Obituaries from November 2017

Benjamin Harold Kemna, 25, of Shady Shores, died Monday, Oct. 30, 2017 at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Ben was born on July 10, 1992 in Dallas, Texas, to Barry Joseph and Gina Marie (Skotnicki) Kemna. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Denton and president of the Denton Chess Club...

Lorene C. Akers, 93, formerly of Fort Scott and more recently of Lawrence, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Arrangements will be announced by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Jo Ann Ahrens, 88, formerly of Fort Scott, more recently of Augusta, Kan., passed away Saturday evening, Oct. 28, 2017 at the Lakepoint Nursing Center in Augusta, Kan. She was born Feb. 26, 1929, in Joplin, Mo., the daughter of Fred C. and Pearle I. (Bain) Thompson. She married Walter A. Ahrens April 24, 1952, in Fort Scott, Kan., and he preceded her in death Sept. 24, 2003. After the death of her husband, JoAnn moved from Fort Scott to Augusta to be near her daughter...

Anna “Lorene” Akers, age 93, formerly of 618 Meadow Lane, Fort Scott, Kan., and most recently of Pioneer Ridge, Lawrence, Kan., passed away Nov. 1, 2017 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kan. Lorene was born at her family’s home south of Mound City, Kan., on April 14, 1924, the daughter of Clyde and Suzie (Zimmerman) Cox. ...

Nina Lea Hodgson, 101, of Mound City, Kan., died Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Funeral Service will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Mound City Chapel. Visitation will be from noon to service time at the Mound City Chapel. ...

Sue DeMent, 81, of Fort Scott, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus, surrounded by family on Oct. 31, 2017 at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan. Many may remember Sue from her days teaching at Eugene Ware and as the librarian at Winfield Scott in the 1960s. Prior to that she even taught at a one-room schoolhouse in Pawnee! Or they may remember her from the Fort Scott Public Library...

Wanda Lea Kraft of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at her home. Wanda was born to George and Alice Miller on April 23, 1932, in Gridley, Kan. Wanda married Harold Kraft on Nov. 5, 1950, in Wichita, Kan. Wanda and Harold later moved to Fort Scott and made it their home. Wanda loved God and her family and enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Wanda was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church...

Colen James Milburn, age 84, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Friday, Nov. 3, 2017, at his home. He was born March 6, 1933, in Fort Scott, the son of Alfred Milburn and Hazel Taylor Milburn. He married Bonnie Harold on July 22, 1986, at Las Vegas, Nev. ...

Truman Lee “Papo” Coleman, age 71, of Mound City, Kan., passed away on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017 at his home, surrounded by his family. He was born on Nov. 5, 1946 at Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Howard and Lavon Clayton Coleman. He married Judy Burkhead on Aug. 6, 1965. She preceded him in death on Feb. 28, 2014...

Auston Charles Lewis, age 86, of Greenfield, Mo., passed away Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, at Mercy Hospital Springfield, Mo. He was born on Aug. 1, 1931, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Henry and Ethel Atkins Lewis. Auston married Fannie Wood in 1949, they later divorced. He then married Lila Hayes, on June 11, 1955, she preceded him in death on Nov. 23, 2009. He then married Linda Thompson on Jan. 12, 2015. Auston was self-employed doing roofing and carpenter work...

Josephine Brillhart, age 91, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Monday, Nov. 6, 2017, at the Medicalodge of Fort Scott. She was born Nov. 25, 1925, in Humboldt, Kan., the daughter of William Johnson and Lucy Mary McClanahan Johnson. She married Raymond D. ...

Janet Lee Gregory, 85, of Fort Scott, passed away Saturday evening, Nov. 4, 2017 at her home. Funeral arrangements for Janet will be announced later by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home and the full obituary will appear in the weekend edition of the Tribune. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com...

