For more information, see the Sept. 24 issue of the Labette Avenue. To locate previously posted death notices, enter the decedent’s last name in the archive search box on Labette Avenue’s home page. Labette Avenue publishes death notices free of charge. Paid obituaries ($20) are printed in their entirety in the Labette Avenue and online at taylornews.org.

Melva Dean Wilson

CHETOPA—Melva Dean Wilson, 79, a longtime resident of Chetopa, Kan., died at 9:35 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008, at her home. She had been in failing health.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the First Baptist Church in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, in Chetopa, after 10 a.m., Tuesday.

Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church in Chetopa. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.

Melva Dean was born Nov. 9, 1928, in Cherokee County, Kan., to Martin Vincent and Lucretia Mae (North) Peters. She graduated from Columbus High School.

In earlier years, she worked at garment factories in Columbus and Oswego, and later attended cosmetology school in Miami, Okla. She then moved to Chetopa in the 1950s where she worked as a hairdresser/beautician at Maxine’s Beauty Salon in Chetopa, retiring from there in the mid 1990s.

She enjoyed gardening, yard work, and was a puzzle maker. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, in Chetopa, where she also served as children’s Sunday school teacher for many years.

On May 14, 1949, she married Marvin Wilson were married in Columbus. He preceded her in death July 7, 2001.

Survivors include one brother, Orville Eugene “Pete” Peters, Lebanon, Mo.; one sister, Mary Ellen Sharp, formerly of Columbus, Kan., and now of Parker, Kan., and numerous nieces and nephews.

Nathan B. “Nate” Banning

OSWEGO—Nathan B. “Nate” Banning, 30, of Oswego, Kan., died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, at his home. He had been in his usual health and death was not expected.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 19, at the Mound Valley Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont from noon to 1:30 p.m., Friday, prior to the graveside service.

Charley I. Stevenson

PARSONS—Charley I. Stevenson, 63, of Parsons, Kan., died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008, at his home. He had been in failing health.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Springhill Cemetery. The parish rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends immediately following the rosary.

Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Restoration Fund and may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Joseph D. Pike

PARSONS—Joseph D. Pike, 94, of Parsons, Kan., died Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, at his home.

Funeral services were held Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with president Stephen Richins presiding over the services.

Memorials are suggested to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and/or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of Parsons and may be left at or sent to Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 104 W. Main St., Weir, 66781.

Steward E. Confer

WELCH, Okla.—Steward E. Confer, 77, of Welch, Okla., died Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, at Integris Baptist Regional Health Care in Miami, Okla.

Memorial services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Welch Baptist Church. A private family burial will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of Thomas Funeral Home, Welch.

Thomas J. Crispell, DVM

PARSONS—Thomas J. Crispell, DVM, 79, of Parsons, Kan., died Sunday, Sept 14, 2008, at Elmhaven East Nursing Home in Parsons. He had been in failing health.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept 19, at the First Presbyterian Church in Parsons. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

Memorials are suggested to “The Rock” or Unified School District No. 503 Foundation. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Cora L. Mobley

CHETOPA—Cora L. (Davis) Mobley, 66, of Chetopa, Kan., died at 7:28 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008, at Chetopa Manor Nursing Home. She had been in failing health.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday at the Faith Baptist Church in Chetopa.

The Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa is in charge of arrangements.

Alberta P. Wisdom

COLUMBUS—Alberta P. Wisdom, 68, of Columbus, Kan., died Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008, at the Medicalodge of Columbus after an illness.

Family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Simpson Funeral Home in Columbus. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, at the Simpson Funeral Home with Dennis Johnson, Pastor, and Wally Baldwin officiating. Burial will be in the Edgmand Cemetery north west of Columbus. ‘

Memorials may be left for the Columbus Parks and Recreations Fund and may be left at the Simpson Funeral Home 323 S. Kansas Ave. Columbus, KS 66725 .

W. Mark Garrett

PARSONS—W. Mark Garrett, 45, of Parsons, Kan., died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008, at Labette County Medical Center in Parsons.

Memorial service is pending and will be held at a later date in Parsons. Inurnment will be at the Oakwood Cemetery in Parsons.

