Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Venita Mae Craig
BUTLER, Mo. - Venita Mae Craig, 88, a former Erie resident, died Friday, April 9, 2004, at Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler.
She was born Dec. 18, 1915, at Hazelton, Mo., to Carl M. and Rutha F. (Keeney) Hopper. She grew up and attended schools in Oklahoma and Kansas and attended high school in Erie. She lived in Girard and New Mexico from 1920 to 1944. In 1944, she began working as a sales representative for Avon cosmetics, residing in Miami, Fla., Bennington, Vt., and Victoria, Texas. In 1981, she began working as a home health care nurse in the Erie and Butler areas.
She married James E. DeForest in 1971. He preceded her in death that same year. She married R. Ernest Craig on March 3, 1980, at Erie. He preceded her in death on Jan. 14, 1990.
She enjoyed cross-stitching, walking and gardening.
Survivors include two sisters, Virginia Ayres and Georgia Tolliver, both of Butler; five stepchildren, including John Craig and his wife, Sandra, of Independence and Louise Niles of Erie; one sister-in-law, Wanda Hopper of Houston; four step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Daniel Hopper.
The graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, at East Hill Cemetery at Erie with the Rev. Tom McCoy officiating.
Friends may call at the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie after 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Memorials to Butler Public Library may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 182, Erie, Kan., 66733.
Fern U. Cranmore
Fern Uvene Cranmore, 89, of Parsons, formerly of Columbus, Neb., died Sunday, April 25, 2004, at Labette County Medical Center.
She was born Sept. 10, 1914, in Memphis, Texas, to Oliver Lee and Rosa Valeria (Robert) Malloy. She moved to Colorado, where she attended schools. She married Clifford Cranmore on Dec. 16, 1930, in Trinidad, Colorado. He preceded her in death.
They lived on a ranch in western Nebraska and in Texas before returning to Nebraska in 1952, living in Cedar Rapids, Norfolk and Columbus.
She enjoyed gardening, flowers and cooking.
Survivors include one son, Robert Cranmore of Rapid City, S.D.; two daughters, Betty Woods of Parsons and Lois Demuth of Fredericksburg, Va.; two sisters, Billie Fuller and Eva Robison of Amarillo, Texas; five grandchildren; one step-granddaughter; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sons, Kenneth and Marvin; two granddaughters; five sisters; and two brothers.
The service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at McKown Funeral Home in Columbus, Neb., with the Rev. Paul Rowoldt officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
Merle Crooks
Merle (Lewis) Crooks, 86, of Parsons died at 1:30 a.m. Monday, July 5, 2004, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor, where she entered on Saturday. Death resulted from complications from a fall suffered 11 days earlier.
She was born May 6, 1918, in Parsons to Oscar B. and Nellie M. (Meador) Lewis. She graduated from Parsons High School in 1936. She lived in Parsons all her life except for a period of about 20 years in Independence.
In her earlier years in Parsons she worked for the Kress Store, Rust Hardware, Kansas Power and Light, the Labette County Clerk's Office, Parsons Clinic and Every Construction. She last worked for Automotive Controls in Independence as a customer service representative.
She married Dale B. Crooks on July 29, 1978, in Independence and returned to live in Parsons at that time. He survives of the home.
She was a member of First Christian Church in Parsons, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Order of Eastern Star and was a former member of the Alpha Reading Club.
Other survivors include many nieces and nephews.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at First Christian Church with the Rev. Bill Nowlan officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
Memorials to First Christian Church may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, Box 942, Parsons.
Robert H. Dakin
WICHITA - Robert H. "Bob" Dakin, 77, of Wichita, a former Parsons resident, died Friday, Feb. 20, 2004.
He was born May 20, 1926, in Green River, Wyo., to Harry C. and Sarah (Rogers) Dakin.
He was the retired owner of Dakin Dental Lab.
Survivors include his wife, Linda; two sons, Dr. Rob Dakin and Roger Dakin, both of Wichita; one daughter, Shelley Unruh of Wichita; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Moore Dakin.
The service was today at Beth-Eden Baptist Church.
Memorials may be made to Campus Crusade for Christ, 100 Lake Hart Drive, Dept. 2400, Orlando, Fla., 32832, and Beth Eden Baptist Mission Fund, 2535 Amidon, Wichita, 67204.
Downing and Lahey Mortuary of Wichita was in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy D. Daniell
OSWEGO - Dorothy Darhleen Daniell, 77, of Oswego died Friday, June 25, 2004, at Infinia nursing home in Oswego.
She was born Nov. 22, 1926, at Pawnee, Texas, to Ernest and Iva (Ridgway) Houston.
She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Mrs. Daniell attended schools in Brownfield, Texas, and worked as a nurse all her life. She received her licensed practical nurse license in 1968.
She married J.D. Roberts of Brownfield. They were divorced. She married Dale Daniell in 1964. He preceded her in death.
In 1989, she retired and moved to Oswego after suffering a stroke.
Survivors include a son, Ronald D. Roberts of Rankin, Texas; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a sister, Joann Clough of Oswego.
Two brothers preceeded her in death.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Murdock Funeral Home with LaMont Cook officiating. Burial will be in Oswego Cemetery. Friends may call from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday, and family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m.
Dorothy D. Daniell
OSWEGO - Dorothy Darhleen Daniell, 77, died Friday, June 25, 2004, at Infinia nursing home in Oswego.
