SOUTHERN LABETTE COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS Read more

Several Labette County leaders met with the area legislative delegation in Topeka last Wednesday.
Those making the trip on behalf of Labette County were: Tom Bringle, administrator of the Labette Correctional Camp and Oswego mayor; Dr. George Knox, president of Labette Community College; Stacey Green, member of the Labette Correctional Conservation Camp board; Kenneth Miller, an attorney from Topeka; former State Representative Vernon Correll of Oswego; and all three county commissioners, Lonie Addis, Brian Kinzie and Jack Martin. Read more

David and Kerin Brader have opened a new business in Oswego at 814 Fourth, across the street from the Post Office.  “The Wagon Load” carries a unique variety of merchandise such as dishes, furniture, kitchen knick-knacks, flower arrangements, and “a little bit of everything.” Read more

The Oswego Assembly of God recognized 12 of the 17 firefighters in the Oswego Fire Department at Sunday’s service.
Rev. Steve McBrien and the church board presented all the firemen with a geniune Firemen’s Bible with their names engraved on the front.
Present were Donnie and Janie Allison; Greg, Diane and John  Young; Jake Hine and Jennifer Carrell, Jon and Janelle Eck, Kenny Eck, Chris Brown, John and Justin Strickland, Kevin and Rochelle Sheddrick, Drake, Madison and Ryann; Steve, Nicole and Wyatt McClure; Tyler and Holly Dreiling, Kyler and Hailey; and Jason and Tiffany Higgins.
A dinner was held in the Family Life Center for all the firefighters who attended.

The Chetopa Chamber Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, April 11, at 10 a.m. at the Chetopa Football Field for ages 0 to 6th Grade.

The Oswego Easter Egg Hunt will be held Saturday, April 11 at 10 a.m. at Riverside Park. There will be four age categories with prizes, candy and goods. This event is sponsored by Labette Avenue, Oswego Healthmart, and Oswego Community Hospital.

Crosstimbers Community Church in Edna, KS will host the community wide Good Friday services on April 10.  Edna area churches participate in praise and worship, special songs, preaching, and fellowship. An offering is taken to help area families or those passing through that are in need.  The program will begin at 7 p.m.  The church is located at the intersection of Labette and Marion streets (1blk. east of City Hall).  All are welcome.

Crosstimbers Community Church in Edna, will hold  a community breakfast before services on Easter morning. The breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. with services following at 10 a.m.  An easter egg hunt for children 12 and under will follow the service.  The church is located at the intersection of Labette and Marion Streets (1blk. east of City Hall).  All are welcome.

Good gospel singing and special music will be a part of the Chetopa Community’s Good Friday Service on Friday, April 10, at 7 p.m. This year it will be at the Faith Baptist Church. Rev. J.B. Roberts will be the main speaker of the evening. A free-will offering will be taken with all its proceeds given for the helping of those who are in need of food or gasoline. We invite all of you to come and join us. This event is sponsored by the Chetopa Ministerial Alliance.

The Faith Baptist Church of Chetopa reminds you that Easter is much more than Easter eggs, rabbits, and brightly colored clothes. It is all about the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. It may have been a long time or maybe never that you took time to worship Jesus. Those at Faith Baptist invite you to come to the early Easter service at the Oak Hill Cemetery at Chetopa. The services will begin at 7 a.m. Sunday, April 12. Also you are invited to join us back at the church building for breakfast at 8 a.m. Services will be held back at the church building if it by chance should be raining. All are invited to attend Sunday School at 9:45 a.m., the morning services at 10:45 a.m., and the Evening Services at 6 p.m. For further information, contact Pastor Raymond Whetstone at 236-7985.

The Christian Women’s Fellowship of the First Christian Church of Chetopa held their monthly meeting on April 2. There were eight members and one guest, Caroline Garren, of Miami, Okla. attending.
After a delicious potluck meal, the meeting was called to order by President Fannie Bassett, the meeting opened by singing “Fill My Cup, Lord.” Fannie gave the prayer. Secretary and treasurer’s reports were given and approved.
Events coming up are the Community Good Friday services April 10 to be held at the Faith Baptist Church. April 12 the First Christian Church will have Easter Sunrise breakfast prepared by the men of the church. The Chetopa Manor Nursing Home Services will be held by the First Christian Church of Chetopa at 3 p.m. on April 26.
Mary Ann Prose gave the lesson entitled “The Way of the Cross–the Crucifixion of Jesus on the Cross.” The entry into Jerusalem, Mark 11:1-4; The Betrayal, Luke 22:39-42; The Way of the Cross, John 19:5-13 and Matthew 27:33-3,, The Resurrection, John 20:16-17.
Lucille Thompson will host the next meeting on May 7. The meeting was closed by reciting the Motto.––Fannie Bassett, president

On Sunday, April 12 at 10 a.m., Oswego Christian Church will be proud to present their Easter play production entitled, “The River.” The public is encouraged to attend.  There is no admission fee and no tickets are needed.  The Church is located just south of Oswego on US highway 59.  For further information you may call 620.795.2000 or visit the Church’s web-site at oswegochristian.com.
“The Parable of the River” is a short story written by Max Lucado, popular Christian author.  The Church has adapted this excerpt from Lucado’s book, “In the Grip of Grace” into a reader’s theater/live action play.  The story is about five brothers and their life journey.  The male siblings are played by Emmit “Bub” Burton, Levion Bolinger, Bryce Rea, Daniel Nottingham, and Caleb Hays.  Plus, five additional people will narrate the readers theater portion of the production… Kris Redburn, Scott Gegg, Lisa Hays,  Renee Cochran, and Rod Wittmer.
In addition to the efforts of a dozen others filling the  support and operation roles, the Church has designed a beautiful set to portray the story.  The play will be performed in the Church’s gymnasium.  The Church is happy to share the message of God’s grace found in the Cross of Jesus Christ and His empty tomb.––by Pastor Phil Hays

Oswego First Baptist Church will have the singing/ministering group called Praise Incorporated. They will be singing at the Free Lunch provided by the Ministerial Alliance 11 to 1 p.m. at the corner of 4th and Commercial.

