Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Ernestine Margaret Buset
Ernestine Margaret Buset, 90, of Pittsburg, died at 8:50 a.m. Dec. 31, 2000, at Mt. Carmel Medical Center.
She was born Oct. 26, 1910, in Curnville, the daughter of Emanuel Herman and Angelica Zuech Albertini. She attended area schools and graduated from Arma High School.
On June 24, 1933, she married Charles Buset in Arma. He preceded her in death on Nov. 18, 1968.
Mrs. Buset was a homemaker and worked at Cash Grain, Pittsburg, for six years. She was a shipping and receiving clerk at the Pittsburg State University Bookstore for 20 years, retiring in 1973. She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, the Altar Society and AARP.
Survivors include one son, Henry Buset of Frontenac; one daughter, Carole Fears of Manchester, Mo.; one brother, Johnnie Albertini of Arma; two sisters, Elvina Buche of Mulberry and Edna Naccarato of Wichita; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Damian Buset, two brothers, Johnnie Albertini and Henry Albertini, and a sister, Ida Cathryn Bushe.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with the Rev. Thomas Stroot as celebrant. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery. Parish rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home. The family will receive friends following the rosary. Friends may call at the funeral home after 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Services and arrangements are under the direction of the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway.
John Miller Cox
ARCADIA -- John Miller Cox, 78, of Arcadia, died Monday, Jan. 1, 2001 at Mercy Hospital of Fort Scott.
Arrangements will be announced by the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway.
Joseph Cussimanio Jr.
Joseph Cussimanio Jr., 66, of 708 N. Catalpa, died at 2:25 a.m. Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin, Mo.
Arrangements are pending and will be announced by the Friskel Funeral Home, 230 E. McKay, Frontenac.
Danny Lee Jones
Danny Lee Jones, 49, of Liberal, Mo., died at 12:49 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2000 at Mt. Carmel Medical Center of a sudden heart attack.
He was born March 13, 1951 at Kansas City, Mo., to Lewis Joseph and Ruth Ann Barker Jones.
Mr. Jones worked as a welder at Thorco in Lamar, Mo.
Mr. Jones is survived by his parents, of Milo, Mo.; two sons, Ryan Lee Jones and Christopher Jones, both of Liberal; two daughters, Lisa Villarreal and Teresa Jones, both of Kansas City, Mo.; a brother, David Jones, of Milo; a sister, JoAnn Guzman, of Milo; and seven grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Daniel Funeral Home in Lamar with the Rev. Elvin Winans officiating. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today.
Burial will be at the Deerfield Cemetery at Deerfield, Mo.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Daniel Funeral Home of Lamar.
Carolyn Ann Westhoff
GIRARD -- Carolyn Ann Westhoff, 50, of Girard, died at 2 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, 2000 at Medicalodge South, Pittsburg.
She was born on Oct. 6, 1950 to Clarence and Aleta (Davied) Westhoff.
Ms. Westhoff was a member of the St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Greenbush.
She is survived by her brother, Kenneth Westhoff of Walnut; and a sister, Doris Franklin, Farlington.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Mary Alice Westhoff.
Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. today at the St. Michael's Catholic Church with Fr. Donald Thissen officiating. Burial will be in the St. Aloysius Cemetery at Greenbush. The parish rosary was Monday at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home. The family received friends following the rosary.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Girard.
William F. 'Bill' Beachner
ERIE -- William F. "Bill" Beachner, 69, of Erie, died early Monday morning, Dec. 31, 2001, at the Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka of a sudden illness. He had entered the hospital on Dec. 24, 2001.
He was born April 24, 1932, at Pittsburg, to Fred M. and Anna (Brazil) Beachner. He grew up on the family farm east of St. Paul. He attended Lone Elm School and graduated from St. Paul High School in 1950.
In the early 1950s he worked with his father in the Beachner Seed Company. In 1956, he and his brothers founded the Beachner Construction Company. He was in charge of the seeding and landscaping operations until retiring in 1990.
Mr. Beachner lived in several cities including Shawnee-Mission and Branson, Mo., before moving to Erie.
He was a member of the Association of General Contractors and served as chairman of the landscaping committee for many years.
He was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church at St. Paul.
Mr. Beachner was married to Mary Lou Calderon and later married Cynthia Crump. She survives of the home.
