For more information, see the June 23, 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.

Edward Eugene “Pete” Overman

CHETOPA—Edward Eugene “Pete” Overman, 85, of Chetopa, Kan., died Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at his home.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 19, at Oak Hill Cemetery in Chetopa. Friends may call at their convenience from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., Friday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.

Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church in Chetopa. 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.

Pete was born Sept. 11, 1924, in Columbus, Kan., to Roscoe Clifford and Settie Mae (Jackson) Overman. He grew up and attended schools in Columbus where he graduated from high school. From 1946-1949, he served in the United States Air Force.

On June 11, 1950, he and Retha L. Brillhart were married at the Presbyterian Church in Oswego. She preceded him in death Nov. 27, 2007.

In the 1950s, he and his brother, Don, ran a fast food restaurant in Oswego. He also farmed, and in 1960 he and his wife purchased Chetopa Grain, retiring from there in 1999.

He was a member of the First Christian Church in Chetopa where he also served as an elder.

Survivors include two sons, Doug Overman and wife Brenda, Welch, Okla.; Bob Overman and wife Toni, Chetopa; one daughter, Carol Weaver and husband Ken, Welch; eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, one sister, Helen Wilson, Geneseo, Ill.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by four brothers.

Elizabeth “Ann” Veenstra

MOUND VALLEY—Elizabeth “Ann” Veenstra, 51, of Mound Valley, Kan., died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident Wednesday evening, June 16, 2010, in Mound Valley.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 22, at Mound Valley Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Monday, at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont.

Memorials are suggested to the Elizabeth Ann Veenstra Memorial Fund to help defray expenses. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.

Ann was born Oct. 27, 1958, in Norton, Va., to Douglas Fred and Carolyn Jean (Williams) Day. As a young girl, she grew up in Virginia and later Florida where she graduated from high school.

On Feb. 14, 1975, she married Robert Veenstra in Tampa, Fla. In 1981, they moved to Mound Valley where they lived since and raised their family of five children.

Through the years, she worked as a caregiver and physician’s aide at Windsor Place in Independence. She loved to read, play games, and especially enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren and going on family outings.

Survivors include her husband, Robert Veenstra, of the home, Mound Valley; three sons, Nathan,  John and Matthew Veenstra, of the home; two daughters, Tabitha Phillips and husband Jeff, Mound Valley; Holly Veenstra and Thomas Hinman, Mound Valley; parents, Douglas and Carolyn Day, Wise, Va.; one brother, Allen Day, Va.; and one sister Theresa Day, Va.

She was preceded in death by an infant brother, Jonathan Day.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.

Mary Alice Owen

WICHITA—Mary Alice Owen, 75, passed away Wednesday, June 16, 2010.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 25, at Asbury United Methodist Church, 2801 W. 15th St., Wichita. In Lieu of Flowers, the family suggests memorials to Victory in the Valley or American Cancer Society.

Mary Alice was born to Homer and Irene Smith on Sept. 12, 1934, in Cherokee County, Kan.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and older brother Harold who died in infancy.

Survivors include her husband, John “Larry” Smith, of the home; a son, Curtis Smith, Kansas City, Kan.; an aunt, June Bray, Parsons; and several cousins.

C. Claude George

OSWEGO—C. Claude George, 95, of Oswego, Kan., died at 4:55 p.m., Friday, June 18, 2010, at Labette Health in Parsons.

The family will receive friends at Murdock Funeral Home from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, June 23, at First Baptist Church, Third and Merchant, Oswego, with Pastor John Stone officiating. Burial will follow in Oswego Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials to the First Baptist Church of Oswego. Online condolences may be posted at www.murdockfuneralhomes.com.

Claude was born May 21, 1915, in Cherokee County north of Hallowell to Reuben and Minnie (Fast) George. He graduated from Morrow School in Cherokee County. He helped his family on the farm prior to beginning his own trucking business, hauling lime and grain for area farmers. He later worked in the construction business, running heavy equipment for Beachner Construction and Frito Construction. Claude worked for Kansas Army Ammunition Plant at Parsons during World War II. He retired from the Labette County Highway Department in 1988.

Claude married Sylvia Asher in 1942. They had one son, Larry. Claude and Sylvia were later divorced.

On June 23, 1966, he married Linda F. DuBois. They had one daughter, Rhonda.

Claude was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Morris George, Myrle George, and Lyle George; two sisters, Lucille Smith and Louise Dunnic; and one grandson, Richie George.

He is survived by his wife, Linda George, of the home; one son and his wife, Larry and Alice George of Antioch, Calif.; one daughter and her husband, Rhonda and Tim Link of Owasso, Okla.; three grandsons, Terry George of Antioch, Ryan Hutson and Bailey Link both of Owasso; one sister-in-law, Jane Warren of Owasso; and several nieces and nephews.

