Obituaries from December 2023

Cathy Jean Killion, age 73, a resident of Uniontown, Kan., passed away early Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, at the Medicalodge of Fort Scott. She was born March 22, 1950, in Fort Scott, Kan., the daughter of William Wayne Watkins and Edna Mae “Cricket” Kells Watkins. ...

Fort Scott Community College officials are dealing with changes in enrollment figures, including a “slight” decrease in the number of students and credit hours from this time last year, FSCC President Jason Kegler reported to the FSCC Board of Trustees on Nov. 20...

Wilma Kay Graham, age 77, a resident of Redfield, Kan., passed away Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, at her home in Redfield. There was cremation. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Redfield United Methodist Church. Memorials are suggested to the Redfield Ruritan and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com...

Perle David Patrick Jr., age 67, Osawatomie, Kan., passed away Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023.   Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne Chapel. Burial will be in the Parker Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to service time at the La Cygne Chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Heart Association. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com...

Dirk Randel Myers, 66, resident of Pittsburg, Kan., passed away late Sunday evening, Nov. 26, 2023. He was born Nov. 8, 1957, in Lawton, Okla., the son of Richard “Dick” Evan Myers and Virginia Joyce (Yoke) Myers. He grew up in Fort Scott and graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1976. ...

Shirley Mae Andrews Doty, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, passed away Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, in Fort Scott, Kan. She was 84 years old. Shirley grew up in Arma, Kan. She married Orval in August 1960. The fall of 1966, Shirley started college at Fort Scott Community College. ...

Susan E. Willard, 80, resident of Fort Scott, passed away late Thursday evening, Dec. 7, 2023. Arrangements will be announced by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Velma Jean Russell, age 94, resident of Emporia, Kan., formerly of Fort Scott, Kan., died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, in Emporia. Funeral services for Velma Russell will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at the Cheney Witt Chapel with burial following in the U.S. National Cemetery, Fort Scott. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until service time Friday at the funeral home. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com...

Pamela Ann Reavis Peterson, 66, Paola, Kan., passed away Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023 at her home. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 at Bruce Funeral Home, 106 S. Center, Gardner, Kan. 913-856-7111. Memorial contributions may be made to Always & Furever Midwest Animal Sanctuary, Spring Hill, Kan. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com...

Roy Burton Johnson, age 89, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away early Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at his home. He was born Feb. 24, 1934, in Fort Scott, the son of Hugh W. Johnson and Mary Rebecca Neptune Johnson. Roy graduated from the Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1953. ...

Lawrence Eugene Wunderly, age 79, Mound City, Kan., passed away Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. He was born on Oct. 15, 1944 in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Fred and Julia Brennan Wunderly. He graduated from Fort Scott High School. He then attended Pittsburg State University obtaining a Master’s degree in mathematics. ...

Susan E. Willard, 80, resident of Fort Scott, passed away late Thursday evening, Dec. 7, 2023. She was born Feb. 4, 1943, in New Orleans, La., the daughter of Thomas Hotard and Beulah (Vicknair) Hotard. She married Ralph Owen “R.O.” Willard on May 27, 1966, in Metairie, Jefferson Parish, La. He preceded her in death on Aug. 15, 2011...

Gina Lynn Shultz, 54, “finished the race” early Saturday morning Oct. 14, 2023, at K.U. Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., following a kidney injury sustained while beating cancer. She was born Dec. 6, 1968, to Wiley and Barbara (Clark) Ames in Fort Scott, Kan.. ...

Velma Jean Russell, age 94, a former resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed peacefully Dec. 6, 2023, at her daughter’s home in Emporia, Kan. She was born May 17, 1929, in Redfield, Kan., the daughter of Wesley and Marjorie Reasoner. In 1938, the family moved to California, near Stockton. ...

Russell Seth Henenberg was born Oct. 22, 1999, in Bolivar, Mo., to Matt and LeAnn (Wilson) Henenberg. From an early age there was something different about Seth. He feared nothing and he felt no physical pain. He showed an early talent of artistic ability by drawing, painting and carving before he even started school. ...

Kent Davis, 66, of St. Paul, passed peacefully Saturday evening, Dec. 9, 2023 at his home. He was born Aug. 30, 1957 at Kansas City, Mo., a son of Robert Kent, Sr. and Erma Jean “Jeannie” (Hazlewood) Davis. He was raised in the Southeast Kansas area, attending Independence Bible School at Independence. ...

