For more information, see the Dec. 10 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 taylornews.org.

Karl L. Cooper

PITTSBURG—Karl L. Cooper, 60, of Pittsburg, Kan., passed away at 3:48 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, at the Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center, Pittsburg.

Services are set for 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 11, at the Brenner Mortuary, with Pastor David Johnson conducting the service. Following the service he will be taken for cremation. The family will recite the Rosary at 10 a.m., Thursday, prior to the service at the funeral home, and receive friends until service time.

The family suggests memorials to the Potter’s House. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 East 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762.Online condolences may be left at www.brennermortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg.

Karl Cooper was born Feb. 24, 1948, at Ottawa, Kan., the son of Leland E. and Pauline (Heffel) Cooper. He graduated from Oswego High School. Mr. Cooper also graduated from the University of Montana with an associate’s degree and he took courses in A/C repair from Pittsburg State University.

Mr. Cooper served in the United States Army where he was stationed in Korea during the Vietnam War. He worked as a laborer in manufacturing at Pittsburg.

He attended Potter’s House and Soul’s Harbor.

Those surviving are one brother, Dr. Kent Cooper of Pittsburg; and two sisters, Donna Bogner and Diane Lieberknecht, both of Pittsburg; and lots of nieces and nephews.

Preceding in death were his parents and one sister, Dayle Cooper.

Mae Greer

ALTAMONT—Mae Greer, 101, formerly of rural Altamont, Kan., died at 2:55 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, at Providence Place Nursing and Rehab Facility in Kansas City, Kansas.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Altamont United Methodist Church. Burial was in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Altamont.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Altamont United Methodist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325,Altamont, KS 67330.

Mae was born Oct. 31, 1907, in Hurdland, Mo., to Scott and Belva (Shirkey) Golden. She moved to the Zion Hill neighborhood in her teen years and graduated with the Class of 1926 from the Community High School, now Labette County High School.

On Feb. 20, 1935, she married Vernon Paul Greer. They lived their entire married lives on a dairy and cattle farm that had remained in the Greer family ownership for over 140 years, located three miles west of Altamont. Mr. Greer preceded her in death Dec. 5, 1983.

Mae was a faithful member of the Altamont United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church Women. In earlier years, she was also active in the Labette County Home Demonstration Unit. She was an American primitive craftsperson. Her talents of sewing and cooking were passed to her daughters, as was her avid love of gardening.

Those surviving are three daughters, Carole Greer, San Marcos, Texas; Betty Forwalder and husband, James, Bonner Springs, Kan.; and Linda Snider and husband Rick, Lexington, NC; three grandchildren, Beth Forwalder, Kay Fasching and Julian Jensen; four great-grandchildren, Alex Fasching, Montana Fasching, Callie Fabac and Katie Fabac; and one sister, Mary Cook, Fort Scott, Kan.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one brother, Lawrence Golden.

Joseph “J. E.” Reynolds

EDNA—Joseph “J. E.” Reynolds, 68, of Edna, Kan., died at 5:10 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10, at the First Christian Church in Coffeyville. Burial will be in the North Edna Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church in Coffeyville or the Elm Christian Church in Edna. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.

J. E. was born Oct. 7, 1940, in Columbia, NC, to William Thomas and Vedia Mae (Swain) Reynolds.

He grew up and attended schools in Columbia, NC, and, in later years, earned a Bachelors degree from Ozark Bible College. In 1966, he moved to Brandywine, WV. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard and Reserves.

Through the years, he and his wife served in the ministry as pastors at Roanoke Isle Church of Christ, Gum Neck Church of Christ and Robersonville Church of Christ, all in North Carolina; the Christian Church in Brandywine, WV; the Christian Church in Lawshe, Ohio; the Christian Church in Seneca, Mo.; the Westside Christian Church in Coffeyville; the Elm Christian Church in Edna; and the First Christian Church in Coffeyville.

He was an avid carpenter and woodcraftsman. He also did leather craft for several years and enjoyed photography.

He was a member of the Edna Masonic Lodge where he had served as Past Grand Master.

On June 27, 1959, he and Peggy J. Barnes were married in Columbia, NC. She survives of the home.

Additional survivors include two sons, Keith Reynolds and wife Tammy, Labette City; Tim Reynolds and wife Mary, Parsons; one daughter, Debbie Ramirez, Parsons; nine grandchildren, Alex Reynolds, Renee Tesh, Kristen Ramirez, Joe Reynolds, Timothy Reynolds, Jessica Reynolds, Jordan Rausch, Jaiden Rausch and Jalyn Rausch; one great-granddaughter, Kelsey Hernandez; and two brothers, Thomas Reynolds and wife, Mary Edith, Greensboro, NC; and Walter Reynolds, Farmville, NC.

Gerald Eldon Fouts

MOUND VALLEY—Gerald Eldon Fouts, 85, of Mound Valley, Kan., died at 7:15 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, at Elmhaven East Nursing Home in Parsons. He had been in failing health the past five years.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Dec. 12, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. The family will receive friends at 10 a.m., on Friday, until service time, at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Mound Valley Cemetery. Friends may call at their convenience after 1 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Oswego Presbyterian Church or the American Heart Association. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.

Gerald was born April 20, 1923, in rural Mound Valley, to Elmer H. and Mildred (Ealy) Fouts. He was a lifelong resident of Labette County and graduated from Mound ValleyHigh School in 1941.

He was employed at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant during World War II. He drove the Altamont Grade School bus for 34 years and also farmed.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Oswego where he also served as an elder. He enjoyed his family, farming and raising cattle.

On May 23, 1942, he and Lola Mae Hope were married in Labette City. She survives of the home.

Additional survivors include two daughters, Brenda McKinney and husband John, Anaheim, Calif.; and Joy Trotnic and husband Ronald, Wichita; two sons, Gerald R. “Dick” Fouts and wife Kay, Miamisburg, Ohio; and Dean Fouts and wife Deborah, Mound Valley; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Erma Duckworth and husband Dale, Bartlesville, Okla.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, June Smith, in 1977; and an infant granddaughter.

Ralph Darr

WELCH—Ralph Darr, 82, of Welch, Okla., died Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008.

Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, both at Thomas Funeral Home, Welch.

Opal Dean Garrett

PARSONS, Kan.—Opal Dean Garrett, 90, passed away Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008.

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Mount Hope Cemetery, Independence. Arrangements are under the direction of Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Parsons.

C. C. “Chet” Mathis

PARSONS—C. C. “Chet” Mathis, 92, a longtime resident of Parsons, Kan., Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Mary Etta and Dwaine Watson, in Parsons, where he had lived for the past four years. He had been in failing health.

Funeral services will at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call after 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to either Wesley United Methodist Church or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. These may be left at or sent to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.