Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
James Skaggs Jr.
EDNA - James "Jimmy" Skaggs Jr., 39, of rural Edna died on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004, at his home.
He was born Oct. 25, 1964, in Tulsa to James E. and Linda (Rea) Skaggs. He was a 1982 graduate of Edison High School of Tulsa. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1986-1991.
He married Kimberly Ann Mitchell on Aug. 12, 1993, in Las Vegas. She survives of the home.
He was employed by STP Cherokee of Delaware, Okla.
He was a cattleman. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Other survivors include three children, Katrina, Ericka and Ashley Skaggs, all of the home; his mother, Linda Eubanks of Coffeyville; two brothers, Justin Skaggs of Broken Arrow, Okla., and Joseph Eubanks of Coffeyville; and one sister, Rebecca Bobino of Owasso, Okla.
He was preceded in death by his father and by his maternal grandparents, Ernest and Helen Rea of Coffeyville.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Graves Funeral Home in Coffeyville with the Rev. Fred Woolridge officiating. Burial will be in North Edna Cemetery in Edna. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Memorials to a scholarship fund for his children may be left at the funeral home.
Byron B. Smith
Byron B. Smith, 89, a longtime Parsons resident, died at 3:20 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004, at Woodridge Estates, where he had been living the past several months. He had been in failing health.
He was born Dec. 3, 1914, in Roosevelt, Okla., to Birt E. and Hattie (Million) Smith. In his early childhood he also lived in Kethem, Okla., Del Norte, Colo., Midian and Walnut before settling in Parsons in December 1922. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1932.
In 1935 he began employment at Parsons Motors Inc. as a mechanic. In 1946 he became service manager and held that position until his retirement in 1980.
He married Elizabeth I. Heatherly on Sept. 23, 1937, in LaFollette, Tenn. She preceded him in death on May 21, 1994.
He became a member of First Baptist Church of Parsons on April 19, 1925, sharing the distinction of holding the longest period of church membership with another person who was baptized the same day. He served many years as a church trustee and was a member of Builders Sunday School Class. He was a member of AARP and of Parsons Historical Society, serving several years as a board member and as president of the board.
Survivors are two daughters, Judy Cooper and her husband, Bud, of Shawnee and Jane Smith and her husband, Warren, of Tulsa; and five grandchildren, Kurt Cooper of Emporia, Heather Fischer and her husband, Andy, and children, Lauren and Adam, of Council Grove, Dawn Cubbison and her husband, Russ, and children, Meghan and Seth, of Ottawa, Wendell Smith and his wife, Rachel, and son, Westen, of Ottawa and Wallace Smith and his wife, Christy, and daughter, Hanna, of Fishers, Ind.
He was also preceded in death by a sister, Fern Sayers; and three brothers, Glen Smith, Raymond Smith and an infant, Doyle Smith.
The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Parsons with the Rev. Wayne Mason officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. The casket will not be opened at the church.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church or to Parsons Historical Society and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, Box 942, Parsons.
William A. Smith
EDNA - William Albert "Bill" Smith, 67, of Edna died Friday afternoon, March 26, 2004, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center.
He was born Sept. 13, 1936, in rural Edna to Albert and Hester M. (McElroy) Smith. He was a lifelong Edna area resident and a graduate of Edna High School. He also attended Coffeyville Junior College.
He married Beverly J. Rowe on Sept. 21, 1957, in Miami, Okla. She preceded him in death on June 6, 1997.
He was a farmer and stockman and had served in the National Guard for six years. He was a member of Edna Methodist Church and served on Labette County Fair Board and Extension Board, Farm Bureau Board and Bartlett Co-op Board.
He was an avid league bowler for more than 35 years.
Survivors are a daughter, Cheryl Slayter and her husband, Jay, of Edna; two grandchildren, Will and Chelsea Slayter; a brother, John Smith of Edna; and a special friend, Jeanette Goodwin of Edna.
