Obituaries in Kansas Newspapers (arranged by city)
Cecil Elmore Ziers
ARMA -- Cecil Elmore Ziers, 81, of Arma, died at 2:10 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, at the Infinia Health Care Center at Arma.
She was born Aug. 4, 1920, at Foster, Mo., to Mitchell and Grace Shannon Campbell. She attended Gross schools.
She married Glenn D. Lewis in 1935 at Arcadia. He preceded her in death Jan. 4, 1977. She married John Ziers in 1979 at Kansas City, Mo. He preceded her in death in 1995.
She was a homemaker, moving to Arma in 1995.
Survivors include three sons, Glenn C. Lewis of Denver, Jerry W. Lewis, of Arma and Jack L. Lewis of Independence; six daughters, Judy Pollard of Richmond, Mo., Janice L. Hulse of Arma, Rita Bollinger of Oklahoma City, Linda Lewis of Tulsa, Okla., Mary Powers of Burnsville, Miss., and Sheroyl Jackson of Roanoke, Ill.; 21 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one son, Ralph Ed Lewis and one brother, Gene Miles.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7, at the Bedene Funeral Home at Arma with the Rev. Steve Cole officiating. Burial will be at the Old Arcadia Cemetery near Arcadia. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Bedene Chapel at Arma. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bedene Funeral Home at Arma.
Sherlyn Morton
COLUMBUS -- Sherlyn Morton, 54, of Columbus, died at 8:22 a.m. Wednesday Jan. 2, 2002, at St. John's Regional Medical Center at Joplin, Mo., after a sudden illness.
She was born Oct. 10, 1947, at Pocahontas, Ark., to Onon and Bette Wilson Lemmons. She was a graduated of Union High School at Tulsa and had attended Oklahoma State University for one year following high school.
She had been a resident of Columbus for the past 11 years moving from Summersville, Mo.
She married Merell C. Morton on Oct. 12, 1986, at Lutesville, Mo. He preceded her in death Feb. 2, 1999.
Mrs. Morton was a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell and had also been a bookkeeper for a service station while living in Summersville.
She was a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include her mother of Columbus; one brother, James Stoops of Georgia; one niece and several nephews, cousins, great-nephews and great-nieces.
She was preceded in death by her father, and one brother, O.A. "Bud" Lemmons.
According to her wishes she has been taken for cremation. Memorial services will be 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home at Weir with Delmer Andrews officiating. The family will receive friends following the services on Saturday until 8 p.m. Friends may call at the funeral home after 9 a.m. Saturday to sign the register book. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 104 E. Main St. Weir.
Paul S. Rhoads
San Antonio, Texas -- Paul S. Rhoads, 83, of San Antonio, Texas, died Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2001.
He was born Nov. 9, 1918, at Weir to Alex and Myrtle Rhoads.
He attended Pittsburg schools, graduating from Pittsburg High School in 1935. He also attended Courtney Business College.
Mr. Rhoads was a former Pittsburg resident. He also lived in Shreveport, La., and Houston, before moving to San Antonio 10 years ago.
Mr. Rhoads served in the United States Army as a lieutenant colonel. He worked for the Kansas City Southern Railway as a district sales manager.
He was an active member of the San Antonio Transportation Association.
Survivors include his wife, Ann P. Rhoads of San Antonio; her daughter, Kathy Rhoads of San Anoni,o and a cousin, John Rogers Jr. of Pittsburg.
Funeral services were Wednesday, Dec. 26, at Mission Park Funeral Chapel North.
Jerry Mack Schirk
SAN ANTONIO, Texas-- Jerry Mack Schirk, 56, of San Antonio, Texas, died at 10:28 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28, 2001, at the Christas Santa Rosa hospital at San Antonio.
He was born July 30, 1945, at Pittsburg to Mack and Leona (Speilman) Schirk.
He grew up in Pittsburg and graduated from St. Mary's High School.
