 5:08 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000, at the Infinia Health Care Center of Arma.
She was born Oct. 17, 1914, at Hepler, to Marion E. and Gertrude F. Fager Westhoff.
She married Wesley D. Goff on Feb. 26, 1936, at St. Patrick's Church, at Walnut. He preceded her in death Oct. 29, 1989.
They were lifelong farmers in the Hepler and Walnut area. She was a cook in Hepler and Walnut restaurants for 40 years.
She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Ladies Altar Society at Walnut, before it closed. She also was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church of Girard and a supporter of Ruritan Clubs.
Survivors include three sons, Tom Goff Sr. and Gene Goff, both of Girard, and Rolland Goff, of Hepler; two brothers, Bobby Westhoff, of Parsons and Jim Westhoff, of Stark; five sisters, Julia Sapp and Ellen Harris, both of Hepler, Fern McDaniel, of Parsons, Doris Prickett, of Kansas City, Kan., and Patricia Lucas, of Omaha; 16 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandson; three step-grandchildren; and 11 step-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, a brother and a sister.
Funeral mass will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael's Catholic Church of Girard, with Fr. Donald R. Thissen officiating. The rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael's. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery at Walnut. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Girard, where friends may call after 2 p.m. today.
Neva Marie Baugher
Neva Marie Baugher, 73, formerly of 700 N. Pine, Pittsburg, died at 3:20 a.m. Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at Mt. Carmel Medical Center. She had been in ill health the past six months and a resident of Medicalodge South for two weeks.
She was born Dec. 12, 1927, at Wellsville, to Everett and Edith Dowell Farrar. She attended Iola schools and had been a resident of the Iola area most of her life until moving to Pittsburg in 1997.
She worked as a dietitian in the Iola area for several nursing homes, including Sterling Heights Nursing Center.
Survivors include three sons, A. Wayne Baugher of Pittsburg, Chester R. Baugher of Yankton, S.D., and Charles L. Bond of Kansas City, Kan.; seven grandchildren and one brother, Bill Farrar.
She was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters.
Graveside services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Highland Park Cemetery, with Pastor Martin Bush of Crossroads Baptist Church officiating. Friends may call at Brenner Mortuary from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and from 8 to 10 a.m. Monday. Arrangements are under the direction of Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. Fourth St., Pittsburg.
Maj. Wiley Eugene Burris
Maj. Wiley Eugene Burris, USAF (Ret.), 77, of Pittsburg, died Wednesday night, Jan. 3, 2001, at Mt. Carmel Medical Center.
He was born July 22, 1923, at Ponca City, Okla., to Wiley Adams and Kathryn Bradford Frohock Burris.
Because he moved with his family through the oil fields of Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and New Mexico, he attended 54 schools in 12 years. He graduated as valedictorian from Portales, N.M., high school. He earned a bachelor of business education, a master of business education and an education specialist degree, having earned the last two while working at Pittsburg State University.
Maj. Burris, who became a pilot during high school, joined the U.S. Army the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. He moved from the U.S. Army Air Corps to the U.S. Air Force when that branch of service was created. He was discharged in 1946, after World War II, but was recalled in 1950, during the Korean War, to teach flight and ground school at Enid Air Force Base in Oklahoma. He planned and set up the first Nuclear Weapons School for the Strategic Air Command, which all SAC officers were required to attend, and was transferred to McDonnell Air Force Base, Wichita, to become its first director. He later was stationed in the Command Post at Neuasseur Air Force Base, Casa Blanca, Morocco; as Reflex Officer at Torrejon Air Force Base, Madrid; and Nuclear Weapons Officer at Barksdale Air Force Base, Shreveport, La., where he retired from military service in July of 1967.
After his retirement, he became general manager for Masters' Real Estate and The Merit Company in the Omaha-Belleview, Neb., area. He was assistant registrar and director of Student Records at Pittsburg State University from 1970 until 1978, when he returned to Wichita to teach flying at Gates Learjet. He moved back to the Pittsburg area and became a deputy county sheriff and canine handler for Crawford County and later a county appraiser. He retired in 1992.