Additional survivors include one son, Rick Beachner of Pittsburg; four daughters, Brenda Power of Overland Park, Jennifer Beachner of Pittsburg, Sherry Schibi of Parsons, and Jacque Forbes of Parsons; three brothers, Bob Beachner of Erie, Jerry Beachner of St. Paul, and Eugene "Corky" Beachner of Parsons; one sister, Jane Ann Beachner of St. Paul; and eight grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by an infant son, Michael William, and an infant brother, James.
Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 4, at the St. Francis Catholic Church at St. Paul with Fr. Dan Vacca officiating. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery. The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday, at the church. The family will receive friends following the rosary. Friends may call at the church after 10 a.m. Thursday. Arrangements are under the direction of the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home at Parsons.
Mrs. Gerald Lee
LAMAR, Mo. -- Nora Ruth Lee, 89, of Lamar, Mo., died at 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, at her home.
She was born Nov. 26, 1912, at Lockwood, Mo., to Fred William Krietemier and Elizabeth Althoff.
On Feb. 8, 1941, she married Gerald Edward Lee at Meinert, Mo. He preceded her in death April 11, 1978.
Mrs. Lee was a homemaker.
Membership was held at the Grace Lutheran Church, Lamar.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, at the Howell Cemetery with the Rev. Galen Friedrichs officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Daniel Funeral Home at Lamar.
Henry F. Ludeke
LIBERAL, Mo. -- Henry F. Ludeke, 83, of Liberal, Mo., died at 4:50 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, at Mercy Hospital at Fort Scott.
He was born Feb. 10, 1918, at Chebanse, Ill. He was the general manager of Uptown Sales in Kankakee, Ill., and was a real estate broker and developer.
He was a member of the Kankakee Chamber of Commerce, St. Paul's Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Men's Association. In 1965, he moved to Liberal, where he farmed. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church at Pittsburg.
On Jan. 30, 1940, he married Mildred Horn at Chebanse. She died April 15, 1973.
Survivors include a son, Henry G. Ludeke of Liberal; a daughter, Candace Ludeke Hjorth-Jensen of Shawnee Mission; and two sisters, Lorraine Finke and Adele Peterson, both of Hot Springs, Ark.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Immanuel Lutheran Church at Joplin, Mo., with the Rev. Lowell Rossow officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery at Webb City, Mo. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at Parker Mortuary in Joplin. Arrangements are under the direction of the Parker Mortuary at Joplin.
Lida Mae Sewell
LAMAR, Mo. -- Lida Mae Sewell, 80, of Lamar, Mo., died Saturday. Dec. 29, 2001, at her home following a lengthy illness.
She was born May 24, 1921, at Lamar to Lindsey T. and Iola Mae (Hickey) Jones. She taught at rural schools before teaching fourth grade at Golden City, Mo., for nine years and at Lamar for 16 years.
She was baptized at Antioch Christian Church at Pinsboro, Mo., and attended First Christian Church at Lamar. She was a member of the Barton County Retired Teachers organization.
On Nov. 3, 1941, she married Louie A. Eckert in Dade County, Mo. He died Jan. 2, 1968.
In July 1976, she married J.R. Sewell at Miami, Okla. He died in November of 1993.
An infant son, William Lynn, and a sister, Alene Jones, also preceded her in death.
Survivors include a son, Lindsey Eckert of McCaulley, Texas; a daughter, Mary Ann Rutledge of Lamar; a sister, Lemyra Engle of Overland Park; five grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and 11 stepgreat-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. today at Daniel Funeral Home at Lamar with Doug Oakes, minister, presiding. Burial will be in Amos Cemetery north of Lockwood, Mo. Arrangements are under direction of Daniel Funeral Home at Lamar.
Robert U. Morris
Robert U. Morris, 67, of 1112 S. Broadway, died at 1:04 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center of a sudden illness.
He was born Feb. 19, 1934, at Nevada, Mo., to Lloyd L. and Mary A. Peters Morris. He attended schools at Nevada and graduated from Nevada High School. He also attended Fort Scott Community College and Kansas State Teachers College at Pittsburg.
On May 30, 1954, he married Diann Foster at Nevada. She survives of the home.