Survivors include: his parents, Roger and Linda Garrett of Georgetown, Texas, formerly of McPherson, Kan.; a brother, Kirk Garrett of Brooklyn, NY; and a paternal grandmother, Dorothy Bennett of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Memorial donations may be given to Kansas Special Olympics.

Stockham Family Funeral Home, McPherson, is in charge of arrangements.

Raymond O. “Ray” Blevins

PARSONS—Raymond O. “Ray” Blevins, 90, of Parsons, Kan., died Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008, at the Good Samaritan Society in Parsons. He had been in failing health.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will be in the East Bethany Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the Good Samaritan Society in Parsons or Hospice Care of Kansas and may be left at or sent to the funeral home, 112 N. 26th, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Parsons.

Vicki L. Westervelt

COLUMBUS—Vicki L. Westervelt, 64, formely of Columbus, Kan., died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008, at the St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin Missouri.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m., at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Columbus.

Frontier Charcoal of Chetopa is receiving donations of non-perishable food, water, toiletries, paper goods and other needed items from now until Monday, Sept. 22, at 3 p.m., to send to their Frontier Charcoal plant in Pearland, Texas, (a suburb of Houston), in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

Drop areas are at Chetopa Foods, Chetopa State Bank and Frontier Charcoal. The Texas charcoal plant was not hit directly, but the community around it are in dire need of assistance.

For more information, call Frontier Charcoal at 620-236-7400 in Chetopa.

The Oswegofest 5 km Run/Walk will be held Saturday, Sept. 27, at 8:30 a.m. at the Oswego Riverside Park.
To receive the early registration discount, entry form and payment needs to be received by Sept. 19. Race Day registration is available. In order to be guaranteed a t-shirt, you must pre-register. A limited number of t-shirts and a limited number of t-shirt sizes will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Saturday morning packet pickup and registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. and stop at 8:20 a.m.
Early registration is $12 and Race Day Registration is $15.
The race will go rain or shine; only lightning or severe weather will cancel the race. There will be no refunds.
The course has one steep-grade descent and climb at the beginning of the race; otherwise, the course is flat and fast. The entire course is pavement and well marked and passes by the Neosho River. Although the course is open to traffic, Oswego City Police and race volunteers will be stationed at the course turns and intersections. All participants should be observant and careful as usual.
Plaques for first place male and female in both races. Medals will also be awarded in the following age groups for men and women: 0-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60+.
Award presentation will take place immediately following the event.
Water will be furnished before, during and after the race. Fruit and other snacks will be provided for entrants after the race.
If you have any questions about the event, feel free to contact the race organizer, Sheri Goodnight, at (620) 795-4448.

Friday, Sept. 26
5 p.m. OHS Alumni Golf Scramble at Oswego Golf Course located at 12086 Wallace Road. Dust off those clubs and get ready to scramble. Open to all OHS Alumni and guests. Registration will be from 5-5:30 p.m. Green Fees are $12 per person. This will allow you to play all day if you would like to come early and get a little practice in. Cart rentals are available at $10 per nine holes. Winners will be presented with a gift at the banquet. For more information contact Nikki Lewis at 620-795-2715.

7 p.m. OHS Alumni Ice Breaker at Oswego Golf Course located at 12086 Wallace Road. Come out and get the weekend off to a great start. Meet with fellow alumni and spend some time just catching up. Golf course concessions will be available. For more information contact Nikki Lewis at 620-795-2715.

Saturday, Sept. 27
8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Oswegofest in Riverside Park. Admission and parking is free. There is fun to be had for the whole family. Log on to www.oswegokansas.com for printable versions of the Oswegofest flyers and forms as they become available.
3-5 p.m. Tour the former Oswego High School (current Middle School) located at 410 Kansas Street. Stop by to reminisce with other visitors and look at the old class photos.
4:30-8 p.m. Alumni Banquet and Social Hour. This will be held at the Oswego High School located at 1501 Tomahawk Trail. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m., but come early to visit and tour the beautiful facilities. Door prizes will be given, scholarships announced and classes recognized.
8 p.m. After Hours at the Oswego Community Center. Sit back, relax, and visit. That’s what reunions are all about. The Oswego Community Center will be open following the banquet to allow some extra time to catch up.

