Obituaries from April 2025

Joseph Francis "Mr. Joe" Cunningham III, age 57, passed away Monday, March 31, 2025.   A gathering to celebrate Joe's life will be held from 2 to 4 pm, Sunday, April 6, 2025 at the Schneider Funeral Home, Mound City Chapel. Contributions can be made to the Joe Cunningham Memorial for use by the family. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com...

Earnest Lee Riley, 79, a resident of Medicalodges, Fort Scott, Kan., died peacefully in his sleep on March 29, 2025. Earnie was born in Nowata, Okla., on July 3,1945 to Earl Riley and Ruby Irene (Harris) Riley. For many decades, Earnie’s care was coordinated through the Kansas Guardianship Program while he resided and worked in facilities operated by Tri-Valley Developmental Services. Declining health occasioned his move to Medicalodges. There are no known survivors...

Phyllis Sybil Colbert, age 89, formerly of Linn Valley, Kan., passed away Friday, March 28, 2025. A Gathering to Celebrate Sybil's Life will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at Fellowship Olathe. Visitation will follow until 8 p.m. Graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. ...

Sherry Lyn Daniels, a cherished sister, mother and grandmother, passed away in the gentleness of twilight on March 30, 2025, at the age of 76, in Topeka, Kan., after her battle with cancer.  Born on Feb. 4, 1949, in Fort Scott, Kan., she embarked upon life's journey...

Amanda Kay Thurston, age 41, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Monday, March 31, 2025 at her home. She was born March 24, 1984 in Fort Scott to Billy and Pam Cowan. She graduated from Fort Scott High School in 2002, went on to Fort Scott Community College to play volleyball, and later graduated from Missouri Southern University with a bachelors in human resources and business...

Marilyn Arleta (Haarberg) Baldonado was born on Jan. 23, 1943 to William H. "Bill" Haarberg and Agnes G. "Peggy" (Walling) Haarberg in Chase County, Neb. She died on March 25, 2025, in Crystal City, Mo., at Crystal Oaks Long Term Care after a long battle with Parkinson’s...

Betty Lou Wade, 78, Topeka, passed away Tuesday, April 1, 2025, after a long illness. Born Betty Lou Lyons, she was a native of Fort Scott, Kan. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Paul Wade; a sister, Brenda and her husband, Marvin Ketner, Castle Rock, Colo.; a son, Stephen Wade, Topeka; and two daughters, Heather and her husband, Ahmet Kildis, Tarpon Springs, Fla., and Tiffany Wade, Topeka. She has three grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and six nieces and nephews...

Conrad “Conard” Calvin Wright, age 82, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at Medicalodge of Fort Scott. He was born April 8, 1942, in Dade County, Mo., the son of John “Sam” and Perna Jones Wright. Conrad graduated from FSHS with the class of 1960 and then FSCC in 1963. ...

Phyllis Sybil Colbert, age 89, formerly of Linn Valley, Kan., passed away Friday, March 28, 2025. A Gathering to Celebrate Sybil’s Life will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at Fellowship Olathe. Visitation will follow until 8 p.m. Graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. ...

Linda Ann Pruitt, age 71, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Monday, April 7, 2025, at Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, Mo. She was born May 8, 1953, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Walton “Walt” and Evelyn Vest Ham. She attended Prescott, Kan., grade school, Pleasanton, Kan., high school, and Fort Scott Community College. ...

Judith Ann (Franklin) Beasley was born in Chanute, Kan., on June 3, 1951, to Robert Lee Franklin and Frances Ilene (Tripp) Franklin. As the oldest of four children and as her mother battled sickness, she learned early on to take care of those around her. ...

Fred Campbell, 94, of Fort Scott passed away Friday evening April 11, 2025. Arrangements will be announced by the KonantzCheney Funeral Home.

Palma J. Lyons, age 86, of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away at her home on April 12, 2025 with her family at her side. She was born on Dec. 7, 1938, in Throckmorton, Texas. In August of 2005, she married the love of her life Tom Lyons, who preceded her in death on Aug. ...

Donald Gene Cooper, 76, of Richards, Mo., passed away early Thursday morning, April 17, 2025. Arrangements will be announced by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Matthew Joe Wiebelhaus, age 48, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at his home in Fort Scott. There was cremation. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the St. ...