He married Eilene Jewel Hamsten at Arkansas City in 1949. She preceded him in death. He married Elizabeth Walker Prince at Wichita in 1962. She survives at the home.
Maj. Burris held memberships throughout his career in chambers of commerce, Methodist churches, National Board of Realtors, Retired Officers Association, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Pittsburg Rotary Club, Four-State Jayhawk Divers and the Southeast Kansas Humane Society.
Additional survivors include three children, Terry E. Burris, M.D., of Oregon, Michael Burris of North Carolina and Kathryn E. Bass of Frontenac; a brother, James Burris of Minnesota; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
According to his wishes, Maj. Burris has been cremated. The family is in seclusion and there will be no services at this time. At a later date, Christian inurnment with military rites will take place at Fort Scott National Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg.
Mabel Louise Neptune
Mabel Louise Neptune, 82, of Pittsburg, died at 1:55 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, 2002, at Weed Army Community Hospital, Fort Irwin, Calif., after a lengthy illness.
She was born Feb. 8, 1919, at Webb City, Mo., to Hiram and LeVelma Day Allison. She attended Pittsburg schools and graduated from Pittsburg High School. She was a resident of Pittsburg most of her life.
On April 26, 1937, she married Calvin D. Neptune. He preceded her in death Nov. 2, 2001.
Mrs. Neptune was a homemaker.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Pittsburg, and belonged to its Homemakers Sunday School Class. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority.
Survivors include a son, Dr. Calvin Neptune III of Aurora, Colo.; a daughter, Carol Lynne Carey of Fort Irwin; and six grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Howard Allison.
Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Theodore A. Inman officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at Brenner Mortuary Chapel, 114 E. Fourth St., Pittsburg, where friends may call after 2 p.m. Monday. The casket will remain closed. Arrangements are under the direction of Brenner Mortuary.
Edward J. 'Ed' McKinney
DENNIS - Edward J. "Ed" McKinney, 91, of rural Dennis, died at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004. He had been in failing health for several months with a cancer-related illness.
He was born Oct. 22, 1912, at St. Paul to James A. and Mary Catherine (Westoff) McKinney.
He grew up in the St. Paul and South Mound areas. He worked at the Parsons Stockyards from the time it opened until 1936. He moved to the San Fernando Valley in California, where he worked as a truck driver until 1939. He moved to the rural Dennis area and had farmed there since 1939.
He served on the boards of the Dennis co-op, the Labette County co-op, the Twin Mound and Morehead school boards, and the Rural Water District No. 3 board. He was a member of the Big D Senior Citizens Club, St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. For many years, he was a member of the former St. Mary's Catholic Church.
He married Gertrude Phillips on Feb. 21, 1941, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Parsons. She survives of the home.
Additional survivors include five sons, John A. McKinney of Anaheim, Calif., Marivn G. McKinney of Parsons, Dwaine J. McKinney of Wichita, Alfred D. McKinney of Littleton, Colo., and Fr. Floyd McKinney of Newton; three daughters, Catherine Sullivan of Bellevue, Neb., Marilyn Ray of rural Dennis, and Connie Adams of Parsons; 19 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Elmer McKinney, Bill McKinney and Earl McKinney; four sisters, Ann Switzer, Ethel Abel, Agnes Gouvion and Esther Davied; one granddaughter; one great-grandson; and one infant granddaughter.
Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Parsons with Fr. Floyd McKinney and Fr. Robert Wachter as concelebrants. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Parsons. The Knights of Columbus will recite the rosary at 6 p.m. Tuesday and the parish will recite the rosary at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends following the rosaries. Arrangements are under the direction of Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
Mary N. Owens
PARSONS - Mary N. Owens, 93, of Parsons, died unexpectedly Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, at Labette County Medical Center in Parsons.
She was born July 31, 1910, at Hastings, Neb., to Fred A. and Fannie (Aylesworth) Newell.