Kevin Cress, owner of Cress Removal of Humboldt is taking advantage of the good weather to haul off brush and trees on the site of the new Oswego Community Hospital.  They hauled off more than 20 loads to the Oswego City Brush Dump. The hospital will be located beside the Oswego Home Place on highway 59. The project should take about 14 months to complete. Dan Hiben, CEO of the Community Hospital said they have been clearing, surveying and marking the area off. Preliminary dirtwork is next. “They hope to get the walls up and closed in before cold weather arrives,” he said.

Homeland Security Grant funds were awarded to Southeast Kansas Regions for nine Identix live scan interfaces.
According to the Labette County Sheriff William Blundell, the live scan will go to nine of the 12 county region. The Identix costs $28,000 each and will be used in the largest nine county area.
“It’s a good piece of equipment,” Blundell said.
The machine takes a person’s fingerprints and sends them directly to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. “It will save a lot of time and be more accurate,” Blundell said. Right now when fingerprints are needed, the officers manually take each finger and thumb and roll them across an ink pad and then place the inked finger across paper, leaving a fingerprint. Sometimes it can’t be read and it has to be done over and that takes time.
This new machine is quicker, it deletes a scan if an error in any of the fingerprints are detected before it is completed to send. All teachers are required by law to be fingerprinted, Blundell said. We have teachers from all the area districts come to be fingerprinted. Also some employee applications require the person to be fingerprinted for a background check. You have to be fingerprinted to purchase a gun permit, he said.
Blundell was given approval at Monday’s county commission to purchase a live scan interface to link the computer with current nine jail systems at a total cost of $5,883 which includes $765 maintenance fee.
This would enable the counties to say for example, a person is arrested in Labette County and is fingerprinted here. Cherokee County law enforcement also has a warrant out for this man, his fingerprints would already be in the system, thus saving time and money to do it all over again, Blundell said. This would be available in the nine southeast regions that will be on the new system.
The Identix is in service now at the Sheriff’s Department in Oswego.

Four area school districts will be made more secure as Labette County was awarded a U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant. This was announced at Monday’s Labette County Commission meeting by Sheriff William Blundell.
Labette County was awarded $362,885 to be used in all four area school districts: USD #503 Parsons; USD #504 Oswego; USD #505 Chetopa/St. Paul and USD #506 Labette County.
In June of this year, the commissioners approved the application for the Federal COPS Grant. The local 50 percent match of $362,885 will be paid from Labette County Schools. There is no cost to the county.
The application was for camera systems, door strikers, exterior light support cameras on exterior doors, etc. “This grant goes really great with what we got last year,” Sheriff William Blundell said. “This grant will help to finalize it.”
“Labette County was awarded the largest amount in the state,” Blundell said. The other  seven counties and the amount they received were: Andover $32,800; Cherokee County $161,087; Cherryvale $73,526; Dodge City $31,115; Ft. Scott $16,295; Girard $23,013 and Wilson County $293,249, making the state total grant $1,013,920.
“This is the second time we’ve done this,” Commissioner Lonie Addis said.
IN OTHER ACTION at Monday’s meeting:
• Commissioner Brian Kinzie with Dan Goddard, KAAP-LRPA executive director, was in Washington, D.C., Monday to meet with Mark Jones and the Department of the Army.
• Approved LCWC work crew application for the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Oswego. The female inmates will be helping with different project within the church.
• Sheriff William Blundell told the commission about county surplus property sale set tentatively for Oct. 25. The sale will be held at the county barn here in Oswego, south, behind the gas pumps.
• Laura Moore, was given approval to have ACM Removal LLC to remove 112 sq. ft., (small storage room) area for asbestos removal at the Osage Fire/Community Center project, located in Dennis. The grant will pay the $1,200  cost to remove it.
• Approved second pay request for Laura Moore, grant project and administrator for the Osage Fire/Community Center project, in the amount of $3,650.
• Update on the Osage Fire/Community Center -  soon be in the construction phase by middle of next month, Moore said. The school building will be torn town after a 10-day waiting period following the asbestos removal. Once removed, work can begin immediately.
• Approved for District Court to have an off-site computer software system as a backup. This system is used by other courts in the area. Cost will be $475 for Oswego and $625 for Parsons court.
• Road and Bridge Dept., helped to aid Elk City Reservoir with 3-4 dozen sandbags needed around the intake water valve, before flood water began rising last week.

