Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Forrest M. Sooby
El Dorado, Kan. - Forrest M. Sooby, 74, of El Dorado, died Saturday, April 5, 2008 at his home. Services will be at 10 a.m., Friday at First Baptist Church. Visitation with the family will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Carlson Funeral Home.
He was born July 30, 1933 in Midian, the son of Harvey and Wilma (Barnett) Sooby. Forrest graduated from Towanda High School with the class of 1950 and worked as a mechanic and crane operator for Local #101. On Nov. 1, 1952, he and Virgilene Hull were united in marriage in Bentonville, Ark.
Forrest was a member of First Baptist Church; Local #101; loved camping, fishing, hunting, working on engines; and especially loved animals.
Those he leaves including his wife, Virgilene of the home are: four children, Rick Sooby of Towanda, Debra Kimble and husband Ted of Andover, Roger Sooby of Dallas and Diane Leiker and husband Ron of Branson; six grandchildren, Joshua Sooby, Terra Marten, Heather Valerio, William Kimble, Jake Leiker and Andrea Leiker; and two great-grandchildren, Marcos Valerio, and Vanessa Valerio.
Memorials in his memory for American Cancer Society and the First Baptist Church may be left at Carlson Funeral Home where friends may call.
Logan Tessler
El Dorado, Kan. - Logan Tessler, 19, of rural El Dorado, died Thursday, April 3, 2008 at the Kansas Heart Hospital. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Carlson Funeral Home. Cremation preceded the services.
He was born Oct. 30, 1988 in Wichita, the son of Mark and Juli (Willard) Ashenfelter. Logan graduated from Circle High School in 2007. He spent all his life in this area. Logan loved music, video games and hanging out with his friends.
Those he leaves are his parents Mark and Juli Ashenfelter of the home; sisters, Brittany and Katie Ashenfelter of the home; maternal grandparents, George and Roberta Willard or McPherson; paternal grandparents, Gary and Susan Tessler of Denver and Patrick Drew of Augusta; great-uncle, Charles Stowers of El Dorado; great-great-aunt and uncle, Ilah and Bill Bangle of Park City; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Memorials in his memory for the Band Scholarship with Circle District Educational Foundation may be left with Carlson Funeral Home, who are in charge of the arrangements.
Euwal U. ‘Shorty’ Barton
El Dorado, Kan. - Euwal U. “Shorty” Barton, 82, of El Dorado, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009 at his home.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Walnut Valley Memorial Park. Cremation will precede the services.
He was born May 18, 1926 at Ironton, Mo., the son of Enoch and Donna (Harper) Barton. After graduating from high school, he attended two years of college. He had served in the US Navy.
“Shorty” worked as an electrician for both Phillips and Fina Refinerys. He spent all his life in this area and was a member of the First Christian Church; the American Legion; and enjoyed doing woodworking, fishing and hunting.
On Feb. 2, 1986 he was married to Maxine Lahman in Mexico.
Those he leaves including his wife of the home are: daughters, Jane Cayood of Chesapeake, Va., and Eulana Davied of Towanda; step-children, Moonen Booth of Rockaway, Mo., and Max Honeyman of El Dorado; a sister, Bonnie Stanley of Edmond, Okla.; eight grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Marlee Brown.
Memorials in his memory for Hospice Care of Kansas may be left with Carlson Funeral Home which is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Laura Ann (Mobley) Needham
El Dorado, Kan. - Laura Ann (Mobley) Needham, 102, of El Dorado died Thursday morning July 17, 2008, at a local nursing home. Grave side services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Walnut Valley Memorial Park Cemetery, officiating will be Pastor Stan Seymour.
Laura was born Jan. 26, 1906, in Gore, Okla., daughter of William H. and Axie (Chase) Mobley. At the lose of her mother at a young age, Laura was raised by her step-mother Dora and father William. Laura and husband Everett O. Needham married April 6, 1928 in Ft. Smith, Ark. They moved from Heavner, Okla., to El Dorado in 1937 and it has been their home since. Everett preceded her in death on Dec. 5, 1981.
