Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Elma M. Hazen
CHANUTE - Elma M. Hazen, 94, of Chanute died Saturday, May 29, 2004, at Heritage nursing home in Chanute.
She was born Sept. 21, 1909, on a farm south of Erie to Harry Franklin and Annie Belle (Fleming) Mitchell.
She graduated from Erie High School in 1927. She passed the State Teachers Examination after high school and taught for several years in a one-room school house west of Walnut. She continued teaching until two years after her marriage.
She married Carl Lincoln Hazen on Oct. 31, 1929, in Independence. He preceded her in death on Nov. 15, 1993.
She was a member of Otterbein United Methodist Church in Chanute.
She enjoyed crocheting and knitting and giving her pieces to family and friends. She also made stocking hats and gave them to Cherry Street Youth Organization.
Survivors include one son, Leon Hazen of Chanute; one daughter, Doris Lacey of Chanute; three grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one sister, Jeanne Orton of Stark.
She was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Linda Venneman.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Otterbein United Methodist Church in Chanute with the Rev. Frank Morgan officiating. Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery in rural Kimball. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Gibson-Koch-Friskel Chapel in Chanute.
Memorials to Otterbein United Methodist Church or Horizon Hospice may be left at the funeral home.
M.L. 'Bus' Hembree
PITTSBURG - M.L. "Bus" Hembree, 78, of Pittsburg died at 11:35 a.m. Sunday, June 29, 2003, at the Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center.
He was born May 12, 1925, at Hiattville near Fort Scott to Luther and Faye (Williamson) Hembree. He graduated from Fort Scott High School. In 1946 he moved to Pittsburg.
He served in the Merchant Marines.
He married Marguerite McNeil on Aug. 21, 1949, at Pittsburg. She survives of the home.
He worked for Lee's Sporting Goods Store in the early 1950s and later ran a Derby gas station. He then worked in elevator construction for Montgomery Elevator Co. until he retired in 1985.
He was a Methodist. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 187, Scottish Rite of Fort Scott, Mirza Shrine, where he was also a Hospital Dad, Mirza and member of Three Wheelers and the Order of Quetzalcoat.
Survivors include two sons, Roy Hembree of Parsons and Danny Hembree of St. George; two brothers, Jack Hembree of Fort Scott and Luke Hembree of Kansas City, Mo.; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Hembree; a sister, Gertrude Cook; and an infant brother and sister.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Brenner Mortuary Chapel in Pittsburg. Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery.
Masonic Lodge No. 187 will conduct rites at 7 p.m. at the chapel. The family will receive friends following the rites until 8 p.m. Friends may call after 10 a.m. Tuesday at the chapel.
Memorials to the Shrine Hospital Dads may be left or mailed to the mortuary, 114 E. Fourth St., Pittsburg, KS 66762.
Mark A. Hemphill Sr.
McCUNE - Mark A. Hemphill Sr., 48, of rural McCune died Thursday morning, March 25, 2004, after a long illness.
He was born Jan. 22, 1956, in Miami, Okla., to Earl and Shirley (Goodrich) Hemphill. He graduated from Columbus High School in Columbus.
He was a painter for a manufacturing company.
He was baptized at Center Christian Church in rural Columbus.
He enjoyed watching K-State football and basketball.
Survivors include one son, Mark A. Hemphill Jr. of the home; his parents, Earl and Shirley Hemphill of rural Columbus; one brother, Steve Hemphill of rural Columbus; and one sister, Janiece Hemphill-Chavez of Pittsburg.
Cremation will take place. No service is planned at this time.
Simpson Funeral Home of Columbus is in charge of arrangements.
Odelia Henslee
Odelia "Dee" Henslee, 76, of Cherryvale died at 4:40 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2003, at the home of her son, Robert Henslee, in Cherryvale.
She was born March 21, 1927, in Grimes, Okla., to James and Carrie Larine (Gamon) Tipton.
She married H.A. Henslee in July 1959. They owned and operated the Oasis Bar and Grill in Palm Springs, Calif. He preceded her in death.
