For more information, see the Feb. 4 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.

Ivan W. Myers

OSWEGO—Ivan W. Myers, 83, of rural Oswego, Kan., died at 12:28 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, at his home.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Fairview Cemetery of rural Oswego. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont.

Memorials are suggested to Southern Care Hospice, in Pittsburg, or the Ronald McDonald House. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.

Ivan was born Jan. 21, 1926, near Dennis, Kan., to William Henry and Edna Naomi (Cortner) Myers. As a young boy, his family moved to the Altamont area where he grew up and attended school.

He and Wanda J. Pearce were married Nov. 3, 1946, at the Open Bible Church in Parsons. Following marriage, they lived north of Altamont for five years before moving, in March 1951, to their current home.

Ivan farmed his entire life, and, for 17 years, drilled water and gas wells before purchasing a bulldozer in 1969. From that time on, he did custom farm conservation work throughout Labette County, retiring in the fall of 2008.

He enjoyed woodworking, and had made all of his children grandfather clocks. Through the years, he had also made all of his children and grandchildren cedar chests. He was a former member of the Open Bible Church in Parsons.

Surviving are his wife, Wanda Myers, of the home; three sons, David “Bill” Myers and wife Joyce, rural Altamont; Daniel Myers and wife Janis, rural Oswego; Dale Myers and companion Tracy, rural Oswego, KS; one daughter, Mary Jarman and husband Ron, rural Oswego; nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; four step great-grandchildren; one brother, Ben Myers and wife Donna, Dennis; four sisters, Irene Phillips and husband Dale, Dennis; four sisters, Irene Phillips and husband Dale, Dennis; Esther Jones, Pittsburg; Edna Bamberry and husband Dale, Altamont; and Wanda Mae Mikel and husband Bob, Parsons.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Doug Myers, Tim Myers and David Myers.

Louise Burke

CHETOPA—Louise Burke, 91, of Chetopa, Kan., died at 5:05 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, at the Chetopa Manor Nursing Home where she had resided since December 2007.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until service time on Friday at the funeral home.

Louise was born June 15, 1917, in Craig County, Okla., to John M. and Ethel M. (McCormick) Yost. As a young girl, she grew up and attended Goldenrod Country School there and was a high school graduate.

She and Melvin Burke were married Nov. 26, 1935, in Oswego, Kan. They were engaged in farming numerous years prior to his death in September 2000.

She enjoyed cabinet-making, gardening and crafts.

Those surviving are two sons, William Burke, Tulsa, Okla.; and Duane Burke, Bailey, Colo.; one daughter, Nancy Nevins, Clarksville, Ark.; three grandchildren; one brother, Gordon Yost, Harrison, Ark.; two sisters, Betty Bob Morrison, Vinita, Okla.; and Dortha Fessler, Bartlesville, Okla.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.

James Norman (Jim) Brown, Sr.

CENTRALIA, Ill.—James Norman (Jim) Brown, Sr., 68, of Centralia, Ill., died at 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 9, 2009, at Fireside House in Centralia.
Services were held Jan. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Irvin Funeral Home with Rev. Alan Nollman officiating and music provided by Rev. Jon Withrow and Bob Withrow, Jr.

Jim was born Dec. 7, 1940, in Chetopa, Kan., the son of J. C. and Florence (Mills) Brown. He attended school in Chetopa, Kan., Hoffman and Carlyle, Ill. He went to work as a disc jockey at WCNT radio station while a teenager, before moving to WGGH in Marion, Ill., as an announcer and radio engineer. He worked at Radio Shack, Campbell’s Ambulance Service; and the Central City Police Department.

He was a long time amateur ham radio operator and leaves a host of ham operator friends across the country. He also worked for Keith-Swango Funeral Home and later for the Irvin Funeral Home.

He was a member of the Shawnee Indian Tribe.

Those surviving are a daughter, Cheryl Hays and husband Donnie of Centralia; three sons, Kevin Nelms and wife Janet; and Jim Brown, Jr., all of Centralia; and Jason Brown and fiancée Cassie Mattingly of Miami, Okla.; three sisters, Betty Withrow of Chetopa, Kan.; JoAnn Copple, and Pindy Nollman and husband Alan, all of Centralia; a brother, Bob Brown, Centralia; five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding in death were his parents; two brothers-in-law, David Copple and Robert Withrow, and a sister-in-law, Barbara Brown.

Lois L. Blake

PARSONS—Lois L. Blake, 79, of Parsons, Kan., died at 8:50 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009, at Labette Health in Parsons. Death followed a brief and unexpected illness.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Friday, at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will be in McCune Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Memorials are suggested to the Labette Health Foundation.

Velma L. Holmes

COLUMBUS—Velma L. Holmes, 85, of Columbus, Kan., died Monday January 26, 2009 at the Medicalodge of Columbus after an illness.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Simpson Funeral Home of Columbus with Susan Daniel-Brey officiating. Family visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Simpson Funeral Home.

The family suggest memorials to the First Methodist Church of Columbus or the Columbus Boy Scouts Troop 74 in Columbus and may be left at the funeral home.

Ula B. Schneider

PARSONS—Ula B. Schneider, 70, of Parsons, Kan., died Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, at the Good Samaritan Society in Parsons.

Following cremation, a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

Rose N. Carpenter

PARSONS—Rose N. Carpenter, 77, of Parsons, Kan., formerly of Walnut, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009, at Elmhaven West nursing home in Parsons.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Jan., 28, at Berean Baptist Church in Parsons. Burial was in Walnut Cemetery in rural Walnut.

Memorials are suggested to Berean Baptist Church and may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Faye S. Evans

COLUMBUS—Faye S. Evans, 93, of rural Columbus, Kan., passed away Monday, Feb. 2, 2009, at her home.

Graveside services will be 10 a.m., Thursday, at the Park Cemetery, Columbus, with grandson Justin Coberley officiating. The family asks memorials be made to the First Christian Church or the Shamrock 4-H Club in Columbus and may be left at the Simpson Funeral Home 323 S. Kansas Ave., Columbus, KS 66725.