Linda S. Gilliland

CHETOPA—Linda S. Gilliland, 57, of Chetopa died at 12:43 p.m. Monday, March 15, 2010, in the Labette Health emergency room.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Thursday, at the Church of God in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Chetopa. Friends may call at their convenience from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.

Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association and may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.

Elanor May Clemons

COFFEYVILLE—Elanor May Clemons, 96, of Coffeyville, Kan., died Monday, March 15, 2010, at Medicalodge in Coffeyville. May was raised and attended school in Oswego, Kan., where she married Orville Clemons in 1931. The couple lived in Oswego until they moved to Coffeyville in 1949.

Graveside funeral services for Elanor May Clemons will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 19, at Restlawn Memorial Park in Coffeyville. Friends may call at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home in Coffeyville on Thursday, March 18, from noon until 8 p.m.

Carol J. (Ackley) Arie

WICHITA—Carol J. (Ackley) Arie, 72, of Wichita, Kan., formerly of Parsons, Kan., died Wednesday, March 17, 2010, at Via Christi-St. Francis Campus in Wichita. She had been in failing health.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 20, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.

Verda Nisly of rural Oswego has spent some time shooting springtime
photographs, including this one of a colorful crocus with drippy rain water
falling from its pretty face.

Green edition this week, but in the weekly Labette Avenue only.
Your entry can be sent to Labette Avenue, P. O. Box 269, Oswego, KS 67356 or e-mailed to labetteavenue@ taylornews.org.
Names will be drawn from the correct entries and the two winners will receive an Easter basket. This contest is for children and adults.
Send your entries prior to March 29 because the drawing will be held that day at 5 p.m.

Read this week’s Labette Avenue for the complete story.

Celia K. Harris, 64, of Fredonia was pronounced dead at the scene of a grass fire near 825 1000 Road near Edna at about 2:20 p.m., Saturday.  Upon arrival, Labette County Sheriff’s Department officers and Coffeyville EMS learned that Harris had become trapped by the grass fire and succumbed to the smoke and flames.  Harris had become trapped between the fire and a fence row when she was unable to escape.

Sheriff William Blundell said numerous persons were fighting the controlled fire.

An autopsy has been performed to determine the exact cause of death.

Clovie I. Kepford

VINCENNES, Ind.—Clovie I. Kepford, 93, of Vincennes, Indiana, formerly of Chetopa, Kan., died at 7:35 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 15, at Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to sign the register at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the donor’s choice. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.
Clovie was born Aug. 2, 1916, on the family farm north of Melrose, Kan., to Oscar and Nellie (Harrington) Smith. As a young girl, she grew up and attended Mt. Pisgah country school. She was a lifelong resident of the Chetopa area, and in October 2007, moved to Vincennes, Ind., to be near family.

She and Delbert Kepford were married Feb. 14, 1949, in Oswego, Kan. He preceded her in death March 17, 2001.

Through the years, she worked at various restaurants in the area, the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in Eudora, Kan., and the Miller, Sperry, and Bath Funeral Homes in Chetopa until retirement.

In earlier years, she attended the First Christian Church in Chetopa and had volunteered at Chetopa Manor since 1980. She was a member of the Home Demonstration Unit, Silly Old Grandma’s Club, the Garden Club, AARP, V.F.W. Auxiliary in Chetopa, and the American Legion Auxiliary in Baxter Springs. She enjoyed gardening and spending time with her family and friends.

Those surviving include two sons, Glen Richard Ochsenbein, Neosho, Mo.; Arthur Ray Ochsenbein, Forest Grove, Ore.; and one daughter, Della P. Graham, Vincennes, Ind.; 14 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Adeline, Leota, and Aileen; two brothers, Cecil and Marvin; and a son-in-law, Kenneth Graham, on Sept. 9, 2009.

M. D. “Curly” Robinson

PARSONS—M. D. “Curly” Robinson, 79, of Parsons, Kan., died at 3:58 p.m., Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at Labette Health. He had been in his usual health and death was not expected.

Graveside services will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, March 13, at Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Parsons. Friends may call at their convenience after 1 p.m., on Friday, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Masonic Lodge No. 117, A.F. & A.M., or to the donor’s choice. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.

Curly was born Oct. 12, 1930, in Columbus, Kan., to James C. Robinson, Sr., and Iva Cleo (Farnsworth) Robinson. He attended grade school at Hallowell and was a high school graduate of Cherokee County Community High School.

He and Jo Ann L. Cormeny were married July 2, 1950, in Eureka Springs, Ark. In 1951, they moved to Parsons where he was employed by the MKT Railroad. In 1988, they moved to Little Rock, Ark., where he continued his employment with the Union Pacific Railroad. Following his retirement in 1992, the couple returned to Parsons where they have lived since.

Curly was a member of the First Christian Church in Parsons and the Parsons Masonic Lodge No. 117, A.F. & A.M. where, in 1962, he served as Past Master. He enjoyed fishing on a daily basis and was a diehard cat fisherman at Lake McKinley. He also enjoyed gardening and mowing his lawn.