Laura attended grade school up to the point of having to quit in order to work the fields on the farm. She also worked as a cook at the El Dorado Elks lodge # 1407 for many years and for a few years in 1973-1974 at local Dairy Queen before retiring. Laura was a member of the First Christian Church in El Dorado.
She is survived by one daughter, Betty (Needham) Hummel and husband Roy of Fall River; seven grandchildren, Sharon, Billy, Tim, Karen, Carrol, Lori and Yvonne; 21 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband; one son, Billy Sr.; two daughters, Wilma Blake and Martha Dale both of El Dorado; two grandsons, Tom Hummel and Chuck Dale; and granddaughter Kathy Peal.
A memorial has been established with the El Dorado Historical Museum.
Lola Heathman
El Dorado, Kan. - Lola Heathman, 93, of Cassoday, died July 16, 2008.
Services will be held at Cater Funeral Home at 10 a.m. July 21 in Moberly, Mo.
Alfred ‘Max’ Graves
El Dorado, Kan. - Alfred “Max” Graves, 83, died Jan. 17, 2009 at Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital. Services will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at the VFW in El Dorado.
He was born Feb. 17, 1925 in Larned, the son of Beulah and Marcus Graves. He was a retired brick mason. He was married to Helen R. Miller, who survives.
Other survivors include: Toni Owen (Gerald), Mike Graves (Coreliss) and Teresa Gomez; a brother, Rex Graves of Wichita; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Harry Hynes Hospice.
Lola R. Knackstedt
El Dorado, Kan. - Lola R. Knackstedt, 88, of Augusta and formerly of El Dorado, died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009 at Lakepoint of Augusta. Celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in El Dorado.
Lola was born Aug.21, 1920 in Ozwakie Township, Kan., the daughter of Guy and Bessie ( Johnson) Brammell. She graduated from High School and attended college at McPherson College for two years. On May 17, 1944 she was united in marriage to Rudolph Kenneth Knackstedt in Lyons. In 1949 they moved to El Dorado. Lola was a teacher in rural areas for two years and a homemaker.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she was involved in the Church Circle. She loved traveling, gardening, quilting and cooking. Most of all she loved being with her family.
Surviving family include: one son, Kenneth and his wife Charlotte Knackstedt of Marquette, Kan.; daughters, Ruth Bell of Aurora, Colo., and Verna and her husband Jim Zang of El Dorado; two brothers, Norman Brammell of Lawrence and Max Brammell of Topeka; sisters, Myna Bouldra of Hays, Madene Schiable of Cheyenne, Wyo., Florene Johnson of Topeka and Angie Curtis of Clay Center; 12 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Rudy and five brothers and sisters.
A memorial has been established with the First United Methodist Church. Contributions may be left with the Kirby-Morris Funeral Home.
Chris Harder
El Dorado, Kan. - Chris Harder, 24, of Whitewater, died Friday, April 4, 2008 in rural Whitewater. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Berean Academy in Elbing, with Pastors Bill Wiebe and Bob Clark officiating. Burial will be at Emmaus Cemetery with Pastor Laverne Busenitz officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present from 5 to 7, at Lamb Funeral Home in Whitewater.
He was born Aug. 15, 1983 in Newton, the son of Richard and Glenda Harder of Whitewater. He was a farmer/stockman. On Oct. 14, 2005, he was married to Jodi L. Wiebe in Whitewater. He was a member of the Emmaus Mennonite Church.
Survivors include: his wife, Jodi Harder of the home; son, Dakota Harder of the home; parents, Richard and Glenda Harder of Whitewater; brothers, David and wife Jill Harder of Battle Creek, Mich., and Dan and wife Susan Harder of Newton; sister, Esther and husband Jason Braithwaite of Cedar Park, Texas; grandparents, Gerhard and Anna Harder of Whitewater and Ruth Hemme of Desota, Mo.; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Memorials may be made to CEF Camp Quaker Haven in care of Lamb Funeral Home, which has the arrangements.
Billile L. Frazier
El Dorado, Kan. - Billie L. Frazier, 83, of El Dorado, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009 at Wheatstate Manor, Whitewater. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Carlson Funeral Home, El Dorado.
