Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Ricky A. Howell
OTTAWA - Ricky Allen Howell, 51, of Ottawa died Friday, Dec. 5, 2003, at Exempla Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge, Colo.
He was born April 28, 1952, in Ottawa to David E. and Evelyn V. (Shores) Howell. He grew up at Golden, Colo. and graduated from Golden High School in 1969.
He attended Red Rocks Community College in Golden.
He worked at Colorado University Book Store at Boulder, as an accountant at a car dealership in Dodge City and later for Pamco Industries in Denver.
Survivors include his father of the home; one brother, Jerry Howell of Marino Valley, Calif.; and one sister, Debra Jean Sokol of Golden.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home in Ottawa. Burial will be at 3 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery in Galesburg.
Memorials to Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall of Ottawa may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa, 66067.
Chester T. Hughes
Chester T. Hughes, 76, of Parsons died at 7:10 a.m. Saturday, June 5, 2004, at Good Samaritan Center in Parsons. He had been a resident there since Sept. 10, 2003.
He was born June 29, 1927, in Montana Township of Labette County to James L. and Mary E. (Spurgeon) Hughes. He attended schools in Labette County and graduated from the Labette County Community High School in Altamont in 1944.
He married Dolores Irene Robison on July 19, 1953, at Rossville, Ga. She preceded him in death on Aug. 23, 1994. He worked for more than 40 years for the Kansas Gas and Electric Co. as a certified welder and later as electrical foreman. He retired at the age of 62.
In earlier years he enjoyed working on cars and motorcycles. He enjoyed hunting.
He attended the Assembly of God in Parsons. He was a past-president and state trustee for Parsons Eagles Lodge. He was a member and past master of the Parsons Lodge No. 117, A.F. and A.M., Mirza Temple Shrine, Order of Eastern Star and Labette County Shrine Association. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for more than 50 years.
Survivors include one son, Steven L. Hughes of Dallas; his mother, Mary E. Hughes of rural Parsons; one sister, Leta Rose Dechard of Wichita; several nieces and nephews; and his companion, Virginia Handshy of Parsons.
The service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home with the Rev. John Chastain officiating. Burial will be at Memorial Lawn Cemetery with Masonic rites by the Parsons Lodge No. 117, A.F. and A.M. Friends may call today at the funeral home.
Memorials to Shriners' Hospitals for Crippled Children may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, 405 Main, Parsons.
Ava I. Hunziker
Ava Irene Hunziker, 74, of Parsons died at 5:40 p.m. Sunday, June 13, 2004, at her apartment in Belmont Towers.
She was born Oct. 28, 1930, at Aldrich, Mo., to Normal Earl and Nellie N. (Termin) Bruce. She attended Aldrich schools.
She was married to Amos L. Hunziker on March 5, 1950, in Wichita. They lived in Wichita until 1971, when they moved to Devon. She helped her husband in his bulk gasoline business. Mr. Hunziker died Dec. 12, 1975. She continued to live in Devon for several years before moving to Parsons.
Mrs. Hunziker enjoyed gardening, crocheting, collecting dolls and reading.
She was a member of the Aldrich United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Janice Marshall and her husband, Gary, Newark, Ark., and Jackie Beel and her husband, Dale, Neodesha; five grandchildren, Jennifer Vines, Molly Marshall, both of Jonesboro, Ark., Amy Hanle, Maumelle, Ark., Chad Beel and Byron Stokes, both of Parsons; four great-grandchildren, Delaney Vines, Blake Vines, Kayln Beel and Tristan Hanle; and two sisters, Betty Coleman, Lake Park, Fla., and Margie Siercks, Van Dyne, Wis.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Earl Bruce and Johnnie Bruce; and a sister, Bessie Cooper.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Sharon Cemetery in Drexel, Mo. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday at Runyan Funeral Home in Drexel.
Memorials to Parsons Arboretum may be left at or mailed to Carson-Wall Funeral Home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons.
Robert H. Jabben
INDEPENDENCE - Robert H. Jabben, 79, of Independence died at 1:52 p.m. Monday, June 14, 2004, at Mercy Hospital, where he had been admitted on June 12.
