Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Florence E. Krey, 89 of Pittsburg, KS, passed away April 9, 2011
at the Sunset Manor in Frontenac, KS.
She was born June 19, 1921 in Allendale, MI, the daughter of
Terrence and Mabel Blakeney Sheridan.
Florence married
Gilbert Krey November 11, 1944 in Conklin MI.
He preceded her in death. Florence was an elementary school teacher
in Michigan for 25 years. She has lived in Pittsburg for the last 10 years,
attending the Lutheran Church in Pittsburg.
Survivors include 2 sons, David Krey and wife Nancy of Kent City
MI and Timothy Krey and wife Judith of North Auroa Ill; 1 daughter,
Merietta Sypniewski and husband George of Pittsburg. 5 grandchildren,
5 great-grandchildren; 1 sister, Alta Tindel of Sparta, MI, and 1 brother,
Terrence Sheridan of Conklin, MI.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 3 brothers
and 4 sisters.
On behalf of her wishes, cremation has taken place. Services
will take place at a later date in Michigan. Condolences may be sent to
www.bathnaylor.com Services are under the direction of Bath-Naylor
Funeral home of Pittsburg.
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Henry Max Grotheer, 61 of rural Pittsburg, KS died at 5:41 pm, Monday
April 5, 2011 at the Via Christi Hospital Pittsburg.
He was born September 8, 1949 in Pittsburg the son of Henry Thomas
and Maxine (Blackmon) Grotheer. He attended Pittsburg Schools and
graduated from the Pittsburg High School.
On May 25, 1968 he was united in marriage to Kathleen F. Wilson in
Pittsburg; she survives him of the home.
Max worked for the Crawford County Road and Bridge Dept. for many
years.
He was a member of the Horse Creek Muzzle Loaders Club.
Survivors include his wife Kathy of the home.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers, Gary and Larry
Grotheer and an infant sister Marilyn.
Family will receive friends at the Bath-Naylor funeral home from 1-3 pm
Saturday, April 9, 2011. He will be taken for cremation following the
visitation. Condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com. Memorials
may be made to the American Heart Association; these may be left at or
mailed to the funeral home. Services are under the direction of the Bath-
Naylor Funeral Home 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg, KS 66762.
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PITTSBURG — Opal Lucille Southard, 93, of Pittsburg, KS died 8:15 p.
m. Monday, April 4, 2011 at the Sunset Manor in Frontenac, KS.
She was born February 5, 1918 in Pittsburg, the daughter of William
Henry and Lottie Blanche (Myers) Gimlin.
Opal married
Ralph William Comer in Girard, KS, he preceded her in
death in June of 1958. She later remarried in 1968 to F.L. Southard, he
preceded her in death March 24 2004.
Opal was a lifelong residence of Pittsburg, where she worked as a
nurses aide for 19 years, retiring in 1968. She was also a homemaker.
She was a member of The Nazarene Church in Pittsburg where she had
attended for many years. Opal loved animals, especially her 3 special
cats, Blackie, Fluffy, and Yellow.
Survivors include 2 sons, Ronald Comer and wife Jean of Joplin, MO and
Steve Southard and wife Lois of Cabot, Ark.; 3 daughters, Vicki Depew
and husband Greg of Topeka, KS, Barbara Crawford and husband Bill
of Pittsburg, and Debbie Rangel of Topeka, KS; 7 grandchildren; 5
Great-Grandchildren; 2 Great-Grandchildren; and Several nieces and
nephews. Her caregivers who helped take care of her for the last 4
years, Daughter Barbara and Granddaughter Jessica Crawford.
She was preceded in death by her parents, 2 husbands, a son, Jerry
Comer, a granddaughter Shelly Lent, 2 sisters and a brother.
Funeral Services will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, April 8, 2011 at Bath-Naylor
Funeral Home in Pittsburg with Reverend Darrell Gaddy Officiating. The
family will receive friends from noon until service time on Friday.
Burial will follow at Mt. OliveCemeteryin Pittsburg. Condolences can be
sent to www.bath-naylor.com. Memorials may be made out to the Animal
Humane Society. Memorials may be dropped off or mailed to Bath-
Naylor Funeral Home, 522 South Broadway, Pittsburg KS, 66762.
===
Donald G. (Don) Ellis passed away Sunday April 3, 2011 at his home
surrounded by family after a courageous battle with cancer.
Donald was born October 18, 1933 in Pittsburg, KS the son of George
and Mabel (Roberts) Ellis. The family moved to Garland, KS where he
attended grade school. He graduated from Arcadia High School in
1951. He enlisted in the US Navy from 1952-1956 serving on the USS
Formoe 509, a Destroyer Escort for 42 months.
On November 23, 1957 he married
Carolyn Brunet at the Sacred Heart
Catholic Church in Frontenac, KS; she survives at the home. He
enrolled at Kansas State Teachers College (Pittsburg State University)
in 1958 earning his BSBA in 1962. After graduation he worked as a
Sales Representative until his retirement in 1998. Places he worked
included American Electric, AC Spark Plug, Keystone Automotive,
Atkinson Industries and Monsour Inc.
First and foremost Don was a family man. He was an avid sports fan,
especially sports involving his children and grandchildren. He had a real
love for animals, especially his beloved dog Maggie.
