Flossie Driskill

(From Bath-Naylor Funeral Home)

Flossie Lee Driskill, 74 of Frontenac, KS passed away April 25, 2018 at her home surrounded by family and friends.

She was born August 22, 1943.

She leaves behind her long time family friend Carole D. McBratney of the home, her caregiver Crystal Orender of the home and Gerianne Bass, a longtime family friend.

Flossie was very vocal, expressing her love for everyone she came in contact with and too her love for Jesus Christ, going to church when her health would allow her to go. Flossie made many friends at Natural Ties, an open community event put on by students at PSU, here she took part in may parties and activities.

Flossie enjoyed listening to gospel music, singing and listening to stories, most importantly expressing her love that she had for children.

Funeral services will be 3 pm, Monday April 30th, 2018 at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Pittsburg. Burial will follow in the Highland Park Cemetery. Condolences may be left atwww.bathnaylor.com . Memorials may be made to the Mosaic Memorial Fund; these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home. 

Arrangements under the direction of the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Pittsburg.

Leon Smith

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Robert “Leon” Smith, age 80 of Riverton, passed away at 12:50 AM on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, MO following an illness.

Leon was born in Galena, KS on December 11, 1937 to the union of Walter Glen Smith and Edna Lorene (Easley) Smith. He had been a lifetime resident of Cherokee County, residing in Riverton, Galena, and Baxter Springs.

Leon spent 40 years of his working career at Missouri Steel in Joplin Missouri. After that company closed, he spent 9 years in maintenance at Walmart before retiring in 2014.

He was united in marriage with Sue LaTurner in Riverton, KS at her father’s home on March 24, 1959. They had recently celebrated their 59th Wedding Anniversary.

Throughout local sports organizations, Leon exhibited his love for his family. In his son’s youth, he served as a baseball coach, and it was also common to see him working the “chain gang” at football games. He participated in a number of local bowling leagues throughout the area, and was very handy in lawnmower repair. Everyone in the Riverton area would visit him to start their mowing season off right. He loved fishing, and was often out-fished by his great-granddaughter. His sense of humor was a defining character trait that stayed with him even throughout the most recent hospital stay as he picked on the nurses. He always had a story to share, and you had better be prepared to laugh. He loved his family very much, and he will be dearly missed.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sue Smith of Riverton; one son, Robby Smith (wife, Janie) of Miami, OK; 3 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; and 3 step great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Lorene; and one brother, Earl Glen Smith.

Mr. Smith was entrusted to Derfelt Funeral Home of Galena for cremation. The family will hold a memorial service at 1:00 PM on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at Tennessee Prairie Friends Church. Pastors Dave and Mary Robinson will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to the local animal shelter of your choice.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.derfeltfuneralhomes.com.

Marvin Daniels

(From Brenner Mortuary)

Marvin G. Daniels, 87, of Pittsburg, Kansas, passed away at 5:46 p.m., Thursday, April 26, 2018 at his home.

He was born July 27, 1930 at Watts, Oklahoma, the son of Acle and Marie (Bryant) Daniels. He attended Heavner High School and graduated in 1948.

Marvin served in the United States Air Force from 1951 until he was honorably discharged in1955. On April 28, 1962, he was united in marriage to Charlene Graham. She survives of the home.

Marvin worked for Kansas City Southern Railroad as a Railroad Engineer and retired in 1992. After retirement he worked for Pittsburg Ford as a driver.

Membership was held in the Trinity Baptist Church and the Pittsburg Masonic Lodge #187.

In addition to his wife Charlene, he is survived by a son, Bryan Daniels and his wife Ginger of McKinney, TX; a daughter, Marlene Miller and her husband Mark of Wichita, KS; six grandchildren Kristen Daniels, Kaitlyn Daniels, Graham Daniels, Meagan Miller and her husband Andy Gonzalez, Rachael Miller and Stephanie Miller; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers Melvin and Marion Daniels.

A service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday (April 30) at the Brenner Mortuary with Pastor Jordan Hodges officiating. Burial will follow in the Highland Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the start of the service on Monday at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to Trinity Baptist Church. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may also leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary.

Jackie Trites

(From Brenner Mortuary)

Betty “Jackie” June Trites, 94, of Pittsburg, passed away at 7:39 a.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at the Medicalodges of Pittsburg.

She was born December 30 1923 at Xenia, Kansas, the daughter of Charles Orville and Minnie Ruby (Burt) Meek.

On May 12, 1940, she was united in marriage to William Orr Trites at Iola, Kansas. They celebrated 61 years of matrimony. After living in Moran, Kansas and California during WWII, they moved to Pittsburg in 1947. He preceded her in death on October 26, 2001.

Mrs. Trites retired from Foodtown after 28 years of service. During WWII, she worked at the Kansas Ordnance Plant in Parsons, Kansas.

Membership was held in the First Christian Church. She loved fishing and spending time at their lake home on Grand Lake. Her and Bill were Bluebird watchers and built many bird houses to watch their migration. Her love to her family will always be a cherished memory!

Survivors include two sons, Rodney Kent Trites and his wife, Opal of Pittsburg and Richard Dean Trites of Olathe, Kansas; three grandsons, Mike Trites and wife, Audra of Olathe, KS, Brent Trites of Overland Park, KS, and Kevin Trites and wife, Sally of Girard, KS; three granddaughters, RaVae Lynn Dorris and husband, Tim of Belton, KY, Cheri Trites Verslius and husband, Paul of Overland Park, KS, and Michelle Trites Gallo and husband, Mike of Algonquin, IL; five great-grandsons and 3 great-granddaughters.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and two sisters, Leila Tracy and Lavon Banta.

