Obituaries from May 2019

John Darwin Hastings, age 89, resident of Nevada, Mo., formerly of Bronaugh, Mo., passed away at his home Tuesday, April 30, 2019. He was born on March 21, 1930, in Lindsay, Calif., the son of John Raymond and Dora Beatrice Fry Hastings. He graduated from Bronaugh high school with the class of 1948. ...

Ralph Edward “Pete” Barr, age 97, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Monday, May 6, 2019, at Medicalodge of Fort Scott. He was born May 23, 1921, in Fort Scott, the son of Ed and Pearl Lowe Barr. Pete worked for the railroad early in his career before entering the service. ...

David Eugene Gonzales, age 63, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Saturday, May 4, 2019, at K.U. Medical Center. He was born Jan. 4, 1956, in Las Cruses, N.M., the son of Mary Bellman. He lived in Fort Scott since 1980. David had a larger than life smile and never met a stranger. His passion was God and family. He enjoyed country cruising and cutting others’ hair, usually for free. David loved life and made those around him feel valuable...

Bruce Edwin Hemphill, age 68, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Saturday, May 4, 2019, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. He was born Oct. 11, 1950, in Lamar, Mo., the son of Emmett David Hemphill and Beulah Marie Slates Hemphill. ...

Maxine Engle, age 89, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Monday, May 6, 2019, at the Medicalodge of Fort Scott. She was born April 8, 1930, in Leon, Kan., the daughter of John David Wagner and Violet Genell Hartman Wagner. Maxine first married Earl Dean Priest. ...

Jack William Hixon, age 93, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg, Kan. He was born on Jan. 31, 1926, in Redfield, Kan., the son of Henry Lee and Clara Bernice Briggs Hixon. He married Edith Judy on Jan. 15, 1949, in Fort Scott. Jack worked for Ray Shepherd Motors for over 40 years. When not working, he enjoyed fishing. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was a member of Grace Baptist Tabernacle...

Donna Ruth Needham’s journey to our Lord ended peacefully on May 7, 2019, in Fort Scott, Kan. Her journey began June 21, 1931, in Wichita, Kan. Donna was a graduate of Wichita North High School. She earned her B.S. in education at Pittsburg State University. ...

Mia Jo Gipson, 51, of Uniontown, Kan., passed away late Tuesday evening, May 7, 2019. Arrangements will be announced by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

William “Rodney” Graham, 62, Fort Scott, passed away on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at his home, Fort Scott, Kan. Rodney was born May 23, 1956 in Fort Scott to Paul A. Graham, Sr. and Naomi Clounch. He lived in Fort Scott as a young child prior to moving to Iola, Kan., where he attended public schools. ...

Mary Alice Longfellow, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Friday morning, May 10, 2019, at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin, Mo. Graveside services for Mary Longfellow will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 15, at the U.S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott. Complete obituary information will be made available by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main...

Mary Alice Longfellow, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Friday morning, May 10, 2019, at Freeman West Hospital, Joplin, Mo. She was born Nov. 7, 1947, in Topeka, Kan., the daughter of Maurice and Jane Dunlap Tharp. She married Daniel Longfellow on June 18, 1993. ...

Mia Jo Gipson, 51, of Uniontown, Kan., passed away late Tuesday evening, May 7, 2019. She was born July 19, 1967, in Boone County, Mo., the daughter of Howard A. and Shirley A. (Henry) Gipson. Mia is survived by her children, Amanda Sanchez, of Uniontown, Kan.; Shirley Howard, of Overland Park, Kan.; Charlotte Gipson, of Branson, Mo.; Ben Gipson, also of Branson, and Steven Crittenden, of Florida; two brothers, Eric Gipson, and Shane Gipson, Branson, Mo.; three sisters, Carla Green, Colo., Odessa Howard, Branson, Mo., and Debbie Heaton, Mound City, Kan.; and 10 grandchildren.. ...

William "Bill" Fredrick Gilbert Jr., age 78, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at his Pleasanton home. Graveside service will be 2 p.m. Friday, May 17, 2019 at the Pleasanton Cemetery. Contributions are suggested to the William Gilbert Memorial Fund. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com. Arrangements: Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel...

Dr. Robert E. O’Dell, age 63, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Monday, May 13, 2019, at Via Christi Emergency Room, Fort Scott. Private services were held with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Joe “Pete” Erie, age 82, a resident of rural Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Thursday, May 16, 2019, as the result of a fire at his home. He was born May 29, 1936, in Stotesbury, Mo., the son of Henry John “Skeet” Erie and Winifred Marie Sheehy Erie. Pete married Nina Lou Buck on Sept. ...

Kristyn Culp Hicks passed away at her home in Rockford, Ill., on Dec. 30, 2017. She was only 48 years old. She was an Army veteran and served at Fort Carson in Colorado. Kristyn was born on March 9, 1969 in Fort Scott, Kan. She was married to her husband Bruce Hicks in Fort Worth, Texas on July 7, 2012...

Patricia Alaine “Patty” Pool, age 68, a resident of Fort Scott, passed away Tuesday, May 21, 2019, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. She was born March 31, 1951, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Henry Eugene “Gene” Floyd and Maxine Monroe Floyd. ...

Frank William Hereford, 95, passed peacefully at his home on May 17 from natural causes of living life to the fullest. Frank was born in Fort Scott, Kan., Aug. 6, 1923 to his parents, William Lewis (Lou) Hereford and Bessie Hartman Hereford. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, wife of 47 years, Helen Marie Wheat (Gypsy) Hereford, brothers Dale Lewis Hereford (June), Keith Darrell Hereford and sister Helen Young (Clarence)...

Bobby J. Wurtz, was born Feb. 1, 1936, and passed away in Tampa, Fla., on May 14, 2019 with his loving wife of 63 years, Coleta Wurtz, by his side. He attended Pleasanton High School and graduated in the Class of 1955. He was preceded in death by his son Roger Wurtz and by Mr. and Mrs. Ben Wurtz...

Joyce Hearn, age 76, of Vassar, Kan., formerly of Linn County, Kan., passed away on Friday, May 24, 2019 at Stormont Vail in Topeka, Kan. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, May 30, 2019 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. ...

Robert D. Bledsoe, age 76, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Monday, May 27, 2019, at Girard Medical Center, Girard, Kan. There was cremation. A Celebration of Life Visitation will be held from 1:30 until 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com...

Kathleen Ruth “Kathy” Ginter, age 73, a resident of rural Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Monday, May 27, 2019, at the Medicalodge in Fort Scott. She was born on Aug. 9, 1945, at Washington, D.C., the daughter of Robert Joseph Hannan and Ruth Evaline Morin Hannan. ...

Maxine Y. Johnson, age 77, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Friday, May 31, 2019 at The Residencies of Pleasanton. Funeral service will be 5:30 p.m. June 4, 2019 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. ...