Kenneth J. Porter, Jr.
Jan 23, 2026
Kenneth J. “Kenny” Porter, Jr., 66, of Chetopa, passed away at 2:44 p.m., Friday, January 23, 2026, at St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa.
Kenneth Jackson Porter, Jr. was born on May 7, 1959, to Kenneth Jackson and Anna Marie (Griffith) Porter, Sr. in Augusta, Kansas. As a young boy, he moved with his family to Welch, Oklahoma, where he grew up...
Stephen O. Helt
Feb 10, 2026
Stephen O. “Steve” Helt, 77, of Grove, Oklahoma, and formerly of rural Parsons, passed away at 2:14 a.m., Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin.
Stephen Orville Helt was born on April 4, 1948, to Elvin O. and Emaline (Marchant) Helt in Coffeyville, Kansas. After graduating from Labette County Community High School, he served in the Army National Guard.
On...
Jonathan L. Byrd
Feb 7, 2026
Jonathan L. Byrd, 34, of Parsons, passed away the morning of Saturday, February 7, 2026, at his home.
Complete obituary details and funeral arrangements will be announced by the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons.
Braxton B. Irish
Feb 7, 2026
Braxton Irish, 19, of St. Paul, passed away the afternoon of Saturday, February 7, 2026, at his home.
Braxton Blake Irish was born on May 23, 2006, to Brandi Clark and Casey Irish in Pittsburg, Kansas. He grew up and attended school in St. Paul, graduating from St. Paul High School in 2025.
Being a volunteer firefighter was among Braxton’s proudest roles....
Shelly L. Gray
Feb 3, 2026
Shelly L. Gray, 60, of McCune, passed away the morning of Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at her home.
Shelly Lynn Henson was born on April 20, 1965, to William Steve Henson and Darlene Kay (Warner) Call in Miami, Oklahoma.
After graduating from Oswego High School, Shelly worked for many years in home health care. Her generous spirit was well suited to caring...
Michael D. Bryant
Jan 31, 2026
Michael D. Bryant, 68, of Chetopa, passed away on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Oswego Health and Rehab.
Michael Dean Bryant was born on September 26, 1957, to Luther Eugene and Barbara Joan (Dow) Bryant in Vinita, Oklahoma. While in high school, he earned a welding certification, which he turned into a lifelong career. He was a talented welder that worked...
Tom A. Zuzzio
Jan 29, 2026
Thomas A. Zuzzio, 79, passed away on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at his home, surrounded by the love of his family and a life well lived.
Tom was born on October 4, 1946, in Parsons, Kansas, to Anthony J. “Tony” and Eileen M. (Roskob) Zuzzio. From the very beginning, Tom’s life was shaped by strong family bonds, hard work, and a...
Toni A. Gould
Jan 25, 2026
Toni A. Gould, 78, of Grain Valley, Missouri, and formerly of Parsons, passed away at 11:56 p.m., Sunday, January 25, 2026.
Toni Ann Moon was born on January 14, 1948, to Tony and Helen Kathleen (Hopper) Moon in Iola, Kansas. Her warm smile and caring spirit touched everyone she met. A dedicated educator, Toni earned her Bachelor of Science in Education...
David J. George
Jan 21, 2026
David J. George, 47, of rural Parsons, passed away at 3:59 a.m., Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at his home.
David Joseph George was born on May 11, 1978, to Richard Lee and Margaret Anne (Johnson) George in Wichita, Kansas. He grew up in Parsons before moving with his family to a farm outside of Parsons in 2000.
He was a member of...
Dixie Ann Aldridge
Jan 19, 2026
Dixie Ann Aldridge, 92, of Parsons, went to be with the Lord on January 19, 2026.
She was born on September 3, 1933, in Marshalltown, Iowa, to George and Viola Ann (Evans) Mingel. The family later lived in Leavenworth, before moving to Parsons in 1943.
Dixie attended Lincoln, Garfield, and Parsons East Junior High schools and graduated from Parsons High School in...