Donald Eugene Gilleland, age 87, Joplin, Mo., went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. Don was born Feb. 20, 1937 in Turley, Okla., son of the late Lester Elsworth Gilleland and Alice Rebecca (Luton) Gilleland. He grew up in Owasso, Okla., where he attended school before enlisting in the United States Navy; where he honorably served two tours in Vietnam and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with V device (for Valor) and a Combat Action Ribbon before retiring in 1974 after 20 years of service.. ...

Otis B. “Otie” Thomas, age 91, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott. Services for Otie Thomas will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St.

Raymond L. Robinson, age 44, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Saturday, April 19, 2025. Rev. Marty Dewitt will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 25 at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Private burial will take place in the Robinson Family Cemetery near Redfield, Kan. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kan. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com...

Harriet Anne Pavidis, age 83, of Fountain Valley, Calif., passed away peacefully with her family gathered around on Monday, March 10, in Newport Beach, Calif. Harriet was born on Jan. 10, 1942, in Kansas City, Kan., and was the beloved daughter of Martha and Robert Bruce...

Rebecca Sue Landers, 60, wife of Troy Landers, passed away Friday, April 18, 2025, at the Horton House in Fort Scott, Kan. Following cremation, the family will have a celebration of life at a later date. Services are under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS, 66701. Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com...

Frederick F. “Fred” Campbell, Jr., 94, of Fort Scott, passed away Friday evening April 11, 2025, at Guest Home Estates. He was born Dec. 6, 1930, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Frederick F. Campbell, Sr., and Ola Mae (Morris) Campbell. He married Viola M. “Vi” Johnson Sept. 2, 1951, and she preceded him in death on March 14, 2025...

Bonnie Faye Bishop, age 76, Olathe, Kan. passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2025.   A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 25, 2025 at First Baptist Church of Parker. Burial will be in the Sunny Slope Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the Schneider Funeral Home, Mound City Chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com. ...

Otis B. “Otie” Thomas passed away Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Presbyterian Village in Fort Scott, Kan. He was born in Rhinelander, Wisc., in 1933, the son of Francis C.O. Thomas and Gjerdis J. Thomas. Growing up together with older sisters Marie and Carolyn, he graduated in 1951 from the Griffith Institute in Springville, N.Y. ...

Billie J. Budd Sr., 86, of Arcadia, Kan., died at 7:15 a.m. Friday, April 18, 2025 at Mercy Hospital at Pittsburg, Kan. Mr. Budd was born Feb. 17, 1939 at El Dorado Springs, Mo., the son of Wanda Floyd and Naomi Nelle Ewing Budd. Billie was a retired journeyman for Mid-Continental Restorations. ...

Charles "Charley" E. Wratchford of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at his home. Charley passed away after a brief battle with cancer. He fought hard and faced each day with courage. He was born Dec. 20, 1937, at home in Hammond, Kan., to the late Everett and Mabel Wratchford with his twin brother Gerald. He married Mary E. Carson on June 6, 1959, in Miami, Oklahoma...

Betty M. Russell, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, 92, of Gautier, Miss., passed peacefully April 24, 2025, at Lighthouse Memory Care of Ocean Springs, Miss. She was born Aug. 10, 1932, the daughter of John R. Henning and Ruby L. Henning...

Larry Joe Richmond, 76, passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, at the Stormont-Vail Hospital in Topeka, Kan. He was born on Nov. 26, 1948, to Joseph William and Vena Bonita (Clary) Richmond. He was born at his grandmother’s house in Vernon County, Mo., and joined two older sisters, Shirley Elizabeth and Bonnie Mae...

Betty Bernice Wiggans, age 95, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Monday, April 28, 2025, at the Via Christi Village in Pittsburg, Kan. She was born Jan. 8, 1930, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Reece William Powell and Mae Elizabeth Holt Powell. ...

Ira Johnathan "Sonny" Robinson, age 81, Mapleton, Kan., passed away Saturday, April 26, 2025. No formal services are planned. Memorial contributions can be made to St Jude Children's Hospital. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com...

Donald Gene Cooper, 76, of Richards, Mo., passed away early Thursday morning, April 17, 2025. He was born July 1, 1948, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of William Jay Cooper and Lois (Houston) Cooper. He married Linda Lewis May 23, 2003, and she survives of the home...