Stories from Friday, June 25, 2021

Thelma Opal Thomas, 83, of Fort Scott, passed away Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at her home. She was born Oct. 10, 1937, in Boicourt, Kan., the daughter of Benjamin and Viola (Brant) Wurtz and was the next to the youngest of 25 children. She married Marion Elmer Phillips on September 24, 1958, and he preceded her in death on March 25, 1984. Thelma married Otis Thomas on June 20, 2015, and he survives of the home...

Samuel Eugene Judy, 56, of Lebanon, Mo., passed away June 23, 2021 in Springfield, Mo., after a lengthy illness. He was the son of Frederick and Thelma Ridgeway Judy, and was born Dec. 10, 1964, in Fort Scott, Kan. Sam is survived by his loving wife, Misty, of the home; three sons, Brent, Nathan and Tanner Judy, all of Lebanon, Mo.; a granddaughter, Elizabeth Judy, Lebanon, Mo.; his mother, Thelma Ragsdale, Fort Scott, Kan.; his father, Fred Judy, and his wife, Christina, Fort Scott, Kan.; three brothers, David Judy, and his wife, Lucinda, Cherokee, Kan., Tim Judy, Fort Scott, Kan., and Brian Judy, and his wife, Amanda, Carl Junction, Mo.; three sisters, Debra Merritt, and her husband, Wayne, Warsaw, Mo., Carol Judy, Franklin, Kan., and Donna Castellani, and her husband, Robert, Pittsburg, Kan.; a number of nieces and nephews; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Don and Glenda Norris, Lebanon, Mo.; two brothers-in-law, Chris Norris, and Charles Norris, and his wife Natasha, all of Lebanon, Mo.; a sister-in-law, Tammy Ross, and her husband, James, Lebanon, Mo.; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.. ...

Deborah Lynn Silbaugh, 57, of Buffalo, Kan., and formerly of Fort Scott, passed away Monday, June 21, 2021, at Yates Center Health and Rehab. Arrangements will be announced by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Betty Marie Bradbury, 89, of Redfield, Kan., passed away Friday morning, June 25, 2020, at her home. Arrangements will be announced by the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Vana Lynn Rash, age 59, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Thursday, June 24, 2021, at Mercy Hospital, Joplin, Mo. She was born July 20, 1961, in Shreveport, La., the daughter of Ivan and Norma Barber Bare. She married Glenn Rash on June 2, 1989, in Canyon City, Colo. ...

Linda Linnett Boyd Johnson, age 72, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., went peacefully to be with the presence of her Lord Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at her home. She was born April 17, 1949 in Pittsburg, Kan., the daughter of “Tutti” and Billy Lee Boyd. She married the love of her life Robert Johnson on Nov. 20, 1976 in Fort Scott. They had two children Derrick Wayne and Michael Randell. Linda loved their many trips to Branson, shopping until she dropped, and just spending time with family...

A project to highlight one of Fort Scott native Gordon Parks’ most notable films is moving forward after an important step took place Wednesday at the Gordon Parks Museum on the campus of Fort Scott Community College. The museum received a delivery of signs that will be used for the “Learning Tree Film Scene Location Trail” project. In the project, a series of signs will be placed at various locations where Parks’ 1969 film, “The Learning Tree” was filmed...

Bourbon County Commissioners have engaged in a cooperative agreement with a Kansas City, Mo.-based health care company to look at the feasibility of bringing a hospital back to Fort Scott and Bourbon County. During a special meeting Friday, commissioners discussed the recent donation of the former Mercy Hospital building to the county, as well as contractual services between Mercy Kansas Communities, Inc., and the different providers for that facility, and an agreement between the commission and Noble Health Corporation for a feasibility study.. ...