She was a member of the Baptist Church.
Survivors are two sons, Robert Henslee of Cherryvale and John Henslee of Shreveport, La.; a daughter, Alice Demoss of Independence; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Conley Dee Tipton of Amarillo, Texas; and six sisters, Nevada Smith, Seta Shey, Winell Thomas, Loretta Robinson, all of Amarillo, Texas, Rosemary Britt of Salem, Ore., and Marcelien Swam of Galveston, Texas.
The service was today at Potts Chapel in Cherryvale with Bob Allen of Cherryvale officiating. Burial was in Crestlawn Cemetery at Riverside, Calif.
Memorials may be made to the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and may be left at or mailed to Potts Chapel, P.O. Box 801, Independence, 67301.
Lester Hersh
FALLS CITY, Neb. - Lester Hersh, 76, of Falls City, Neb., died Saturday, July 26, 2003, at his home.
He was born Dec. 31, 1926, in Cherryvale to Emery Leo and Letha F. (McCormick) Hersh. He attended diesel machinist school in Chicago.
He married Charlotte Sutherland on Feb. 18, 1952, in Parsons. They later divorced.
He lived in Parsons and later moved to Washington state. He returned to Falls City in 1991.
Survivors include two sons, Lester Allen Hersh of Tacoma, Wash., and Steven Frederick Hersh of Salem, Neb.; three daughters, Katherine Elaine Lowry of Spokane, Wash., Nancy Ann Spencer and Delores Lorraine Dunleavy, both of Walla Walla, Wash.; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three brothers, Bill Hersh and James Hersh, both of Falls City, Neb., and Richard Hersh of Sweet, Idaho; and six sisters, Nina Ryel of Cherryvale, Patsy Knight of Nass Camp, British Columbia, Canada, Olive Durant of Escondido, Calif., Lois Kammon of Falls City, Opal Upcraft of Ellensburg, Wash., and Nancy Schawang of Rulo, Neb.
He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Denise Marie Hersh.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Chapel of the Dorr & Clark Funeral Home, Falls City, with the Rev. Robert Varner and Delbert Hersh officiating. Burial will be in Steele Cemetery in Falls City.
Nora M. Hickman
Nora M. Hickman, 63, of Parsons, formerly of Coffeyville, died Monday morning, July 28, 2003, at Freeman West Health System in Joplin.
She was born Jan. 26, 1940, in Marshall, Mo., to Vernon and Anna Mae (Dielman) Fortner. As a child, her family moved to Edgerton, where she attended school.
She married Kenneth Dewayne Hickman on July 11, 1969, in Welch, Okla. They lived in Coffeyville and various communities in the Midwest during his Missouri Pacific Railroad employment. They moved to Parsons in 1996. He survives of the home.
Additional survivors include three daughters, Lynda Knowlton of Coffeyville, Peggy Bridgeman of Oswego and Terry Hickock-Ralston of Centralia, Mo.; three stepsons, Danny Hickman of Wagoner, Okla., William Hickman of Bartlesville, Okla., and Charles Hickman of Elk City, Okla.; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two brothers, John Fortner of Claremore, Okla., and Dewey Fortner of Osawatomie; and three sisters, Dorothy Bartlett of Harrisonville, Mo., Telsa Clark of Osawatomie and Nancy Aronis of Garnett.
A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Fairview Cemetery in Coffeyville. Friends may call until 9 p.m. today, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and until 1 p.m. Thursday at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Edgewood Chapel in Coffeyville.
G. Wilbur Hill
G. Wilbur Hill, 91, 2312 Belmont, died at 2:05 p.m. Thursday, April 8, 2004, at Elmhaven East nursing home. He had been in failing health.
He was born Dec. 20, 1912, in Parsons to William and Margaret (MacCulloch) Hill. He attended Parsons schools and graduated from Dennis High School in 1931. He farmed in the Pleasant Hill area and had worked for the Labette County road and bridge department and at Kansas Army Ammunition Plant. He moved to California in 1956 and to Blue Rapids in 1979. He later lived at Paola.