She grew up in rural Neosho County and graduated from Erie High School in May 1927. She graduate from the business college in Parsons in 1928. She worked in Erie for Alderson Hardware and Neosho County Farm Bureau. She moved to Manhattan and worked for the Kansas Extension Service. She managed the first lunch program at the Parsons elementary schools in 1955. She and her husband moved to Vinita, Okla., and owned Dari-Delite. They purchased Dari-O in Bentonville, Ark., in 1961 and operated it until their retirement in 1977. They returned to Erie in 1978. She moved to Parsons in 1993.
She was a member of First Christian Church in Parsons, was a longtime member of "Young" Mothers Club and the Beauceant organization. She was a den mother in Vinita. She was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and the Senior Center in Erie.
She married Edward A. "Eddie" Owens on June 18, 1935, at Parsons. He preceded her in death in 1993.
Survivors include three sons, Thomas E. Owens of Federal Way, Wash., James N. Owens of Shawnee, and Fred W. Owens of Jenks, Okla.; two daughters, Mary Catherine Brown of Parsons and Margaret Jo "Peggy" DaHarb of Longmont, Colo.; 14 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by one daughter, Nancy Sue Threet; and two brothers, Fred Newell and Wallace Newell.
Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church with the Rev. Mark Young and the Rev. Fred Jordan officiating. Burial will be in East Hill Cemetery in Erie. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons and before the services Wednesday. Arrangements are under the direction of Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
Bill M. Rink
FRONTENAC - Bill M. Rink, 78, of Frontenac, died at 5:15 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5, 2004, at Mount Carmel Regional Medical Center in Pittsburg.
He was born July 31, 1925, at Corona to Bert and Stella Babcock Rink.
He attended Cherokee elementary and high schools and was a lifelong resident of the southeast Kansas area. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He was the owner and operator of Magic Mirror and Glass in Pittsburg. He was a member of American Legion Post 64 of Pittsburg and the VFW and was active in the J.L. Hutchinson Baseball League.
He married Edna Allred on May 25, 1945, at Girard. She preceded him in death on Jan. 2, 2004.
Survivors include three sons, Billy L. Rink and Terry Rink, both of Pittsburg, and Dennis Rink of Humboldt; two daughters, Debbie Keller of Branson, Mo., and Jeannine Standlee of Pittsburg; three sisters, Oreta Allred of Pittsburg, Betty Jo Jenaski of Topeka, and Freda Roberts of Kansas City; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He also was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, one brother, and two granddaughters.
According to his wishes, the body has been taken for cremation. Memorial services will be at 7 p.m. today at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Pittsburg with Fr. Thomas Stroot officiating. The family will receive friends after the services until 8:30 p.m. Inurnment of cremains will be at a later date in Highland Park Cemetery in Pittsburg. Arrangements are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home.
Gladys M. Schubert
Gladys M. Schubert, 71, of Pittsburg, died at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004, at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center after a long illness.
She was born Feb. 29, 1932, at Barnes, to Otto and Lydia (Behrens) Spreer.
She married Oscar "Bill" Schubert on May 31, 1975, at Pittsburg. He preceded her in death March 3, 1991.
Mrs. Schubert worked for Ryan's Cleaners in Pittsburg as a press operator for 18 years, retiring in 1995. She also worked for St. Francis Hospital at Wichita.
She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church of Pittsburg. She also was a past member of the VFW and was involved in the Pittsburg Avenue of Flags.
Survivors include two sons, Bruce Beatty and Randy Beatty, both of Pittsburg; one daughter, Penny Allison of Joplin, Mo.; four brothers, LaVern Spreer of Phoenix, Elver Spreer of Longmont, Colo., Ron Spreer of Topeka and Larry Spreer of Stockton, Calif.; four sisters, Eleanor Sloan of Chanute, Loeda Stohs of Blue Rapids and Inez Armstrong of Shawnee; a good friend, Denzel Davidson of Pittsburg, who helped provide for her care; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands and a brother, Alfred Spreer.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home with Pastor Theodore Cook Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Park Cemetery. Family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 8 p.m. today. Friends also may call at the funeral home after noon today. Services and arrangements are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg.
