For more information, see the July 1, 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.

Donna M. Handshy

OSWEGO—Donna M. Handshy, 76, of rural Oswego, Kan., died at 5:16 p.m., Sunday, June 28, 2009, at Labette Health. She had been in her usual health and death was not expected.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, July 2, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in McKee Cemetery, rural Hallowell. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society.

Donna was born Sept. 7, 1932, on the family farm in Montana, Kan., to Emmet Lee and Edith Della (Sawtell) Sprague. She grew up in the Montana area and was a 1950 graduate of Labette County Community High School in Altamont.

On July 4, 1954, she and Albert “Ray” Handshy were married in Girard, Kansas. Following marriage, they traveled extensively through each of the lower 48 states, and Canada, while Ray worked in construction building smokestacks. In 1967, they returned to Montana where they have lived since.

Donna worked in food service at Service Valley School and also at her sister-in-law’s flower shop, Peggy’s Flowers, in Altamont, and for many years served on the Election Board. She enjoyed working word-find puzzles, going on trail rides with their horses and covered wagon, and attending family reunions. Donna was an adoring grandmother and great-grandmother and especially delighted in babysitting their great-grandson, Hunter, the past few months.

She was baptized at the Christian Church in Montana and was a member of the Frontier Wagon Club, the Oklahoma Wagon Racers, and the Missouri Horse, Mule and Pony Association.

Those surviving include her husband, Ray Handshy, of the home, rural Oswego; two sons, Douglas Ray Handshy, Parsons; and Chris Alan Handshy and wife Patti, Wichita; one daughter, Kathy Annette Bozarth and husband Robert, Parsons; two stepsons, Jimmy Handshy, Arma; and Randy Handsy and wife Pam, Aurora, Mo.; six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Carroll Sprague and wife Norma, rural Parsons; and Charles Sprague, Altamont; numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Emmet and Edith Sprague; one son, Gregory Handshy; and two brothers, Russel Sprague and Thomas “Tom” Sprague.

Elmer Amos Vance, Jr.

OSWEGO—Elmer Amos Vance, Jr., 74, of Oswego, Kan., died Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at his home following illness.

A graveside service will be at 2 p.m., Friday, at Oswego Cemetery with Joe Cervantes officiating. Family and friends will gather at 1 p.m., Friday, at Murdock Funeral Home in Oswego. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorials to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice or the American Cancer Society and may be sent to the funeral home, 203 Illinois, Oswego, KS 67356.

Elmer was born Sept. 25, 1934, in Oswego to Elmer “Peck” Sr. and Alma (Burris) Vance. He graduated from Oswego High School and was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the Navy.

Mr. Vance worked for B.F. Goodrich, Bartlett Co-op, Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, Peabody TecTank and Ruskin Manufacturing. He was owner and operator of the Vance’s Highway Cafe and Longhorn Bar. He loved to garden, fish, camp and tell stories.

He married Lorraine Maynard. He later married Alpha Conrad. He married Charlotte Tucker on July 18, 2006. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include six daughters, Bonnie Mahaffey and George of Reno, Nev., Gina Middleton and Randy of Labette City, Kathy Daniels and Wayne of Chetopa, Judy Jurgensen and Larry of Uniontown, Connie Bozarth and Michael of Jacksonville, Fla., and Teresa Hultman and Jim of Dewey, Okla.; a son, Delbert Conrad and Beth of Bartlett; a stepdaughter, Susan Bergerson and Bert of Duluth, Minn.; a stepson, Bob Erickson and Carolyn of Rogers, Ark.; 24 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; a sister, Vivian Gorman and Lester of Paola; and two brothers, Donnie Vance and Mary Ellen of Mound Valley and Lonnie Vance and Julia of Rosenburg, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his previous wife of 32 years, Alpha; his parents; and a sister, Elizabeth June Vance.

Norris L. Greer

WELCH, Okla.—Norris L. Greer, 82, of Welch, Okla., died Friday, June 26, 2009.

Services were held Monday, June 29, at Welch Christian Church. Burial was in Walker Cemetery, Welch. Thomas Funeral Home, Welch, was in charge of arrangements.

1st Lt. Brian N. Bradshaw

STEILACOOM, Wash.—1st Lt. Brian N. Bradshaw, 24, of Steilacoom, Wash., died Thursday, June 25, 2009, in Kheyl, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised bomb went off near his vehicle. He was stationed in Fort Richardson, Alaska, and deployed to Afghanistan in March.

He is the grandson of Virginia Bradshaw, Parsons.

No funeral arrangements have been made at this time.

Lillian M. Wolverton

PARSONS, Kan.—Lillian M. Wolverton, 78, of Parsons, Kan., died Saturday, June 27, 2009.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will be in Mitchell Cemetery, near Oswego. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.