Joaquina Naveira, resident of Farlington, Kan., formerly of Elizabeth, N.J., died Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, in Farlington. Chaplain Adam Parrish will conduct graveside services at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, at the Farlington Cemetery. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com...

Brenda Jo Moser, age 68, Joplin, Mo., passed away on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, at Mercy of Joplin. Brenda was born Sept. 8, 1955, in Fort Scott, Kan., one of eight children born to the late James Perry Roberts and Waneda Alberta (Blake) Roberts. Brenda grew up in Fort Scott and graduated from Fort Scott High School. ...

Agnes Ruth Hill, age 90, formally of Fort Scott, Kan., died Friday, Dec. 15, 2023 at the Homestead Assisted Living in Girard. Services for Agnes Hill will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main.

Agnes Ruth Hill, age 90, a former resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away early Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, at the Homestead assisted living facility in Girard, Kan. She was born Jan. 20, 1933, in San Pedro, Calif., the daughter of Henry Carl Jones and Sophie Evelyn Borders Jones. ...

Mary Jo Van Walleghem passed away peacefully at her home in Stilwell, Kan., on Dec. 5, 2023, aged 82. In 1979, she married Mike Van Walleghem, her loving husband who survives her. Mike and Mary Jo lived in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin before returning to the Kansas City area in retirement...

Joe Stephen Teagarden, age 72, La Cygne, Kan., passed away Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.   A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, at First Lutheran Church in Paola.  Burial will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. ...

Agnes Ruth Hill, age 90, a former resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away early Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, at the Homestead assisted living facility in Girard, Kan. She was born Jan. 20, 1933, in San Pedro, Calif., the daughter of Henry Carl Jones and Sophie Evelyn Borders Jones. ...

Dustin Ray Wiggans, age 46, resident of Knox City, Texas,formerly of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 14, 2023, at his home. Dustin was born Feb. 11, 1977, in Fort Scott to Jimmy and Pam Wiggans. He graduated with the class of 1995 then immediately began eight years of service in the Navy. ...

Barbara Lee Burch Wade, age 95, Overland Park, Kan., formerly of La Cygne, Kan., passed away on Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne Chapel. Visitation will be held from noon to service time. ...

Anita Lavon Lightwine, age 84, resident of Moundville, Mo., died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, in Nevada, Mo. She was born Dec. 4, 1939, in Deerfield, Mo., the daughter of Gaylord Franklin Pettibon and Erma Roberts Pettibon. She lived and raised her family in various locations with her husband Howard’s Naval career. ...

Freddie Ray “Fred” Miller, age 66, Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. He was born in Garnett, Kan., on April 12, 1957 the son of Don Miller and Harrietta Dunlap Miller. He graduated from Jayhawk-Linn High School. Fred was united in marriage to Debra Smith on June 25, 1977. ...

Juanita Smith, beloved wife, mother, and friend passed away on Dec. 25,2023, Juanita was born on Aug. 2, 1926, in Vernon County, Mo., to Wilson and Emma Sheets. Juanita led a life filled with love and warmth. She cherished her family deeply and found joy in their presence. Juanita’s dedication to her loved ones was unwavering, and she leaves behind cherished memories for her family and friends to hold dear...

Doris Lavon Rons, formerly of Lakewood, Colo., passed away Dec. 20, 2023 at the age 90. Mrs. Rons was born Feb. 17, 1933 in Arcadia, Kan., and was a graduate of Arcadia High School. She was married to Leo Rons on Dec. 26, 1960. Mrs. Rons was a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother. ...

Harvey Preston Green Sr., a devoted husband, loving father, and dedicated community member, passed away on Dec. 25, 2023, at his home in Shawnee, Kan. A memorial service to celebrate Harvey’s life will be held at the Cheney Witt Funeral Chapel on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Following the service, a family meal will be served at the Cheney Witt Carriage House at 301 S. Main in Fort Scott, Kan. Words of remembrance may be left online at cheneywitt.com...

Robert Dale (Bob) Eshelbrenner age 91 of Derby, Kan., passed away on Dec. 23, 2023 at the Glen Carr Memory Care Home, Derby, Kan. Bob was born on Jan. 8, 1932 in the Fort Scott Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Carl William and Sophia Mary (Leitz) Eshelbrenner. ...

Russell L. Blubaugh, age 88, a resident of Olathe, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, in Olathe. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2 at the First Christian Church in Garnett, Kan. Burial will follow in the Mont Ida Cemetery. ...