Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Earl D. Cartwright
SCAMMON -- Earl D. Cartwright, 76, of Scammon, died at 7:17 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, 1999, at the Beverly Rehabilitation Center following a lengthy illness.
He was born Sept. 9, 1922, at Carona, to John H. and Minnie E. Dockstader Cartwright. He lived in the Scammon area all his life, except for 10 years at Bonner Springs and three years at Lancaster, Calif. He attended Pittsburg State University in the vocational electronics department.
He married Mary Joan Lawrence on July 12, 1952, at Eureka Springs, Ark. She survives of the home.
He was a Staff Sergeant for the U.S. Air Force, serving in both World War II and the Korean War. He was employed as an electronics technician for the Department of Defense for 10 years. He retired in 1970.
He was a member of the RLDS Church of Scammon, where he served as a pastor and priest in 1975 and 1976. He also was a member of the American Legion of Columbus, the Hosey Hill Cemetery Board for 25 years, and the Scammon City Council from 1972 to 1980.
Additional survivors include a daughter, Sandra E. Ross, of Joplin, Mo.; two sisters, Maxine Smittle and Hazel Speer, both of Columbus; and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son and a daughter.
The body has been cremated, according to his wishes. No services are planned at this time. Burial will be in the Hosey Hill Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 104 W. Main, Weir.
Evelyne Dillard
OVERLAND PARK -- Evelyne Dillard, 73, of Overland Park, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999, at her home.
She was born Aug. 9, 1925, at Pittsburg. She was retired from the U.S. Postal Service.
Survivors include four children, Gorton, William, and Steven Marsden, and Joye Marsden-Meleski; and eight grandchildren.
Services will be 4 p.m. Thursday at Charter Funerals/Kansas Chapel of Merriam. Visitation will be from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Chapel. The body will be cremated.
Mary Jane Oxford
LITTLETON, Colo. -- Mary Jane Oxford, 62, of Littleton, Colo., died at 5:48 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999, at Littleton Hospital.
She was born Nov. 28, 1936, at Girard, to Fred W. and Cora F. Garrison Ristau. She married William Oxford. He survives.
Additional survivors include two sons, Roger and Jeff Oxford; two daughters, Cheryll Lee and Janet Roberts; three sisters; a brother; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be noon today at the Columbine Church of Christ of Littleton. Interment will follow in the Fort Logan National Cemetery.
Celestine Whitcomb
Celestine Whitcomb, 77, retired housekeeping supervisor of Hospital District No. 1 of Crawford County, Girard, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 2003.
Survivors include one son, Thurston Smith, of Topeka; two daughters, Carol Kimbrough and Zoe Anna Buckner, both of the home; one brother, Ronald Smith, of Wichita; three sisters, Annie Work and Lavonia Revell, both of Wichita, and Mary Tarver, of Chicago; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway. Arrangements are under the direction of Jackson Mortuary of Wichita.
Edna Louise Cherry Wilson
LEAVENWORTH -- Edna Louise Cherry Wilson, 88, formerly of Pittsburg, died at 3:15 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999, at Cushing Hospital of Leavenworth. She had been in ill health the past two years.
She was born Jan. 1, 1911, at Springdale, Ark., to Arthur Thompson and Loula Mae Gregg Lewis. She attended schools at Springdale and later attended the University of Arkansas, where she studied music. She also attended the Fayetteville Business College. She was a homemaker.
She married Jack Cherry on June 25, 1938. He preceded her in death Nov. 13, 1950. She later married Charles R. Wilson on April 27, 1958. He preceded her in death Sept. 27, 1997.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Chi Omega Sorority, and a former member of the P.E.O. Chapter CP of Pittsburg.
Survivors include four daughters, Priscilla McGoey, of Laguna Niguel, Calif., Carolyn Neely, of Three Bridges, N.J., Betty Dudley, of Lansing, and Wendy Dooly, of Fort Smith, Ark.; a son, John Stewart Wison, of Alexandria, Va.; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by four sisters. According to her wishes, the body has been cremated. A memorial service will be conducted at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. Fourth St.
James Earl Buckner
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- James Earl Buckner, 77, of Springfield, Mo., and formerly of Columbus, was found dead at his home Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000.
He was born Jan. 21, 1922, at Lincolnville, Okla., to Herbert William and Sarah Swayzee Buckner.
