Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Frances P. Shears
Frances P. "Fran" Shears, 59, of Parsons died at 10:28 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, at Kindred Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. She had been in failing health.
She was born Dec. 7, 1943, at Hartford, Conn., to Frank and Savina Marie (Cordiliko) Angelo. She graduated from Weaver High School in Hartford.
She married Jack L. Shears on Nov. 22, 1962, at St. Michael's Cathedral in Hartford. He survives of the home. She lived in Windsor, Conn., for several years while her husband was in the U.S. Navy. They also had lived in several other places, including South Carolina, Colorado, Germany and Cuba. They had been in 40 states and 14 foreign countries before returning to Parsons in 1993.
She was a Catholic. She had been secretary of the American Legion Post No. 56 Auxiliary and done volunteer work in various places. She was named volunteer of the year at the Army Welfare Office, Fort Bliss, Texas. She enjoyed oil painting, crafts, cooking Italian food, bowling and playing board games and bingo.
Survivors include three sisters, Anita Nadeau and Paula Mascaro, both of Windsor, and JoAnn Erofsky of Boca Raton, Fla.; and her sister-in-law, Lola Baer, and her husband, Stephen, of Parsons.
The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert Wachter officiating. The rosary will be said at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Dennis.
The family will receive friends at Carson-Wall Funeral Home from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday.
Memorials to St. Patrick's Catholic Church or the American Diabetes Association may be left at or sent to the funeral home, Box 942, Parsons.
Alma L. Shell
GARDEN CITY - Alma Lee Shell, 84, of Garden City, formerly of Altamont, died Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2004, at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City.
She was born Feb. 5, 1920, to Homer Jewell and Lucreta (Hill) Deardorff of Nowata, Okla. She graduated from Nowata High School. She received a bachelor of arts in music education from Northeastern State Teachers College in Tahlequah, Okla.
She married Jack Shell on May 25, 1941, in Nowata. He preceded her in death on Oct. 15, 1996.
She taught two years at Foraker, Okla., and then moved back to Nowata while her husband served in World War II. In 1945 she moved to Baxter Springs and in 1946 to Altamont. She was a private piano teacher for many years. In 1955, she started teaching at Altamont Grade School and three years later she started teaching piano at Labette County Community High School, where she taught for 25 years.
She was a soloist and pianist at community functions as well as weddings and funerals.
She helped organize the Sigma Mu music club at LCHS and provided accompaniment for countless musical groups, musical productions and student vocal and instrumental solos. She moved to Garden City in 2003.
She was a member of United Methodist Church in Altamont, where she directed the church choir, served as director of church music and was the organist and pianist for more than 45 years. She was a member of Order of Eastern Star and Delta Kappa Lamba.
Survivors include two daughters, Jacquelyn Meek and her husband, Taylor, of Clay Center and Bettee Gilkison and her husband, Dave, of Garden City; one son, Dr. Lee Alan Shell of Omaha, Neb.; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Jerome Deardorff, and one sister, Loreta Waller.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Altamont United Methodist Church with the Rev. Tom Reazin officiating. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Altamont. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Bath Funeral Home in Altamont.
The Garnand Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements in Garden City.
Memorials to Alma Lee Shell Music Scholarship Fund in USD 506 may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, Box 325, Altamont.
Robert E. Shields Sr.
HERMITAGE, Mo. - Robert Eldon Shields Sr., 73, of Hermitage, Mo., died Saturday, May 15, 2004, at St. John's Regional Health Center in Springfield, Mo.
He was born Aug. 9, 1930, in Parsons to Charles Lester and Ruth Elizabeth (Tillman) Shields.
He was a district scout executive for Boy Scouts of America for 22 years.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran and a member of the American Legion.
Survivors include his wife, Lela Faye Shields of the home; two sons, Jerry Shields and Steven Shields, both of Hermitage; one daughter, Linda Brandt of Springfield; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one brother, Charles Shields Jr. of Akron, Ohio; and two sisters, Betty Marrow of Statham, Ga., and June White of Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The service was Tuesday at Hathaway-Peterman Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Harrison officiating. Scout honors were provided by Boy Scouts of America. Burial was in Clark Cemetery in Hermitage with military honors provided by Galmey VFW Post No. 9638.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer's research.
Allen L. Shields
Allen L. Shields, 38, of Parsons died at 3:57 p.m. Saturday, June 21, 2003, at the Labette County Medical Center. He had been in failing health.
He was born June 12, 1965, in San Bernardino, Calif. He grew up and attended schools in Parsons. He received a general equivalency development diploma.
He worked odd jobs in Parsons for several years before moving to Wichita in 1991, where he worked for the Castle and Associates engineering firm and the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad as a track specialist. In February 2002 he moved to Fletcher, Okla., where he worked for the Stillwater Central Railroad as a track specialist until December 2002. He moved to Parsons in April.
