Don Sailors

(From Carson-Wall Funeral Home)

Don R. Sailors, 91, lifelong Erie area resident, died at 11:13 a.m., Monday, June 10, 2019 at Diversicare of Chanute.

He was born January 21, 1928, in Erie, to William A. and Hazel (Cummings) Sailors. He grew up on the family farm and attended Oak Grove Country School and Grant Township High School, graduating in 1946. He graduated from Chanute Junior College and attended Kansas State College at Manhattan. 

Don enlisted in the United States Navy in January of 1950 and served four years during the Korean War, receiving his discharge in 1954 with the rank of Petty Officer 3. After the war he returned to the farm and remained there the rest of his life. He was active in county, state and national pork producers associations, especially the Kansas Pork Producers. 

His other activities and memberships included the Stark United Methodist Church, the Masonic Lodge at Savonburg, the Scottish Rite, Mirza Shrine and in past years the Neosho County Extension.

Don and Shirley Elder were married on May 18, 1956 at Nowata, OK. She survives of the home. 

Other survivors are four children, Thomas C. Sailors, of Erie, Lisa Maher (Steve), of Erie, D. Richard Sailors, of Erie and Heidi Sailors Steinman (Scott), of Olathe; four grandsons, Trevor Steinman, of Boulder, CO, Cooper Steinman, of Denver, CO, Hayden Maher and Evan Maher, both of Erie.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Monday, at the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie. The burial, with military honors, will be at the Ft. Scott National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m., Monday.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Sunday.

Memorials are suggested to either the Stark Alumni Association or the Erie American Legion. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at Box 182, Erie, KS 66733. Online messages may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.

Jack Scott

(From Cheney-Witt Funeral Home)

Jack Edward Scott, age 94, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Monday, June 10, 2019, at the Medicalodge of Ft. Scott. He was born January 22, 1925, in Ft. Scott, the son of William Marcus Scott and Mary Frances Buchanan Scott.

Jack attended Fort Scott Schools. His senior year of High School, he enlisted with the United States Marine Corps. During World War II, Jack was stationed in the South Pacific and served on the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. He was in special troops. On invasion, his regiment would separate native people from the Japanese. He also served on military police duty. 

Following his time in the Marine Corps, Jack returned to Kansas and continued his education at Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg. This is where he met the love of his life, Pauline Louise Moody. Jack and Pauline were married December 21, 1947, at Cherokee, Kansas. Jack went on to earn a Master’s Degree and Education Specialist Degree. He served as principal in several Kansas school districts, primarily Burlington, for twenty-seven years. 

Following his career in education, he served for three terms as the Coffey County Clerk; this was during the construction and completion of the Wolf Creek Power Plant. Jack and Pauline later moved to Ft. Scott and spent winters in Texas. Jack was a member of the Rising Sun Lodge #8 A.F. & A.M., the Scottish Rite Consistory and the Mirza Shrine. In earlier years, he was involved in Cub Scouts and later served as Scout Master. He attended the Presbyterian Church of Ft. Scott. 

Survivors include his daughter, Deborah Rhynerson and husband, Charles, Jr., of LaCygne, Kansas; and three sons, Jack Gregory Scott, of Colville, Washington, and David Louis Scott, of Thornfield, Missouri and Steven Edward Scott (Dunn) and wife, Kathi, of San Diego, California; a granddaughter, Kaysie Rhynerson; five grandsons, Rob and Matt Scott and Andy, Tim and Danny Dunn and two great-grandsons, Kia and Allen. His wife, Pauline, preceded him in death on December 3, 2014. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Glenn Oliver Scott and Frank William Scott.

Graveside services with Military honors and Masonic rites will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, June 13th at the U. S. National Cemetery. Family and friends may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel on Thursday prior to leaving for the cemetery at 10:45 A.M. Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Irene Schooley

(From Cheney-Witt Funeral Chapel)

Irene Clara Schooley, age 87, a resident of rural Walnut, Kansas, passed away Friday, June 7, 2019, at the Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas. She was born July 4, 1931, near Hepler, Kansas, the daughter of Charles Grannemann and Amanda Kroenke Grannemann.