He married Zelpha Anderson. She preceded him in death in 1946. He married Daisy Worrell in 1948. They divorced.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving from 1942 to 1945.
He was a Full Gospel minister at Donovan, Mo., and surrounding areas. He also was a volunteer fire fighter at Aurora, Mo., for several years.
Survivors include three sons, James Earl Buckner Jr., of Weir, Loyd Buckner and Billy Buckner, both of Aurora; three daughters, Margie Salkill, of Weir, Roxanne Eutsler, of Marionville, Mo., and Terri Maxwell; a brother, Virgil Buckner, of Marion; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two daughters, two brothers and a sister.
Mr. Buckner's body has been cremated and memorial services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the Murdock Funeral Home, 132 E. Pine, Columbus, with the Rev. Dennis Johnson officiating.
Gladys June Davis
Gladys June Davis, 72, of Pittsburg, died at 7:50 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000, at Mt. Carmel Medical Center. She had been in failing health for several years.
She was born Jan. 28, 1917, in Iowa, to Arthur and Alma Madison Roberts. She lived most of her life in southeast Kansas. She graduated from West Mineral High School.
She married Roy E. Davis on May 25, 1951, at Monmouth. He preceded her in death in May of 1996.
She was a homemaker.
Survivors include a daughter, Linda J. Davis, of Pittsburg; a son, Ray H. Davis, of Pittsburg; three sisters, Mary Jenkins, of Wayland, Mo., Johnna Cunningham, of Bedford, Iowa, and Edith Burkett, of Quincy, Ill.; and a brother, Harlan Roberts, of Kahoka, Mo.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the Monmouth Cemtery, at rural McCune, with the Rev. Delbert Chance officiating. Burial will follow the services. Friends and family are requested to meet at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 104 W. Main St., Weir, by 9 a.m. Saturday to go in procession to the cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 1 to 6 p.m. today. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, Weir.
Dolores J. Lane
WICHITA -- Dolores J. Lane, 71, of Wichita, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000.
She was born Nov. 27, 1928, at Walnut to Ray and Anna Houdashelt Sweet.
She married Merle Edward "Shorty" Lane on Feb. 4, 1946. He survives of the home. The couple moved to Wichita in 1948.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Maize.
Survivors include two sons, Gilbert and Bobby Lane, both of Wichita; a daughter, Joyce Ann Goerzen, of Wichita; and a sister, Juanita McClelland, of Wichita; 11 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Gina Herrmann.
Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at the First Christian Church of Girard. Interment will be in the Girard Cemetery. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through cochranmortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Cochran Mortuary and Crematory, Wichita.
Lyda Bell McCormick
COLUMBUS -- Lyda Bell McCormick, 84, of Columbus, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000, at the Medicalodge Nursing Home, Columbus, where she had been a resident for several years.
She was born May 7, 1915, at Cherokee, to Levi and Ethel Mae Young Getman. She was a lifetime resident of the southeast Kansas area and attended area schools.
She married Walter McCormick. He preceded her in death Nov. 18, 1969.
She worked as a personnel officer at Camp Beale, Calif. She also worked as a security guard at the Parsons Ammunition Plant and the Joplin, Mo., Municipal Airport.
She was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church of Columbus, the Rebekah Lodge, the American Legion Auxiliary, and the VFW Auxiliary.
Survivors include two sisters, Cecile Tylor, of Kaufman, Texas, and Nellie Busick, of Wasco, Ore.; a brother, Charlie Getman, of Topeka; and a nephew, Olen Campbell, of Columbus, who provided for her care.
She also was preceded in death by a brother, Eli Getman; and three sisters, Rosie Shanks, Laura Puckett and Mabel Hamblin.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 104 W. Main St., Weir, with the Rev. Todd MacLean officiating. Burial will follow in the National Cemetery No. 1 at Fort Scott. Friends may call at the funeral home from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home Weir.
Chester W. Willis
FAIRFIELD, Calif. -- Chester W. Willis, 87, of Fairfield, Calif., died Monday, Jan. 3, at California, after an illness.
He was born May 5, 1912, at Olinger, Mo., to Weir and Ethel Zachtry Willis.
He owned and operated the Willis Trucking Firm in California for more than 60 years.
He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, at Fairfield and a past member of the Grass Valley Elks Club, at Fairfield.