He was also preceded in death by a son, Kenneth Smith; and two brothers, Roy and Joe Lackey.
The service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Edgewood Chapel in Coffeyville. Burial will be in North Edna Cemetery in Edna. Friends may call until 8 p.m. today at the funeral home in Coffeyville, where family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Bill Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund and may be left at the funeral home.
Vera D. Smith
CHERRYVALE - Vera Darlene Smith, 70, of Cherryvale died at 2 a.m. Sunday at the Cherryvale Care Center, where she had been a resident since March 2002.
She was born Jan. 4, 1933, in Neodesha to Lonnie and Nora (Johnson) Anderson. She attended school in Neodesha.
She married James R. Smith on Sept. 18, 1948. He survives of the home.
She was a member of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church of Cherryvale, the Elks Ladies Organization and the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.
Other survivors include two sons, John Smith of Cherryvale and David Smith of Independence; four daughters, Cindy Perez of Augusta, Rayelynn Moran of Lebo, Debbie Hagan of Wichita and Linda Henson of Cherryvale; 15 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery west of Cherryvale with the Rev. Stephen Mahn Thapwa officiating.
Friends may call to register at Potts Chapel in Cherryvale from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday or at the cemetery after 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The family may be reached at the family home, 915 Park in Cherryvale.
Memorials to the Cherryvale Care Center may be left at or mailed to Potts Chapel, P.O. Box 801, Independence, KS 67301.
Claude T. Smith
SCAMMON - Claude T. Smith, 87, of Scammon died at 11:59 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin.
He was born Feb. 9, 1916, in Lamar, Colo., to Tola F. and Fairy (Pounds) Smith.
He joined the United States Navy in November 1943 and was honorably discharged in December 1945, having served in World War II.
He worked in construction as a pipefitter for 40 years. He retired in 1978.
He married Genevieve Petramalo on Nov. 6, 1933, in Columbus. She preceded him in death on March 6, 1996.
He was a member of the St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Scammon, Keith Reeves American Legion Post of Columbus, the Eagles Lodge of West Mineral and the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local Union No. 171 in Wichita.
Survivors include two sons, David Smith of Carona and Randy Smith of Hutchinson; two daughters, Nancy Ann Peace and Linda C. Cowan, both of Carona; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one sister, Margaret Wills of Wichita.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Wilma Fox and Aileen Rigsby; and three brothers, Cecil Smith, Ernie Smith and Glenn Smith.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Weir with the Rev. Chrysostom Ah Maung officiating. Burial will be in St. Bridget's Cemetery in Scammon. The Keith Reeves American Legion Post of Columbus will conduct the flag folding ceremony. The parish rosary will be said at 7 p.m. today with visitation following until 8 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Pallative Care Unit at St. John's Regional Care Center in Joplin and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 104 W. Main, Weir, 66781.
Margaret J. Stanton
COLUMBUS - Margaret Juergensen Stanton, 93, of rural Columbus died Monday, March 22, 2004, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin after an illness.
She was born Nov. 22, 1910, on the family farm in Cherokee County to Andrew P. and Sophie (Kueffner) Juergensen. She grew up in Columbus and graduated from Columbus High School in 1929. She graduated from Kansas State Teachers College, now Pittsburg State University, in Pittsburg.
She was a retired school teacher working in Rural Empire (Galena), Great Bend, Clay Center, Cherokee County and Joplin.
She married Elmer "Dutch" Stanton in 1946 in Joplin. He preceded her in death in 1954.
She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Pittsburg.
She is survived by one son, Gary Stanton of rural Columbus, and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service was today at Edgmand Cemetery in rural Columbus with the Rev. Carol Willadsen officiating. Simpson Funeral Home of Columbus was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials to St. John's Lutheran Church in Pittsburg or Columbus Community Foundation may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 323 S. Kansas Ave., Columbus, 66725.
Thomas F. Stice
STRONG CITY - Thomas F. Stice, 59, of rural Strong City died Tuesday, June 15, 2004, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita.
