Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Marilyn A. Orr
INDEPENDENCE - Marilyn Ann Orr, 63, of Independence died at 4:40 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003, at her home. She had been in failing health.
She was born May 17, 1940, in Independence to Leon and Wilma (Nance) Orr. She grew up and attended school in Independence, graduating from Independence High School in 1958. She graduated from Independence Junior College and Pittsburg State University with a bachelor's degree in education. Following her schooling she taught at Independence Junior High School. She also taught in Caney and Plano, Texas, and at Labette Community College in Parsons. She was sales manager at Marie's Quality Foods in Woodland, Calif., for five years.
She married Wes Boner on Sept. 3, 1960, in Independence. They later divorced.
She was a member of First Baptist Church of Independence and a past member of the Beta Sigma Phi.
Survivors include a son, Brad Wilson of Lee's Summit, Mo.; a daughter, LeAnne Chaffin of Independence; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two brothers, Richard Orr of Woodland, Calif., and Steve Orr of Independence; and two sisters, Norma Holloway of Cherryvale and Nancy Orr of Independence.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Independence with the Rev. Jim Blocher officiating. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Independence. Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday, and the family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church or to F.O.R.P.A.Z. and may be left at Potts Chapel in Independence.
James A. Osburn
WARRENSBURG, Mo. - James Alvis Osburn, 73, of Warrensburg died Sunday, June 6, 2004, at Ridge Crest Nursing Center in Warrensburg.
He was born Aug. 12, 1930, in Homer, La., to Heubert E. and Emma Ethel (Vassar) Osburn. His family moved to Parsons when he was an infant. He attended public school in Parsons.
He moved to Lawrence in 1960.
He worked for the University of Kansas as a carpenter from 1976 until his retirement in 1994. He moved to Warrensburg, Mo., seven years ago.
He married Barbara May Keller on Feb. 26, 1955, in Parsons. She preceded him in death in 1990.
Survivors include five sons, Bobby and James of Lawrence, and Jesse, Alvis and Ira, all of Leeton, Mo.; two daughters, Emma Osburn of Leeton and Ellen Osburn of Topeka; 20 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and four brothers, Edward of Merced, Calif., Richard of Indiana, Ralph of Lawrence and William Osburn of Lecompton.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home in Lawrence. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday until service time. Family will receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorials to Crossroads Hospice may be mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 1260, Lawrence, 66044.
Betty M. Overby
CHICKASHA, Okla. - Betty Maxine Overby, 74, of Chickasha died Monday, July 28, 2003, in Chickasha.
She was born Sept. 13, 1928, in Parsons to Gabriel and Anna (Racy) Perez. She grew up in the Parsons area, where she attended high school.
She moved to Chickasha from Tulsa in 1969 and opened Pat's Fina Service Station. Later she and her husband, Pat, bought and ran a car wash. They opened Chickasha 2-Way. She took over Chickasha 2-Way in 1989 after her husband's death and was still working there with her son, Patrick.
She was a worthy matron of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was a member of First Christian Church.
Survivors include a son, Patrick Overby of Chickasha; a sister, Marceline Taylor of Pittsburg; and two sisters-in-law, Dolly Perez of Parsons and Margret Perez of Texas.
She was preceded in death by four brothers.
The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Ferguson Funeral Home Chapel with Gary Bell officiating. Burial will be in Fairlawn Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
Mary N. Owens
Mary N. Owens, 93, of Parsons died unexpectedly Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, at Labette County Medical Center.
She was born July 31, 1910, in Hastings, Neb., to Fred A. and Fannie (Aylesworth) Newell. She grew up in rural Neosho County and graduated from Erie High School in 1927. In 1928, she graduated from a business college in Parsons. She worked in Erie for Alderson Hardware and Neosho County Farm Bureau until moving to Manhattan, where she worked for the Kansas Extension Service. She managed the first lunch program for Parsons elementary schools in 1955.
She married Edward A. "Eddie" Owens on June 18, 1935, in Parsons. The family moved to Vinita, Okla., in 1957, where they owned a Dari-Delite. In 1961 they purchased the Dari-O in Bentonville, Ark., and operated it until their retirement in 1977. In 1978, they returned to Erie. After 58 years of marriage, she was widowed in 1993 and moved back to Parsons.
She was a member of First Christian Church of Parsons and enjoyed her Sunday school class, CWF Circle, and helping with the church paper. She was a longtime member of "Young" Mother's Club and the Beauceant organization. She served as a Cub Scout den mother in Vinita, Okla.
Her and her husband were volunteers for Meals on Wheels and Senior Center while in Erie.