Marvin E. Hensley
Marvin E. Hensley, 71, of Pittsburg, died at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2003, at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center, following a lengthy illness.
He was born June 24, 1931, at Cherokee, to Charles H. and Bertha McArthur Hensley. He attended area schools. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving from 1952 until he was honorably discharged in 1954.
Mr. Hensley was a truck driver for Freeto Construction. He also was employed by Service Cab Co., retiring in 1993.
Survivors include two sons, Dwayne Hensley of Bentonville, Ark.; and James Hensley of Girard; two brothers, Robert Hensley and Ivan Hensley, both of Frontenac; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Lonnie Lamb; one sister; and four brothers.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Fort Scott National Cemetery with the Rev. Daryl Gaddy officiating. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Friskel Funeral Home, Frontenac, where friends also may call after 2 p.m. today. The family will be at the home of Diane Large, 1805 N. Grand. Family and friends are requested to meet at 9 a.m. Friday at the funeral home to follow in procession to the cemetery. The procession will leave at 9:20 a.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Friskel Funeral Home, 230 E. McKay, Frontenac.
Katheryn June McPeters West
ESCONDIDO, Calif. - Katheryn June McPeters West, 81, of Escondido, Calif., formerly of southeast Kansas, died Dec. 31, 2003, at Escondido.
She was born June 6, 1922, at Weir, to Nell Bauble and Carl Mill.
Survivors include two daughters, Georgia Birdsell Stone of Highland, Calif., and Robert McPeters Brenner of Escondido; one son, Robert Birdsell of Fresno, Calif.; six brothers, Fred Mill of Willow Springs, Mo., Buddy Brunk of Independence, Mo., David Neher of Kingsville, Texas, Raymond Neher of Los Cruces New Mexico, Robert Neher of Fountain Valley, Calif., and Marvin Neher of Flippin, Ark.; 11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Emmanuel Faith Community Church at Escondido.
Arthur Edward Wolf
FORT SCOTT - Arthur Edward Wolf, 87, of Fort Scott, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004, at Mercy Health Center's emergency room.
He was born April 17, 1916, near Deerfield, Mo., to Lester Lee and Ethel Ellen Emery Wolf.
He married Lucile Irene Schilling on Sept. 18, 1946, at Fort Scott.
Mt. Wolf was owner-operator of Art' Barber Shop at Fort Scott. He learned the barber trade studying books and taking the test at Wichita. He was a barber for more than 50 years. He also was a farmer in the Fort Scott area.
Survivors include his wife of Fort Scott.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Luellen Coleman; and a brother, Delbert Wolf.
Following cremation, memorial services will be 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, at Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home with the Rev. R. B. Shoemaker officiating. Burial will follow at Clarksburg Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home of Fort Scott.
Lee Geasland
PARSONS - Lee Geasland, 80, of Parsons, died at 5:21 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2003, at Freeman West Hospital at Joplin, Mo.
He was born Sept. 11, 1922, at Bartlesville, Okla., to William Earl and Mammie Hancock Geasland. He was a graduate of Caney High School. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943, serving for two years. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1950 and retired in 1969.
He married Waymth Crain on Sept. 3, 1943, at Caney. She survives of the home.
Mr. Geasland was employed as service manager at Gribben-Allen Motors at Parsons.
He was a member of First Baptist Church at Parsons, where he was a Diaconate Board member and served as Church Moderator. He was a longtime member of Parsons Lions Club, serving as president from 1997 to 1998. He also was active in Habitat For Humanity and the Stella Wells Christmas Basket program. He was a volunteer for the American Heart Association, working with support groups and speaking programs.
Additional survivors include one son, Dick Geasland of Phoenix; one daughter, Lea Ellen Whitman of Springfield, Mo.; two brothers, Henry A. Geasland of Seneca, Mo., and Vernon E. Geasland of Tulsa, Okla.; two grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.
Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Wayne Mason and the Rev. Ryan Follis officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery at Parsons, where military honors will be provided by the McConnell Air Force Base Honor Guard. Friends may call after 6 p.m. today at Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Arrangements are under the direction of Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Parsons.