He married Cherie Powell on Nov. 1, 1995, in Wichita. She survives of the home.
He enjoyed fishing, bowling, playing pool and spending time with his family and friends.
Other survivors include two sons, Ian Shields of the home and Jarred Westhoff of Parsons; one daughter, Cheryl Shields of the home; his parents, Wayne and Kay Shields of Parsons; his brother and his wife, Dan and Wendy Shields of Parsons; his sister and her husband, Misty and Ryan Burke of Parsons; maternal grandmother, Colene Alloway of Parsons; his father-in-law, Charles Powell of Startex, S.C.; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a maternal grandfather, Raymond J. Alloway; paternal grandparents, Harlan and Pearl Shields; and his mother-in-law, Phyllis Powell.
The service will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home with the Revs. Robert Brown and Mark Young officiating. Burial will be in the Harmony Grove Cemetery near Dennis. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorials to the First Christian Church may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 112 N. 26th, Parsons.
Paul B. Shumate
ERIE - Paul B. Shumate, 78, of Erie died at 2:55 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003, at Allen County Hospital in Iola. He had been in failing health.
He was born on May 5, 1925, in Fort Smith, Ark., to Bennett F. and Alpha Omega (Davis) Shumate. He grew up at Fort Smith and Fayetteville, Ark. He graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1941. He moved to Wichita at age 17 to work for the Santa Fe Railway Co.
He served two stints in the United States Navy following World War II. Following his honorable discharge he returned to work for Santa Fe as a switchman in Wichita and Rosalia. He retired in 1985 and moved to Yuma, Ariz. During his retirement he spent the winter in Yuma and the rest of the year traveling in his RV. He moved to Erie last May.
He married Shirley Laramore on July 28, 1963, at the Methodist Church in Rosalia. She survives of the home.
He enjoyed boating, water-skiing, camping, traveling in his RV, woodworking and spending time with his family. He was a member and past master of the Joppa Lodge No. 223, A.F. and A.M., at Leon, the Wichita Consistory and the Midian Shrine of Wichita.
Other survivors include, five sons, Victor Leland Shumate and his wife, Wauneta, of Springfield, Mo., Gerald Roger Shumate and his wife, Gayle, of Kansas City, Mo., Jeffrey Lee Shumate and his wife, Norma Jean, of St. Charles, Mo., Jay Kevin Shumate and his wife, Vickie Lynn, of Eureka, and Jerald Wayne and his wife, Marcia, of Springtown, Texas; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one brother, Joe Dale Shumate of Madison; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one brother, George Leonard Shumate; and one sister, Bonita Helene Day.
The service was today at Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie with the Rev. Tim McCoy officiating. Burial was in Hartford Cemetery at Hartford.
Memorials to American Cancer Society may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 182, Erie.
Curtis D. Sides
ALTAMONT - Curtis D. Sides, 95, of Altamont died at 5:29 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, at Labette County Medical Center, where he had entered that day.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at United Methodist Church in Altamont with the Rev. Tom Reazin officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Bath Funeral Home in Altamont.
Memorials to United Methodist Church of Altamont may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, Box 325, Altamont, 67330.
Information will be announced later by the funeral home.
Richard C. Shearer
Richard C. Shearer, 80, of Parsons died at 9:37 a.m. Thursday, June 17, 2004.
He was born April 8, 1924, in Madrid, Iowa, to Walter and Mable Shearer. He attended school in Sheldahl, Iowa.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After his discharge, he was employed by John Deere Implement Co. in Davenport, Iowa, for several years. He later worked with the Quality Assurance Division of the U.S. Department of Defense until retiring in 1984.
He married Ruth V. Slane on June 1, 1973, in Parsons. They lived in Davenport. In 1977, they moved to South Korea, where they lived until returning to Davenport in 1979. In 1984, they moved to a farm north of Parsons. She preceded him in death on Dec. 8, 2003.
He was a member of Faith United Methodist Church in Parsons. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, raising cattle and farming.
He was a member of Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Parsons and had belonged to a Masonic Lodge in Iowa.
Survivors include two sons, Ronald "Ron" Cruse Shearer of Davenport and Dr. Eric A. Shearer of Pittsburg; two daughters, Vicki Cruse Capstaff of Callaway, Md., and Cathy Rashall Cruse of Davenport; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Timothy "Tim" Cruse Shearer, on May 22, 1994; five brothers; and one sister.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at East Bethany Cemetery with the Rev. Deborah A. Hanes-Nelson officiating and military rites by Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until shortly before 10 a.m. Saturday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home.
Curtis D. Sides
ALTAMONT - Curtis Daniel Sides, 95, of Altamont died at 5:29 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, at Labette County Medical Center in Parsons.
