Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Robin Buntin
GLENCOE, Okla. - Robin Buntin, 32, of Glencoe, a former Erie resident, died at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. She was diagnosed with cancer at the time of the birth of her daughter on March 17.
She was born Dec. 7, 1970, in Parsons to Pat and Julie (Taylor) Johnson. She grew up in rural Erie and graduated from Erie High School in 1989. She attended Kansas State University at Manhattan, graduating in 1992 with a double major in horticulture and floriculture. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority.
She married Keith Buntin on Feb. 27, 1993, at the Christian Church in Erie and had lived in Glencoe since then. He survives of the home.
She was manager of the garden center at Lowe's in Stillwater, Okla., until shortly before the birth of her daughter.
She was a member of Erie Christian Church. She had been a volunteer at the Humane Society in Stillwater.
Survivors include one daughter, Lora Rose Buntin of the home; her parents, Pat and Julie Johnson of rural Erie; one brother, Todd Johnson of rural Erie; grandparents, Virginia Johnson of Erie and Don and Dessie Taylor of Walnut; and her husband's parents, Wilbur "Ken" and Naomi Buntin of Erie.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Wayne Johnson.
The service will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Erie Christian Church with the Rev. Debra Lorenz officiating. Burial will be in East Hill Cemetery at Erie. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The casket will remain closed.
Memorials to the Lora Buntin education fund may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, Box 182, Erie, 66733, or to Peoples State Bank, Box 406, Cherryvale, 67335.
Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Erie is in charge of arrangements.
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.
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.
Mildred F. Carter
ST. PAUL - Mildred F. Carter, 84, of St. Paul died at 4:55 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village.
She was born April 17, 1919, on the Big Island near St. Paul to Edward C. and Bertha (Grillot) Carter. She attended Big Island Country School and graduated from St. Francis High School in St. Paul. She attended the Parsons Junior College, majoring in business administration.
On Feb. 1, 1943, she was employed with the Katy Railroad as a locomotive and care statistical clerk. In 1957, she transferred to Denison, Texas, where she worked until retiring July 3, 1979, after 36 years of service. After her retirement she returned to live on the Big Island with her sister, Louise, until entering the Prairie Mission Retirement Village in September 1994.
She was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church in St. Paul, Daughters of Isabella, St. Luke's Circle No. 239 and St. Francis Altar Society.
She enjoyed gardening, yard work and visiting the elderly and sick.
Survivors include four nieces and two nephews; great nieces and nephews; and great-great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Louise Carter; and five brothers, Raymond, Ralph, Paul, Cyril and Lloyd Carter.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Francis Catholic Church with the Rev. Daniel Vacca officiating. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery. The Daughters of Isabella rosary will be said at 3:30 p.m. and parish rosary at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Francis Catholic Church, where the family will receive friends afterward.
Memorials to Prairie Mission Retirement Village Chapel Fund may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, 405 Main, Parsons.
Faith A. Carter
WICHITA - Faith Adrielle Carter, infant daughter of Eric and Amanda Carter, died Monday, Nov. 10, 2003.
Additional survivors include her grandparents, Mel and Judy Buckert of Wichita and Tom and Renea Carter of Parsons; and great-grandparents, Norris and Ginger Blair of Wichita and Wallace and Dot Buckert of Victoria, Texas, and Ada Mills of Sedan.
A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Greenwood Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Joyful Noise Academy Central Christian Church in Wichita.
Broadway Mortuary of Wichita is in charge of the arrangements.
Gerard R. Castiglione
Gerard R. Castiglione, 43, a resident of Parsons State Hospital and Training Center, died at 9:15 a.m. Friday, July 25, 2003, at the Labette County Medical Center.
Funeral arrangements and further obituary details will be announced by the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home.
Floyd G. Clark
ALTAMONT - Floyd Gene Clark, 77, of Altamont died at 2:05 a.m. Tuesday, March 23, 2004, at St. John's Medical Center in Tulsa.
He was born Jan. 31, 1927, in Canon City, Colo., to Earl and Anna (Steiner) Clark. He attended Canon City High School.
He served as master senior counselor of Canon City DeMolay.
He was a weatherman in the United States Navy during World War II. He later attended Princeton University, where he studied under Albert Einstein. He returned to Colorado and worked for Johnson Electric of Pueblo and Winding Motors before moving to Colorado Springs. He was a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 113. He retired in 1986.
He married Leda Raye Barnett on July 29, 1951, in Raton, N.M. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include two sons, Patrick Gene Clark of Abilene, Texas, and Milan Dean Clark of Colorado Springs; one daughter, Tanya Lynn Clark-Price of Lawton, Okla.; five grandchildren, Michael and Brian Price, Tyler Clark, Brandon Clark and Austin Clark; one great-granddaughter, Kaitlyn Price; and one sister, Lazetta (Clark) Linn of Sanger, Calif.