She will best be remembered as a faithful wife and mother, supporting the many activities of her family by baking dozens of cookies, cheering at games and performances, welcoming slumber parties, driving many miles as a loving chauffeur and making homemade butterscotch pies. She enjoyed ceramics, crocheting and quilting in her retirement. Trips to visit family in Japan, Korea and throughout the United States and Canada were especially memorable for her.
She is survived by three sons, Thomas E. Owens and his wife, Sherron, of Federal Way, Wash., James N. Owens and his wife, April, of Shawnee, and Fred W. Owens and wife, Rhonda, of Jenks, Okla.; two daughters, Mary Catherine Brown and her husband, Charles "Chuck," of Parsons and Margaret Jo "Peggy" DaHarb and her husband, Louis "Lou," of Longmont, Colo.; a son-in-law, Jimmie Threet of Hendersonville, Tenn.; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Catherine "Kitty" Schildgen of Parsons; and a brother-in-law, Bennie Owens of Annapolis, Md.
The service will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at First Christian Church with the Revs. Mark Young and Fred Jordan officiating. Burial will be in East Hill Cemetery in Erie. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons and before the service Wednesday.
Memorials may be made to First Christian churches in Parsons or Erie or to Labette County Medical Center Foundation and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons.
Ane M. Owens
COFFEYVILLE - Ane M. Owens, 88, formerly of Parsons, died at 5:15 p.m. Sunday, March 28, 2004, at Windsor Place in Coffeyville. She had moved to Coffeyville from Parsons 12 years ago.
She was born Dec. 10, 1915, in Little River to Charles and Mellie (Crumm) Hatfield. She grew up in Little River, Lorraine and Lyons and graduated from Lyons High School. She attended beauty school.
She married Calvin W. Owens on May 6, 1938, in Sterling. They lived in Arkansas a few years before moving to Parsons in 1941. They lived in St. Charles, Mo., from 1963 to 1976, when they returned to Parsons. He died Aug. 28, 1984.
She assisted her husband in their business, the Broadway Cafeteria, in Parsons. In St. Charles, Mo., she managed a Good Will store.
She was an antique dealer.
She was a member of First Christian Church in Parsons.
Survivors include one son, Charles W. Owens and his wife, Jan of Neodesha; two daughters, Calvin Ann Burrows and her husband, Gordon, and Jayne Gwartney, all of Coffeyville; 14 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Allison Collins of Berthoud, Colo.
The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at First Christian Church in Parsons with the Rev. Mark Young officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Parsons. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
Memorials to First Christian Church of Parsons may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, Box 942, Parsons.
Fern L. Paff
THAYER - Fern L. Paff, 67, of Thayer died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, at Via Christi St. Francis Campus in Wichita.
She was born Sept. 19, 1935, in rural Thayer to Leonard and Flossie (Smedley) Wheeler. She graduated from Thayer High School.
She married Calvin C. Cooper on Dec. 12, 1953, in Cherryvale. He preceded her in death on June 21, 1983.
She married Jerry L. Paff on June 9, 1985, in Riverton. He survives.
She worked in the cafeteria for the Parsons school system for five years before becoming a school bus driver for the Thayer school for 10 years. She retired in 1999.
She was a member of the Thayer United Methodist Church and the Cecil J. Meeker Post No. 1654, Ladies Auxiliary in Chanute.
She enjoyed camping, fishing, flower gardening and hummingbirds.
Survivors include two sons, Gary Cooper of New Braunfels, Texas, and Richard Cooper of Elsbery, Mo.; one daughter, Tammy Patton; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; seven sisters, Francis Wolken of Erie, Shirley Dannels of Chanute, Judy Lacen of Thayer, Jean Black of Thayer, Nora Morrison of Yates Center, Sharon Vyhlidal of Thayer and Sue McRoberts of Neodesha; and two brothers, Leonard Wheeler of El Dorado Springs, Mo., and Ted Wheeler of Parsons.
A graveside service was today at the South Center Cemetery in rural Thayer with the Rev. Tim McCrary officiating.
Memorials to the American Cancer Society may be left at the Johnson Mortuary in Chanute.
Richard L. Page
DENNIS - Richard L. "Rick" Page, 51, of Dennis died at 9:12 p.m. Monday, March 29, 2004, at Labette County Medical Center in Parsons, where he entered several hours before his death. His death was unexpected.
He was born Oct. 17, 1952, in Parsons to Robert L. and Jean M. (Gulick) Page. The family moved to Yuma, Ariz., when he was an infant. He attended school and grew up there.