Graveside services will be at 2:30 at Neodesha Cemetery, Neodesha. Visitation with the family will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday also at the Funeral Home.
He was born Sept. 8, 1925 at Neodesha, the son of John and Peggy (Mills) Frazier. He graduated from Neodesha High School and served in the U.S. Navy. He made his home in El Dorado for the past 41 years. He worked for Union Tank Car for 32 years as a car repairman. Billie was a member of OCAW; loved to fish and camp and spend time enjoying the out of doors.
He was married to Mary Jo McCarty on May 18, 1946 and she died in October 1994.
Survivors include: a daughter, Sandra Nakaten of El Dorado; a son, Billy Jo; a former son-in-law, Ken Nakaten of El Dorado; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Richard and Robert, and a sister, Maxine.
Memorials in his memory for Good Shepherd Hospice may be left with Carlson Funeral Home, where friends may call.
Duane E. Cool
El Dorado, Kan. - Duane E. Cool, 47, of El Dorado, died Wednesday, April 30, 2008 as the results of a motorcycle accident. Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Church of the Resurrection, 4910 N. Woodlawn, Wichita. Recitation of the Rosary will be 7 p.m. Monday, also at the church. Internment will follow the Mass in Kechi Cemetery.
He was born Sept. 21, 1960 in Wichita, the son of Donald E. and Dolores (Rausch) Cool. Duane graduated from Wichita Heights High School and had lived in El Dorado since 1999 moving from Wichita. He worked at Cessna Aircraft as a mechanist.
Duane was a member of the Church of the Resurrection and loved to ride motorcycles. He loved his children dearly; listen to Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and to party.
Those he leaves are: a son, Thomas Wayne Cool of Topeka; two daughters, Angelica Dawn Cool of Towanda and Rebecka Mamie Cool of Wichita; his parents, Don and Dolores Cool of Park City; his fiancée, Teresa Cabrales of El Dorado; three brothers, Darwin Thompson of Park City, David Cool of Wichita and Daniel Cool of Park City; four sisters, Donna Walling of Potwin, and Jardice Bates, Diana Cool and Delaine Holland, all of Park City; and a grandson, Balor Cool.
Memorials in his memory for the Christian Motorcycle Organization may be left with Carlson Funeral Home, El Dorado who is handling the arrangements.
Johnathan C. Edison
El Dorado, Kan. - Johnathan C. Edison, 38, of El Dorado, died Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at his home. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Carlson Funeral Home, El Dorado. Cremation has preceded the services.
He was born Aug. 4, 1969 to Walter Armstead Watkins and Debra Denise Edison in Parsons. Johnathan grew up in Wichita and graduated from North West High School. He received his bachelor’s degree from Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina and was pursing his master’s degree. He was a College basketball coach and had been active in coaching of all sports and mentoring in the communities where he lived. He moved to El Dorado a year ago. He had lived in Lawrence before moving to El Dorado and had also lived in Salina for a number of years. He loved spending time with children, playing and coaching basketball and enjoyed fishing.
Those he leaves are his children, Barkley and Lexie Edison of Salina and Soledad, Wesley and Christopher Eisley, all of El Dorado; his mother, Debra Denise Edison of Lawrence; a brother, Jamie Edison of Minnesota; two sisters, Ashley of North Carolina and Janae of California; and his extended family sisters Angela Germony and Sonya Reed and brothers Shaun McCarthy, Derik McCarthy and Andre Jackson, all of Wichita.
He was preceded in death by his father Walter Armstead Watkins and his adopted mom Fern L. McCarthy.
Memorials in his memory may be made to Carlson Funeral Home to assist in final expenses.