Cremation has taken place. The service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Bath Funeral Home in Altamont with the Rev. Jack Blackwell officiating.
Memorials to Altamont First Responders may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, Box 325, Altamont, 67330.
Leonard A. Clark
Leonard A. Clark of Parsons, formerly of Thayer, died Wednesday, June 2, 2004, at Elmhaven East nursing home.
He was the son of Charles and Winifred (Baldwin) Clark. He graduated from Pittsburg State College. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
He married Dorothy W. Blackburn on April 23, 1949. She preceded him in death in 2002.
He was a minister for United Methodist Church, serving several churches in the Kansas West Conference. He lived at Thayer for 18 years before moving to Parsons.
Survivors include one son, Dr. Gary Clark of St. Louis; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one brother, Dr. Alva Clark of Omaha, Neb.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Thayer United Methodist Church with the Revs. Tim McCrary and Alva H. Clark officiating. Burial will be in Neosho County Memorial Park Cemetery in Chanute.
The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until service time Monday at the church. Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday at Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel in Chanute.
Memorials to Thayer United Methodist Church may be left at the funeral home.
Alice E. Clary
Alice E. Clary, 87, a longtime Parsons resident, died at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 25, 2004, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. She had been in failing health.
She was born May 7, 1916, in Walnut to F.E. and Anna B. (George) Westhoff. She grew up and attended schools in the Walnut and Greenbush area.
She married D. Dale Clary on Jan. 14, 1934, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Erie. They lived in Parsons. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Jan. 14. He survives of the home.
She was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, its Altar Society and the Daughters of Isabella. In earlier years, she had been a member of the former St. Mary's Catholic Church in Parsons.
She enjoyed bowling, gardening and fishing.
Other survivors include two daughters, Shirley Fought and her husband, Bill, of Thayer and Denise Collins of Parsons; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one brother, Bernard Westhoff of Parsons; and four sisters, Marcina Berry and Marie Kliewer, both of Parsons, Francie Ann Molliconi of Lakewood, Colo., and Helen Larson of Del Ray Beach, Fla.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon Phillips; two grandchildren, Chris Leuty and a stillborn, Billy Leuty; three brothers, Merle Westhoff, Verdon Westhoff and Floyd Westhoff; and two sisters, Easter Gleason and Edna Foster.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert Wachter officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. The rosary will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends afterward.
Memorials to St. Patrick's Catholic Church Renovation Fund may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 405 Main, Parsons.
Mary Clevenger
OSWEGO - Mary Opal Brader Clevenger, 96, died Sunday, June 22, 2003, at Infinia nursing center in Oswego, where she had resided since 1989.
She was born June 20, 1907, in Cherokee County to Walter and Lucy (Kirk) Brader. She attended schools in Cherokee County.
She was a resident of Commerce, Okla., most of her life. She was employed many years in the garment manufacturing industry in Miami, Okla. Numerous firms managed the factory during her tenure. She was in her mid-70s when she retired.
She married Carl L. Clevenger Dec. 24, 1924, in Columbus. They had lived for a brief period in Chicago, where he was involved with raising and training greyhounds for racing. He preceded her in death on Feb. 18, 1953.
Survivors include a sister, Jane Bray of Oswego; eight nieces; and two nephews.
She had a special bond with a great niece, Kelly Anderson, who drives the Oswego United Parcel Service route and frequently visited her great-aunt over her lunch breaks.
She was preceded in death by a son who died at birth Dec. 19, 1925; five sisters; and two brothers.
A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Sherman City Cemetery with the Rev Charlotte Coates officiating. Visitation will be after 9:30 a.m. until service time Tuesday at Murdock Funeral Home in Oswego. The family will provide lunch for family and friends at Oswego Pizza Hut following burial.
Memorials may be made to the Sherman City Cemetery Association or a church or charity of the donor's choice and sent to the funeral home.
Mary Cocchi
KINGMAN, Ariz. - Mary E. Cocchi, 92, of Kingman, Ariz., died Thursday, March 11, 2004, at her home in Kingman.
She was born Dec. 3, 1911, in Erie to David and Daisy (Babcock) Reynolds. She graduated from Parsons High School.
She worked in the retail clothing business as both manager and owner of Passions in Parsons and Salina.
Survivors are her sisters-in-law, Helen D. Albert and Emily Schubert; many nieces and nephews; and caregivers Dana and Anne.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Cocchi, who died July 15, 2003; a brother, Melvin Reynolds; and two sisters, Velva Taylor and Julia Harris.
A private burial will be at Mountainview Cemetery in Kingman.
Memorials may be made to KRMC Hospice, 3269 Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, Ariz., 86401.
Sutton Memorial Funeral Home of Kingman was in charge of arrangements.