He was born March 21, 1925 at Jefferson to Henry Jabben and Anna (Harms) Jabben. He attended rural Montgomery County schools and the Zion Lutheran School. He worked for General Motors in St. Louis until his retirement in 1982 as assembly plant supervisor.
He attended Community Christian Church in Independence.
He married Alberta Sue Hines on Dec. 25, 1946. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include two brothers, Arnold Jabben of Cherryvale and Elvin Jabben of Independence; one sister, Arlene Bruington of Joplin and several nieces and nephews.
The service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Community Christian Church in Independence with the Rev. Steve Butler officiating. Burial will be at Lutheran Cemetery in Independence. Friends may call at the funeral home from until 8 p.m. today or at the church after 9 a.m. on Thursday until the service time, when the casket will be closed. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorials to the Community Christian Church can be sent to or left at Potts Chapel, Independence.
Norma L. Jacobs
GROVE, Okla. - Norma Lee Jacobs, 85, of Grove, Okla., died Sunday, March 21, 2004, at Integris Grove General Hospital in Grove.
She was born Sept. 7, 1918, in Erie to Walter B. and Pearl (Norwood) Jacobs. She graduated from Erie High School in 1940. During World War II she worked at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant in Parsons.
She was a member of Erie Federated Church, the American Legion Auxiliary in Erie and was a past member of Rainbow Girls and Order of the Eastern Star. She moved from Erie to Grove in May 1999.
Survivors include a nephew, Larry Jacobs of Monkey Island, Okla.; two nieces, Pam Remsberg of Wichita and Barbara Meador of Prairie Village; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Easthill Cemetery in Erie with the Rev. Fred Von Moss officiating.
Ellis Family Funeral Home of Grove, Okla., is in charge of arrangements.
Revilla J. Jarman
BARTLETT - Revilla Jane (Doll) Jarman, 74, of Bartlett died at 7:06 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at the Labette County Medical Center.
She was born Feb. 27, 1929, to Arthur H. and Myrtle Mae (Nading) Curnutte of rural Oswego. She attended rural schools in Labette County. She had been a nurses' aide at a nursing home in Oswego.
She married Marvin Jarman on July 26, 1947, in Columbus. He preceded her in death on Feb. 14, 2003.
She was a member of Bartlett Christian Church. She loved her family and enjoyed crocheting, doing crafts, fishing and working in her flower gardens.
Survivors include four sons, David Jarman of Bartlett, Kenneth Jarman of Welch, Okla., Ronald Jarman and Donnie Jarman, both of Oswego; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Elmer Curnutte of Cold Springs, Texas, and Kenneth Curnutte of Colorado Springs; and one sister, Naomi Peterson of Parsons.
She was preceded in death by four sisters, four brothers and one grandson.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Bartlett Christian Church with the Rev. Fred Wooldridge officiating. Burial will be in Lake Creek Cemetery. There is no set family visitation but friends may call from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Bath Funeral Home in Chetopa.
Memorials to Bartlett Christian Church may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, Box 346, Chetopa, 67336.
Doreta A. Johnson
CHERRYVALE - Doreta Ann "Dee" Johnson, 73, of Cherryvale died at 11:43 p.m. Thursday, April 1, 2004, at Mount Carmel Regional Medical Center in Pittsburg, where she had been admitted March 2.
She was born Aug. 13, 1930, in West Mineral to Noel and Madeline (Calso) Mahy. She grew up and attended schools in West Mineral, graduating from high school in 1948. She graduated from Mount Carmel School of Nursing in 1951. She worked at Mercy Hospital in Independence until retiring in 1985.
She married Frank Nathan Johnson on July 18, 1952, in Independence. He preceded her in death on May 1, 1998.
She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Cherryvale and the church's Altar Society.
Survivors include a daughter, Mary Gilpin of Cherryvale; three grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and a sister, Nolene Ross of Pittsburg.
She was preceded in death by a son, Frank Noel Johnson.
The service was today at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Cherryvale with the Rev. Kevin Trayers officiating. Burial was in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery, west of Cherryvale.
Memorials may be made to Mount Carmel Transitional Care Unit and may be left at or mailed to Potts Chapel, P.O. Box 801, Independence, 67301.