Margaret ‘Margie’ Love
El Dorado, Kan. - Margaret “Margie” Love, 87, homemaker, died Tuesday, April 15, 2008. Services wil be at 10 a.m. Friday at Greenwich United Methodist Church. Margie was a long-time Greenwich resident. Preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Geneva Murphy; husband, Clifford Love; son, Boyd Love; three brothers; and one sister. Survivors: daughters, Lois and husband, Wayne Heorman of Benton and Darlene Scheffer of Greenwich; sisters-in-law, Jean Murphy of Rose Hill and Virginia Murphy of Conway Springs; 12 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Memorials have been established with Greenwich United Methodist Church, 5500 N. Greenwich Rd., Wichita, KS 67226 and Rebekah Scholarship Fund, c/o JaNell Clark, 8514 Harvest Valley Dr., Viola, KS 67149. Downing & Lahey Mortuary East has the arrangements. Tributes may be sent to the family via www.dlwichita.com.
Mary Louise (Marylou) Wheeler
El Dorado, Kan. - Mary Louise (Marylou) Wheeler, 81, of North Tustin, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2008. MaryLou was born in El Dorado on July 26, 1926, and was married to Ross, her childhood sweetheart, on June 15, 1947. They moved to California in 1950, after living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois and resided in North Tustin for 48 years, raising five children. After attending Butler County Community College, she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology from CSU Fullerton.
MaryLou served as the executive director of The Friendly Center of Orange, taught sociology at the college level and was appointed as commissioner and vice chair for the Orange County Housing Authority. She remained extensively involved in church and volunteer service for many decades. MaryLou was a woman of great strength and character, who took immense pride in her family and loved her friends dearly.
Predeceased by her husband, Ross Waldo Wheeler; son, Brent Thomas Wheeler; parents Jesse and Jessie Keith; brother, Chester Keith; and sisters, Rosalie Coburn, Helen Deutcher and Virginia Hull.
Survived by her sister, Doris June (Sally) Ball; daughter, Brenda (Michael) Angier; three sons, Robert (Kathy), John (Ellen) and Steven (Noelle); nine grandchildren, Sarah, Cailin, Sean, Craig, Serena, Riana, Heather, Patrick and Kathleen; and one great-grandchild, Kaila.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. May 2 at Fairhaven Memorial Park and Mortuary in Santa Ana (1702 Fairhaven Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705).
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. May 3, at the First United Methodist Church of Orange (161 S. Orange Street, Orange, CA 92866). Internment will be at Fairhaven Memorial Park as a private family gathering.
Memorial gifts may be made to: The Friendly Center, PO Box 706, Orange, CA 92856, or to a charity of your choice.
Kathryn B. Kunkle
El Dorado, Kan. - Kathryn B. Kunkle, 103, of El Dorado, died Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at Bishop Spencer Place in Kansas City. Services will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Carlson Funeral Home. Internment will follow in Sunset Lawns Cemetery.
She was born Dec. 2, 1904 in Chelsea, rural Butler County, the daughter of John Wesley and Ella Miller Parsons. Kathryn spent her entire life in Butler County. She attended Emporia State University and taught in rural Country Schools for a number of years. She also was the bookkeeper for Angleton-Kunkle Garage.
On July 28, 1931 she was married to Walter Stanley Kunkle in Belle Plaine. He preceded her in death on July 20, 1965. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Circles of the Church and a long-time hospital volunteer and member of the Hospital Auxiliary.
Those she leaves are: a daughter, Patricia Kunkle of Roland Park; two sister-in-laws, Elizabeth Parsons of Howard and Polly Parsons of Penn Valley, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by three brothers and four sisters.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials for the United Methodist Church Quilters Guild or the Parson-Kunkle Scholarship at Butler Community College. These may be left at Carlson Funeral Home who is in charge of the arrangements.
Eunice O. Bevan
El Dorado, Kan. - Eunice O. Bevan, 97, of Leon, died Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009 at Lakepoint Nursing Center in El Dorado. Services were at 2 p.m. today at Carlson Funeral Home, El Dorado. Visitation with the family was Sunday. Interment followed the funeral services in Leon Cemetery.
She was born May 30, 1911 at Englewood, Okla., the daughter of Brice W. and Charlottie M. (Marcum) Hacker. Eunice lived for many years in Leon and was a homemaker. She was a member of Haverhill Christian Church; loved to bowl, play the piano and play cards and do crossword puzzles.
On Feb. 22, 1930 she and Spencer C. Bevan were married in Abilene. He preceded her in death on May 7, 1985.