She married Warren Schooley on April 27, 1952, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hepler. Irene worked for many years as secretary at the Uniontown High School. In addition to working at the school, she also helped her husband with the work on their farm. She always grew a large garden to provide for the needs of her family. She also enjoyed sewing and often made clothes for her daughters. She was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hepler. 

Survivors include her husband, Warren and her two daughters, Jan Reimer and husband, Cal, of Topeka, Kansas and Bev Nelson and husband, Rod, of Ft. Scott, Kansas; six grandchildren, Seth Reimer (Jennifer), Kelly Reimer (Natasha), Cassi Kuhn (Scott), Stacey Jackson (Chris), Kristen Pope (Dustin), and Blake Nelson (Cori) and thirteen great-grandchildren, J. T., Kinslee, Anton, Alisa, Hunter, Makenzie, Brooklyn, Mason, Kaden, Kennedy and triplets, Maddox, Zander, and Bryson who share their birthday of July 4th with their great-grandmother. Also surviving are two sisters, Ella and Helen. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Ben and two sisters, Selma and Florence.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, June 12th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Immanuel Lutheran Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Alfred Manners

(From Carson-Wall Funeral Home)

Alfred E. Manners Jr, lifelong rural Parsons resident and farmer, died at 3:30 a.m., Thursday, June 6, 2019, at his home.

He was born November 1, 1932, in Parsons, to Alfred Estle Manners, Sr. and Adeline Marie (Pasley) Manners. He grew up on the family farm east of Parsons, attended country schools, and graduated from Labette County Community High School at Altamont in 1950. 

After graduation, he and his brother Kenny joined their father and grandfather carrying on the multi-generational farming operation and dairy, a tradition he happily continued his entire life. He set his sights on building a larger farming operation and Manners and Sons Farms began expanding their farming and ranching business which also included building and operating a new dairy barn and milking many cows twice a day. Alfred loved the freedom of harvesting crops while riding on his John Deere combine.

He married Ladema Lawrence in 1951. They later divorced. On February 23, 1968, he and Virginia Phillips Blackburn were married. She preceded him in death on June 8, 2007. He and Nancy Carson Kenworthy were married May 2, 2008 and she survives.

Alfred was a devoted member of the Foursquare Church and had served on the church board and taught Sunday School classes. He served on numerous agricultural and farm related committees and boards throughout his life. He was also a DeKalb seed dealer of 25 plus years. 

Although he loved the responsibility and hard work of farm life, his greatest joy was spending time with his extensive family, whether out fishing, hunting, water or snow skiing, just sitting around the kitchen table playing cards, or in his later years camping and even more fishing and cards. He enjoyed playing with and attending the events of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and loved meeting and talking to people everywhere he went. But even though he traveled to distant places, he couldn’t wait to get back and enjoy the simple pleasures of home.

Surviving are his wife, Nancy, of the home; children Marlene Manners, Galen Manners (Sandy) both of Parsons, Janell Shaffer (Keith) of Altamont, Darren Blackburn (Pam) and Dwight Blackburn, both of Parsons, stepson Todd Kenworthy (Crystal) of Claremore, OK and stepdaughter, Tina Gatton (Brian) of Altamont, along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and a sister, Linda Dessenberger (Larry) of Parsons. 

He was preceded in death by a son, Mark Alfred Manners, on April 5, 1966, his parents Estle and Adeline Manners, a brother, Kenneth Manners, two sisters, Marjorie Larsen and Mertie Riepe and an infant sister.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home with Rev. Steve Schulze officiating. Burial will be in Springhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 4-6 p.m. Sunday.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Foursquare Church. They may be left or sent to the funeral home at Box 942, Parsons, KS, 67357. Online messages may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.

