Margie Neville

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Margie Nelle Neville, age 81, of Weir, KS, passed away at 9:33 am, Wednesday, January 4, 2017 in Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg, KS.

She was born September 25, 1935 in Crestline, Kansas to Bill and Sarah Faye Sears Rion. She attended school in Riverton, Kansas, and then worked as a seamstress and a cook, retiring from Ace Electric. She married Walter Castro who was killed in a construction accident; and later married Billie C. Neville in 1960. Her hobbies included playing Bingo, spending time with her family, and enjoying all of her nieces and nephews.

She is survived by her 5 brothers: Stanley Rion (Maxine) of Crestline, KS; Gene Rion (Kathy) of Broken Arrow, OK; Dean Rion (Karen) of Walnut, KS; Don Rion of Tulsa, OK; Jake Rion (Ann) of Afton, OK; 2 sisters: Prudence (Melvin) Huffman of Weir, KS; and Polly (Jim) Frost of Afton, OK; and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, brothers Bill Rion, Samuel Rion, James Rion; sister Dixie Brannon, nephews Terry Rion and Chuck Huffman, and niece Rhonda Huffman.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2017, at 2:00 PM, at Derfelt Funeral Home in Columbus, KS; family will receive friends before the service at 1:00 PM. Burial will be at Lone Elm Cemetery. Condolences may be left for the family at derfeltfuneralhomes.com.

Mary Sullivan

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Mary Lou Sullivan 76, of Baxter Springs, KS passed from this life on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at Mercy Hospital, Joplin, MO.

Mary was born July 29, 1940 in Baxter Springs, KS to the union of Leslie and Grace (Griffith) Pliler. Mary was united in marriage to Paul Sullivan on August 10, 1962 in Miami, OK. He preceded her in death on April 2, 1995.

Mary worked as an accountant for Ace Electric Company in Columbus, KS for 19 years, before going to work at Cycle Connection processing titles until her retirement in 2005. Mary was a member of the First Christian Church of Baxter Springs. She loved spending time with her family, especially her two grandsons. She will be missed by her special dog “Poppy”. Mary was a 30-year member of the Epslion Sigma Alpha Sorority.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents; husband; one brother, Jim Pliler; one sister, Bonnie Lou Pliler.

Mary is survived by two sons, Randy Sullivan of Baxter Springs, KS, and Robbie Sullivan and wife Regina of Carl Junction, MO; one brother, Joe Pliler and wife Mary Ann of Baxter Springs, KS; two grandsons, Blayke and Brayden Sullivan; two nephews, Brent and Brian Pliler.

Graveside services will be held at 3:15 p.m., Sunday, January 8, 2017 at the Baxter Springs Cemetery. Matt Derfelt will officiate. Family will receive friends from 2:00-3:00 p.m., Sunday at Derfelt’s Baxter Chapel. Pallbearers for the service are; Andy Bingham, Todd Berry, Woody Rather, Dick Nowlin, Dustin Nowlin, Brayden Sullivan, and Blayke Sullivan. Honorary pallbearers are Brent Pliler and Brian Pliler. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.

Marie Cannon

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Marie (Ellen Marie) Cannon 87, of Baxter Springs, KS passed from this life on Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at Medicalodge of Columbus.

Marie was born August 16, 1929 in Racine, MO to the union of Ernest and Ruth (Nelson) Tillerson. She was united in marriage to Dean Cannon on September 25, 1949 in Baxter Springs, KS.

Marie was a homemaker, loving and caring for her family. She was a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church, where she was very involved until her health no longer allowed. Marie enjoyed cooking for family and friends, planting flowers, crocheting, sewing, and reading. She liked to watch the TBN Network and listen to the different sermons and gospel music. She loved her children, grandchildren and adored her great grandchildren. She was the epitome of the biblical hostess- always prepared to offer food and drink to any caller at any time.

Marie is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Dean; brother, Ernest Tillerson; and son-in-law, Rex Randall.

Marie is survived by two sons, Larry Cannon and wife Sharon of Baxter Springs, KS, and Sam Cannon of rural Columbus, Ks; two daughters, Marlene Randall of Baxter Springs, KS, and Sharon Houser and husband Ed of rural Columbus, KS; one sister, Elaine Turner and husband Glynn of Manford, OK; seven grandchildren, Ryan Cannon, Grant Randall, Erin Ogle, Sally Davis, Sam Cannon, Sara Brown, and Kari Wade; along with 10 great grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, January 8, 2017 at the Fellowship Baptist Church, Baxter Springs, KS. Pastor Shane Dotson will officiate. Ellen has been entrusted to Derfelt’s Baxter Chapel for cremation. Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.

