For more information, see the July 28, 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.

Martha L. Stokes

CARTHAGE, Mo.—Martha L. Stokes, 76, of Carthage, Mo., and longtime resident of Chetopa, Kan., died at 4:35 p.m., Tuesday, July 20, 2010, at the Carthage Health and Rehabilitation Center in Carthage.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 3, at the First Baptist Church in Chetopa. Burial will be in Benge Cemetery near Adair, Okla.

The Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.

Martha was born Nov.11, 1933, in Hitchcock, Okla., to Rufus and Carrie (Puckett) Fee. Following nursing school, she worked at Oswego Hospital a number of years prior to working at Eastern State Hospital in Vinita, Okla., until retirement in 1993.

For 40 years, she was involved in the nursing profession. She especially enjoyed flower gardening and tending to her houseplants. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Chetopa.

On March 27, 1959, she and Howard Stokes were married in Miami, Okla. He preceded her in death in 2001.

Survivors include one son, Jim Stokes, Carthage, Mo.; and one brother, Earl Fee, Oklahoma City, Okla.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Phyllis Stokes, in 2006; one brother, Franklin Fee; and two sisters, Rosetta Fee and Virgilene Fee.

William Patrick “Bill” Zimmerman

WELCH, Okla.—William Patrick “Bill” Zimmerman, 77, of Welch, Okla., died Friday, July 16, 2010, at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Mo.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, July 31, at the Community Bible Church in Chetopa with the Rev. Randy Frazier and AA members officiating.

Memorial may be made to the American Lung Association.

Arrangements are by Paul Thomas Funeral Home of Miami, Okla. Online condolences may be sent to www.paulthomasfuneralhomes.com.

Mr. Zimmerman was born March 17, 1933, in Welch, Okla., to William Raymond and Dorothy “Duvall” Zimmerman. He graduated from high school and lived in Welch most of his life except for a few years in Topeka and Linwood, Kan. He worked for the Union Pacific Railroad in Kansas City, Kan., as a Railroad Conductor and was a pecan farmer. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Welch, Okla.

On Nov. 1, 1951, he married Loretta Davis in Bentonville, Ark., and she survives of the home.

Additional survivors include four sons, William Zimmerman, Jr., Perry, Kan.; John Raymond Zimmerman, Welch, Okla.; James Matthew Zimmerman, Leavenworth, Kan.; and Fred Lee Zimmerman, Baldwin, Kan.; two daughters, La Wanda Ann Habig, Welch, Okla.; and Patricia Elaine Helton, Smithville, Mo.; ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one brother, George Zimmerman; and a half-sister, Bobby Lou Grooms.

John Edward Columbia

BAXTER SPRINGS—On July 3, 1968, at 5:54 a.m., John Edward Columbia came into this world. He then passed on Monday, June 7, 2010. He was put to rest at the family plot in Pleasant Valley.

John was born on July 3, 1968. He was a 1986 graduate from Chetopa High School, Chetopa, Kan. He joined the Navy, sailed on the USS Missouri, BB63, then served in Reserves at Broken Arrow, Okla. He then schooled for trucking and drove for semi-trucking companies for 17 years, then spent two years at Alliances in Tulsa, Okla.

Survivors include a son, Brandon J. Columbia; and two stepsons, Bradley and Brent of Sand Springs, Okla.; a sister, Dana and husband Roger Stitt, Derby, Kan.; two brothers, J.D. Jr.  and wife Cathy Columbia, Claremore, Okla.; William and wife Maranda Columbia, Osawatomie, Kan.; nieces, Jamie and husband Rod McGovern of California; Tyler and Jack; Brittany and family; Amanda Stitt; Annaly Mae Columbia; nephews, Ryan Columbia, Corey Stitt, Greg Berry and his wife Heather and son Zane; William and Anthony Columbia; with parents, Dan and Joyce Columbia, Baxter Springs, Kan.

William “Bill” Setters

MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas—William “Bill” Setters, 78, of Mount Pleasant, Texas, passed away Saturday, July 17, 2010, at his home in Mount Pleasant.

Cremation services were under the direction of Curry-Welborn Funeral Home.

He is the brother of Juanita Johnston and husband Wayne of Oswego.

Sigsbee B. “Sig” Carey

PARSONS—Sigsbee B. “Sig” Carey, 89, of Parsons, Kan., died Wednesday, July 21, 2010, in the emergency room at Labette Health in Parsons. He had been in his usual health and death was not expected.

Complete obituary information and funeral arrangements will be announced by Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home.

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

Lee Monroe James

WELCH, Okla.—Lee Monroe James, 84, of Welch, Okla., died Friday, July 9, 2010, in Miami, Okla.

Friends and family may attend the memorial service at 10 a.m., Saturday, July 31, at the Welch Baptist Church, Welch, Okla. Burial will be at the Graceland Cemetery in Meade.

Memorials may be sent to the Welch Baptist Church, Welch, Okla.