Friday night area football games schedule will be the following:
Chetopa High School will be at St. Paul at 7 p.m.
Labette County High School will be at Coffeyville at 7 p.m.
Oswego High School will be here against Pleasanton at 7 p.m.
* * *
Upcoming other sports schedules include:
Thursday, Sept. 18 -
CHS Cross Country at Parsons, 5 p.m.
LC Volleyball at Coffeyville, 5 p.m.
LC Cross Country at Parsons Big Hill, 4 p.m.
OHS Golf at Moran, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20 -
LC Junior Varsity Volleyball at Ft .Scott, 9 a.m.
OHS Volleyball at Oswego, 8 a.m
LC Varsity Volleyball at Aurora, 9 a.m.
CHS Volleyball at Oswego, 8 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 22 -
LC Tennis at Parsons, 3 p.m.

For more information, see the Sept. 17 issue of the Labette Avenue. To locate previously posted death notices, enter the decedent’s last name in the archive search box on Labette Avenue’s home page. Labette Avenue publishes death notices free of charge. Paid obituaries ($20) are printed in their entirety in the Labette Avenue and online at taylornews.org.

Maxine Mansfield

McCUNE—Maxine Mansfield, 87, of rural McCune, Kan., died at 11:13 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008, at Labette Health in Parsons.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 12, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in McCune Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the McCune United Methodist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Maxine was born Sept. 25, 1920, to Harv and Roberta Ann (Hoover) Claxton in Sherman City, Kan. As a young girl, she grew up and attended school there. She was a graduate of West Mineral High School and continued her education by attending Parsons Jr. College.

On March 2, 1940, she married Bernard E. Mansfield in Sherman City. Following marriage, they made their home on a farm south of McCune where they were engaged in farming and raising dairy cattle. He preceded her in death in July 1983. She continued to live on the family farm until December 2007. At that time, due to ill health, she moved to the Parsons Good Samaritan Society where she had resided since.

She was a member of the McCune United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women’s group there, McCune Lady Lions, Quilting Club, McGown’s Swim Class and the McCune Coop. She especially enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s activities, family gatherings, and visiting with friends and neighbors.

Those surviving are one son, James Mansfield and wife Elsa, Rancho Cordova, Calif.; two daughters, Sally McKinzie and husband Ron, Altamont, Kan.; and Patty Dick and husband Melvin, Independence; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two sons, Joe Mansfield and Max Mansfield; five brothers, Hiram Carson, Rollie Carson, Johnnie Claxton, Jim Claxton and Joe Claxton; and five sisters, Alta Hawley, Hazel Lovelady, Nellie Czapansky, Lela Shaw and Elma Bennett.

Rita M. Meeks

ALTAMONT—Rita M. Meeks, 77, of rural Altamont, Kan., passed away at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008, at her home. She had been in ill health for the past few weeks.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Mound Valley Christian Church. Burial will follow at the Mound Valley Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Friday at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont.

Memorials are suggested to the USD 506 Foundation, Inc., or the Mound Valley Christian Church. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home,P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.

Rita was born May 30, 1931, in Earlham, Iowa, to Pernal E. and Mildred L. (Cottle) Sandusky. As a young girl, she grew up in Cummings, Iowa, area until moving with her family to rural Mound Valley in 1947. She was a 1948 graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont.

Through the years, she worked at Lee Manufacturing Company in Cherryvale, Brodericks, in Parsons, and was a bus driver for Unified School District 506 in Altamont for 33 years.

On Sept. 16, 1950, she married Eugene Meeks in Dearing, Kan., in the home of the Reverend Joe Brown. They would have celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on the 16th of this month. Mr. Meeks survives of the home.

She enjoyed cooking, canning and taking care of her animals, especially the chickens and the pigs. She was a member of the Mound Valley Christian Church.

Additional survivors include two sons, Michael L. Meeks, rural Altamont; and Roger A. Meeks, rural Altamont; one daughter, Carol D. Meiwes and husband Charles , rural Edna; six grandchildren, Teri Kinyon, Steve Meiwes, LeaAnn Myers, Mandy Lantz, Roger Meeks, II and Travis Meeks; nine great-grandchildren; four brothers, Burl Sandusky, Lovelock, Nev.; Vernon Sandusky, Edna; Johnny Sandusky, Altamont; and Ron Sandusky, Coffeyville.