Gary Hite

(From Brenner Mortuary)

Gary Lee Hite, 64, of Pittsburg, passed away with his children by his side at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at his residence. He was born November 2, 1952 in Pittsburg, Kansas to Darrel H. and Eloise Margaret (Stephens) Hite. Gary graduated from Southeast High School in 1970. He was a lifetime area resident of Southeast Kansas and rural Pittsburg. He had been married to Alice Hudson, the late Judy Loteckie, Lori Clines, and Cheri Dunbar. Gary worked for American Concrete for 32 years, retiring in 2014. He was also active in the family farm for many years. He had a great love of life and an outgoing personality. He never met a stranger, he was the life of every party and could make anyone laugh. Membership was held in the Cherokee American Legion, Cherokee Masonic Lodge, and was a previous Cherokee City Councilman.

Survivors include his three sons, Brian Hite and his wife JoLynn of Frontenac, KS, Corey Hite and Amy Butler of Frontenac, KS and Evan Hite and Alice Smith of Edna, KS; three daughters, Melissa Hite of Myrtle Beach, SC, Stacy Sullivan and her husband Greg of Frontenac, KS and Darcy Wiford and her husband, Kyle of Altamont, KS; three brothers, Steve Hite and his wife Dixie of Pittsburg, KS, Greg Hite and his wife Bea of rural Pittsburg, KS; Stuart Hite and his wife Amy of Pittsburg, KS, and eleven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents. The family is especially grateful to Dr. Boban Mathew, Hilah Perkins, ANP, Via Christi Cancer staff, Kathy Combs, RN, Harry Hynes Hospice staff, and all of his friends and family for the love and care he received.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, January 6, 2017, at the Brenner Mortuary. Private family burial will be held at a later date in the Cherokee City Cemetery. The family suggests memorials to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 East 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may also leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg, KS.

Bob Black

(From Bath-Naylor Funeral Home)

Robert Newton “Bob” Black 93, of Columbus, KS died 1:56pm Saturday December 31, 2016 at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, MO following a short illness.

Bob was born October 24, 1923 in Liberal, MO the son of Harold R. and Sarah C. (Yoke) Black. Bob was lifelong resident of the area and a graduate of Liberal High School. Bob was a veteran of WWII.
On February 25, 1944 Bob married Leah Fudge in Girard, KS; she preceded him in death on December 16, 2011. Bob worked in his early years as a farmer; later an independent business man and later an agent for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. 

Bob was a member of the First Christian Church in Columbus, KS; American Legion Columbus, KS; VFW Columbus, KS; Columbus City Council Member; on the Bone Creek Reservoir Committee; known as an outdoorsman; avid gardener; Chiefs and Royals fan and was inducted into the Liberal High School Football Hall of Fame. 

Survivors include his children Robert Stanton “Stan” Black and wife Marilyn of Estes Park, CO and Billie M. Diehl and husband J.C. of Olathe, KS; grandchildren Sarah Black and David Harthcock of Denver, CO, Katy Hill and husband Casey of Oxford, MI and Kristina Marlow and husband John of Bowling Green, KY and great-grandchildren Brady and Peighton Hill.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, parents and sister Wynona Stahl.

 
Funeral Services will be 2:00pm Thursday January 5, 2017 at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Columbus, KS with Pastor Dennis Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at the Park Cemetery in Columbus, KS. Family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00pm prior to the service at the funeral home. E-mail condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com. 

Arrangements are by Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Columbus, KS.

Tom Lewis

(From Bath-Naylor Funeral Home)

Thomas D. “Tom” Lewis, 62, of Frontenac, died January 2, 2017 at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, MO.
He was born May 28, 1954 in Pittsburg the son of Charles Herschel and Charlotte Ann Hensley Lewis. He had been a resident of Pittsburg his entire life. He graduated from Pittsburg High School and later attended Pittsburg State University receiving his degree in Electrical Drafting.

He married Mary Beth Norris on June 15, 1972 in Pittsburg. She survives at the home in Frontenac.

Mr. Lewis worked for McNally Pittsburg Manufacturing Company as a draftsman for several years, until the company closed. He worked at General Machinery in Pittsburg in sales for several years until ill health forced his retirement in 2015.

Membership was held in TOPS Group KS0599 of Pittsburg.

Survivors in addition to his wife Mary Beth of the home include two daughters Mandy Lewis-Dessert and her husband Dan of Kansas City, MO, and Katherine Lewis-Henry and her husband Dean of Joplin, MO, one brother Leonard Lewis of Olympia, Washington, five grandchildren Anthony Neal, Zavier Neal, Terrance Gibson, Elijah Gibson and Leah Dessert.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be 3 pm Saturday at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway in Pittsburg, with the Rev. Adah Hutchcraft, officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 pm Saturday at the funeral home. Friends may also call from 1 to 5 pm Friday at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Pittsburg. A memorial has been established to the Joplin Humane Society in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left at our web sitewww.bathnaylor.com