Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Dorothy J. Beeson
EDNA - Dorothy J. Beeson, 80, of Edna died at 3:15 p.m. Friday, June 4, 2004, at St. John's Medical Center in Joplin. She had entered Labette County Medical Center on May 11 and later was transferred to St. John's.
She was born Dec. 2, 1923, at Wichita to Earnest A. and Vernice V. (Reeves) Allen. She lived on a farm near Wichita until the family moved to Labette County in 1935. She graduated from Edna High School in 1940.
She married Loyd Beeson on Jan. 2, 1942. They lived on a farm near Mound Valley. They were divorced.
She moved to Parsons in 1979 and to Edna in the early 1990s.
She was a licensed mental health technician at Parsons State Hospital and Training Center for 25 years, retiring in 1982.
She was a member of First Baptist Church, Edna.
Survivors include two sons, Gary Beeson of Mound Valley and James L. Beeson and his wife, Susan, of Altamont; six grandchildren; one brother, Bob L. Allen of Wichita; and three sisters, Frances Kincheloe of Winfield, Vera Dillon of Valley Center and Julia Stolzheise of Wichita.
She was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister.
The service will be at 3 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church of Edna with the Rev. David Holmes officiating. Burial will be in Richland Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Memorials to St. John's Hospital Palliative Care Unit may be left at or mailed to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, P.O. box 942, Parsons, 67357.
Dorothy J. Ebbs Bennett
FRONTENAC - Dorothy J. Ebbs Bennett, 85, Frontenac, died at 6:10 a.m. Friday, July 2, 2004, at Sunset Manor nursing home in Frontenac.
She was born July 6, 1918, in Pittsburg to John and Colletta (McGonigle) Hanson. She was a lifelong resident of the Frontenac area.
She was a meat wrapper for Safeway and Foodtown groceries and she also was an inspector at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons before retiring in 1970.
She married Lawrence Ebbs in 1935 in Pittsburg. He died in October 1974.
Survivors include a son, Ray Ebbs, Frontenac; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Larry Ebbs; a sister, Kathleen Walters; and a grandson, Jeffery Ebbs.
A graveside service will be at 1 p.m. today at Crocker Cemetery, Pittsburg, with the Rev. Robert McElwee officiating. Memorials to the Mirza Shrine general fund may be left at or sent to Friskel Funeral Home, 230 E. McKay, Frontenac.
William B. Butler
William Byers "Bill" Butler, 87, of Parsons died at 10:57 a.m. Friday, Nov. 28, 2003, at Labette County Medical Center, where he entered Wednesday.
He was born Aug. 7, 1916, near Cleveland to William E. and Gertrude (Byers) Butler. His mother was an ordained minister and died when he was 16 months old. At age 10 he was placed in a children's home, where he grew up.
In the late 1930s he moved to Los Angeles, where he attended the L.I.F.E. Bible College. While there he met his wife, Edna Schroder. They married in Los Angeles on July 4, 1941. He also worked in the aircraft industry several years in Los Angeles. Shortly after their marriage they moved to the Parsons area, where he farmed for a brief time.
In 1945 he began employment with the Gas Service Co. in Parsons. He retired in 1979 after 34 years of employment.
In 1991 they celebrated their 50th anniversary. She preceded him in death on Jan. 2, 1998.
He married Nellie F. McClanahan on June 27, 1998, in Parsons. She survives.
He was a member of the First Foursquare Church in Parsons, where he had served on the church council, as a deacon and as a Sunday school teacher for many years. He was also a member of the Gas Service Co. Retirees and of the AARP, where he had served on the board.
Other survivors include a son, Randall W. Butler of Shelton, Wash.; a daughter, Lois Wall of Oakville, Wash.; a stepson, Ronald Fitzgerald of San Diego; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Vivian.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Foursquare Church with the Rev. Steve Schulze officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the church.
Robert E. Burns
Robert E. "Bob" Burns, 89, of Parsons died at 5:55 p.m. Thursday, June 10, 2004, in the emergency room at Labette County Medical Center.
He was born Nov. 28, 1914, in rural Pittsburg to Elmer E. and Alma L. (Teter) Burns. He grew up in the Pittsburg area. He had lived in Parsons since 1932.
He was an electrician and had worked for various contractors. He retired in 1980.
He married Gladys E. Mael on March 4, 1933, in Joplin. She preceded him in death.
He married Mary DeCow Mooneyham on June 27, 1990, in Miami, Okla. She preceded him in death on April 27, 2001.
He was a member of First Baptist Church and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local No. 226 at Topeka.