Tina Lee Banwart, age 31, of Fort Scott, Kan., went Home on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, surrounded by family and friends. She lost her battle of cancer to win the victory into eternal life with her Savior Jesus Christ. She was born at home on March 29, 1986, in Gridley, Ill., in the very house where her great grandfather was born in 1906. She married Tyler Banwart on Aug. 8, 2004...

Janet Lee Gregory, 85, of Fort Scott, passed away Saturday evening, Nov. 4, 2017 at her home. She was born Jan. 8, 1932, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Ernest Henry and Florence (Reynolds) Morrison. She married Joe Frank Gregory Oct. 19, 1952, in Fort Scott. He preceded her in death Feb. 13, 2010...

Larry D. Anderson, 77, retired pastor and chaplain of Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), passed away Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, at Riverside Christian Church, 1001 Litchfield N. Wichita...

Larry Wayne Johnston, 72, of rural Liberal, Mo., died at 9:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Mo. Mr. Johnston was born Nov. 24, 1944 in Fort Scott, the son of Wayne Caldwell and Margaret Lucille Wirt Johnston. Larry was a retired truck driver who owned and operated Johnston Brothers Trucking for 30 years. He was raised in Bronaugh, Mo., and graduated from Bronaugh High School in 1962. He married Kathryn A. Bright on May 27, 1967 at the Christian Church in Bronaugh, Mo...

Mary Elizabeth Johnson, age 78, former resident of Fort Scott and more recently of Kansas City, Mo., died, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, at the Highland Rehabilitation and Health Care Center. She was born, Aug. 25, 1939 in Ghent, N.Y., the daughter of Nathaniel Johnson and Marion Gangloff Johnson. ...

Calvin Lewis Pitts, age 90, a resident of Fort Scott, died Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, at the Franklin House. He was born Nov. 15, 1926 in Pawnee, Kan., the son of Harry Pitts and Nola Elizabeth Inman. He married Grace Wiggans, March 7, 1953, they later divorced, he then married, Mary Louise Whitlock, May 28, 1971, she preceded him in death on Nov. ...

Patricia E. Garrison, age 75, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017, at Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott. She was born on Aug. 22, 1942, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Keating Sheehy. She graduated from Hume High School. ...

Wendy Sue Arnold, age 66, of Kansas City passed away Friday, Nov. 10, 2017, at the Medicalodge of Girard. Memorial graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017 at the Evergreen Cemetery, in Fort Scott, Kan., under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel. The family will receive friends from 12 to 2 p.m. after the graveside service at the Carriage House, 101 S Main St, Fort Scott, Kan. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online quest book at cheneywitt.com...

Frederick A. “Fred” Geneva, age 84, a resident of Fort Scott, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, at the Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, Kan. Services for Fred Geneva will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St.

Alberta Fisher, age 76, a resident of Franklin, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg. Funeral services for Alberta Fisher will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St.

William "Bill" Terence Gorman, 62, of Pittsburg, while surrounded by his family, went to be with his Lord at 11:25 p.m., Monday, Nov. 13, 2017 at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan., after a sudden illness. A good and faithful servant, he was born March 2, 1955 in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Bernard and Edith Warzel Gorman. He had been a resident of Pittsburg for two years, moving from Parsons, Kan...

Alberta Marie Fisher, age 76, a resident of Franklin, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2015, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan. She was born March 3, 1941, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of Albert Combs and Ruth Ballinger Combs. Alberta graduated from the Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1959. ...

Frederick A. “Fred” Geneva, age 84, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died unexpectedly Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, at the Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, Kan. He was born April 29, 1933, in Fort Scott, the son of William and Eloise Dever Geneva. He graduated from Fort Scott High School with the class of 1951. ...

Edward Eugene Culver, 87, of Fort Scott, passed away at his home, Wednesday evening, Nov. 15, 2017. He was born April 17, 1930, in Niles, Mich., the son of Henry Sylvester and Maude Marie (Heitz) Culver. He married Alice Brady, and she survives of the home...

