For more information, see the Aug. 18, 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.

Nellie B. McKnight

ENDA—Nellie B. McKnight, 104, a longtime resident of Edna, Kan., died at 6:35 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010 at the Chetopa Manor in Chetopa, Kan.

Funeral services were held Monday at the Edna Methodist Church with burial following at the Lake Creek Cemetery at Bartlett.  The Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Altamont was in charge of arrangments.

Memorials are suggested to the Edna Methodist Church or the Charity of Donor’s Choice.

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

Nellie was born near Edna to Hose B. Bradbury and Rosanna (Dally) Bradbury on April 4, 1906. She grew up and attended schools in Edna and graduated from the Edna High School in 1925. She was married to Lawrence E. McKnight on May 9, 1928, at Independence, Kan. He preceded her in death on March 25, 1994.

Following their marriage, she taught school for four years. After teaching, she and her husband farmed for many years. She had lived in the Edna area for her entire life.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church at Edna and the United Methodist Women there. She had also been a member of the Royal Neighbors and Modern Woodmen of America.

Those surviving are one brother-in-law, Vernon McKnight, Edna, and several nieces and nephews

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister.

Betty J. Davolt-Rude

OSWEGO—Betty J. Davolt-Rude, 81, of Oswego, Kan., passed away Friday, Aug. 13, 2010, at Oswego Community Hospital.

Betty was born Feb. 2, 1929, in Reeds, Mo., the daughter of Earl and Maudie (Thorn) Ritchie.

She was raised in Carthage and married Dale R. Davolt of Oswego, on June 22, 1946, in the Holiness Church of Oswego. He preceded her in death on March 26, 1993. She married Earl Rude July 15, 1995, in Labette Baptist Church. Betty worked for Berry Garment Factory and Broadrick’s Garment Factory for several years.
Betty was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a member of the Labette Baptist Church.

Preceding her in death were both husbands, her parents, a granddaughter, Christina Davolt; two brothers, Max and Donald; and a sister, Ruby Pruitt.

Those surviving are a daughter, Sandra Kay Overman and husband Wes of Oswego; two sons, Gary D. Davolt of St Louis, Mo.; and Bobby L. Davolt of Oswego; 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Belle Phillips and husband Lyle of Parsons; and Vera Mathis of Carthage, Mo.

Graveside  services will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 18, at Oswego Cemetery with Rev. Tom Heflin officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m.  Wednesday until proceeding on to the cemetery for graveside services. Casket bearers will be Eric Davolt, Aron Davolt, Rob Davolt, Clinton Davolt, James King, Travis Harrison, Austin Harrison and Kenny Larsen.

Memorials may be made to the Labette Baptist Church with the Murdock Funeral Home 203 Illinois, Oswego, KS 67356, acting as custodian.

Ralph William Gaier

OSWEGO—Ralph William Gaier, 90, of Oswego, Kan., died at 6 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010, at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin, Mo. Ralph was in his usual health, and death was unexpected.

Funeral services were held Monday, Aug. 16, at the First United Methodist Church in Oswego with Pastor Robert Conway officiating. Graveside services were held Monday at Robbins Cemetery, west of Coffeyville, Kan. Masonic rights were conducted by Edna Lodge No. 345, A.F. & A.M. Military honors were provided by Coffeyville VFW Post #1022 and Coffeyville American Legion Post #20.

The family suggests memorials to Labette Community College, 200 S. 14th St., Parsons, KS 67357.

Arrangements were under the direction of Murdock Funeral Home of Oswego.

Ralph was born Feb. 17, 1920, in Blackford County, Ind., to Elmer James and Mary Garnet (Rhoton) Gaier. Ralph graduated from Montpelier High School in 1938. Upon completing his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., in 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a 1st Lieutenant Bacteriologist-Serologist with the 32nd General Hospital and 188th General Hospital at Advance Headquarters prior to the invasion of Normandy.

Following an honorable discharge in 1946, he began his 37 year career as an educator by teaching shop and agriculture in Roll, Ind. For 35 years, he was an educator in Parsons, teaching vocational agriculture at Parsons Senior High and Junior College from 1948 to 1959, where he was affectionately called “Pop” by his students. In 1960, he completed his Masters of Arts in Science Education degree from Washington University in St. Louise, Mo. In 1983, he retired from Labette Community College in Parsons as the Biological Sciences instructor.

Gaier was very active in his community, serving on numerous civic, church, and academic committees. He had also received numerous academic and civic awards. He was a 60 year member of the American Red Cross and had served on eight national disasters. He was a Boy Scout Master for 25 years. He was a member of the Faith United Methodist Church in Parsons and the First United Methodist Church in Oswego. He was a life-time member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1022, American Legion Post #20, and Good Sam Camping Club. He was a Charter member of the Neosho Valley Campers, and member emeritus of Phi Delta Kappa. he was currently active with the Oswego Lions Club, and the Oswego Historical Society Board of Directors.