Survivors include three sons, Robert E. Burns Jr. of Overbrook, John R. Burns and Richard A. Burns, both of Bruceville, Texas; one daughter, Perla Jean Pribbernow of Topeka; several grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; one brother, Earl Burns of Pittsburg; four sisters, Betty Vanderpool and Louise Hobbs, both of Pittsburg, and Mary Lou McKinley and Carol McKinley, both of Stuttgart, Ark.
He was preceded in death by a brother.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home with the Rev. Wayne Mason officiating. Burial will be Monday at Beulah Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Parsons.
Alice G. Bracken
INDEPENDENCE - Alice Geneva Bracken, 97, of Independence died at 12:20 p.m. Thursday, July 1, 2004, at Mercy Hospital in Independence.
She was born Nov. 18, 1906, in Oswego to Lewis Edwin and Clara May (Paget) Helton. She grew up and attended schools in the Parsons and Sycamore areas. She worked at Mercy Hospital in Independence for about 12 years and later at the Kansas Ordnance Plant. She was a caregiver in Independence nursing homes and in private homes for several years.
She married Stephen C. Bracken on Feb. 4, 1925, in Independence. He preceded her in death on March 5, 1969.
She was a member of Bible Holiness Church of Independence.
Survivors include two sons, Edwin Alexander Bracken of Lawrence and Maurice Irl Bracken of Flint, Texas; two daughters, Ellen May Hopkins of Fresno, Calif., and A. Marvelle Crigger of Lee's Summit, Mo.; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a brother, Dallas Helton of Andover; and a sister, Geraldine Peugh of Cherryvale.
She was preceded in death by two sons, six brothers and two sisters.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Bible Holiness Church in Independence with the Rev. Joe Davolt officiating. Burial will be in Cheatham (Koger) Cemetery in Wilson County. Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. Monday at Potts Chapel in Independence, where family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m.
Memorials to Bible Holiness Church may be left at the funeral home or the church office.
Ella P. Benning
COFFEYVILLE - Ella Prudence Benning, 89, of Coffeyville died Monday night, June 28, 2004, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center.
She was born Oct. 26, 1914, in Coffeyville to Edwin R. and Clara L. (Stout) Smith. She grew up in the area and graduated from Field Kindley High School.
She married Rayfield Herman Benning on Feb. 12, 1936, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Coffeyville. They lived in rural Coffeyville and farmed in Labette County along the Oklahoma state line until 1982, when he retired. He preceded her in death on April 15, 1985, in Bartlesville, Okla.
She was a homemaker.
She was a member of Valeda Friendly Neighbors EHU and attended Holy Name Catholic Church and Altar Society.
She enjoyed collecting cardinals.
Survivors include four daughters, Barbara Ann McCord and her husband, Wilbur H., of Edna, Beth Ellen Stevenson and her husband, William, of Rose Hill, Jo Susan Briggs and her husband, Leslie, of Independence, and Jeanne Rae Klein and her husband, Jerry, of Las Vegas; six grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Sarah Brewer and her husband, Dee B., of Union City, Calif.
She was preceded in death by one son, Donald Ray; four brothers, Marion, Dwight, DeLong and Edwin "Eddie Boy"; one grandson, Jeffery Stevenson; and one granddaughter, Judy Linn Hill.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Name Catholic Church's gym of Coffeyville with the Rev. Mike Maybrier officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. The rosary will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel in Coffeyville. Family will receive friends following the rosary. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorials to American Diabetes Association may be left at the funeral home. The family can be reached at the family farm.
John H. Bradbury
OWASSO, Okla. - John H. Bradbury, 73, formerly of Mound Valley, died Friday evening, June 20, 2003, at the Sequoyah Pointe Nursing Center in Owasso.
He was born Dec. 6, 1929, in Mound Valley to John R. and Shirley (Humphrey) Bradbury. He grew up around Mound Valley and had a Ford dealer partnership there until 1958. He moved to Boulder, Colo., where he managed a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant and then moved to Denver, where he was a cook in Denver schools. He moved to Grove, Okla., in 1987.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Mound Valley.
Survivors include a sister, Johnava and her husband, Vern Miller, of Tulsa; and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Mound Valley Cemetery with family members Eddie and Michelle Mann officiating. Friends may call after 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Bath Funeral Home in Altamont, where family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Memorials to the Mound Valley United Methodist Church may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, Box 325 Altamont, 67330.
Rita Ann Bradshaw
ST. PAUL - Rita Ann Bradshaw, 76, of St. Paul died at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, 2003, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul.
She was born Aug. 4, 1927, in Walnut to Ben B. and Carrie (Schoenhofer) Bradshaw. She grew up and attended schools in St. Paul, where she graduated from St. Francis High School.