After graduation he entered the United States Navy where he served for 20 years.
On June 16, 1968, he married Deloris Waltz. They later divorced.
After retiring from the Navy, Mr. Schirk worked for the federal government as an administrative officer for the Immigration and Naturalization Service until his death.
Survivors include one son, Kenneth Schirk of San Antonio; four brothers, Jim Schirk of Overland Park, Robert Schirk of Pittsburg, Toy Schirk of St. Louis, Mo., and Richard Schirk of Pittsburg; one sister, Mary Carol Leabo of Pittsburg; Deloris Schirk and Joseph Sylvester of San Antonio, who provided for his care.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He has been cremated. Services will be held at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at San Antonio on Jan. 11. Arrangements are under the direction of the Sherety Funeral Home at Christas Santa Rosa.
Johnnie Joe Ward
ARCADIA -- Johnnie Joe Ward, 66, of Independence, Mo., formerly of Arcadia, died at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002, at Independence.
He was born Dec. 31, 1935, at Arcadia to John Hill and Goldie Bessie Kimes Ward.
Mr. Ward was a retired laborer who lived in the Kansas City area since 1967. He was raised at Arcadia and graduated from Arcadia High School.
Survivors include two daughters, Virginia Baker and Susan Diane Rice, both of Independence, Mo; four sons, Johnnie Lee Ward, David Wayne Ward, and Darryl Wayne Ward, all of Independence, Mo., and Chris Morris of Harrisonville, Mo.; three sisters, Eileen Wheeler of Independence, Mo., Ruby VanDusen of Kansas City, Mo., and Ernestine Berkey of Arcadia; his fiancee, Joyce Stephens of Arcadia; 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Bill Ward and Ray Ward.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, at the Bedene Funeral Home at Arma with the Rev. Brad Zerkel officiating. Burial will be at the Sheffield Cemetery near Arcadia. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Bedene Chapel at Arma. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bedene Funeral Home at Arma.
Willis 'Brownie" Stroup
DERBY - Willis "Brownie" Stroup, 89, of Derby, formerly of Erie, died at 12:14 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2003, at Vintage Place Retirement Center at Derby.
He was born Feb. 6, 1913, at Wableau, Mo., to Samuel and Dora Penny Stroup. He moved to Shaw, then to Erie, with his family. He was a 1932 graduate of Erie High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945, at the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific.
He married Margarett L. Williamson on Feb. 7, 1937, at Fredonia. The couple lived in Erie for 63 years, before moving to Derby. Mrs. Stroup survives of the home.
Mr. Stroup worked at Wilcox Filling Station at Erie. He was employed as plant operator at Erie Power Plant from 1957 until his retirement in 1978.
He was a member of First Christian Church at Erie. He also was a member of the George L. Hendricks American Legion Post No. 102 at Erie.
Survivors include two daughters, Sandy Hart of Derby and Martha Tabb of Joplin, Mo.; one foster son, Don Malcolm of Parsons; and four grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Claude Stroup, Jim Stroup, Alva "Butch" Stroup and Ellis "Pete" Stroup; one sister, Esther Bell; and an infant son.
Services will be 2 p.m. today at First Christian Church at Erie with the Rev. Fred Jordan officiating. Burial will be in the East Hill Cemetery at Erie. Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Erie.
V. Clydeene Davidson
Vivian Clydeene Davidson, 93, of Pittsburg, died at 5:55 a.m. Saturday Jan. 3, 2004, at Sunset Manor Nursing Center in Frontenac.
She was born Oct. 31, 1910, at Fort Scott to Clyde M. and Georgetta Meek Williams. She was raised by Charles E. and Georgetta Weaver.
She attended schools in Kansas City, Kan., Fort Scott and Pittsburg, graduating from Pittsburg High School. She attended business school in Port Arthur, Texas.
She worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. for more than 43 years. She started in Kansas City, Mo., and working in several Kansas locations, including Pittsburg. She held management positions in Houston, Austin, Temple and Beaumont, Texas. In Beaumont, she trained and was chief operator for the first TSP units in Texas and second in the Southwestern Bell Co. She retired Aug. 1, 1971, as traffic service supervisor for all units in Houston and Pasadena, Texas. She returned to Pittsburg in 1971.
She was a member of Countryside Christian Church; the Rob Morris Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, where she received a 50 pin; Pittsburg Senior Citizens; and the San Jasinto Telephone Pioneers in Houston.
Survivors include one grandson, Mark W. Bolte, who provided for her care; two great-granddaughters, two-step-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by one son, William E. Stand; three sisters, Alice DeMayris Tims, Beverly J. Doolin and Mary Fairow.
Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Highland Park Cemetery with Dan Muter of the Countryside Christian Church officiating. Friends are requested to meet at Brenner Mortuary in Pittsburg at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to go in procession to the cemetery. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at Brenner Mortuary. Arrangements are under the direction of Brenner Mortuary.
Michael J. 'Boe' Kinzie
CHANUTE - Michael J. "Boe" Kinzie, 52, of Chanute, formerly of Parsons, died at 6 p.m. at Harry Hynes Memorial Care Unit in Wichita. He had been in ill health for six weeks.
He was born May 1, 1951, at Tulsa, Okla., to Charles E. and Catherine (Jarboe) Kinzie.
As an infant, he moved with his family to Parsons, where he grew up and attended St. Patrick's Elementary School. He graduated from Maur Hill Catholic High School in Atchison. He returned to Parsons and worked with his parents at Kinzie Home Furnishings. He worked as a chef in several restaurants and clubs in Florida before returning to Parsons, where he was a chef at the Parsons Country Club. In 1997, he moved to Tulsa and worked as a warehouse manager for Jarboe Sales for several years. In 2001, he moved to Chanute, where he was a chef and the fishing manager and event coordinator for the Lil' Toledo Lodge.
He married Kaye (Hurtt) Lightner. They divorced. He married Marti (Simkin) Wells-Smith. They divorced. He married Marianne (Velardi) Binkley in Port St. Lucie, Fla. They divorced.
Survivors include one son, Michael Kinzie of Port St. Lucie; two daughters, Heather Fulling of Greeley, Colo., and Emily Kinzie of Saratoga, Wyo.; one brother, Brian C. Kinzie of Edna; three sisters, Adria Morrison of Parsons, Milissa Gofourth of Stillwater, Okla., and Ann Wiley of Liberty; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter.
A private family service will be held. Arrangements are under the direction of Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons.
Ruby I. McCoy
ERIE - Ruby I. McCoy, 89, of Erie, died at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2003, at Chanute Care Center. She had been in failing health.
She was born April 28, 1913, at Galesburg, to Ansel and Lottie Fern Carson Baker. She grew up in Galesburg, then lived in rural Thayer before moving to Erie in 1943.
She married Ralph L. McCoy on Oct. 17, 1932, at Fredonia. He preceded her in death Feb. 9, 1993.
Mrs. McCoy was a member of First Christian Church at Erie and Erie Senior Center.
Survivors include four daughters, Lela Cox of Washington, June Rotunno of Kearney, Neb., Kay Marion of Mead, Colo., and Iona Terrill of Moran; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by one sister, Della Reece.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. today at First Christian Church at Erie with the Rev. Debbie Lorenz officiating. Burial will follow in East Hill Cemetery at Erie. Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Erie.
Bobby L. Agnew
WICHITA -- Bobby L. Agnew, 67, of Wichita, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999, at Via Christi-St. Francis.
He was born Feb. 5, 1931, at Arkansas City to Francis and Alice Agnew. He was a teacher, retiring from Wichita schools.