Those she leaves are: her children, Norma Benbrook and husband Clifford of McLeansboro, Ill., Edna Cross of Leon, Lee Bevan and wife Virginia of Leon, Gene Bevan and wife Pat of Leon, Judy Allen and husband Robert of McLeansboro, Ill., Lonnie Bevan and wife Karen of Leon, and Lloyd Bevan and wife Connie of rural Augusta; 29 grandchildren; 81 great-grandchildren; and 39 great-great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by four grandchildren; a son-in-law; and nine brothers and sisters.
Memorials in her memory for Haverhill Christian Church or the American Diabetes Association may be left at Carlson Funeral Home which was in charge of the arrangements.
Neal Harsh
El Dorado, Kan. - Neal Harsh, 82, of Cassoday, died on Thursday evening at the Galichia Medical Center in Wichita.
A visitation will be held to celebrate his life at 2 p.m. today at the Cassoday United Methodist church. Please come and share a memory of Neal with his family.
Neal was born May 10, 1926 in Cassoday, the son of Henry Karl and Eunice Whitham Harsh. He lived all his life in Cassoday. He graduated from the Cassoday High School, Butler County College and Kansas State University. He served his country in the U.S. Army and was stationed in the Phillipines during WWII. On Feb. 14, 1951, he was married to Pat Davidson at the Cassoday United Methodist Church. He was a rancher and stockman. For almost 50 years he drove the school bus for the Cassoday Grade School. He loved being around all the children. He also had worked in building the Kansas Turnpike.
Memberships included the Cassoday United Methodist Church, the Lions Club, Butler County Alumni Association and the Butler County and Kansas Livestock Associations. He loved to collect Western Art.
Surviving family include: his wife, Pat; two sons, Kris Harsh of Wichita and Kim R. Harsh of Crescent, Okla.; daughters, Alicia Anderson of Overland Park and Alison Locke of El Dorado; grandchildren, Nick, Natalie, Kelsi, Hunter, Megan, Grayson, Alison, Kristen, Kendall, Kennedy, Levi, Ryan, Chase and Christian; and great-grandchildren, Jack and Lucy.
A memorial has been established with the Cassoday United Methodist Church. Contributions may be left with the Kirby-Morris Funeral Home who is assisting the family with their arrangements.
Wilbert Franklin Young
El Dorado, Kan. - Wilbert Franklin Young, 89, of Emporia and formerly of El Dorado, died Sunday evening at his home in Emporia.
The celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Life Church in Emporia.
A visitation will be held 1 p.m. Thursday also at the church. On Wednesday evening the family will be present from 6 until 7 p.m. at the Kirby-Morris Funeral home in El Dorado. Burial will follow the services in the Cottonwood Cemetery near Emporia.
Frank was born Oct. 3, 1919 in Lebanon, Mo., the son of Hosea Arizona and Clarinda (Long) Young. He came to El Dorado in his early 20s from Missouri. He had worked in the CCC Camps before WWII. During WWII, he served his country in the United States Army. On Jan. 21, 1941 he was united in marriage to Julia Blackburn. She died April 8, 1993. On July 2, 1994 he was married to Ethel Hammett in Emporia. For more than 38 years he worked as a foreman for the Missouri Pacific Railroad.
Mr. Young was a member of the Life Church Assembly of God Church; he loved to garden, play with his model trains and go fishing. Surviving family include: his wife, Ethel of the home; son, Robert Young of Channel View, Texas; daughters, Virginia Parscal, Rosalie Martin and Sharon Arvieux, all of Emporia, and Patricia Wisehart of Kissimmee, Fla.; step children, Joyce Wilson of Emporia, Wayne Hammett of Deptford, N.J., Roger Hammett of Springfield, Mo., and David Hammett of Salina; sisters, Rosalie Berry of Stearns, Ky., Susie Berry of Lebanon, Mo., and Pauline Appleberry of Windyville, Mo.; 22 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial has been established with the Friends of the Zoo of Emporia, Kansas.
Kirby-Morris Funeral is assisting the family with their arrangements.
