For more information, see the Jan. 13, 2010, 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.

Barbara Eloise (Pyle) Austin

PARSONS—Barbara Eloise (Pyle) Austin, 88, of Parsons, Kan., died at 2:30 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, at the Good Samaritan Society of Parsons. Her home was 410 Parkway Drive in Parsons until June 2006 when she became a resident of the Parsons Good Samaritan Society.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, at Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons. Burial will be in the family plot at Memorial Lawn Maplewood Cemetery in Emporia. The family will receive friends at 10 a.m. Saturday, prior to the service, in Fellowship Hall at the church.

Memorials are suggested to the Wesley United Methodist Church or the Good Samaritan Society of Parsons. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.  Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.

Barbara was born Oct. 25, 1921, on the Pyle family farm northwest of Emporia, Kan., to Lester and Mattie (Loomis) Pyle. She attended schools in Emporia, including K.S.T.C., now Emporia State University, where she majored in art and was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority.

Barbara Pyle married Kirk Austin in Emporia on March 16, 1941, at Grace Methodist Church. After Mr. Austin’s service in World War II, the Austins moved to Blackwell, Okla., then to Parsons, where Mr. Austin was the store manager for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.  In 1948, Mr. and Mrs. Austin purchased the George P. Loeb store and began doing business as Kirk Austin’s Dry Goods and eventually as Kirk Austin’s Fabrics. Their first location was 1720 Main, then 1829 Main, and they built the final location at 1401 Main in 1969. After 43 years, they closed the store and retired in 1991.  During their retirement years, Kirk and Barbara traveled extensively, visiting 47 of the 48 continental states, as well as some parts of Canada and Mexico.

Barbara sewed all her life, and she was the creative talent behind the success of their family business. Sewing customers came from great distances to seek Barbara’s expertise and guidance in planning wedding attire, local to national sewing competitions, 4H and school projects, theatrical costuming and sets, and creative endeavors for vast numbers of people throughout the years. The Austins took great pride in the success of their store and in the joy they shared with their customers.

Barbara and Kirk Austin were married nearly 66 years at Kirk’s death in January 2007. Barbara was a member and worker in the First United Methodist Church and then the Wesley United Methodist Church. She served on various committees for the church, was active in church circles, her Sunday school class, the prayer chain, and helped with funeral dinners. She was a member of the Quilters Guild of Parsons and the Kansas Quilters Organization.

Barbara is survived by three children: T.J. Austin and wife Sharon of Oklahoma City; Virginia Constance of Lawrence; and Nancy Swanwick and husband Daryl of Fort Scott. Grandchildren are Jeremy Austin and wife Monica of Martinez, Ga.; Shelley Spurlock and husband Danny, Christie Austin, and Tadd Austin, all of Oklahoma City; Sam Constance of Kansas City, Mo.; Colin Constance of Lawrence; Matthew Swanwick and wife Carissa of Lenexa; and Daniel Swanwick and wife Catherine of Vienna, Va.  Great-grandchildren are Zach and Tony Austin; Molly and Tommy Spurlock; Tatum and Elliott Swanwick; and Benjamin Swanwick.

In addition to her husband, parents and siblings, Barbara was preceded in death by a daughter, Carolyn Austin, and Carolyn’s daughter, Laura Brigman.

Nellie “Pearl” Wilson

CHETOPA—Nellie “Pearl” Wilson, 83, of Chetopa, Kan., died at 2:48 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, at Chetopa Manor Nursing Home following a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 13, at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, 605 Locust, Chetopa. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Niotaze, Kan. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Tuesday.

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

Pearl was born Sept. 7, 1926, in Kansas, to Atron and Grace (Barnhart) Fuller. She grew up in Peru, Kan., and graduated high school from there. Following high school graduation, she taught for a time in the Peru area.

On June 13, 1947, she and Lloyd Wilson were married in Coffeyville. After marriage, the couple moved to Tulsa where he was employed by American Airlines. When her husband was forced to stop working due to illness, she began working for American Airlines. In the 1960s, they moved to Caney where she was employed by Caney Valley National Bank and retired from there as Vice President following a number of years of service. For the past nine years, she had lived in Chetopa to be near family.

She was a member of the First Christian Church in Chetopa where she served as treasurer for a number of years, Chapter No. 112 of the Order of the Eastern Star in Coffeyville and later moved her membership to Chetopa, and the Ladies Auxiliary in Chetopa. She enjoyed crocheting, hand quilting, and playing bridge.

Survivors include one daughter, Roberta Carter, Chetopa; five grandsons, Levi Lashbrook, Bill Carter, Benjamin Carter, Robert Carter and Donald Carter; eight great-grandchildren; two brothers, Paul Fuller, Collinsville, Okla.; and Everett Fuller, Longmont, Colo.; and one sister, Alice Cadwallader, Rocky Ford, Colo.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Wilson, on Oct. 20, 1982; a daughter, Terry Lee Wilson, and a sister, Edna.

Othelia M. Wester

PARSONS—Othelia M. Wester, 87, of rural Parsons, Kan., died Monday, Jan. 4, 2010, at Labette Health in Parsons.

Funeral services were held Friday, Jan. 8, at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Burial was in Edna Elm Grove Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Labette Health Auxiliary. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.  Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.

Daniel Percy Lattimore

ALTAMONT—Daniel Percy Lattimore, 89, of Altamont, Kan., died Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Mo.

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary in Joplin.

The memorial service and inurnment will be at a later date in Hickory Grove, S.C.

Celia E. Thomas

OSWEGO—Celia E. Thomas, 96, of Oswego, Kansas, died at 6:45 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, at Oswego Nursing and Rehab Center.

Burial will be in Cleveland City Cemetery in Cleveland, Texas. Local arrangements are under the direction of Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont.

Mavis M. Gofourth

PARSONS—Mavis M. Gofourth, 88, of Parsons, Kan., died Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, at the Good Samaritan Center in Parsons. She had been in failing health.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Monday,  Jan. 11, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice Care of Kansas. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box 942, Parsons, KS  67357.  Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.

Jon A. Richmond

PARSONS—Jon A. Richmond, 52, of Wichita, and a native of Parsons, Kan.,  died Tuesday morning, Jan. 5, 2010, at his home in Wichita.

Funeral services were held Friday, at the First Presbyterian Church in Parsons.  Burial was in Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons. Memorials are suggested to the church in Parsons and may be left at or sent to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Box 942, Parsons, KS  67357.

The Carson-Wall Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.

Mildred Elizabeth Seckman

CHETOPA—Mildred Elizabeth Seckman, 101, a resident of Chetopa Manor, passed away Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010.

Services will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, at Derfelt Funeral Home, Galena. Burial will be in Baxter Cemetery, Baxter Springs.

Sam H. Ellis

PARSONS—Sam H. Ellis, 81, of Parsons, Kan., died at 9:06 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, at his home. He had been in failing health.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Springhill Cemetery. Friends may call the funeral home at their convenience.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice Care of Kansas and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357. Condolences and remembrances may be left for the family at wallfuneralservices.com.

Bill J. Hentzen

PARSONS—Bill J. Hentzen, 77, of Parsons, Kan., died Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, at Labette Health. He had been in his usual health and death was unexpected.

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

Julia Ann Englund

PARSONS—Julia Ann Englund, 79, of Parsons, Kan., died Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, at Good Samaritan Nursing Center in Parsons.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Emmanuel Baptist Church of Coffeyville.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Jan. 15, at 10 a.m., at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Coffeyville. Interment will follow at Restlawn Cemetery in Coffeyville. Friends may call at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home in Coffeyville on Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m.