Oswego Ministerial Alliance will provide Community Good Friday Services at St. Paul Lutheran Church at 7 p.m. on April 10.

Oswego First Baptist Church of Oswego will hold a Revival at their church on Saturday, April 11, 7 p.m.; Sunday, April 12 at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday, April 12 at 6 p.m. ministered by Praise Incorporated.

For more information, see the April 8, 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.

Frances Loveda Pritchett

OSWEGO—Frances Loveda Pritchett, 98, of Oswego, passed away Thursday, April 2, 2009, in the Medicalodge of Columbus, Kan.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 14, in the Murdock Funeral Home, Oswego, with Chaplain John Potter officiating.

Charity donations through Murdock may be designated for Salvation Army, the Oswego Senior Center or St. John’s Hospice.

Loveda was born Oct. 11, 1910, in Omaha, Ill., the daughter of Lawrence and Lula (Vaughn) Blackard.
She was a member of the Methodist Church. She worked many years in the Omaha Illinois Glass Factory, located in Gas City, Ind. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting, fishing, playing bingo and cards, and gardening. She was also creative in bead work and plastic canvas. During her lifetime, she lived in Illinois, Texas, Indiana, Florida and Kansas.

In 1990, Loveda moved to Oswego to live near her sister, Mary Shugart. She survives.

Other survivors are one nephew, David Blackard, Westminster, Colo.; and six nieces, Rebecca Potter, Jean Welle, and Rachel Dawn Russell, all of Oswego; Lois Knight, Spencer, Iowa; Faith Mitchell, Centennial, Colo.; and Hope Just, Clearwater, Kan.; plus many great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Otis Wayne Blackard, Sr., and two nephews, Otis Wayne Blackard, Jr., and Lawrence Blackard.

Her first husband was Ed Winters. Her second husband was Clarence Pritchett. Both are deceased.

Lillie P. “Lil” Smith

CHETOPA—Lillie P. “Lil” Smith, 94, of Chetopa, Kan., died at 7:25 p.m., Friday, April 3, 2009, at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, April 10, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at 10:30 a.m. until service time, on Friday, at the funeral home. Friends may call after 10 a.m., Thursday, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or the Chetopa Manor. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.

Lil was born Aug. 27, 1914, in Beloit, Kan., to William and Nancy (Thompson) Karrle. In 1915, the family moved to a farm southeast of Chetopa. Lillie attended grade school at Piety Hill, south of Chetopa, and was a 1933 graduate of Chetopa High School.

She and Ray F. Smith were married June 16, 1939, in Chetopa. Through the years, the couple lived in various locations while he was working in construction, and returned to Chetopa in 1971. He preceded her in death Sept. 25, 1975. She attended the Assembly of God in Chetopa and was a lifetime member of the Order of Eastern Star Chapter 110. She enjoyed flower gardening, bowling, traveling, painting and loved watching golf and ice skating on television.

Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved, including her caregivers, Shirley English-Brown and Linda Young.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers, John, Bill and Jess Karrle; and three sisters, Marie Harlin, Rose Karrle, and Nel Elizabeth Waller.

Roberta Janett Marietta

PITTSBURG —Roberta Janett (Walker) Marietta, 58, of Pittsburg, Kan., died Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at her home after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She is the daughter of Nadine and Jack Wilson, Oswego.

Services were held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Pittsburg.  Burial was at Highland Park Cemetery.

Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Pittsburg was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Earlene Stokesberry

COFFEYVILLE—Mrs. Earlene (Garrett) Stokesberry, 74, of Coffeyville, Kan., died Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at St. John’s Medical Center in Joplin, Missouri. She had been in failing health.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, at the Chetopa United Methodist Church with the Reverend Susan Brown, pastor, officiating. Interment will be at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Chetopa under the direction of the Penwell-Gabel Ford Wulf Bruns Chapel of Coffeyville. Friends may call at the funeral home from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

The family has suggested memorial remembrances to the Chetopa United Methodist Church and remembrances will be received at the funeral home.

Mary Evelyn Green

COLUMBUS—Mary Evelyn Green, 99, of Columbus, Kan., died Monday, April 6, 2009, at Medicalodge of Columbus.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Thursday, April 9, at the Murdock Funeral Home, Columbus, with Rev. Susan Daniel-Brey officiating. Interment will be in the Park Cemetery, Columbus.

Memorials may be made to the First United  Methodist Church of  Columbus with the funeral home serving as custodian. Condolences may be left at murdockfuneralhomes.com.

James D. “Perch” Ackley

PARSONS—James D. “Perch” Ackley, 57, of Parsons, Kan., died Saturday, April 4, 2009, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Mo., following a brief illness.

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

Memorials are suggested to PAWS (Parsons Animal Welfare Society). These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Gertrude Peterson

SAN JUAN, Texas—Gertrude (Sheets) Peterson, 99, of San Juan, Texas, formerly of Rosemead, Calif., died Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at the San Juan Nursing Home.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 2, at Oswego Cemetery under the direction of Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.

There will be a birthday party for Mae Henry who will be 101 years old on March 27 and Nellie McKnight who will be 103 on April 4.
Coffee and donuts will be served on april 4 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Edna United Methodist Church. No gifts please. Only your presence is requested.