In his adult years he lived in Los Angeles for several years and in Pennsylvania before returning to Parsons in 1996.
In Pennsylvania he worked for an environmental cleanup agency. After moving to Parsons he operated a lawn service and recently had started working at Ron's IGA.
He enjoyed music, playing guitar and singing.
Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Jean and Bob Knowles of Parsons; his father, Robert L. Page of Yuma, Ariz.; three brothers, Dennis "Bud" Page of Springfield, Mo., Bill Page of Wichita and Jim Page of Parsons; one sister, Bobbie Frye of Wichita; his companion, Debbie Willeford of Parsons; and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Galesburg with Phil Phelps officiating. The procession will leave from Carson-Wall Funeral Home at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorials to Parsons Humane Society may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons.
Richard L. Page
DENNIS - Richard L. "Rick" Page, 51, of Dennis died at 9:12 p.m. Monday, March 29, 2004, at Labette County Medical Center, where he entered several hours before his death. His death was unexpected.
He was born Oct. 17, 1952, in Parsons to Robert L. and Jean M. (Gulick) Page. The family moved to Yuma, Ariz., when he was an infant. He attended school there.
In his adult years he lived in Los Angeles for several years and in Pennsylvania before returning to Parsons in 1996.
In Pennsylvania he worked for an environmental cleanup agency. After moving to Parsons he operated a lawn service and recently started working at Ron's IGA.
He enjoyed music, playing guitar and singing.
Survivors include his mother and stepfather, Jean and Bob Knowles of Parsons; his father and stepmother, Bob and Bonna Page of Yuma, Ariz.; three brothers, Dennis "Bud" Page of Springfield, Mo., Bill Page of Wichita and Jim Page of Parsons; one sister, Bobbie Frye of Wichita; three half-brothers, Bobby Page, David Page and Peter Paul Page, all of Parker, Ariz.; two half-sisters, Candice Page of Phoenix and Misti Page of Pittsburg; and a companion, Debbie Willeford of Parsons.
A graveside service was Thursday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Galesburg with Phil Phelps officiating.
Memorials to Parsons Humane Society may be left at or mailed to Carson-Wall Funeral Home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons.
Alma Phipps
GALENA - Alma (Johnson) Phipps, 93, died at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, 2004, at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin.
She was born Nov. 10, 1910, on a farm near Hallowell to Albert and Bertha (McMickle) Johnson. She graduated from Cherokee County High School in Columbus.
She taught school for 35 years and she was grade school principal at Treece for years. She taught in various schools in Cherokee County, serving for years in Galena and then ended her career at Picher-Cardin Elementary. The Oklahoma Teachers Association chose her Teacher of the Year. She was a nominee for the Clyde Phillips Distinguished Service Award from Pittsburg State University, where she received her master's degree.
She was a member of the Alpha Delta Kappa National Teachers Association, the Galena Woman's Club and the Senior Citizens Organization of Galena. She attended the Seventh-Day Adventist Church all her life.
She married Ira Phipps. He preceded her in death in 1971.
Survivors include three sons, Micky Phipps of Galena, Larry Phipps of Altamont and Ronny Phipps of Bentonville, Ark.; a daughter, Iretta LaGasse of Joplin; and eight grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a son, Bobby Phipps; a sister, Melba Tindall; a brother, Lester Johnson; and a grandson, Mathew Phipps.
The service was Sunday at Galena Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Memorials may be made to Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Derfelt Funeral Home of Galena was in charge of arrangements.
Jerry L. Plummer
CHETOPA - Jerry Lee Plummer, 69, of Chetopa died at 12:20 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003, at his home.
He was born May 16, 1934, in Chetopa to Elmer "Doc" and Maurine (Wells) Plummer. He spent most of his life in the Chetopa area.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
He was a supervisor for Farmers' Chemical Co., a division of Farmland Industries of Joplin, for 37 1/2 years. He retired 10 years ago.
He married Roberta Baunhofer on May 31, 1952, in Chetopa. She survives of the home.
He was a member of First Baptist Church of Chetopa and was ordained a deacon in 1975.
Survivors are a son, Daniel W. Plummer of Girard; a daughter, Beth Johnson of Chetopa; eight grandchildren; a brother, Joe Plummer of Chetopa; and a sister, Jewell Allen of Fredonia.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Chetopa with the Rev. Clarence Newman officiating. Burial will follow in Lake Creek Cemetery in Bartlett. Family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Bath Funeral Home in Chetopa.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Chetopa or to St. John's Hospice and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, Box 346, Chetopa.
