Obituaries from November 2025

Terry Koester, age 73, passed away at his home in Fort Scott on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. He was born on Oct. 24,1952 in Iola, Kan., to Archie and Arlene Koester. Terry graduated from Fort Scott High School with the Class of 1971 and received his Masters of Microbiology from Pittsburg State University. He married Marla Stanbrough on May 24,1975 and they recently celebrated their 50th Anniversary. He was a member of Rinehart Christian Church...

Constantina Vasilasi, age 85, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Freeman Hospital, Fort Scott. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Constantina Vasilasi Memorial Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. .Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com...

Leo Patrick Reagan, fondly known as Pat, passed away on Nov. 2, 2025, at the age of 96 in Kansas City, Mo. Born on Sept. 5, 1929, in Mantey, Kan., Pat graced this world with his infectious presence for 96 remarkable years. Pat had a long-lasting career at Armco Steel, where he dedicated himself with professionalism and pride. ...

Anthony “Tony” Wayne Ogle, a cherished soul known for his kind heart and unwavering spirit, passed away in his hometown of Fort Scott, Kan., on Nov. 4, 2025, at the age of 56. Born on Feb. 28, 1969, to the late Burton Wayne Ogle and Daisy Ruth Duerson Ogle, Tony’s life was a testament to the values of love, dedication, and joy that he inherited from his beloved parents...

Jane Ray Clements, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on Nov. 6, 2025, at the age of 78 in Joplin, Mo., due to complications from dementia. There will be a memorial visitation from 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the S.E.K. Humane Society and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted online at cheneywitt.com...

Glenn Thomas Darlington, 97, passed away on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at Silver Creek Senior Living in Joplin, Mo. Glenn was born on Dec. 18, 1927, to Thomas Eugene (Gene) Darlington and Pearl Rose Harrison Darlington in Rural Barton County Mo., near Oskaloosa. ...

Jason Perryman, age 58, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025, at his home. Arraignments are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main St.

Billy Joe Cowan, 95 formerly of the Fort Scott, Kan., and Nevada, Mo., areas, passed away on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, at the Crystal Coast Hospice House in Newport, N.C. Funeral arrangements for Bill Cowan are incomplete and will be announced later by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home...

Janet Irby Braun, 84 of Fort Scott, passed away Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at the Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. Funeral services are set for Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. The full obituary will be available later.

Janet Irby Braun, 84, of Fort Scott, Kan., passed into eternal life at the University of Kansas Medical Center on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. She was born in Oklahoma City, Okla., on March 28, 1941 to Dr. Pratt and Pauline Robinson Irby. She grew up in Fort Scott as the proud big sister of Robert and Mary. ...

Marilyn K. Edgar, 82, a longtime resident of Springboro, Ohio, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025, at Ohio's Hospice of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. She was the daughter of Marion and Ruth Quick of Redfield, Kan., and she graduated from Fort Scott (Kansas) High School class of 1961. Marilyn married Roy L. Edgar of Fort Scott on Jan. 24, 1964, in Redfield and they lived in Parsons, Kan., until moving to Springboro in 1982...

Donald E. Johnson, 85, passed at home after a battle with pancreatic cancer on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. Don was the youngest of five born in Blue Mound, Kan., to William McKinley and Alma Ida Tinsley Johnson. He attended Blue Mound schools, and graduated from Blue Mound High School in 1958. ...

Leland Ray Underwood, age 79, Fulton, Kan., passed away Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. He was born on July 16, 1946 at Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Clifford and Wilma Clayton Underwood. He served time in the United States Navy. He then became an equipment operator in the Army National Guard where he retired from. ...

Billy Joe Cowan, 95, originally of Devon, Kan., and later of Nevada, Mo., passed away Nov. 10, 2025, at the Crystal Coast Hospice House in Newport, N.C. He was born in Walnut, Kan., April 11, 1930, the son of Charles Oscar and Grace Olive Boileau Cowan. He married Norma Jean Riggs on Aug. 12, 1951. She preceded him in death on Sept. 21, 2021. His son, Phillip Cowan, also preceded him in death Aug. 8, 2022...

Lavon K. Middleton (Richard), 84, of Uniontown, Kan., passed away Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, at Moran Manor in Moran, Kan., surrounded by her loved ones.  She was born on Nov. 30, 1940, in Redfield, Kan., to Vern Richard and Mary Richard (Reinecke). Lavon graduated from high school in Uniontown, Kan., in 1958. She was Uniontown’s first ever homecoming queen. She went on to marry Kenneth Middleton, her high school sweetheart, on July 22, 1961, at Paint Creek Church in Redfield, Kan...

Tabitha Ann Nuzum, age 51, passed away at Mercy in Springfield on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. She was born Jan. 10, 1974, to Cleon James and Kathy Rossmen in Parsons, Kan. Tabby married the love of her life, Billy Nuzum, on Feb. 24, 2017 and they attended the Flag Church in Fort Scott...

Sharon K. “Sherry” Willard, 73, of Willard, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. She was born April 1, 1952, in Fort Scott, Kan., to William Richard and Leta Faye (Hudson) Hite. On August 7, 1970, Sherry and Jack “Greg” Willard were united in marriage and shared over 55 years together...

Sharon Kay Smith, age 80, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away early Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, at the Medicalodge in Fort Scott. She was born Dec. 7, 1944, in Wichita, Kan., the daughter of Rex Hurst and Dolores Swartzetrub Hurst. The family left Wichita when Sharon was young and relocated to Mountain Grove, Mo. ...

Ronald Charles Palmer, age 82, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, at his home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, at the First Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Clarksburg Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. ...

Ronald Charles Palmer, age 82, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, at his home. He was born Nov. 23, 1942, in Fort Scott, Kan., at Burke Street Mercy Hospital. He was the son of Dorothy (Elbrader) Palmer and Charles Palmer. He attended Fort Scott public schools and graduated from Fort Scott High School in 1960. He graduated from Fort Scott Junior College in 1962...

Marlean J. Roberts, age 66, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Oct. 12, 2025. Her husband, Weldon B. Roberts preceded her in death on May 9, 2020. A memorial service for both Marlean and Weldon Roberts will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 28, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the U.S. National Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kan...

Garin Richard Williams, 50, died on Nov. 19, 2025. He was born on Jan. 4, 1975, in Fort Scott, the oldest child and only son of Steve and Marci Williams – parents whose steady love shaped him, grounded him, and was returned to them a thousandfold. From an early age, they nurtured in him a deep devotion to family, a lifelong passion for sports, and a profound love for his heritage. ...

James Lee “Jim” Scott, age 79, formerly of Fort Scott, Kan., and more recently of Excelsior, Minn., passed away Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, at the Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia, Minn. Services for Jim Scott will be announced by the Cheney Witt Chapel...