Cathy Kosan

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Cathy Lynn Kosan, 66, of Galena, KS passed from this life on Thursday, June 6, 2019 at Joplin Gardens, Joplin, MO.

Cathy was born January 2, 1953 in Houston, TX to the union of John and Dorothy (Richardson) Metcalf. Cathy previously lived in Dallas, TX, before moving to Galena two years ago. She made a difference to patients and their families in Respiratory Therapy, providing home health, and hospice care, retiring from Visiting Angels in Dallas. Cathy enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and her Chihuahua Max. She was a very good cook and liked pursuing cooking adventures. Spending time outdoors in nature and visiting rivers and other bodies of water was something she really enjoyed.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the love and compassion the staff at Mercy Hospital ED, Chaplaincy, Cancer Center, & Infusion, Joplin Gardens and Avalon Hospice provided for her.

Cathy is preceded in death by her parents, John and Dorothy Metcalf and one brother, Randy Metcalf.

Cathy is survived by her daughter, Shannon Perricone of Galena, KS; two sons, Greg Kosan, Jr., and Milan “Chad” Kosan both of Dallas, TX; brother, John Metcalf; sister, Theresa Vasquez; four grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, June 22, 2019 at the home of Shannon & Daniel Perricone in Galena, KS. Her ashes will be placed with a Magnolia tree on the property. Memorial donations may be made to the D.A.V. in care of the family. Arrangements are under the direction of Derfelt’s Baxter Chapel. Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.

Margaret Bezinque

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Margaret Lenore Bezinque, 88 of Baxter Springs, KS passed from this life on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at Sunrise Nursing Home of Overland Park, KS.

Lenore was born on December 12, 1930 in Liberal, MO to the union of Floyd Oliver and Helen (Andrews) Hamm. She was united in marriage to Roger Lewis Bezinque on February 4, 1951 in Pittsburg, KS.

Lenore was a homemaker, loving and caring for her family and friends. She enjoyed bowling and playing scrabble with her friends. Lenore was of the Methodist faith.

Lenore is preceded in death by her parents; husband; and stillborn baby sister, Margorie Gail Hamm.

Lenore is survived by two sons, Scott Bezinque and wife Lorrie of Olathe, KS, and Curtis Bezinque and wife Cindy of Midland, TX; seven grandchildren, Paul Bezinque (Nicole), Jason Bezinque, Joel Bezinque (Stephanie), Tori Bezinque, Dulce Esteves, Natalia Bezinque, and Eva Bezinque.

A special thank you to Paulette Russell and Guy Youngblood for the love and compassion they gave to Lenore, before she had to go into the nursing home.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 8, 2019 at the Baxter Springs Cemetery. Curtis Bezinque will officiate. Family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m., until 10:45 a.m., at Derfelt’s Baxter Chapel. In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the USD 404 Education Foundation in care of the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Derfelt’s Baxter Chapel. Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.

Gertrude Bush

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Gertrude M. Bush, 91, of Pittsburg, passed away at home on May 30, 2019. Gertrude was born in Marl-Drewar, Germany on January 29, 1928 to Richard and Maria Richter Meissner and grew up in Germany during World War II.

After the war, she married Sgt. Rex D. Bush of Pittsburg and became a citizen of the United States. They had two daughters, Marianne Bush Burch, now in Wichita and Linda L. Bush of the home. Her schooling was interrupted during the war, so she took the opportunity after moving to Pittsburg to continue with her education at Pittsburg State University. She achieved both a Bachelor's and Master's in Foreign Language. She also taught in the Foreign Language department for several years. 

Survivors include her beloved grandson, Ian Burch and wife Amy of Toluca Lake, CA, a son-in-law, Martin Burch of Wichita, nieces and nephews, special friends Chuck and Rita Rickel and many, many friends who delighted in hearing stories of an adventurous and well-lived life. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, both parents and her sister, Hilde Weinhold. 

Services were held Thursday, June 6 at Timmons Chapel on the Pittsburg State University campus.