Obituaries from October 2024

We bid farewell to our husband and father, Gerald Eugene Allen, who left this world on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, at the age of 82 years. He was a man of immense humor and wisdom, living his life to the fullest. His passion for his family, volunteer work with the Boy Scouts, his vintage Ford truck, cowboy poetry, and his unwavering spirit will be forever remembered. ...

Harry Eugene Smith, born on Jan. 9, 1956, in Fort Scott, Kan., passed away on Sept. 27, 2024, at 4:20 a.m. He was a dedicated family man and a distinguished law enforcement officer whose career spanned several decades, marked by his commitment to service and community engagement...

David Parker, age 62, Mound City, Kan., passed away Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mound City, Kan. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com...

Billy J. Graham, age 92, a lifelong resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, at the Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan. He was born Nov. 8, 1931, in Fort Scott, the son of Louis Graham and Helen Briggs Graham. Billy graduated from the Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1950. ...

Gerald L. “Jerry” Mildfelt, age 92, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at his home. He was born Dec. 13, 1931, in Perry, Okla., the son of Joe Mildfelt and Catherine Endres Mildfelt. Jerry faithfully served his country with the United States Army from 1952-54. ...

Gary Keith Wise, age 87, resident of Nevada, Mo., died Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, at the Nevada Regional Medical Center, Nevada, Mo. He was born Sept. 7, 1937, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Alvin Elmer Wise and Audrey C. O’Dell Wise. Gary graduated from FSHS. ...

Jaqueline Delores Gunsaullus, age 87, a resident of Chanute, Kan., passed away Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. There was cremation. Private burial will take place later in Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kan. Donations, gifts and memorials are suggested to the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility in Iola, Kan., 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...

Janice Jackson, age 71, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. Private burial will take place at the Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Scott. Arrangements were under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS...

John Dale Wort, age 82, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed peacefully on Aug. 19, 2024. Graveside services for John will be held Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, at 11 a.m. John will be receiving military honors and burial at the Fort Scott National Cemetery. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com...

Allison Marie “Lissa” Gorman, 71, resident of Fort Scott, passed away early Tuesday morning, Oct. 8, 2024. Arrangements will be announced by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Allison Marie “Lissa” Gorman, 71, resident of Fort Scott, passed away early Tuesday morning, Oct. 8, 2024. She was born on Aug. 17, 1953, in Topeka, Kan., the daughter of Leroy Pitt and Martha (Wolf) Pitt. She married Kevin Gorman on May 28, 1977, in Topeka, and he survives of the home...

Kenneth Wayne Keeney, age 94, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, at his home at the Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott. He was born Feb. 20, 1930, on the family farm near Pawnee Station, Kan., the son of Perry L. Keeney and Hazel Picht Keeney. ...

Wade Ralph Purcell, 84, passed away peacefully on Oct. 4, 2024, surrounded by family, after a recent diagnosis of lung cancer and bout of pneumonia. Born Jan. 6, 1940, preceded in death by his parents; Ralph and Arleen Purcell and his identical twin, Howard. Survived by loving wife, Rondi (nee Roberts) and their daughters, Rachel (Michael) and Jamie (David), grandchildren; Kyle (Natalie), Cooper (Carley), Nathan and Blake, as well as, great granddaughters; Abby and Reese...

Donna M. Slacum, 58, of Fort Scott, died Monday, Oct. 7, 2024 at her home. Slacum was born Feb. 7, 1966 in Detroit, Mich., to John Hayes and Sherry Homminga. Slacum was preceded in death by a sister, Samantha Homminga. Slacum is survived by her father, John Hayes; mother, Sherry Homminga; sister, Laura; and her children, Justin, Corey and Alicia, plus numerous nieces and nephews and several grandchildren...

Allen Schellack, age 69, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at the University of Kansas Medical Center. A celebration of Allen’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene. ...

Tate Anthony West, age 55, La Cygne, Kan., passed away Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. He was born on Nov. 21, 1968 in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Carl and Maurita Russell West. Tate graduated from Fort Scott High School and joined the United States Army Reserves and after five years, he became active duty, making a career in the military with 26 years of total service, also 18 years law enforcement service. ...

Darlene Agnes Chermok, age 85, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, at the Arma Health and Rehab, in Arma, Kan. Father Yancey Burgess will conduct Mass of Christian Burial, 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 18 at the John F. Kennedy Gymnasium. ...