Don was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church; St. Mary’s-
Colgan Booster Club; Kickapoo High School Booster Club and USS
Formoe DE 509 Association.
Survivors include his wife; daughters Theresa Tener of Pittsburg, KS
and Jonna Smith and husband Travis of Kansas City, MO; sons Dr. Scott
Ellis of Springfield, MO and Thomas G. Ellis and wife Christine of
Neosho, MO; grandchildren Mitch Tener, Mallorie Tener, Anthony Ellis
and Sara-Cate Ellis and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Barbara Scott and a
brother Charles Willener.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10am Friday April 8, 2011 at the Our
Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Pittsburg, KS with Fr. Thomas Stroot
as celebrant. Burial will follow at the Garden of MemoriesCemeteryin
Pittsburg, KS where Military Honors will be conducted. Rosary will be
recited at 6:30pm Thursday April 7, 2011 at the Bath-Naylor Funeral
Home in Pittsburg, KS; family will receive friends immediately following
the rosary. Friends may call the funeral home after 11am Thursday. In
lieu of flowers the family ask expressions of sympathy be in the form of
memorials to the OLOL Memorial Fund and/or SEK Humane Society.
Friends may drop off or mail memorials to Bath-Naylor Funeral Home
522 S. Broadway Pittsburg, KS 66762. E-mail condolences may be left
at www.bathnaylor.com. Arrangements and services are under the
direction of Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Pittsburg, KS.
===
Loren H. McNeely 83, of Pittsburg, KS passed away 5:10am Sunday
April 3, 2011 at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, KS following an illness.
Loren was born January 18, 1928 in Jasper County, MO the son of
James P. and Lily (Smith) McNeely. He was a lifelong resident of the
area and attended area schools. Loren served in the United States
Marine Corps earning the rank of Lance Corporal. On August 19, 1950
he married
Thelma JoAnn Hudson in Pittsburg, KS; she survives at the
home. Loren worked for Dickey Clay for 26 years and later as a
Pittsburg State University Police Officer for 17 years before retiring in
1993.
Loren was of the Christian Faith; a member of the National Rifle
Association; loved target shooting; collecting handguns and his family
was the most important thing in his life.
Survivors include his wife, daughter Rita C. Swartz and husband John of
Pittsburg, KS; daughter-in-law Lora Jo McNeely of Pittsburg, KS; sisters
Ida Moore of Mission, KS, Violet Robinson of Georgetown, TX and
Darlene Pyle of Winfield, KS; grandchildren Sean McNeely, Marc
McNeely, Jason Middleton and April Middleton and 6 great-
grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son Anthony McNeely,
brothers Jimmie McNeely and Alva McNeely and an infant great-
granddaughter.
Graveside Services will be 1pm Thursday April 7, 2011 at the Highland
ParkCemeteryin Pittsburg, KS with Pastor Daryl Gaddy officiating.
Informal visitation will be from 11am-8pm Wednesday April 6, 2011 at the
funeral home. In lieu of flowers the family ask expressions of sympathy
be in the form of memorials to Angels Among Us. Friends may drop off
or mail memorials to Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 522 S. Broadway
Pittsburg, KS 66762. E-mail condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.
com. Arrangements and services are under the direction of Bath-Naylor
Funeral Home of Pittsburg, KS.
===
Jim P. Castagno, 93 of Cherokee died at 4:40 p.m. Saturday April
2, 2011 at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg .
He was born November 11, 1917 in Carona , KS the son of Nick
and Christina (Origliasso) Castagno. He lived his entire life in the
southeast Kansas area. He attended and was a graduate of West
Mineral High School .
Jim was a veteran of WWII serving his country in the United States
Army. He served in the South Pacific Theater and was credited with
downing a Japanese Zero Fighter Plane.
He married
Josephine Karlinger on October 25, 1947 in Chicopee
, KS ; she survives at the home.
Jim was co-owner of Cherokee Grain in Cherokee, KS.
He was a member of the St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in
Scammon, the Cherokee American Legion, a 3rd Degree member of the
Scammon Knights of Columbus council #3316, and a former member of
the Cherokee Ruitan.
Survivors include his wife Josephine of the home; a son Jock
Castagno of Cherokee; two daughters Fran Simoncic and husband Bob
of Cherokee, Judy Fearmonti and husband Tony of Manvel, TX; six
Grandchildren-Leah Fearmonti-Garcia, Gina Fearmonti, Stefanie Lynn,
Rob Simoncic, Kim Castagno and Angie Saporito and five Great-
grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Fileda
Reda and a brother Battista Castagno.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a .m. Wednesday April 6, 2011
at the St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Scammon , KS with Father
Chrysostom Ah Maung as celebrant burial will follow in the St. Mary’s
Cemetery in Pittsburg where the Cherokee American Legion will provide
flag folding and presentation ceremonies. The parish rosary will be
recited at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Weir
where friends may call after 3 p.m. Tuesday. Condolences can be sent
to www.bathnaylor.com Memorial contributions can be made to the St.
Bridget’s Catholic Church Building Fund. Memorials may be brought by
or mailed to the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home 104 W. Main St. Weir, KS
66781.
