Connie Marn

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

Connie M. Marn, also known as Mom, Grandmama and Gramcracker, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 4, 2020.

Connie was born on October 18, 1949, in Arma, Kansas, to the late Harold and Alma Plotner. She attended Northeast High School in Arma.

In January of 1968, she met the love of her life, John Marn, at the skating rink in Pittsburg, Kansas, and three weeks later were they married. He preceded her in death.

Survivors include one son, Johnnie Marn; three daughters, Lisa Reich, Brenda Marn and Latisha Amaya; two sons-in-law, Ernest Reich and Antonio Amaya; eight grandchildren, Devin and Anthony Amaya, Heidi Reich, Jack and Hailie Nicholson, and Michael, Amber and Javyn Marn; two great-grandchildren; two brothers; one sister; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Connie was a stay-at-home mom and took care of her kids and grandkids. She loved bingo, puzzles, going to the casino and researching family history. She loved all her grandkids, but we can all agree she lit up a little more when talking about Devin and Anthony. Connie also loved Mountain Dew. She will be missed by many, but never forgotten.

The family will receive friends for visitation from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 10, 2020, in the chapel of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary. A private celebration dinner will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition or the Freeman Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute in care of the mortuary.

Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.

Lee Schertzer

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Lee Henry Schertzer 71, of Columbus, KS passed from this life on Saturday, January 4, 2020 at his home.

Lee was born October 27, 1948 in Columbus, KS to Harry LeRoy and Alvina June (Frieden) Schertzer. Lee served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Lee drove a truck for Hofer before his retirement. Lee was a member of the V.F.W., and the American Legion both of Columbus.

Lee is preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his three sons, Jesse (Jeannine), Eddie, (Gianna) and Tony Schertzer; step-children, Troy Tolliver, Lori Alexander, Malinda Delli Gatti, and Terra McCormick as well as numerous grandchildren.

Lee has been entrusted to Derfelt’s Baxter Chapel for cremation. Services will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.

Lavon Hoppas

(From Carson-Wall Funeral Home)

Lavon Hoppas, 79, of Erie, passed away at 5:25 p.m., Monday, January 6, 2020 at the Prairie Mission Retirement Village at St. Paul.

She was born on September 13, 1940 at Erie to Lloyd and Lucille (Wheeler) Yarnell. Lavon attended Erie schools and graduated from Erie High School in 1958.

She and Leroy Hoppas were married on March 8, 1958 at the First Christian Church in Erie. He survives of the home.

Lavon went to work at Erie schools as a cook and later became the head cook when they made all the food from scratch. She retired from the Erie schools after 20 years of service.

Lavon loved taking care of her grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking for family especially on holidays and birthdays. She liked to collect baby plates, depression cherry blossom glasses, and fruit jars. She was an active and member of the First Christian Church in Erie serving the church in various roles including on the memorial committee and serving funeral dinners. She also was a Camp Fire Girls Leader, a founding member of the Erie Museum and Historical Society, and a founding member of the Southeast Kansas Antique Bottle Club in Chanute.

In addition to her husband, Leroy, Lavon is survived by her son, Wade Hoppas, and his wife Laura of Erie; her daughter, Gwen Adams, and her husband, Tim of Frankfort; her grandchildren, Weston Adams, Cassie Hoppas, Kelsey Hoppas, Tyeler Riggs, and Michael Yanez; four great-grandchildren with one on the way; her brother, Robert Yarnell of St. Paul; her sister, Virginia Jacquinot, and her husband, Bob of St. Paul; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Wyatt Adams in 2006 and her parents.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 10, 2020 at the Frist Christian Church in Erie with the Reverend Dr. Michael Haggard officiating. Burial will follow in the East Hill Cemetery at Erie. Friends may call the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie after 1 p.m. on Thursday. Memorials are suggested to the first Christian Church in Erie or to the Erie Museum and these may be left at or mailed to the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home 113 S. Main St., P.O. Box 182, Erie, KS 66733. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com

Sharon Price

(From Cheney-Witt Funeral Chapel)

Sharon A. Price, age 79, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones at her home in Ft. Scott, KS, on January 5, 2020. She was born in Corning, CA, on September 30, 1940, the daughter of William and Lois Stark Jackson.

She married Joe Price in 1957. He preceded her in death on January 21, 2016. Sharon worked at J.C. Penney in Lenexa, KS, until she retired.

Sharon enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, taking them to the swimming pool. She enjoyed crocheting blankets and doll clothes, baking and cooking for holidays and birthdays and having the family with her. Sharon also liked watching cooking shows and loved her some Steve Harvey and Wayne Brady.

Survivors include a daughter, Sarah Riggs and husband James, Ft. Scott; two sons, Joseph Price II and fiancé Patty, Springfield, KS, and Patrick Price, Otisville, NY; two brothers, Steve Jackson, Red Bluff, CA, and Albert Jackson and wife Charlie, Spokane, WA; a sister, Mary Lee Sterwood and husband Skip, WA; one grandson William J.C. “Billy” Gooderl and wife Stacy, Ft. Scott; great grandchildren, Kayla and husband Kyle Purdy, and Cheyenne, Selena, and James “Fred” Gooderl; along with her fur babies Buddy, Abby, Sadie Sue, Gracey, Man 2, Chica, Ralph, Bdog, Reilly, Nina, and lastly Lucey. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews and many family by choice, including Jim and Renee Calovitch, Kristen, Daeshone Bohrn and Doug Bohrn.