He was born July 29, 1944, in Coffeyville to Marion and Maurine (Vance) Stice.
He was a pipefitter for 40 years.
He was a member of Plumber and Pipefitters Union, Local Union No. 441 of Wichita; Lowry-Funston Post No. 1980, Veterans of Foreign Wars of Emporia. He was a Vietnam War veteran with the Kansas National Guard.
Survivors include his mother, Maurine Stice of Edna; one daughter, Dustin Peterson of Council Grove; two grandchildren; one brother, Clifford Stice of Mound Valley and one sister, Geraldine Oneslager of Coffeyville.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Saffordville United Methodist Church in Toledo with the Rev. Elaine Burleigh officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Toledo. Friends may call from 5 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Roberts Blue Barnett Funeral Home.
Everett G. Strange
ST. PAUL - Everett Glenn Strange, 85, a longtime resident of Shaw and Erie areas, died at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday,
June 8, 2004, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul. He was the retired owner of the Strange Implement Co. of rural Erie.
He was born on Feb. 28, 1919, in rural Columbus to Everett Levi and Gertrude Irene (Bell) Strange. He was raised in Shaw and attended high school in Erie and Chanute. He attended the Neosho County Community College for two years. He then worked for two years as a brakeman for the Santa Fe Railway in Chanute. In 1938 he began farming. He was a director at Erie Savings and Loan for 10 years, and later was a partner in Stark State Bank and First State Bank at Thayer. Following his father's death in 1962, he took over operation of the Strange Implement Co. at rural Erie, and owned and operated it until 2000.
He married Martha Lavon Hines on Aug. 26, 1939, in Oswego. She survives of the home.
He was a member of Shaw Christian Church, Erie Lodge No. 76 A.F. and A.M. for 65 years and Mirza Temple in Pittsburg. He had been a member of the board of directors for the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, serving as secretary and chairman of the board, and on the board of the Erie Retirement Complex.
He enjoyed playing golf.
Other survivors include two sons, Larry Joe Strange of Wichita and Robert Glenn Strange of St. Simons Island, Ga.; two grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Bill Dean Strange of Grove, Okla.; and one sister, Georgiana C. Monninger of Baldwin City.
He was preceded in death by his infant sister, Dorothy Irene Strange.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Shaw Christian Church with the Rev. Rusty Newman officiating. Burial will be in Shaw Cemetery with Masonic rites by Erie Lodge No. 76, A.F. and A.M. Friends may call at Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
Memorials to Shaw Christian Church may be left at the funeral home.
Dona L. Stroup
CHANUTE - Dona Lee (Gilbreath) Stroup, 74, of Chanute died Monday, March 8, 2004, at her home.
She was born Oct. 24, 1929, in Wichita to Arthur B. and Jessie (Purkey) Gilbreath.
She attended Chanute schools and Neosho County Community College.
She was a member of Living Word Assembly Church and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.
She worked many years at Aeroduct, formerly H.K. Porter; owned Dona's Cafe in downtown Chanute; and retired from the Chanute Police Department after 22 years as a parking control officer.
She married Leonard A. Blough on March 23, 1948, in Miami, Okla. He preceded her in death on Nov. 16, 1965.
She married Kenneth Stroup on Dec. 26, 1972, in Miami. He survives.
She enjoyed bowling, bingo, crocheting, gardening and traveling.
Other survivors include two daughters, Jacalyn Wrestler of Rock Hills, S.C., and Cherie Jennings of Chanute; a twin brother, Don L. Gilbreath of Chanute; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Ray Gilbreath; stepfather, Clarence P. Williams; and a grandson.
The service was Thursday at Living Word Assembly Church with the Rev. Milton Hubbard officiating. Burial was in Neosho County Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials to Chanute Christian Academy or Christian Children's Fund may be left at Gibson-Koch-Friskel Chapel in Chanute.