Kenneth Eugene Cary

TULSA—Kenneth Eugene Cary, 92, of Broken Arrow, Okla., died Friday, June 18, 2010, in Broken Arrow.

Graveside funeral services will be held 10 a.m., Friday, July 2, at the Edna Elm Grove Cemetery in Edna, Kan. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Edna United Methodist Church or Edna Meals-On-Wheels, P.O. Box 53, Owasso, OK 74055.

Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso.

Kenneth Eugene Cary was born Jan. 21, 1918, in Tulsa, Okla. He was reared and educated in Tulsa before moving his senior year of high school to Edna, Kan. He completed his secondary education and graduated with the Edna High school Class of 1936.

On Oct. 16, 1938, at McCune, Kan., he was married to Leona Mae McKee. They lived all of their married life in the Coffeyville and Edna area.
Kenneth was a veteran of the armed forces, having served his country honorably with the United States Army-Air Corp during World War II. His campaigns included Northern France and Rhineland, and his decorations included the Good Conduct Medal.

After his discharge in 1945, he returned to work in Coffeyville for Parmac as a welder for over 41 years. The Carys were well-known for their volunteer service and activities in Edna, where they served with the Edna Historical Society, Edna Museum, Edna Senior Citizens Center, Senior Services of Southeast Kansas,  Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging, Royal Neighbors of America, and the Coffeyville Stamp Club. They were also involved with area square dance organizations. Kenneth was a caller for 26 continuous years for the Swing “N” Twirl square dance club of Altamont and helped organize and was the caller for the C.R.C. Squares of Coffeyville and the Lenapah Squares of Lenapah, Okla. He retired from calling in 1987.

Kenneth was an active member of the Edna Lions Club, Modern Woodman of America, Royal Neighbors of American and the International Association of Machinists Local #693. He was also part of the “chain gang” for Edna High School football. He and his wife were longtime faithful members of the Edna United Methodist Church. She preceded in him in death Dec. 2, 2001.

Loving family members include two daughters, Marcia Boutwell, Tulsa, Okla.; Margaret Skyles and husband Dan, Broken Arrow, Okla.; one son, Arthur Cary and wife Jackie, Dennis, Kan.; six grandchildren, Lyla Cervantes, Broken Arrow; David Cary, Anchorage, Alaska; Cindy Prunty and husband Vincent, Tacoma, Wash.; Stuart Cary, Tacoma, Wash.; Dana Conner and husband Todd, Kannapolis, NC; Lynda Rodgers and husband Terry, Broken Arrow; 10 great-grandchildren and two great-great-granddaughters; two brothers, Marvin Cary, Tulsa; and Tom Cary, Waco, Texas; and a sister-in-law, Dolores Cary, Yukon, Okla.

Along with his wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Dwight Cary and Dwayne Cary, and two sisters, Maxine Racine and Lois Leach, and his parents.

J. Maxine Barton

PARSONS—J. Maxine Barton, 92, of Parsons, Kan., and a longtime Pittsburg resident, died Saturday, June 19, 2010, at Labette Health in Parsons.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons where friends may call at the funeral home after 1 p.m., Tuesday. Burial will be at the Farlington Cemetery.

Friends may visit www.forbeshoffman.com to leave condolences to her family.

Janet Kathleen Lyons

PARSONS—Janet Kathleen Lyons, 46, of Parsons, Kan., died at her home Sunday, June 20, 2010.

She was born Oct. 18, 1963 at Fredonia, Kan., to Jerry and Gearldine Lyons and had lived at the Parsons State Hospital and other group homes for many years.

Following cremation a graveside committal service will be held at a later date.

The Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons is in charge of arrangements.

Leon H. Jursche

FRONTENAC—Leon H. Jursche, 90, of Frontenac, Kan., a former Parsons, resident, died Tuesday, May 25, 2010, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg.

A graveside service was May 28 at the Garden of Memories Cemetery at Pittsburg.

Memorials are suggested to the Frontenac Educational Foundation or the Frontenac United Methodist Church. They can be sent to the Friskel Funeral Home, P.O. Box 907, Frontenac, 66763.

Online condolences may be left at www.friskelfuneralhome.com.

Fern P. (Harrington) Smith

PARSONS—Fern P. (Harrington) Smith, 95, of Parsons, Kan., died Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at Labette Health.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Friday, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery south of Columbus. The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. until service time Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to Calvary Baptist Church. These may be left at or mailed to funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.

James Robert Apperson

COFFEYVILLE—James Robert Apperson, 66, of Coffeyville, Kan., and formerly of the Edna area, died Saturday, June 19, 2010, at his home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 23, in the Edna First Baptist Church with Rev. Charles Evans officiating.  Burial will follow in the Lake Creek Cemetery west of Bartlett.

Friends may call on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Shriners Crippled Children’s Hospital or the Faye Apperson Exhibition Building at the Craig County Fair Grounds in Vinita, Okla. Contributions may be left with the funeral home or mailed c/o David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.