Graveside services will be held at 1:30 PM Friday, January 10th, in the Centerville Cemetery, Devon, KS. Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Ft. Scott, KS. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Jim Smith

(From Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home)

James Randall Smith, 70, of Fort Scott passed away suddenly, Saturday evening, January 4, 2020, in Fort Scott. He was born June 24, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois the son of John Fred and Virginia Marie (Kedzior) Smith. He married Paulette Smetana, July 11, 1970, in Villa Park, Illinois, she survives of the home.

Jim was Owner/Operator of Smith and Chambers here in Fort Scott for years before retiring in 2008. After retiring he filled his time with the renovation of the Liberty Theatre and Crooner’s Lounge. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Fort Scott.

 

In addition to his wife, Paulette, he is survived by a son, Dallas Smith and his wife, Christie of Fort Scott, and a daughter, Darcy Smith and her husband, Scott of Fort Scott, a brother, David Smith of Wheaton, Illinois, three sisters, Donna Haddad of Fort Myers, Florida, Karen Smith and Kim Smith both of Plainfield, Illinois, and six granddaughters, Megan, Eleanor, Catherine, Addison, Ashley and Alyssa Smith all of Fort Scott.

Funeral services for Jim Smith will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 9, 2020, at the Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Michael Apfel officiating, the family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. until the service starts and again when the services are concluded, Thursday at the Church.

The family suggests memorials to the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund or The Trinity Lutheran Church. Contributions may be left in the care of, the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Condolences may be emailed to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Jackie Plain

(From Cheney-Witt Funeral Chapel)

Jackie Leon Plain, age 86, resident of Ft. Scott, KS, died Friday, January 3, 2020, at Guest Home Estates in Ft. Scott. He was born November 2, 1933, 3 miles East of Mapleton, KS, the son of Arthur and Belle Post Plain.

He was the last of 5 children. He graduated from Fulton high school. Jack served in the U. S. Army for 2 years after helping his father farm for several years. 

He married Pauline Lucille Shadden Davis on May 12, 1967, in Ft. Scott. She preceded him in death on May 24, 2014. Jack worked for Western Insurance Company for 23 years and later AAA Insurance as a senior underwriter. He worked for and retired from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s department as a corrections officer. Jack enjoyed fishing, hunting and riding horses. He was a member of the Fulton Masonic Lodge and Community Christian Church.

Survivors include a son, Lynn Plain and wife Kathi, Ft. Scott; 3 daughters, Candice Duarte and husband Manuel, Spring Hill, KS, Tammy Locke and husband Kevin, and Polly Plain, all of Gardner, KS; 2 step-daughters, Belinda Richardson and husband Michael, and Donna Galvin and husband Tracy, all of Ft. Scott; 5 grandchildren, Deidre Hof , Jeffrey Plain and wife Courtney, Levi Locke, Shyan Locke, and Alison Duarte; 3 step-grandchildren, Donna Wilson, Adam Hayden and wife Missy, and Sunnye Hayden; 3 great grandchildren, Olivia Hof, Cassidy Plain, and Casen Plain; 8 step-great grandchildren, Nicholas Wilson, Kaitlyn Doherty, Kristen McCoy, Cooper, Cole and Cale Hayden, Allison Zerger, and Brooke Garrett; and 7 step-great-great grandchildren, Eisely, Crew and Landon Doherty, Drexel and Bennett McCoy, Marlee Ogran and Landry Warwick; and several nieces and nephews. 

Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Raymond and Leo Plain; 2 sisters, Florence Jent and Eva Atherton; and his parents.

Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct funeral services at 10:00 AM Wednesday, January 8th, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Mapleton Cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 V.F.W.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Tuesday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Mirza Shrine Transportation Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Diane Fryda

(From Cheney-Witt Funeral Chapel)

Diane Lee Fryda, age 57, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, December 31, 2019, at the Via Christi Hospital Emergency Room in Ft. Scott. She was born April 25, 1962, in Duluth, Minnesota, the daughter of Clifford Fryda and Rosemary Ruzinsky Fryda.

The family lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Floodwood, Minnesota, Watertown, South Dakota and Lincoln, Nebraska before Diane found her way to Kansas and became part of the Tri-Valley family. While with Tri-Valley, Diane worked in janitorial services at Niece. She later worked for eleven years at Pizza Hut. She loved her job at Pizza Hut and could sometimes be seen waving in the lunch crowd. 

In addition, she occasionally worked at the receptionist desk at Tri-Valley. Diane enjoyed reading and doing word searches as well as looking up current events and science facts on her tablet. She also enjoyed cooking and researching health friendly recipes.

Survivors include her mother, Rosemary Fryda; three sisters, Nadine (Ron), Debbie and Candice and five brothers, Daniel (Elaine), David, Dean (Lisa), Kim (Sarah) and Paul (Corisa) and numerous nieces and nephews and friends.

Rev. Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, January 11th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Tri-Valley Developmental Center 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.