For more information, see the April 15, 2009, 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 www.taylornews.org/lba.

Vera Violet Yardley Tolles

DENNIS—Vera Violet Yardley Tolles, 91, of Dennis, Kan., died at 6:45 p.m., Thursday, April 9, 2009, at the Good Samaritan Society in Parsons where she had resided the past year.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, near Dennis. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Monday, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to St. John’s Episcopal Church. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Vera was born June 17, 1917, in Kasak Pai, in the Province of Tashkent, in Western Siberia, to Thomas Theodore Yardley, an Englishman, who helped manage a copper mine in Russia, and Daria Petrovnia Strillkoff, a Russian. During the Russian Revolution, the family escaped to Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, England, in approximately 1921, where she lived until graduating from high school.

She was an accomplished pianist, vocalist and violinist. During World War II, she worked in the land army, and while attending a charity dance, she met and fell in love with her sweetheart, Burnett. They had planned an English wedding, but Burnett’s military orders changed, postponing the wedding until she was able to come to the United States.

Vera traveled first class to the United States aboard the maiden voyage of The Queen Elizabeth, where she was invited to dine at the captain’s table. She arrived in New York City and traveled by train to Arkansas City, Kan., to wed Burnett W. Tolles. Unfortunately, the trunk with all of her family possessions was mistakenly sent to Arkansas where all her valuables were lost. On March 2, 1947, she and Burnett were married in Cedar Vale, Kan. He preceded her in death December 11, 2002.

Vera loved cooking, entertaining, and serving tea with a beautifully set table. She prayed specifically for over 300 people daily, and prayed for everyone and anyone she met, touching their lives in an unforgettable way. She especially enjoyed saying The Lord’s Prayer in Russian. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who adored her family, and was a devout Christian who wanted to set the example of God’s unceasing love. Following her retirement from the family dairy operation, where she helped Burnett raise the baby calves, she worked in the dining room at the Parsons Presbyterian Manor for several years.

She was a member of the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Parsons.

Those surviving are one son, Donald Tolles, Dennis; two daughters, Daria Condon and husband Dennis, Altamont; Deborah Ewbank, San Antonio, Texas; three grandchildren, Chad Ewbank and wife Opal, Parsons; Travis Condon and wife Patricia, Parsons; and Craig Condon and wife Trinity, Pittsburg; five great-grandchildren, Mary, Garrett, Lori, McCormick and Hunter; three nephews and their families in England and numberous Tolles family members.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by two brothers.

Richard L. “Dick” Barnett

PARSONS—Richard L. “Dick” Barnett, 80, of Parsons, Kan., formerly of Altamont, died at 4:41 a.m., Friday, April 10, 2009, at Labette Health. He had been in failing health.

Dick was born Nov. 5, 1928, in Altamont, Kan., to William Green and Mary Madeline (Johnson) Barnett. As a young boy, he grew up and attended schools in Altamont and was a graduate of Labette County Community High School.  He served in the United States Army from 1951-1953.

Following his discharge, he farmed ten years at Moore/Compton Farms.  Upon moving to Altamont, he worked at the Farmers Coop and Elevator in Altamont, then Stephens Manufacturing in Oswego. In 1972, he began working at Power Flame in Parsons where he served as fabrication foreman for several years, retiring from there in April 1993.

He and Claudine Payne were married Jan. 23, 1954, in Bartlesville, Okla. She preceded him in death Dec. 6, 2006.

Dick was a member of the First Baptist Church in Altamont, a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Oswego, a 35 year volunteer for the Altamont-Mt. Pleasant Fire Department, and served as Labette County sheriff reserve deputy for 25 years. He enjoyed coyote hunting, deer hunting, fishing, camping and gardening.

Surviving are four daughters, Sharon Boring and husband Phillip, Parsons; Janis Bruce and husband Glen, Altamont; Pamela Mahan, Altamont; and Paula Davis, Baxter Springs; 10 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren;  two brothers, Robert “Bob” Barnett and wife Patty, Edna; Frank Barnett and wife Wymetta, Parsons; two sisters, Betty “Sis” McCartney, Gainesville, Texas; Shirley McCormick and husband Larry, Denton, Texas; numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a stillborn daughter, Vickie Marian Barnett; and two brothers.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 14, at the First Baptist Church in Altamont. Burial will be in Mt. PleasantCemetery in Altamont. The family will receive friends at the church following the memorial service.

Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church in Altamont or the Louie P. Gartner Idle Hour Lake Fund. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.

Betty Ann Wilson

CHETOPA—Betty Ann Wilson, 78, of Chetopa, died at 8:45 a.m., Monday, April 13, 2009, at her home.  She had been in failing health.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 17, 2009, at Oak Hill Cemetery in Chetopa. Friends may call at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, to sign the register. The casket will remain closed.

Memorials are suggested to the 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 Nov. 26, 1930, in Butler, Mo., to Alton and Nadine (Hammers) Chambers.  As a young girl, she attended Butler schools before moving to Chetopa during her 6th grade year, graduating from Chetopa High School in 1949.

She resided in Midland and Odessa, Texas, and in 1979, moved to Santa Barbara, Calif., before returning to Chetopa in 1986. She worked at H.D. Lee Garment Factory in Chetopa several years.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Chetopa.

On July 5, 1957, she and James E. Wilson were married in Midland, Texas. He survives of the home.
Additional survivors include: one brother, Bob Chambers, Greenville, SC; three sisters, Peggy Paden, Chetopa; Darlene Downing, Chetopa; and Mary Kay Miles, Webb City, Mo., numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her biological father, Alton Chambers; her parents, Grover and Nadine Piatt; and one sister, Betty Bader.

Robert C. Kellogg

PARSONS—Robert C. Kellogg, 60, of Parsons, Kan., died at 7:11 p.m., Sunday, April 12, 2009, at the Landmark Hospital in Joplin, Mo. He had been in failing health.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 16, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Springhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Alcoholics Anonymous in Parsons.  These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Robert was born Jan. 10, 1949, in Lewiston, Idaho, to Harold David and Opal Maxine (Philebaum) Kellogg.

As a young boy, he moved to Kansas with his family where he grew up and attended schools. He worked at various factories in the Parsons area where he also owned and operated Kellogg’s Tree Service for several years.

He enjoyed fishing, cooking, camping, and going to the casinos.  He especially enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.

He and Louise Curnutte were married. They later divorced. He and Doris Thompson were married May 14, 1973. She survives of the home.

Additional survivors include four sons, Robert Kellogg, Jr., Parsons; Travis Kellogg and companion Linda Perez, Parsons, Trampis Kellogg, Parsons; Troy Kellogg and wife Julie, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; two daughters, Lorene Dobrosky and husband John, Grove, Okla.; and Lisa Kellogg, Grove; 14 grandchildren, including Troy David Kellogg and Travis Cain Kellogg, of the home; two great-grandchildren; one brother, Rocky Kellogg, Parsons; three sisters, Connie Horn and husband Pat, Broken Arrow, Okla.; Nola Shaw and husband Bob, Parsons; and Tonya Evans and husband James, Parsons; one aunt, JoAnn Couch and husband Everett, Parsons; numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Tommy Kellogg, in 1976; and one sister, Lola Landgren, in 2007.

Marie Ernestine “Ernie” Kinsch

PARSONS—Marie Ernestine “Ernie” Kinsch, 85, of Parsons, Kan., died Tuesday, April 7, 2009, at Elmhaven East Nursing Home in Parsons.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, April 10, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Burial will be in East Bethany Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Thursday, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice Care of Kansas or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Cleora Marie Wilson

COLUMBUS—Cleora Marie Wilson, 88, of Columbus, Kan., died Saturday, April 11, 2009, at her home, after an illness.

Graveside services will be 10 a.m., Monday, April 13, at the Park Cemetery in Columbus with the Rev. Jeff Martin officiating. Burial will be in the Park cemetery in Columbus.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Simpson Funeral Home in Columbus.

Christine Turner

PARSONS—Christine Turner, 85, formerly of Wichita, Kan., died Monday, April 13, 2009, at her daughter’s home in Parsons, Kan. She had been in failing health.

Complete obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announced by Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Eleuterio “Lou” Carrillo

PARSONS—Eleuterio “Lou” Carrillo, 83, of Parsons, died Friday, April 10, 2009, at his home. He had been in failing health.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 15, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. The Rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.