He was born Jan. 27, 1909, in Golden City, Mo., to Curtis Mathias and Lydia Johanna (Haustein) Sides.
He married Edith Martha Fritz on July 28, 1935. She preceded him in death on July 18, 1960.
She attended elementary school in Jasper, Mo., and graduated from high school in Greenfield, Mo. During his junior and senior year in high school he worked 52 hours a week as an operator at a diesel electrical power plant to have money to attend college. He received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Kansas State University in Manhattan in 1932 and a master of science degree in education and a minor in economics and sociology in 1936.
He was a member of Kansas State Teachers Association Curriculum Committee and studied at George Peabody College in Nashville, Tenn., in 1937. He completed graduate studies in the field of educational administration at University of Colorado in Boulder.
He served three years in United States Naval Reserve during World War II and held the rank of lieutenant commander.
He began his teaching career in 1932 at Ramona Rural High School, teaching science and coaching from 1932 to 1934. In 1934 and 1935 he taught math, science and accounting and coached at Copeland Rural High School. He was principal at Stockdale High School from 1935-1937; high school principal in St. George from 1937-1939; high school principal in Soldier from 1939-1950; and in 1950 became vice principal of Labette County High School of Altamont until his retirement in 1974.
He was a member of Altamont United Methodist Church and was Sunday school superintendent and taught a junior high Sunday school class for many years. He was on the Board of Trustees.
He joined the Altamont Lions Club in 1950, was president in 1954, served as Altamont Lions secretary/treasurer from 1957 to 1998 and was zone chairman several times, deputy district governor in 1965, district governor in 1966, Melvin Jones Fellow member (honorary membership) and in 1987 was selected by Lions as Altamont Citizen of the Year.
He was a member of National Education Association, American Association of School Administrators, Kansas State Teachers Association, Labette County Community High School Association, Phi Delta Kappa, State and National Secondary School Administration Association, charter member of Iota chapter of Alpha Kappa Lambda Social Fraternity, SEKAN Area Scouting Council and institutional representative of Altamont Lions Club for the Boy Scouts.
He was active in senior citizens programs and served in Silver Haired Legislature. He was a bailiff of 11th Judicial District Court in Labette County.
Survivors include a nephew, Richard L. Sides of Bolivar, Mo., and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Arthur A. Sides.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at United Methodist Church of Altamont with the Rev. Tom Reazin officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons. Friends may call until 8 p.m. today at Bath Funeral Home in Altamont.
Memorials to United Methodist Church in Altamont may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, Box 325, Altamont, 67330.
Patricia B. Simons
Patricia Belle Simons, 47, Erie, died at 9:42 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, 2003, at Labette County Medical Center in Parsons.
She was born Nov. 2, 1955, in Fort Scott to Bill E. and Patricia A. (Miller) Simons. She was a lifelong resident of Southeast Kansas and graduated from Girard High School.
For years, she was a certified nurse's aid and worked at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul until recently. She enjoyed taking care of her family and crocheting.
She was married to Paul Sturm Sr. on Jan. 26, 1979, in Girard. They divorced in 1994.
She is survived by four sons, Jack W. Ford Jr., Cornelius E. Sturm, both of Parsons, Paul "Bud" Sturm of Pittsburg and Patrick Joseph Sturm of the home; three grandsons; two brothers, Archie Simons of Girard and Bud Simons of Missouri; a sister, Sue Wells of Webb City, Mo.; and her partner, Ralph Boone.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Billie Ray Simons; and her parents.
A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Farlington Cemetery, Farlington, with the Rev. Verl Strong officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Friskel Funeral Home, Frontenac. Friends may call after 4 p.m. Sunday.
Johann 'Kaye' Sinclair
COLUMBUS - Johann "Kaye" Sinclair, 64, of Columbus died Thursday, June 3, 2004, at Poplar Bluff Medical Center, Poplar Bluff, Mo.
She was born Jan 13, 1940, at Chetopa to John and Esther (Davison) Wackerle.
She married Gene Sinclair on June 6, 1986, in Miami, Okla. He survives of the home.
She was a real estate agent and worked for Torchia Real Estate for 15 years.
She was a member of Columbus Country Club, Ladies Golf Association, Beta Sigma Phi sorority, a bridge club, Coterie and was a board member for Elm Acres.
Survivors include a son, Bill Grant Jr. of Tonganoxie; two stepsons, Gary Sinclair of Issaquah, Wash., and David Sinclair of Key Largo, Fla.; one daughter, Cheri Ressor of Maple Hill; one brother, Jerry Wackerle of Las Alamos, N.M.; and one sister, Jayne Wackerle of Silverdale, Wash.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Columbus.
Memorials to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life or Columbus Community Foundation can be left at or mailed to Murdock Funeral Home, 132 E. Pine, Columbus.