Survivors include his wife, Jo Ann Robinson, of the home, Parsons; one son, Ron Robinson and wife Teresa, Mound Valley, Kan.; four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; two brothers, James Robinson, Hallowell; Gene Robinson, Parsons; and two sisters, Maurine Lanz (his twin sister), Lamar, Mo.; and Juanitab Walker, Parsons.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles and Neil; one sister, Lois Kirk; and a great-granddaughter, Chloe Nichelle Robinson.

Bradley E. “Brad” Oman

ALTAMONT—Bradley E. “Brad” Oman, 63, of Altamont, Kan., passed away with his family by his side at 10:45 p.m., Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at his home after a short battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 13, at the Altamont United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Altamont. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Friday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont.

Memorials are suggested to the Altamont Masonic Lodge or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.

Brad was born May 8, 1946, in Topeka, Kan., to Vincent and Alice (Youngblom) Oman. In 1964, he graduated from Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, and received a Bachelor of Science in Wood Technology from Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kan., in 1972.

Brad was married to Julie Hess on Aug. 26, 1967, in Altamont. The first year of marriage, the couple lived in Pittsburg before moving to Altamont in 1968 where they have lived since.

From 1967 to 1971, Brad served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Coral Sea Aircraft Carrier CV-43 and was a lifetime member of the VFW serving as president of the Oswego VFW chapter.

Following his discharge from the Navy, Brad worked for Bob Divine in Parsons and then taught Building and Trades at LCHS in Altamont from 1973 to 1976. After teaching, he started Oman Construction Company building houses and doing remodeling, retiring in 2007. He was very involved in organizing the Altamont Jaycees, being elected to numerous positions not only at the local level but also at the state level. Later he joined the Masonic Lodge in Altamont where he was elected to various positions in the chapter. He helped organize the fishing derby hosted by the Lodge each year and helped build the shower house at Idle Hour Lake.

Brad was especially close to his family, particularly his three grandchildren who he was very proud of. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping throughout his life. Saturday afternoon card games with friends was a tradition. He loved to be outdoors and was an avid bird watcher with many birdhouses in his yard. Planting a garden was the first thing he did in the spring, while tending the flower gardens around their home. This last year, Brad enjoyed spending time at Grand Lake, Horse Creek Resort, where he and Julie have a trailer.

Survivors include his wife Julie, of the home; two daughters, Jennifer Russell and husband Ray, Pittsburg; and Jana Ingram and husband Ryan, Cheney, Kan.; three precious grandchildren, Tatum, Kinslee and Brody Ingram; and his brother, Brent Oman, and wife Twilla, Houston, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent and Alice, and stepfather, Melvin Swan.

Laurence Sylvester “Larry” Welch, Jr.

PARSONS—Laurence Sylvester “Larry” Welch Jr., 79, Parsons, Kan., died Thursday, March 11, 2010.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Monday, at First Christian Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Macon, Mo.

The family suggests memorials to First Christian Church of Parsons.

Watson Funeral Home of Wichita is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences can be sent to www.watsonfuneral.com.

Jesse Michael Malin

PARSONS—Jesse Michael Malin, 29, of Parsons, Kan., died Saturday, March 6, 2010, in Parsons.

Funeral services will be at 3 p.m., Monday, at First Mennonite Church of Hillsboro.

Memorials may be made to the Jesse Malin Memorial Fund and left in care of Jost Funeral Home of Hillsboro.

Online condolences may be sent to jost@jostfuneralhome.com.

Helene B. White

COLUMBUS—Helene B. White, 90, of Columbus, Kan., formerly of Parsons, died Friday, March 12, 2010, at Mercy Health in Columbus.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m., Monday, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick’s School endowment fund and may be left at or mailed to the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.

Darrel D. Fultz

PARSONS—Darrel D. Fultz, 78, of rural Parsons, Kan., died Friday, March 12, 2010, at Elm Haven East Nursing Home in Parsons where he had resided the past month.

Following cremation, a Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 20, at the Center Bethel Union Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested memorials to the Parsons Community Health Clinic.  These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, 405 Main, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.

Pictured with his parents and sisters is Damon Trotnic, OHS senior who scored his 1,000th point for the Indians on Friday night. Left to right are Brett Trotnic, Damon Trotnic, Deja Trotnic, Leona Trotnic and in front, Dezirae Trotnic.
(Photo by David Oldham)

Molly Fuller, Oswego, University of  Kansas senior in secondary-level education, daughter of Tim and Tracy Fuller, and an Oswego High School graduate, was chosen as one of fifteen area scholars at the University of Kansas who have been selected as 2010 Kansas Asia Scholars. The students are preparing to study in China from May 20 to June 10 at a special seminar. Students preparing to teach at the elementary or secondary level will spend three weeks  studying Chinese language, culture and history in China, then will return and create service-learning projects.

Chandler Collins and Chuck Watts of Oswego are back to full production after a partial roof collapse of the Diamond Coach manufacturing plant. On Jan. 13, part of the south roof caved in from weight of snow and ice. Since then, a partial wall has been put up to allow production to continue while construction of collapsed area is being re-built. Diamond Coach is a mid-size specialty bus manufacturer employing 45 people in Oswego.