Francis M. "Mike" O'Hara, Jr.
Jan 17, 2026
Francis M. “Mike” O’Hara, Jr., 86, of Parsons, passed away at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Prairie Misson Retirement Village, in St. Paul.
Francis Michael O’Hara, Jr., was born on January 21, 1939, to Francis Michael O’Hara, Sr. and Mary Wilson in Parsons, Kansas.
Following graduating from Parsons High School in 1958, he proudly served in the United States...
Diana L. Wintle
Jan 13, 2026
Diana L. Wintle, 68, of Parsons, passed away at 3:55 a.m., Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at her home.
Diana Lynn Allen was born on September 25, 1957, to Richard and Norma (Wilkinson) Allen in Wichita, Kansas. She grew up and attended school in Parsons, graduating from Parsons High School in 1975.
For many years, she worked as a special education paraprofessional in...
Betty J. Swanwick
Jan 7, 2026
Betty J. Swanwick, 83, of Parsons, passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at her home.
Betty Jane McCartney was born on June 17, 1942, to Clarence and Emma (Knight) McCartney in rural Labette County. She grew up and attended school in Parsons, graduating from Parsons High School.
For many years, Betty worked in the healthcare industry, including for Home Medical and...
Ruth M. Lavender
Jan 6, 2026
Ruth M. Lavender, 81, of rural Altamont, passed away at 1:51 p.m., Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Ruth Marie Adams was born on March 30, 1944, to W. Glenn and Hazel (Westervelt) Adams in Hallowell, Kansas. She grew up and attended school in Labette County, graduating from Labette County Community High School in 1962.
On September...
David L. Nicholas
Jan 4, 2026
David L. Nicholas, 80, of Altamont, passed away at 3:25 p.m., Sunday, January 4, 2026, at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa.
He was born on July 20, 1945, to Myron and Iliff (Burkey) Nicholas in Emporia, Kansas. After graduating from Hamilton High School in 1963, David earned a Bachelor of Science in History from Pittsburg State University and a Master of...
Priscilla Jones
Jan 1, 2026
Priscilla Jones, 98, of Altamont, passed away at 8:58 p.m., Thursday, January 1, 2026, at Labette Health.
Priscilla Hockett was born on December 13, 1927, to Samuel M. and Frances Hope (Botts) Hockett in rural Mound Valley, Kansas. She grew up in Oklahoma until age twelve, then the family moved to Texas for three years before settling back in Kansas, where...
Cheryl A. Paxson
Dec 29, 2025
It is with deep sorrow that the family of Cheryl Paxson announces her passing, peacefully in the morning hours of Monday, December 29, 2025. She spent her final days with her immediate family by her side, lovingly cared for by the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri. Cheryl was deeply cherished by her family and friends. Her room...
Michael Lattin
Dec 29, 2025
Michael R. Lattin, 83, of Erie and formerly of Parsons, passed away the morning of Monday, December 29, 2025, at his home.
Michael Roberts Lattin was born on June 28, 1942, to Horrace and Genevieve (Lockrem) Lattin in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up and attended school in Minnesota, graduating from high school in Blue Earth, Minnesota, in 1960.
Following high school, Michael...
Mary J. Burrows
Dec 28, 2025
Mary Burrows, 74, of Chetopa, passed away at 10:26 a.m., Sunday, December 28, 2025, at her residence.
Mary Jane Camper was born on January 25, 1951, to Glen and Mildred (Baker) Camper in Chetopa, Kansas. She grew up and attended school in Chetopa, graduating from Chetopa High School.
She enjoyed the outdoors, especially going fishing and taking care of her chickens and...
Lois K. Vail
Dec 23, 2025
Lois Kay Vail, 83, of Parsons, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2025, at Parsons Presbyterian Manor.
Lois Kay was born on May 4, 1942, in Woodward, Oklahoma, to Eddie Lee Alldredge and Isma Fothergill. She and her sister, Carolyn, spent their early years being raised by their grandparents in Woodward. After Eddie Lee returned home from World War II and...