On Feb. 13, 1946, Ralph married Letty Lane at Brownwood, Texas. They had three children, Stanley Paul, Stephen Mark, and Diana Ruth. Letty preceded Ralph in death on May 18, 2003. Ralph was also preceded in death by one son, Stanley Paul Gaier, on Sept. 6, 2006, and one brother and two sisters in childhood.

On Aug. 1, 2004, Ralph married Jolene S. Mosler at Miami, Okla. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include one son, Stephen and wife Connie, Clermont, Fla.; one daughter, Reverend Diana Hill, Eureka, Kan.; three grandchildren, Eric Hill and wife Becca, Madison, Wisc.; Kelle Parks and husband Jeff, Monument, Colo.; and Stacy Potter, Parker, Colo.; six great-grandchildren, Maxwell Slater, Isabella and Hudson Hill, Maya Potter, Zachary and Ethan Parks; and one brother, Cary A. Gaier and wife Opal, Warren, Ind.

Emmett Albert “Pete” Burton

CHETOPA—Emmett Albert “Pete” Burton, 81, of Chetopa, Kan., died at 7:45 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, at Landmark Hospital, in Joplin, Mo., following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 18, at the First Baptist Church in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may call at their convenience from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Tuesday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.

Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist 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 May 20, 1929, in Cherokee County, Kan., to Melvin and Anna (Draeger) Burton. As a young boy, he grew up in Cherokee County where he attended Cherokee County Grade School and Columbus High School.

In 1952, he moved to Chetopa where he had lived since. He worked for Kraft Foods in Oswego for 22 years until its closing in 1969. He then worked for the City of Chetopa Street Department where he served as superintendent for 16 years, retiring in 1991.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Chetopa where he served on the Building and Grounds Committee and was head greeter. He enjoyed spending time with his family, gardening, the outdoors, and doing handy-work in his shop.

On Feb. 12, 1952, he and Lydia Marie Corn were married in Bentonville, Ark. They later divorced. He and Karen Kay (Barcus) Darnell were married March 16, 1979, in Miami, Okla. She survives of the home.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by children, Kerri Burton, Joplin, Mo.; Karla (Burton) Littlejohn and husband Randy, Chetopa; Marla (Burton) Hart and husband Roy Dean, Chetopa; Jan (Darnell) Cooper, Bentonville, Ark.; Rob Darnell and wife Debbie, Chetopa; Rick Darnell and wife Patty, Chetopa; and Jon Darnell, of the home in Chetopa; grandchildren, Mandy (Littlejohn) Lester and husband Troy, Welch, Okla.; Amy (Hart) Comer and husband Rick, Riverton; Jay Littlejohn and wife Katie, Chetopa; James Hart, Chicago, Ill.; Kaci (Cooper) Jones and husband Grant, Bella Vista, Ark.; Mitch Cooper, Bentonville, Ark.; Ryan Darnell, Brett Darnell and Kyle Darnell, all of Chetopa; great-grandchildren, Clayton Lester, Aubrie Lester, Olivia Comer, Graci Jones, Nora Jones and Logan Dale Darnell; sisters, Emma George, Pittsburg; and Irene Porter, Little Rock, Ark.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Philip Alan Burton and Richard Ellis Burton; four brothers, Frank, Henry, Carl and Clyde Burton; and one sister, Mary Wilder.

Fern Louise Sprague

COFFEYVILLE—Fern Louise Sprague, 74, of Coffeyville, Kan., died Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center.  She is survived by her husband, Lewis Sprague, of the home.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 19, at Lake Creek Cemetery near Bartlett.  The casket will remain closed.

Memorials are suggested to the River of Life Tabernacle in Coffeyville. 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.

Opal Irene Kelley

PARSONS—Opal Irene Kelley, 91, of Parsons, Kan., died Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010, at Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Parsons.

Funeral services were held Thursday, Aug. 12,  at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

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

Shirley Jean Keal

PARSONS—Shirley Jean Keal, 86, of Parsons, Kan., died Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, at Olathe Medical Center in Olathe, Kan. She had been in failing health and had been at a nursing home in the Olathe area the past several months.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, at Fort Scott National Cemetery in Fort Scott. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m., Wednesday, at Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the Labette Community College Athletic Department, First Christian Church of Parsons or St. Patrick Catholic School of Parsons and may be left at or sent to the funeral home at P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

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

Jacquelyn J. “Jackie” Barrett

PARSONS—Jacquelyn J. “Jackie” Barrett, 68, of Parsons, Kan., died Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Kan.

A memorial gathering for family and friends will be from 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, at the Arvon Phillips Community Center. Her body was donated to the University of Kansas Medical School.

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