She was preceded in death by one brother and one sister.

Kenton D. Rife

OSWEGO—Kenton D. Rife, 88, of Oswego, Kan., died Saturday, Sept.13, 2008, at Elm Haven West in Parsons, Kan.

Funeral services will be at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the First Methodist Church in Oswego with Pastor Bob Conway and Rev. Paul Wiand officiating. Friends may call at Murdock Funeral Home, Oswego, after 2 p.m. Tuesday, with visitation from 7 to 8 p.m. Burial will be at Oswego Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the First Methodist Church of Oswego or Harry Hynes Hospice and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Kenton was born Dec. 9, 1919, to Harvey Henry Rife and Ada Mae (Boore) Rife in Rice County, Kan., where he grew up and graduated from Lyons High School. In 1940, he moved with his parents to Labette County and farmed with them for several years.

On Feb. 1, 1942, he and Ruth M. Goodrich of Lyons, Kan., were married at Murdoch, Kan. They lived on their farm south of Oswego until he entered a nursing home in December 2003.

Kenton’s life’s work was farming but his interests included may activities. He was a life long member of the First Methodist Church, serving on boards and teaching Sunday school. He was active in his community, serving as a school board member of both Stice and Sunnyview schools. He served as a board member of Farm Bureau, Agriculture Extension, ASCS, and 14 years on the Labette County Fair board. He also served as president of the State Association of County Fairs and was inducted into the Kansas Master Farmer Association in 1980.

In addition to farming, he had jobs at Oswego Co-Op, measured wheat ground for ASCS, was a guard at Kansas Army Ammunition Plant and worked at razing the old Labette County courthouse and jail. He enjoyed a life full of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He liked hunting, fishing, bowling and square dancing.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth, of the home; two sons, David A. and wife Jo Ann, Grove, Okla,; Ronald K. and wife Linda. Oswego; two daughters, Susan Bates and husband Lee, Oswego; and Karla Cook, Oswego; daughter-in-law, Terri Rife, Carl Junction, Mo.; 12 grandchildren, Randy A., Lawndale, Calif.; Ronda Knapp, Grove, Okla.; Nicki Tomlinson and husband Jim, Oswego; Tina Johnson and husband Kevin, McCune; Nolan D., Oswego; Jeffrey R., Oswego; John D. and wife Jaci, Oswego; Chris L. Bates, Parsons; Drew A. Bates, Altamont; Brady M. Bates, Pittsburg; Joni Cook and Kimberly Cook, both of Oswego; 14 great grandchildren; and a sister, Lowella Day of Colorado.

Preceding him in death were a son, Stanley D. Rife of Carl Junction; two brothers, Stewart Rife of Lyons; Lt. Arthur D. Rife, USAF of Lyons, killed in a training flight in 1943; three sisters, Bernadine Rolfs, Lorraine, Kan.; Arlene Martin, Oswego; and Janice Brubaker, Lyons.

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Garrett

PALESTINE, Texas—Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Garrett, 91, of Palestine, Texas, formerly of Chetopa, Kan., died at 6:13 a.m., Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, at Cartmell Nursing Home in Palestine, Texas. She had been in failing health.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008, at the Chetopa United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.

Memorials are suggested to Chetopa United Methodist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.

Betty was born March 12, 1917, in Chetopa, Kan., to George L. and Mary Ann (Rhoten) Emert. As a young girl, she grew up and attended schools in Chetopa.

She and Earl C. Garrett were married Aug. 31, 1933, in Oswego, Kan. He preceded her in death Jan. 14, 1997.

Betty was an active member of the Republican Party for a number of years, a life member of the Order of Eastern Star where she also served as Worthy Matron, and Mother Advisor of Chetopa Rainbow Girls. She was also a member of Chetopa Chamber of Commerce and Senior Home Culture Club in Chetopa. She was a lifetime member of the Chetopa United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school, was pianist, served on the board and participated in United Methodist Women.

For a number of years, she served as Clerk of Municipal Court for the City of Chetopa, and retired as city librarian from there. She also assisted her husband, as caretaker, of Oak Hill Cemetery in Chetopa. She and her husband enjoyed going to Grand Lake, boating, playing pitch, and in earlier years, she was an avid bowler.

