For more information, see the May 6, 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.

Louise W. Johnson

OSWEGO—Louise W. Johnson, 93, of Oswego, Kan., passed away Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at the Oswego Health and Rehabilitation Center in Oswego.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Saturday, May 2, at the First Christian Church at Mound Valley with Pastor Rick Harter officiating. Interment will follow in the Mound Valley Cemetery. Visitation will be 7 to 8 p.m., Friday, at the Murdock Funeral Home, 203 Illinois, Oswego, KS 67356 Condolences may be left at murdockfuneralhomes.com.

Louise was born June 23, 1915, in the Hackberry Township, Labette County, Kan., the daughter of George Elmer Sr. and Elizabeth Pearl (Wadsack) Cunningham. She graduated from Oswego High School and later married Cleo Johnson of Mound Valley on June 11, 1936, in Oswego. The couple lived in the Mound Valley area.

She loved her family and was a faithful wife, mother and grandmother. Louise was an accomplished seamstress, gardener, cook and homemaker. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Mound Valley.

Louise is survived by two sons, Donald Johnson and wife Carol of Mound Valley; and Gerald Johnson and  wife Gloria of Mound Valley; two daughters, Jane Swank and Robert, Jr., of Bartlesville, Okla.; and Peggy Minor and Tom of Oswego; a sister, Maurine Turner of Parsons, Kan.; a brother, George Elmer Cunningham Jr. of Oswego; 20 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren and four great-great- grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1986, four brothers and six sisters and a grandson, Anthony Robb.

Sharon L. Peterson

ALTAMONT—Sharon L. Peterson, 69, of Altamont, Kan., died at 4:10 a.m., Sunday, May 3, 2009, at Labette Health following a courageous 12 year battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at the United Methodist Church in Altamont. Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont.

Memorials are suggested to the Altamont United Methodist Preschool.  These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P. O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.

Sharon was born March 13, 1940, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, Kan., to Roy L. and Neva (Ramsey) Vanlandingham. As a child, she moved with her family to Parsons where she attended schools and was a 1958 graduate of Parsons High School.

For a time, Sharon worked as a telephone operator, before beginning her 27 year career as Postmistress at Bartlett, Oswego and Altamont. In 1983, she and her husband, Jerry, became owners and operators of Peterson Hardware in Altamont.

She enjoyed painting, quilting, reading, gardening, canning, baking, tending to her goldfish pond, and collecting purple glassware. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, and being involved in community events.

Sharon was a member of the United Methodist Church in Altamont where she also served as preschool board member, and the Culture of Arts Club of Oswego.

She and Jerry D. Peterson were married Feb. 21, 1967, in Vinita, Okla. He survives of the home in Altamont.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Roy Louis Peterson, Parsons; Richard Dean Peterson and wife Hope, Arlington, Tenn.; one daughter, Christy Lynn McNett and husband Devin, Van Vleck, Texas; seven grandchildren, Matthew Peterson, Miranda Peterson, Sally Peterson, Athena George, Shane George, Tristan McNett and Zachary Warner; one sister, Terry Born and husband Jim, Walnut, Kan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Neva Vanlandingham.

Tyler Jason Odaffer

PARSONS—Tyler Jason Odaffer, 26, of Parsons, Kan., died Monday, April 27, 2009, in a one vehicle accident near Mound Valley.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 2, at the First Baptist Church, Parsons, with Dr. Joe Hyde and Pastor Lynn Ragsdale officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7:30 until 9 p.m., Friday, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to the Tyler J. Odaffer Memorial which will be used for his daughter, Brailyn.

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

Gladys Viola Mathes

PARSONS—Gladys Viola Mathes, 91, of Parsons, Kan., died Saturday, April 25, 2009, at the Memorial Herman Hospital at The Woodlands, Texas. She had been there since the Christmas holidays.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery at Parsons. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Free Will Baptist Church of Parsons. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Marjorie D. “Marge” Johnston

PARSONS—Marjorie D. “Marge” Johnston, 84, of Parsons, Kan., died at midnight, Friday, May 1, 2009, at her home. She had been in failing health.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery. The rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m., Monday, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons with family visitation immediately following.

Memorials are suggested to St. Vincent DePaul Society and may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Dora (Dorie) Alice McDaniel

COLUMBUS—Dora (Dorie) Alice McDaniel, 81, of Columbus, Kan., died Friday, May 1, 2009.

Services will be at 1 p.m., Tuesday, at Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, Columbus. Burial will be in Park Cemetery, Columbus. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.