Anna Johnston
Anna Johnston, 98, of Parsons, formerly of Erie, died at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, March 17, 2004, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons. She had been a resident there since July 2, 2002.
She was born March 25, 1905, in Cherryvale to Anthony and Susanna (Gergen) Blaes. She moved with her family to rural Parsons in 1917.
She married Francis Ambrose "Mose" Johnston on June 12, 1928, in St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Erie. They lived in South Mound, where she was the telephone operator for more than 20 years, working from her home. During World War II, she was the official weather watcher for the Kansas Ordnance Plant. In 1971 they moved to Erie. He preceded her in death on Jan. 15, 1997. She moved to Woodridge Estates in Parsons in 1999.
She had been a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Erie, St. Ambrose Altar Society and Daughters of Isabella in St. Paul. In Parsons she was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
She enjoyed bowling, flower gardening and bird-watching.
Survivors include two daughters, Pat Collins and her husband, Robert, of Springfield, Mo., and Sue O'Brien of Parsons; one son, F.E. "Johnny" Johnston and his wife, Shirley, of Smithton, Ill.; 12 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one daughter, Dolores A. Paulie, on Dec. 16, 2003; two grandsons; one granddaughter; one great-grandson; four sisters; and two brothers.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert Wachter officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The rosary will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends afterward.
Memorials may be made to St. Patrick's Church for renovations.
Naomi R. Jones
GRASS VALLEY, Calif. - Naomi Ruth (Schoenig) Jones, 85, formerly of Walnut, died at 6:04 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, 2004, at her residence in Grass Valley.
She was born Sept. 23, 1918, in Lone Elm to Arthur F. and Mattie (Bradenstein) Schoenig. As a child, she moved with her family to Walnut. She graduated from Walnut High School. She received a lifetime teaching certificate from Hutchinson Junior College and taught in a one-room country schoolhouse near Walnut and later taught first and second grades at Walnut Elementary School.
She married Foster Jones on May 26, 1940, at United Methodist Church in Walnut. He survives of the home. They retired to Girard in 1991 and moved to Grass Valley in 2002.
She was a member of United Methodist Church in Walnut and later the United Methodist Church in Girard.
She enjoyed reading and collecting books, arts and crafts and memorabilia about Kansas; traveling; camping; and fishing.
She made clothes, quilts, comforters, dolls and crafts.
Other survivors include one daughter, Carol Ann Hurley Jones of Big Oak Valley, Calif.; one son, Keith Everett Jones of Kalamazoo, Mich.; four grandchildren, Stephanie Wong of Las Vegas, Ben Jones and Daniel Jones, both of Kalamazoo, and Donna Hurley-Jones of Penn Valley, Calif.; one great-granddaughter, Eleanor Elizabeth Jones of Kalamazoo; and one sister, Annabel BeDillon of Phoenix.
She was preceded in death by one son, Roger Foster Jones, in 1990; an infant daughter, Martha Ann Jones; one brother, Arden Schoenig; and one sister, Martha Richards.
The service will be Saturday, May 29, at Glenwood Cemetery in Walnut. Service time will be announced by Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard.
Leta F. Jones
Leta F. Jones, 84, of Parsons died at 8:54 a.m. Wednesday, March 31, 2004, at Labette County Medical Center. She had been in failing health for several months.
She was born Dec. 17, 1919, in Lamar, Mo., to Callie H. and Mary E. (Brown) Boyd. She attended schools in Lamar, Mo.
She married Elick W. Jones on March 24, 1942, in Carthage, Mo. They lived in several towns before moving to Parsons in 1958. He preceded her in death on April 18, 1997.
For 18 years she worked at the former Swift and Co., a poultry processing plant in Parsons.
Survivors include four sons, William B. "Bill" Jones, Thomas L. Jones and his wife, Susan, Larry W. Jones and his wife, Phyllis, and Pete Jones and his wife, Sharon, all of Parsons; 10 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Reba Small of Jasper, Mo.
She was preceded in death by a grandson, five brothers and one sister.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Springhill Cemetery with the Rev. Rodney Howell officiating. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home.
Memorials to American Diabetes Association may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 405 Main, Parsons.