Those surviving include one son, Earl C. Garrett, II, Ashburn, Va.; two daughters, Earlene Stokesberry, Coffeyville, Kan.; and Audrey Ann Tatum, Palestine, Texas; 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by three sisters.

Elizabeth J. Boyer

PARSONS—Elizabeth J. Boyer, 60, of Parsons, Kan., died Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008, at Labette Health.

A private memorial service will be held by the family at a future date. Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons is in charge of arrangements.

Josephine L. Walker

PARSONS—Josephine L. Walker, 85, of Parsons, Kan., died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008, at Labette Health, where she entered on Sept. 3. She had been in failing health for several months and had resided at the Presbyterian Manor the past year.

Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Friday at East Bethany Cemetery, north of Parsons. In the event of rain, the service will be moved to Carson-Wall Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 8 p.m. today.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Educational Foundation and may be left at or sent to the funeral home, Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

James C. ‘Cliff’ Diediker

PARSONS—James C. “Cliff” Diediker, 89, of rural Parsons, Kan., died Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, at Woodridge Estates in Parsons.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Valley Cemetery north of Parsons. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice Care of Kansas and may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Ramona M. Reeves

COLUMBUS—Ramona M. Reeves, 63, of Columbus, Kan., formerly of Mountain Grove, Mo., passed away Tuesday night, Sept. 9, 2008, at the Medicalodge of Columbus, after a sudden illness.

Visitation will be 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday evening at the Simpson Funeral Home in Columbus, Kan. Graveside funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Friday, Sept. 12at the Denlow Cemetery in Denlow, Mo.

Donald Lee Chenoweth

WELCH, Okla.—Donald Lee Chenoweth, 77, of Welch, Okla., passed away Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008, at Craig General Hospital in Vinita, Okla.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Welch. Burial will be in Welch City Cemetery, Welch, with military rites performed by the American Legion Post #147, Veteran’s Funeral Detail. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Thomas Funeral Home, Welch.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Welch.

Services are under the direction of Jim Thomas, Thomas Funeral Home, Welch.

Elizabeth E. ‘Betty’ O’Hara

PARSONS—Elizabeth E. “Betty” O’Hara, 77, of Parsons died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008, in the emergency room at Labette Health.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. The Daughters of Isabella will recite the rosary at 6 p.m. Monday, and the parish rosary will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, both at the church.

Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick’s Catholic School Endowment Fund. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons is in charge of arrangements.

Mildred Laura (Stevenson) McKelvey

PARSONS—Mildred Laura (Stevenson) McKelvey, 95, of Parsons, Kan., died Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, at the Good Samaritan Center in Parsons.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 15, at the Wesley United Methodist Church. The family will greet friends at the church following the service. Burial will be at Linwood Cemetery at Paragould, Ark., on Tuesday.

Friends may call at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons on Sunday. Memorials are suggested to the Wesley United Methodist Church. They may be left at or sent to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357.

Tommy J. McCollugh

COLUMBUS—Tommy J. McCullough, 73, of Columbus, Kan., died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008, at Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center in Pittsburg, Kan

Private family services will be at a later date. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 104 W. Main St., Weir, Kan. Friends may call the funeral home after 3 p.m. on Sunday. E-mail condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com.

The family suggests expressions of sympathy be in the form of memorials to the Cherokee Little League Ball Park in Cherokee, Kan. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Bath-Naylor Funeral of Weir, Kan.

Carolyn L. Busker

COLUMBUS—Carolyn L. Busker, 55, of Columbus, Kan., co-owner of Lighthouse Cafe, passed away Thursday, Sept. 10, 2008.

Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Greenwood Cemetery, Granby, Mo. Arrangements are under the direction of Clark Funeral Home, Neosho, Mo.

Thomas J. Crispell, DVM

PARSONS—Thomas J. Crispell, DVM, 79, of Parsons, Kan., died Sunday, Sept 14, 2008, at Elmhaven East Nursing Home in Parsons. He had been in failing health.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept 19, at the First Presbyterian Church in Parsons. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

Memorials are suggested to “The Rock” or Unified School District No. 503 Foundation. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.