Dorothy Brown, 64, entered into eternal rest on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017. Funeral services were held Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017 at New Hope Apostolic Holiness 602 W. 58th St, Savannah, GA. Interment was at St. Paul Cemetery Sylvania, GA. Condolences may be sent through Smalls Funeral Home Inc., 203 Samuel Smalls Sr. Ave., P.O. Box 26, Guyton, GA 31312...

Dorothy L. Davidson, age 98, Blue Mound, Kan., passed Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017 at Sunny Slope Cemetery, Blue Mound, Kan. Visitation will take place from noon to 12:30 p.m. at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory Mound City Chapel. Contributions are suggested to Sunflower Hospice. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com...

Lucy Ann Taylor, age 67, former resident of Fort Scott, died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo. There was cremation. Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct graveside services at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 1, 2017 at the U.S. National Cemetery. ...

Albert William Foster, age 80, resident of Fort Scott, Kansas passed away Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, at the Guest Home Estates, Fort Scott, Kan. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery, under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel. ...

Violet Lavon Hill, 104, of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 at “A Country Place” Care Center on South Horton in Fort Scott. She was born April 9, 1913 in Fort Scott, the daughter of Thomas Ray and Ethel Evelyn (Coberly) Lybarger. She married Lloyd E. Hill on March 3, 1939 in Independence, Mo. He preceded her in death on April 17, 1980...

Nina Lou Erie, age 81, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., went to be with her Lord, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, at Mercy Hospital Fort Scott surrounded by her family. She was born Sept. 7, 1936, in Dadeville, Mo., the daughter of Arthur Buck and Eunice Mote Buck. ...

Debbie Mangold, age 62, of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Nov. 22, 2017. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 at the La Cygne United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Oak Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held 5 to 7 p.m. ...

Randy Roy McCall, 69, of Moran, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017 at his home due to an accident on his farm doing what he loved. He was born Aug. 8, 1948 in Ellsworth, Kan., to Wayne and Thelma (Brady) McCall. His family moved in 1954 to Moran. ...

Wesley Whittier Batcheler, age 88, former resident of Bronaugh, Mo., died Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, at Parkview Heights in Garnett, Kan. He was born on Sept. 13, 1929, in Hartley, Iowa, the son of Nathan and Clara Deering Batcheler. He owned and operated his own farm in Bronaugh for most of his life. ...

Lucy Ann Taylor, age 67, former resident of Fort Scott, died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Mo. She was born Oct. 29, 1950, in Fort Scott, to John Cates and Ruth Harper Garrison. She married Richard Eugene Taylor, Sr., on June 8, 1965 in Nevada, Mo., he preceded her in death on Jan. ...

Charlene Esther Simpson, age 89, a resident of rural Garland, Kan., passed away Monday, Nov. 27, 2017, at the Country Place Assisted Living in Ft. Scott, Kan. She was born Jan. 14, 1928, the second daughter of Charles Mason and Esther Eleanor Cheever Mason. She grew up in the Hammond-West Liberty area and attended school at Union Center, a rural one-room school. She was a graduate of Ft. ...

Esther Beecham, 94, passed away on Nov. 27, 2017. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30, at Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS. Burial will follow at 3 p.m. at the Fairview Cemetery in Fulton, Kan. For full obituary, visit www.johsoncountychapel.com...

William L. “Bill” Henderson, 71, of Clarence, N.Y., died Nov. 27, 2017. He was the beloved husband of Linda S. (Dikeman) Henderson; loving father of Valarie (Robert) Furchi, Jeremy (Tien) Henderson, Joshua (Nelis) Henderson, and Kyle Lynn Henderson; dear grandfather of Alexzandria, Roman, Chase, Caden, and Lillian; cherished brother of Linda Henderson and the late Mary Lou Alabiso; and was the son-in-law of Nell Dikeman of Fort Scott...