He is survived by his wife, Pat Agnew, of Wichita; two sons, Bradley S. and Stuart A. Agnew, both of Wichita; a daughter, Patrice "Patti" Robert, of Wichita; two brothers, Bill D. Agnew, of Billings, Mont., and R. Scott Agnew, of West Pueblo, Colo.; a sister, Francina Galvin, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and eight grandchildren.
Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Hillside Christian Church, at Wichita, with Dr. Bill McConnell officiating. Burial will follow in the Resthaven Cemetery, Wichita. Arrangements are under the direction of the Devorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary of Wichita.
Ethel L. Frankum
Ethel L. Frankum, 71, of 502 S. Locust, died at 3:10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, 1999 at Mt. Carmel Medical Center.
She was born June 25, 1927, at Mulberry, to Samuel and Aleeta O. Harper Schilling. She grew up at Mulberry and graduated from Mulberry High School.
She was a retired certified nurses assistant and also worked in central supply at Mt. Carmel Medical Center for 18 years, where she received her CNA certification. She moved to Pittsburg in 1962.
Survivors include two daughters, Helen Dell, and Maggie Fike Frankum, both of Pittsburg; two sisters, Loretta Mason, of Mound City, and Jean Cortner, of Overland Park; and a granddaughter, Stacy Lynn Davis, who was raised in the home.
Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Bedene Funeral Home at Arma, with the Rev. Rob Inge officiating. Burial will follow in the Rosebank Cemetery at Mulberry. Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Bedene Chapel at Arma. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bedene Funeral Home, Arma.
John D. Gesner
John D. Gesner, 76, of 1243 S. 230th St., died at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999, at his home. He had been in ill health for several years.
He was born June 14, 1922, at Kirkwood, to John P. and Jesse Hinkle Gesner. He attended Kirkwood schools and lived in the Pittsburg area his entire life.
He married Mildred Vankam on Oct. 19, 1946. She survives of the home.
He was a World War II veteran, serving for the U.S. Army in the European Theater as a T-5 from 1942 to 1945.
He farmed for several years, worked for the County Road Department, and also worked at Pittsburg Ready Mix Concrete. He was a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church and the American Legion Post No. 64 of Pittsburg.
Additional survivors include a son, Doug Gesner, of Rogers, Ark.; two daughters, Mona Browne and Lisa Wenzel, both of Pittsburg; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. John's Lutheran Church, with the Rev. James Banner officiating. Burial will follow in the Crocker Cemetery. The Benjamin Fuller Post No. 64 of the American Legion will conduct flag-folding services at the graveside. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the Brenner Chapel, where friends may call after 1 p.m. today. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. Fourth St.
Margaret A. Row
Margaret A. Row, 83, of 1173 S. 220th St., died at 7:10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999, at Mt. Carmel Medical Center. She had been ill for a brief time and a patient at the hospital since Dec. 29.
She was born Jan. 21, 1915, at West Mineral, to Ed and Margaret Welsh Ryan. She moved to Pittsburg as a young child.
She married James Row on Dec. 29, 1936, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church of Pittsburg. He preceded her in death Aug. 1, 1976.
The couple owned and operated Aladdin Construction, M.O.R. Real Estate, and J & M Rental for 25 years. She retired in 1980.
She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Our Lady of Lourdes Altar Society, and a former Mt. Carmel Medical Center Pink Lady.
Survivors include three sons, James Row, of Bucyrus, Michael and Mark Row, both of Pittsburg; two brothers, James Ryan, of Joplin, Mo., and Francis Ryan, of Dallas; six grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and three step-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by three brothers, John, Edwin, and Raymond Ryan.
Mass of Christian burial will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, with Fr. Robert McElwee as celebrant. Burial will follow in the St. Mary's Cemetery. The parish rosary will be recited 7 p.m. today at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, where the family will receive friends until 8 p.m. Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m. today. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bath-Naylor Funeral, Home, 522 S. Broadway, Pittsburg.