Survivors include his wife, Zelma Willis, of the home; a son, Charles Nichols, of Fair Oaks, Calif.; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Monday at the GAR Cemetery at Miami, Okla. Arrangements are under the direction of the Murdock Funeral Home, Columbus.
Ronald W. Hale
JOPLIN, Mo. -- Ronald W. Hale, 44, of rural Columbus, died at 4:47 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at St. John's Regional Medical Center, Joplin, Mo.
He was born Jan. 13, 1956, at Coffeyville, to Wayne and Norma Jean Leuman Hale. He grew up in the Melrose and Columbus areas and graduated from Columbus High School with the class of 1974.
He married Vickie Smith at Chetopa. They divorced.
Mr. Hale was a farmer his entire working life.
Survivors include his father of Columbus; two sons, Joshua Hale and Jordan Hale, both of Columbus; his companion, Suzy Welch; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his mother.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Murdock Funeral Home, Columbus, with the Rev. Dennis Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m Tuesday at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Murdock Funeral Home, Columbus.
Elnora Hawkins Pistotnik
Elnora Hawkins Pistotnik, 80, of Pittsburg, died at 3:25 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, at Medicalodge South, Pittsburg.
She was born Dec. 17, 1920, at Memphis, Tenn., to Olney Lyndon and Eura Orr Hawkins.
She attended Memphis State University, Southwestern (which is now Rhodes College) and Washington University at St. Louis. She studied piano and piano pedagogy.
On Feb. 21, 1947, she married Joe Pistotnik, a naval air officer. The couple moved to Kansas and resided in Wichita, Chanute and Pittsburg.
Mrs. Hawkins was a pianist and piano instructor. She gave piano lessons at Miss Hutchinson's Private School for girls and in her Memphis home. She also gave piano lessons in her home after moving to Kansas.
She was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Pittsburg, where she was active in the Rachel Circle, and the Treble Clef Club, of which she served as vice-president and program chairman for several years. She was a patron of Sigma Alpha Iota music sorority at Pittsburg State University and belonged to the Oceanus Hopkins Chapter of DAR.
Survivors include her husband of the home; a daughter, Lyn Dupuis of Houston and Nantucket, Mass.; a son, Frank Pistotnik of St. Paul, Minn.; a sister, Vonnelle Cayce of Germantown, Tenn.; and three grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, Pittsburg, with the Rev. Dr. Robert Bardeen of the Presbyterian Church in Pittsburg officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, where friends may call after 3 p.m. Monday. Arrangements are under the direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg.
Juliana Kirsch
Juliana Kirsch, 86, of Pittsburg, died at 5:29 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center, Pittsburg.
She was born Aug. 17, 1916, at Bryant, Okla., to Vincent and Juliana Meglich Zerngast.
She attended area schools and two years of business school.
Survivors include a son, Clarence Kirsch; five grandchildren, who provided for her care, Juliana Ulmer, of Vinita, Okla., and Mike Kirsch, Vicki Scott, Teresa Harper and Robin Ewan, all of Pittsburg; and 22 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and a great-grandson.
Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Mt. Carmel Cemetery with the Rev. Verl Strong officiating. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Friskel Funeral Home, Frontenac. Friends also may call at the funeral home after 11 a.m. Thursday. Friends are requested to meet at the cemetery for the services. Arrangements are under the direction of Friskel Funeral Home, 230 E. McKay, Frontenac.
Dixie J. Shiverdecker
Dixie J. Shiverdecker, 74, of Pittsburg, died at 3:42 a.m., Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center following a lengthy illness.
She was born April 22, 1928, at Fulton, Mo., to Raymond and Callie Foster. She graduated from Fulton High School in 1946.
She married Joe Shiverdecker on Dec. 13, 1946. He survives of the home.
Mrs. Shiverdecker was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone at Fulton and City National Bank and Hallmark Card Shop at Pittsburg.
She was a member of the Pittsburg Church of Christ.
Additional survivors include two sons, Ronnie Shiverdecker of Pittsburg and Mark Shiverdecker of Neodesha; a daughter, Barbara Williamson of Joplin, Mo.; two brothers, Henry Foster and Bill Foster; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Patty Baker.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Church of Christ at Pittsburg with Jerry Kendall officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Shiverdecker home, at 2302 California in Pittsburg. Mrs. Shiverdecker's body has been cremated. Private burial will be in the Highland Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St.