A service is set for 2:00 p.m., Friday (April 27) at the First Christian Church with Rev. Pat Nixon officiating. Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church. Friends may call at the funeral home 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday to sign the register book. The family suggests memorials be given to the First Christian Church and/or the Shriner’s Transportation Fund. These may be left at or mailed to Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg, KS.

Robert Sweatt

(From Friskel Funeral Home)

Robert Ray Sweatt Jr. 73, of Frontenac, KS died 12:12am Sunday April 22, 2018 at his home following an illness. 

Robert was born December 25, 1944 in Pittsburg, KS the son of Robert Ray and Zelma Ann (Lashmet) Sweatt. Robert attended area schools and was a graduate of St. Mary’s Colgan High School. Following high school Robert earned his Bachelor’s degree at Pittsburg State University and later his Law Degree from Washburn University. Robert married Janie Dixon; they later divorced. On October 7, 1997 Robert married Nancy C. Tillman in Topeka, KS; she survives at the home. Robert began his career at Western Casualty and Surety Company in Ft. Scott, KS in 1974. Later he worked for the Kansas State Highway Commission and was appointed the Director of Highway Safety. In 1976 Robert was appointed as the Assistant Attorney General. In 1979 Robert began work at Boeing in Wichita as counsel on their legal team. In 1988 he served as President of Equity Pacific in Missoula, MT. In 1991 he returned to work for the State of Kansas in the Department of Revenue until he retired in 2013. Robert was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church; was a member of the BAR; loved history; politics; music; movies and fast cars. 

Survivors include his wife; children Rob Sweatt and wife Amy of Mission Hills, KS, Gretchen Koc and husband Kevin of Prairie Village, KS; step-children Taud Boatman and wife Buffy of El Reno, OK, Michael Doremus and wife Gayvien of White Heath, IL and Justin Shobe and wife Nicole of Merriam, KS; 7 grandchildren and 9 step-grandchildren. 

Robert was preceded in death by his parents. 

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00am Wednesday April 25, 2018 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Fr. Thomas Stroot as celebrant. Burial will be at a later date at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Pittsburg, KS. Family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00am prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers the family asks expressions of sympathy to be in the form of memorials to the Sacred Heart Food Pantry and/or St. Mary’s Colgan Baseball Program. Friends may drop off or mail memorials to Friskel Funeral Home 230 E. McKay Frontenac, KS 66763. Condolences may be left at www.friskelfuneralhome.com.

Raymond Baker

(From Carson-Wall Funeral Home)

Raymond J. Baker, Sr., 93, of Altamont, died at 11:13 p.m., Saturday, April 21, 2018, at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Wichita. 

He was born May 11, 1924, at Chetopa, to Joseph R. and Sarah (McVey) Baker. He attended school in Chetopa. During World War II he served in the United States Army in the Pacific area. He received the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. 

In June of 1946 he married Virginia L. Emert of Chetopa and they divorced in 1983. He was a retired conductor for the Katy Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad. He and his companion Donna Snowden ran a Buy, Sell and Trade Business in Grove, Oklahoma and later moved to Altamont. She preceded him in death in November of 2008. Raymond spent 16 winters in Arizona doing swap meets. He loved buying, selling and trading antiques and collectibles. He was a life member of the Brown-Bishop Post # 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. 

Surviving are four children, Raymond Baker, Jr. and wife Tina, of Parsons, William Baker and wife, Peggy, of Pittsburg, Connie Journot and husband Bill, of Independence and Barbara Morrison and husband Jim, of Weatherford, Texas; 10 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister. 

Services will be at 2 p.m., Wednesday, at the Oakhill Cemetery in Chetopa, with Angie Knight officiating. Military honors will be given by the Brown-Bishop Post # 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home from 7 to 8 p.m., Tuesday. They request that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be given to the Robert J. Dole Veterans Administration Medical Center Hospice Unit, 5500 E. Kellogg Drive, Wichita, KS 67218. They may also be left at the funeral home or sent to Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online messages may be sent to www.wallfuneralservices.com.

Randy Stroup

(From Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home)

Warren R. “Randy” Stroup, 65, of Erie, passed away at 3:38 p.m., Sunday, April 22, 2018 at the Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He had been in failing health. He was born on August 27, 1952 at Parsons to Warren L. and Louise M. (Craig) Stroup. He grew up at Erie and for a short time at Derby, Kansas and attended schools there graduating from Derby High School in 1970. He returned to Erie and worked with his grandfather Craig doing carpentry work. He later worked as a bartender in Erie, as an oil field worker for Russell Petroleum, and as a Neosho County 911 Dispatcher. He was severely injured while working in the oilfields and became disabled. Randy enjoyed hunting, woodcarving, going to drag races, watching wrestling, and was an avid bowler. After sustaining injuries as an oilfield worker he became a stay at home dad. He was a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at Erie. He and Charlene (Edwards) Goff were united in marriage on December 16, 1977 at Erie, Kansas. She survives of the home. In addition to his wife, Randy is survived by a two sons, Scott Goff, and his wife, Michelle of Farlington and Shannon Goff of Pittsburg; three daughters, Sue (Goff) Celaya of Terre Haute, IN, Brandy (Stroup) Melloy, and her husband, Kirk of Basehor, and Amanda (Stroup) Peterson, and her husband, David of Parsons; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; several cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother, Louise Niles, his grandparents, Ernest Craig and Anita Craig, and a brother, Robert Craig Niles. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at Erie with The Reverend Jay Hobson officiating. Burial will take place in the East Hill Cemetery at Erie at a later date. The family will receive friends at the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday. Memorials are suggested to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church or to the City Of Erie Public Pool and these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home 113 S. Main St., P.O. Box 182, Erie, KS 66733. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.