She worked as a housekeeper for several people in St. Paul.
She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul.
Survivors are numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by five brothers, Pete, Leland, Ernest, Gene and Ben Bradshaw; and four sisters, Adeline Heck, Cleo Kavanagh and infants, Irene and Ruth Bradshaw.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Francis Catholic Church with the Rev. Daniel Vacca officiating. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery. The rosary will be at 7 p.m. today at the church.
Memorials may be made to the Prairie Mission Retirement Village Chapel Fund and may be left at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.
Betty J. Brisbin
CHEROKEE - Betty Jean Brisbin, 73, of Cherokee died Tuesday, June 8, 2004, at Mount Carmel Regional Medical Center, Pittsburg.
She was born March 9, 1931, in Cherokee County to Floyd and Mabel May (Allred) Malcolm.
She married Melvin Brisbin on Sept. 13, 1947, in Pittsburg. He preceded her in death on June 25, 1995.
She was a longtime resident of Kansas City, Mo., and moved back to Cherokee after her husband retired.
She was a member of Cherokee Baptist Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Sharon Aichele and Gloria Sisk, both of Odessa, Mo., and Melva Martin of Oak Grove, Mo.; two sons, Melvin Brisbin of Raymore, Mo., and Robert Brisbin of Lee's Summit, Mo.; 21 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother, Harold Malcolm of Pittsburg; and one sister, Lillie Troop of McCune.
She was preceded in death by two brothers.
The service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Weir with the Rev. Jamie Tickel officiating. Burial will be in Cherokee City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. The casket will remain closed.
Daniel W. Brown
Daniel W. "Danny" Brown, 55, of Parsons, retired owner and operator of B&G Service Station, died at 10:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, at his home. He had been in failing health.
He was born Aug. 7, 1948, in Parsons to Howard and Nora C. (Cory) Brown. He grew up in rural Galesburg and attended Galesburg and Parsons schools. In 1960, he moved to Parsons.
From 1965 to 1970, he worked at the former Greenfeather's DX Service Station and from 1970 to 1973, he worked at the former Watson's Skelly Service Station. In 1973, he and Tom Greenfeather purchased the service station at 16th and Broadway and started B&G Service Station. In 1977, he purchased Greenfeather's share of the business and he and his wife, Carla, operated it until selling it in April 1998.
He was a member of Parsons Elks Lodge. He enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, gardening and playing dominoes and horseshoes.
He married Jane Dubois in March 1966. They were divorced.
He married Carla F. (Smith) Baker on Dec. 31, 1978. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include one son, Scott Baker and his wife, Sandra, of Parsons; one daughter, Cathy Martinez of Parsons; one daughter-in-law, Kristi Brown of Parsons; six grandchildren, Stepheni, Cory, Kalee, Katlin, Colton and Holden; three sisters, Mary Callen of Gladstone, Mo., Dana Kent, his twin, of Tulsa and Betty Williams of Topeka; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, Craig Brown, in 1998; an infant brother, Robert; and a sister, Joyce Ford.
The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home with the Revs. Irvin and Florence Espeseth officiating. Burial will be in South Mound Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Memorials to Cancer Institute of America in Tulsa may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 405 Main, Parsons.
Claude W. Brown
PURDY, Mo. - Claude W. Brown, 97, of Purdy, formerly of Altamont, died at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 19, 2004, at the Cox Medical Center in Monett, Mo.
He was born Feb. 15, 1907, to William M. and Sarah A. (Vandermark) Brown of Bartlett. He attended school in Bartlett.
He married Mary Edith McCord on Dec. 3, 1932, in Miami, Okla. She preceded him in death on Jan. 1, 1986.
He was a farmer and worked for Twin Valley Electric Cooperative in Altamont, retiring after 20 years of service.
He enjoyed fishing, working with wood and building bird houses, and square dancing and calling square dances. He played the piano and harmonica.
Survivors are two sons, Leon Brown of Purdy and Bill Brown of North Carolina; one sister, Hazel Nevins of Fort Worth, Texas; four grandchildren, Randy Brown of rural Joplin, Melissa Fletcher of rural Purdy, Brandon Brown of Pittsburg and Amber Brown of Lawrence; eight great-grandchildren, Justin Brown of Parsons, Annie Jo Brown of rural Webb City, Mo., Tyler Brown and Mikala Brown, both of rural Purdy, Joshua Brown, Nathan Brown, Alex Brown and Ethan Brown, all of Pittsburg; and one great-great-grandson, Brady Brown of Parsons.
He was preceded in death by four sisters and one brother.
A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Lake Creek Cemetery in rural Bartlett. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at Bath Funeral Home in Chetopa.
