For more information, see the Sept. 1, 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.

William “Willy” Robert Cannon

OSWEGO—William “Willy” Robert Cannon, 51, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010, at his residence in Oswego, Kan.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 4, at the Verdigris Valley Fellowship in Altoona, Kan. Burial will be at Neodesha Cemetery. (Bring a covered dish for the luncheon.)

A benefit dinner will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 28, at My Place in Cherryvale.

Willy was born the son of Bobbie Lee and Wanda (Barrnett) Cannon on April 24, 1959, in Caney, Kan.

He resided in Cherryvale in 1966, at the age of 7, where he attended school and worked at a greenhouse. He was unable to finish school due to surgery to his ankle. He worked as a bartender at the local taverns, and also as a fabricator at Cobalt Boats, Neodesha.

Willy moved to Oswego in 1993 and worked at Diamond Coach. He retired at an early age due to his health.

He enjoyed swimming at the Sportsmen’s Pit near Oswego this past summer. He fished, camped, and hunted in his early teens, along with his older brothers. He taught his younger brother, Michael, the family trade of hunting big and small game. He passed his time visiting family and friends in southeast Kansas, including sitting around a fire pit, playing chess, cards,  and story telling. He collected rocks, loved cooking, and also loved his dog, Hannah “Nan”, and was an adamant John Wayne fan.

Cherishing his memory is his stepfather, Fred Jones, Cherryvale; his sister, Rhonda Jones, and her children, Kayla and Trevor Boyd, Overland Park, Kan.; his brother, Michael Cannon, and fianceé Violelynne Yazzie, Independence; and his sister, Donida, Parsons; his niece and her family, Lisa and Glenn Amberg, Antonio and Alyanna Barrager, and Chandler Amberg; his nephew, Johnny R. Moore, Jr.; his nephew and family, Sequoia Dee and Rose Barrager, Tabitha Barrager, Kordelle and Mya Dee, all of Independence; his niece and husband, Teresa and Salvador Bermudez, Kansas City; his niece and her children, Melinda Matlock and Hailey Matlock, and Amber Cannon; and his niece, Brandy Cannon, all of Cherryvale; his niece and family, Cherokee Anderson and Jeff Nalley, Blake and Wyatt Nalley; and niece and family, Cheyenne and Luke Collins, Blaine and Brooklyn Collins, all of Altoona; and nieces and nephews, Lori Beye, Kelly McCallier, James and Billy Smith, all of Oswego; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends in southeastern Kansas, South Dakota, New Mexico, Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

Willy has gone to heave to be with his parents, Bobbie Lee and Wanda Cannon; and brothers, Daniel “Danny” Cannon and Fred Cannon.

Pearl A. Kepner

OSWEGO—Pearl A. Kepner, 97, of Oswego, Kan., passed away Monday, Aug. 23, 2010, at the Labette County Medical Center in Parsons, Kan., after an illness.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Aug. 28, at the Thomas Funeral Home, Welch, Okla., with Rev. Raymond Whetstone officiating.
Interment was at Oswego Cemetery.

Services were under the direction of Jim Thomas, Thomas Funeral Home, Welch.

Pearl was born Oct. 2, 1913, in Oswego to Albert and Amanda (Green) Buffington. She was the wife of longtime Oswego resident, Carl Kepner. She was a talented painter and an avid homemaker. She enjoyed fishing and spending time with her family.

Pearl was preceded in death by her parents; two sons, William A. LaPee and Stanley W. LaPee; one brother; and three sisters.

She is survived by her loving husband; one son, Myrle LaPee, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; two daughters, JoAnn Rife, Grove, Okla.; and Carol Corvelli, Arvada, Colo.; 16 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; many other relatives; and a host of friends.

Betty Jane Pickens

OSWEGO—Betty Jane Pickens, 87, of Oswego, Kan., died Friday, Aug. 27, 2010, in her home near Oswego from multiple conditions.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, Aug. 31, at 10 a.m. at Oswego Methodist Church, with internment to follow in the Oswego Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the church.

The second of seven children born to Pearl and Shelby Robertson near Boswell, Okla., Betty attended schools there and was teaching in a one-room school when she married her sweetheart, Don Pickens. With jobs scarce and two babies, Rick and Judy, right away, the family took a chance on a farm-hand position in southeast Kansas and moved in 1948 to what would be their community the rest of her life. After buying their own acreage near Labette, they tried making a living with row crops, then turned to dairy farming, with Betty working every day alongside Don to make it successful. Betty was known for her exceptional handwork, sewing, and painting, talents that she generously shared with friends.

She was predeceased by their son, Rick, her parents, and three siblings.

She is survived by her husband, Don; daughter, Judy, and son-in-law Phil Sweetland, Seattle, Wash.; three sisters, and special friend Clara Scott. The family is especially grateful for the loving care shown Betty in recent years by Stephanie and Eddie George, and for the long-time support of Patty Koons, Leon Pearce, and John Fisher.

Ruth I. Donaldson

PARSONS—Ruth I. Donaldson, 97, of Parsons, Kan., died Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010, at the Good Samaritan Society in Parsons. She had been in failing health. She was preceded in death by her husband, James C. Donaldson, on Oct. 5, 1985.

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

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

Nick McClelland

PARSONS—Nick McClelland, 27, of Parsons, Kan., died Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010, at his home. His death was unexpected.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, at First Baptist Church in Parsons with military honors conducted by Brown-Bishop Post No. 704 VFW. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. ,Monday, at Indianola Cemetery at Indianola, Okla., with burial following. The family will receive friends at Carson-Wall Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday.

Memorials are suggested to Hailee McClelland Memorial Fund and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

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

O. C. Buddenhagen

PARSONS—O. C. “Bud” Buddenhagen, 97, of Parsons, Kan., diedFriday, Aug. 27, 2010, at Elmhaven East Nursing Home in Parsons.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Aug. 30, at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons.

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

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

Daisy L. “Bonnie” Dack

PARSONS—Daisy L. “Bonnie” Dack, 78, of Parsons, San., died at 7:40 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.  She had been in failing health several months.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery at Cherryvale.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday.

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.