He married Catherine Louise Standridge on March 21, 1936, in Oswego. She preceded him in death on Sept. 9, 1997. He returned to Parsons after his wife died.
He was a member of Pleasant Hill Christian Church. He enjoyed traveling.
Survivors include two daughters, Margaret A. "Peggy" Thornburg of Parsons and Charlotte C. Wullschleger of Paola; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by three brothers.
The service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home with the Rev. Mark Young officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorials to American Parkinson's Association may be left at the funeral home.
Fred M. Holliday
EDNA - Fred M. Holliday, 54, of Edna, a longtime area businessman, died Monday, March 22, 2004, after a sudden illness.
He operated Fred's Welding Shop in Chetopa for many years.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at United Methodist Church in Edna. Burial will be in the North Edna Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post No. 147 Veteran's Funeral Detail. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Thomas Funeral Home in Welch, Okla.
Fred M. Holliday
EDNA - Fred M. Holliday, 54, of Edna, a longtime area resident and businessman, died Monday, March 22, 2004, after a sudden illness.
He grew up on a farm north of Welch, Okla. He entered the United States Army and was a communication officer. He was a Vietnam War veteran and received an honorable discharge in 1971.
He married Xuyen Vinh on July 17, 1970, in Saigon, Vietnam. She survives of the home in Edna.
He operated Fred's Welding Shop in Chetopa for many years.
He served on the North Edna Cemetery Board.
He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed restoring old guns.
Other survivors include two daughters, Carol Thompson of Coffeyville and Mary Holliday of the home; two grandchildren; his mother, Eva Holliday of Edna; and one brother, Kenneth Holliday of Edna.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Milton Holliday, and his son, Kevin Holliday, on Nov. 2, 1997.
The service was today at United Methodist Church in Edna with the Rev. Dean Knewtson officiating. Burial was in the North Edna Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post No. 147 Veteran's Funeral Detail.
Memorials may be made to First Responder Unit in Edna or to any children's organization.
Thomas Funeral Home of Welch, Okla., was in charge of the arrangements.
JoAnn Hopkins
DERBY - JoAnn (Bogner) Hopkins, formerly of the Greenbush area, died at 9:02 a.m. Tuesday, June 29, 2004, at her home.
Survivors include her husband, Jim Hopkins of the home; two sons, Dr. Brian J. Hopkins and his wife, Rachel, and daughter, Julia Nicole of Littleton, Colo., and Gregory W. Hopkins of Lawrence; one daughter, Jan Marie Hopkins of Wichita; two brothers, Leon Bogner of Pittsburg and Anthony Bogner and his wife, Mindy, of Asheboro, N.C.; four sisters, Lee Cooper and her husband, Dr. Kent Cooper, and Anna Bresnick and her husband, Marc, all of Pittsburg, Carleen Herbert and her husband, Larry, of Joplin and Catherine Bezner and her husband, Will, of Gainsville, Texas; two sisters-in-law, Karen (Hopkins) Steinbacher of St. Paul and Janet (Hopkins) Moore and her husband, Dale, of Topeka.
She was preceded in death by her father, Leonard Bogner, on July 15, 1954; her mother, Marie A. (Betzen) Bogner, on Nov. 29, 1999; a sister, Elouise Bogner, on March 2, 2000; and a niece, Sara Elizabeth Herbert, on June 22, 1986.
The rosary will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Downing and Lahey East Mortuary, 6555 E. Central, Wichita. The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Church of the Magdalen, 12626 E. 21st, Wichita. The casket will be moved to Carson-Wall Funeral Home in St. Paul, where friends may call from 3 to 4 p.m. Friday. Committal rites will be at 4:30 p.m. Friday at St. Francis Cemetery in St. Paul.
Memorials may be made to Pilgrimage of Faith Building Fund at Church of the Magdalen, 12626 E. 21st Street, Wichita, 67206, or sent to Carson-Wall Funeral Home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons.