Betty June Millard, age 90, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Liberty, Mo.  A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the Celebration. Betty will be laid to rest in the Pleasanton Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to Samuel's House. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com. ...

Darlene Agnes Chermok, age 85, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, at the Arma Health and Rehab, in Arma, Kan. She was born on a farm near Prague, Neb. on June 20, 1939, the daughter of Adolph Vachal and Tillie Fencl Vachal. ...

Laura Lea Wratchford-Weikel, born on Feb. 9, 1973, in Fort Scott, Kan., passed away on Oct. 15, 2024, at St Luke's Hospice House, in Kansas City, Mo. She is survived by her husband, John Weikel, married on July 28, 2001, and her cherished children, Krislyn Hunter, Garrett Ellis, and Jenna Weikel, along with her granddaughter Kam...

Alberta Grace Weddle, 90, formerly of Fort Scott, passed away Thursday morning, Oct. 17, 2024, at Ascension St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa, Okla. Arrangements will be announced by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Alma Jean Wright, age 79, a resident of Gardner, Kan., passed away Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, as the result of an automobile accident west of Clay Center, Kan. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25 at the Overland Park Church of God (Holiness), 6801 W. ...

Rob McCollum, age 72, a resident of Gardner, Kan., passed away Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, as the result of an automobile accident west of Clay Center, Kan. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m.. Saturday, Oct. 26 at the New Life Community Church, 29200 W. ...

Jacquin “Jacki” Lorraine Provence went home to meet our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Tuesday Oct. 15th, 2024, at KU Medical Center. A celebration of life will be held in her honor at a later date and time to be announced. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com...

Kathryn “Irene” Holsman, age 95 of Pleasanton, Kan., went to be with her Lord and Savior on Oct. 18, 2024 with her family by her side at her Anew Healthcare Home.   Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. ...

Sheryl Irene Harper (Garten) 85, formerly of Peculiar, Mo. passed away Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024 at her home in Fort Scott, Kan. A memorial service will be held on Monday, Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Freeman, 303 N. Washington St., Freeman, MO 64746. ...

Larry E. “Chopper” Gatewood, 73, lifelong Parsons resident, died at 3:50 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18, 2024 at his home. He was born Dec. 18, 1950, in Parsons, to Henry A. and Maxine (Darkis) Gatewood. He attended Parsons schools and graduated from Labette Community College. From 1968 to 1972 he served with the United States Army, doing basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood and serving overseas in Korea and Japan...

JoAnn Copelin, age 89, of Mansfield, Texas, passed away peacefully, Saturday, October 12, 2024 at her home in the Isle at Watercrest Mansfield. She was born June 23, 1935 in Enid, Okla. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at the U.S. ...

William “Will/Bill” James Sampson, Jr., age 45, native of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Cremation will follow. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. ...

Alberta Grace Weddle, 90, formerly of Fort Scott, passed away Thursday morning, Oct. 17, 2024, at Ascension St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa, Okla. She was born on April 2, 1934, in Kansas City, Mo., the daughter of Lars Huggins and Hazel Leona (Hawks) Huggins. She married Russell Marvin Weddle on July 21, 1949, in Kansas City, Mo., and he preceded her in death May 26, 1994...

Rachel Elinor Greenfield, 97, formerly of Fort Scott, passed away early Tuesday morning, Oct. 22, 2024, at Medicalodge of Fort Scott. Arrangements will be announced by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Kathryn "Irene" Holsman, age 95 of Pleasanton, Kan., went to be with her Lord and Savior on Oct. 18, 2024 with her family by her side at her Anew Healthcare Home. Irene was the oldest child of William Louie Holsman and Ella Ada (Umphenour) Holsman, born Dec. ...

Phyllis Jean Plaster, age 82, resident of Hiattville, Kan., passed away Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, at her home. Rev. Joel Crippen will conduct funeral services at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, at the Hiattville United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Hiattville Cemetery. ...

Jo Herrmann, age 72, a resident of Girard, Kan., passed away unexpectedly Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, at the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Countryside Christian Church, 1901 E. Fourth St., Pittsburg, Kan. ...

Jo Carol Herrmann was born March 18, 1952, in Pittsburg, Kan., and died Oct. 28, 2024, in Wichita, Kan. She married Gary Herrmann in Arma, Kan., on Aug. 31, 1974. Jo received her sonographer certificate and began working at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott in 1975 and continued there until 2001. ...

Ruth I. Jackson, 93, of Fort Scott, passed away Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 30, 2024, at St. Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit, Mo. Arrangements will be announced by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.