She was born Nov. 22, 1926, in Pawnee, Texas, to Ernest and Iva (Ridgway) Hutson. She attend schools in Brownfield, Texas, and worked as a nurse. She received her licensed practical nurse license in 1968.
She married J.D. Roberts of Brownfield. They were divorced.
She married Dale Daniell in 1964. He preceded her in death.
In 1989 she retired and moved to Oswego after suffering a stroke.
She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Survivors include a son, Ronald Roberts of Rankin, Texas; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a sister, Joann Clough of Oswego.
She was preceded in death by two brothers.
The service was June 28 at Murdock Funeral Home with LaMont Cook officiating. Burial was in Oswego Cemetery.
Cecilia M. Eck
Cecilia M. Eck, 88, died Friday, April 2, 2004, in Wichita at the home of her daughter, Carol Dugan.
She was born Feb. 18, 1916, in Colwich to B.J. and Catherine (Doffing) Spexarth.
She married Alphons Eck on April 10, 1940. He preceded her in death on Feb. 16, 2004. They farmed at Colwich, moving to Oswego in 1969.
She was a member of the Mother of God Catholic Church and the Mother of God Altar Society.
She is survived by two sons, Francis Eck of Oswego and Ivan Eck of Carl Junction, Mo.; six daughters, Mary Kay Mohrfeld of West Point, Iowa, Lou Ann Bergkamp of Oswego, Helen Orth of Wichita, Carol Dugan of Wichita, Celi Goff of Arkansas City and Nancy Denton of Oswego; 29 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; four brothers, Ralph Spexarth, Paul Spexarth and Leo Spexarth, all of Colwich, and Father James Spexarth of Marion; and three sisters, Mary Ann Betzen of Colwich, Sister Agnes Marie of Broken Arrow, Okla., and Catherine Vestering of El Dorado.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Conrad and Raymond Spexarth.
The service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Mother of God Catholic Church with the Revs. Larry Parker, Richard Eck and Ivan Eck and Rev. Daniel Spexarth officiating.
Burial will be in Oswego Cemetery. Friends may call at the Murdock Funeral Home from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday. A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
A memorial has been established for the Mother of God Catholic Church or Hospice-Odyssey Health Care, 112 N. Market, Suite 815, Wichita, KS 67201.
Alphons M. Eck
WICHITA - Alphons M. Eck, 86, died Monday, Feb. 16, 2004, in Wichita, at the home of his daughter, Carol Dugan.
He was born Oct. 11, 1917, in Cheney to John and Anna (Thimmesch) Eck.
He married Cecilia Spexarth on April 10, 1940. They farmed at Colwich until moving to Oswego in 1969. She survives.
He retired from farming in 1982. He was a member of Mother of God Catholic Church.
Other survivors include two sons, Francis Eck of Oswego and Ivan Eck of Carl Junction, Mo.; six daughters, Mary Kay Mohrfield of West Point, Iowa, Lou Ann Bergkamp and Nancy Denton, both of Oswego, Helen Orth and Carol Dugan, both of Wichita, and Celi Goff of Arkansas City; 29 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren; four brothers, the Rev. Reinhard Eck of Andale, the Rev. Ivan Eck of St. Joe Ost, Rusty Eck of Wichita and George Eck of McLean, Texas; and three sisters, JoAnn Becker of Garden Plain, Ida Rau of Wichita and Mary Scripsick of Sharon.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Urban Eck, the Rev. Vincent Eck and Joe Eck.
The service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Mother of God Catholic Church of Oswego with the Revs. Larry Parker, Reinhard Eck and Ivan Eck officiating. Burial will be in Oswego Cemetery. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Murdock Funeral Home in Oswego. A parish rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Murdock Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to Mother of God Catholic Church.
Albert D. Eck
CHETOPA - Albert D. Eck, 94, of Chetopa, formerly of Bluejacket, Okla., died Tuesday evening, July 8, 2003, at the Chetopa Manor, where he had resided since September 2002.
He was born Oct. 21, 1908, in Meno, Okla., to Daniel and Ida (Becker) Eck.
He married Margaret Johnson on Feb. 9, 1930, at Guthrie, Okla. She preceded him in death on Aug. 30, 1994.
He was a dairy farmer.
He was a member of the Four Corners Church of God in Bluejacket. He was a past board member of the Monarch Springs Church of God campground of Neosho, Mo.
He and his wife were active in the ministry.
Survivors include two daughters, LaVerna Probst of Bluejacket and Deloris Bradley and her husband, Randel, of Bartlett; one daughter-in-law, Marilyn Eck of Bartlett; nine grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Edwin D. Eck of Goldtree, Okla., and Paul D. Eck of Meno; and three sisters, Clara Wahl of Enid, Okla., Ruey Tucker of Henrietta, Okla., and Ella Mae Jarvis of El Dorado.
He was preceded in death by a son, Donald Eck; a daughter, LaVera Ruth; and 11 brothers and sisters.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Four Corners Church of God at Bluejacket with Evan Eck and Stanley Dickson officiating. Burial will be in the Lake Creek Cemetery of Bartlett. Friends may call after 10 a.m. today at the Bath Funeral Home in Chetopa, where family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m.
Memorials to the Monarch Springs Church of God campground of Neosho may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, Box 346, Chetopa, 67336.