Dale O. Howard
Dale Owen Howard, 56, of rural Parsons died at 4:09 a.m. Sunday, July 27, 2003, in the emergency room at Labette County Medical Center. He had been in his usual health and his death was unexpected.
He was born Jan. 12, 1947, in Wichita to Dale D. and Geraldine (Shigley) Howard. He grew up and attended schools in the Edna and Coffeyville area. He graduated from Labette County High School in Altamont. In 1965, he attended the DeVry Institute of Technology in Chicago and then returned to Southeast Kansas to farm. For a time, he worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant. He had also worked for the Altamont-based USD 506, R.W. Harmon and Sons, the Mayflower Contract Services and Laidlaw Transit for more than 20 years as a school bus driver, mechanic and contract manager. During this time, he was active in school bus rodeos.
While serving as Southeast Kansas vice president of the Kansas State Pupil Transportation Association, he was instrumental in writing state regulations for school bus safety. He also taught classes in small engine mechanics at Labette Community College. In March 2000, he was employed by Jim Woods Marketing Inc., where he was an owner/operator transport driver.
He married Ginger Kinzer. They later divorced.
He married Joyce Obenhaus. They later divorced.
He married Mary Jo Dantic on Nov. 2, 1991, in Coffeyville. She survives of the home.
Other survivors are three sons, Mike Howard and his wife, Tracy, Danny Jo Brown and his wife, Kathy, all of Parsons, and Jason Dantic and his wife, Becky, of Grove, Okla.; four daughters, Leslie Gage and her husband, Troy, of Erie, Lee Ann Brown of St. Paul, Marsha Mitchell and her husband, Steve, and Lynn Sexton, all of Erie; 13 grandchildren, Shelby and Abigail Howard of Parsons, Danielle and John Owen Gage of Erie, Melissa Dantic of Grove, Okla., Sheila, Sara and Emily Mitchell and Jackie, Tori and Trinity, all of Erie, and Jessica Keaton and her husband, David, and Stephanie Sexton, all of Parsons; his parents, Dale D. and Geraldine Howard of Coffeyville; four brothers, Norman Howard and his wife, Kristi, of Coffeyville, Tom Howard and his wife, Donna, of Caney, Rick Howard and his wife, Joanne, of Independence, and Jon Howard and his wife, Susan, of Coffeyville; several nieces and nephews; and extended family, Verlyn "J.R." Bolinger and his wife, Kelly, and their daughter, Whitney, of Parsons.
His family was very important to him. He was a doting grandfather and looked forward to visits from the grandchildren and family holidays. He was an avid two-cylinder John Deere Tractor and John Deere equipment enthusiast. He enjoyed restoring and working on his old tractors and equipment as well as vintage trucks and cars. He had just returned from the John Deere National Working Two-Cylinder Exposition and Show.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home with Wayne Norton officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to either the Parsons D.A.R.E. program or to the Neosho Township Fire Department and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 405 Main, Parsons.
Chester W. Howell
CHERRYVALE - Chester Wayne "Chet" Howell, 87, of Cherryvale died at 9:36 a.m. Monday, June 14, 2004, at Cherryvale Care Center.
He was born Nov. 23, 1916, in Wilson County to Sydney Wesley and Myrtle Estelle (Moke) Howell. He attended schools in Wilson County. He was a welder for Shipper's Car Line in North Kansas City, Mo., retiring in 1972.
He married Margaret Rose Armstrong on April 27, 1939, in Liberty, Mo. She preceded him in death on Aug. 9, 1994.
He was a member of Old Time Fiddlers and Pickers organization and the AFL/CIO.
Survivors include two daughters, Beverly Williams and Pat Keeling, both of Cherryvale; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Howard Howell of Neodesha and Lowell Howell of Cherryvale.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Judy Lee Barber; six sisters; and three brothers.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Potts Chapel in Cherryvale with the Rev. Scott Schurle of Cherryvale Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Cherryvale. Friends may call until 6 p.m. today and until 9 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorials to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice can be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 801, Independence, 67301.