Mr. Morris went to work at the age of 14 at the White Grill at Nevada, working all through high school and while attending college at Fort Scott. He moved to Pittsburg in 1955, where he managed the White Grill on North Broadway for 10 years. In March 1965, he bought the 1106 Drive-In on south Broadway and operated the restaurant until his death.
He raised quarter horses.
Membership was held in the First Christian Church, where he served as an elder, sound technician, on numerous committees, and the Seekers Sunday School class; the American Quarter Horse Association, the Tri-State Quarter Horse Association, the MOKA Quarter Horse Association where he served on the Board of Directors; the Kansas Restaurant Association; Pittsburg State University Foundation; Stilwell Heritage Foundation; Century Member of YMCA; Mount Carmel Foundation; and the Monday Night Men's Bowling League.
In 1993, he was inducted into the Pittsburg Bowling Association's Hall of Fame. He was a member of the National Association of Life Underwriters and sold insurance as an independent agent.
Additional survivors include, two daughters, Deni Brinkmeyer of Chanute, and Dalene Morris of Pittsburg; two sons, Danny Morris of Pittsburg and Derek Morris of Weir; three brothers, Gene Morris of McCook, Neb., Ronald Morris of San Luis, Calif., and Mike Morris of Salem, Ind.; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, at the First Christian Church, with Rev. Dr. Geoff Moran and Rev. Dr. Ruth Ann Moran officiating. According to his wishes, Mr. Morris' organs have been donated and the body has been cremated. Inurnment will be at a later date. Friends may call at the Brenner Mortuary to sign the register after 11 a.m. today, or at the First Christian Church prior to the service. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. Fourth, St., Pittsburg.
Florence E. Cook
Florence E. Cook, 74, of Pittsburg, formerly of Columbus, died at 7:25 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, at Medicalodge South after an illness. She had been a resident of Medicalodge since June 28, 1996.
She was born Oct. 16, 1927, at Weir to William L. and Annette L. (Sweeney).
She married Kenneth Cook at Hutchinson. He preceded her in death.
Mrs. Cook was a seamstress working for the Barry Garment Factory at Columbus. She retired in the mid-1980s.
Survivors include one son, Mike Cook; two sisters, Lenora Nutt of Weir and Hazel Buck of Dow City, Iowa; three brothers, Jack Thompson of Riverside, Calif., Paul Thompson of Grove, Okla., and Joe Thompson of Springfield, Mo.; and several nieces and nephews.
There are no formal services planned. Arrangements are under the direction of the Murdock Funeral Home at Columbus.
Altha Mae Coonrod
Altha Mae Coonrod, 80, of College Station, Texas, died Friday, Dec. 28, 2001.
She was born April 30, 1921, at Mindenmines, Mo., to Vollie and Addie McClure Hughes. She grew up in the Mindenmines and Arcadia area and attended school at Arcadia. She graduated from Arcadia High School.
On June 1, 1941, she married George Coonrod in Bryan, Texas. He preceded her in death Oct. 19, 1979.
She and her husband lived in various locations across the United States. They had lived in College Station since 1969.
Mrs. Coonrod was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include two sons, Loyd Coonrod of Alexandria, Va., and Harold Benjamin Coonrod of St. Matthews, S.C.; a daughter, Janet Stephenson of College Station; a brother, Floyd Hughes of Shingle Springs, Calif.; four grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Bill Hughes.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Brenner Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Ruth Ann Moran of the First Christian Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Mount Olive Cemetery. Friends may call after noon Thursday at the Brenner Mortuary. Arrangements are under direction of the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. Fourth.
Lucille D. DeGasperi
Lucille D. DeGasperi, 88, of Pittsburg, died at 11:10 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31, 2001, at Stoneybrook Retirement Community at Manhattan.
She was born May 1, 1913, at Breezy Hill to Refie and Elizabeth Bradley Bart.
On Dec. 24, 1934, she married Ernest DeGasperi at Pittsburg. He preceded her in death May 3, 1974.
She was a homemaker. She was a member of the former of St. Barbara's Catholic Church, at Chicopee, and also of the Senior Center.
Survivors include one daughter, Marilyn Oertle, of Manhattan; one sister, Elizabeth Paterson, of Huntington Beach, Calif.; and one grandson.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 4, 2001, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church at Pittsburg with Fr. Thomas Stroot as celebrant. Burial will follow in the Highland Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway Pittsburg.
