Obits for Butler County, Kansas Genealogy Trails

BUTLER COUNTY, KANSAS

OBITUARIES

ARNOLD, MRS. ORVAL

Funeral services for Mrs. Orval Arnold, 85, a former resident of the Leon area, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Leon Methodist Church.

Mrs. Arnold died Tuesday at Hillsoboro. Burial will be in the Leon cemetery.

Born March 20, 1881, near Leon, she was married to Orval Arnold in 1905 at Leon. They later moved to McPherson and to Hillsboro. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William McCullough.

Mrs. Arnold was a member of the McPherson Methodist church.

Surviving are three sons, Clyde of Sterling, Rance of Arkansas City, and Robert of Hillsboro, a daughter, Mrs. Bessie Dorn, who lives in Missouri; two sisters, Mrs. Sadie Woodward of Ellsworth and Mrs. Lucy Cameron, 841 North Denver; and a nephew Tom Cameron, 824 North Topeka. There are a number of grandchildren.

Her husband and two daughters, preceded Mrs. Arnold in death. (El Dorado Times, July 8, 1966)

BEAMAN, OLE J.

Funeral services for Ole J. Beaman, 76, of Leon were held Monday, October 30, at 4:00 p.m. the Leon United Methodist Church, with the Rev. David Chinn officiating. Mr. Beaman died Friday, October 27, 1972 in the Augusta Medical Complex where he had been a patient only a few days.

Mrs. Paul Morris and Mrs. H. L. Hammer sang "Beyond the Sunset" and "In the Garden." They were accompanied at the organ by Mrs. Harold Jones.

Bearers were Don Henson, Ron Herndon, Robert Beaman, Ralph Holem, Freeman Hulse, and Sid Blakeman. Honorary bearers were E.V. Mobley, Ray Feller, George Singleton, Ray Kenneil, Oran Wakefield, C. K. Ginnand, G. F. Long, Arney Kiswer, John Carl, Ed Hogue, Walter Wolius, and James Weaver. Burial under the direction of Kirby Funeral Home a was in the Leon cemetery.

Ole J. Beaman, son of John and Harriett Beman was born March 12, 1896 in Adair County, Iowa. While still a young boy, his family moved to Danart, Texas in a covered wagon. Then in 1909, they moved to Leon, Kansas were Ole grew to manhood and lived much of his life.

As a young man, he went to school in Kansas City to learn the mechanic's trade. Much of his work later was related in one way or another to the automobile. For a time, he drove a touring car at Pike's Peak. He worked at a garage in El Dorado and also sold cars in that city. He lived at the El Dorado City Building and drove the first mechanically powered fire truck used there. Later he worked at Bolana's Garage in Leon and managed a service station on Highway 96 at Leon. During World War II, Mr. Beaman went to work in Wichita where he managed a Goodyear store until his retirement in 1959.

On June 29, 1917, he married Seuane S. Royse of Leon. The ceremony was performed in El Dorado. They became parents of one daughter and one son, and enjoyed a little more than 55 years together.

Survivors are, in addition to his wife; a daughter, Elizabeth (Beth) of Wichita, a son, Don of Redondo Beach, California, a sister, Mrs. Edna Fox of Mt. Vernon, Washington, and a brother Rolly of Covina, California. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and two sisters. (Leon News, November 2, 1972)

CECIL, LULA E.

Funeral services for Lula E. Cecil, 88, who died Saturday, December 14, 1974 in E. B. Allen Hospital in Wichita, were held Tuesday, December 17 in the Leon Christian Church with Art Wilson, minister officiating.

Mrs. Harold Jones, organist accompanied Mrs. Art Wilson who sang, "In the Garden." Casket bearers were Art Brown, Harold Hammer, Richard Reed, Paul Morris, Richard Guy, and Robert Flattery. Burial, under the direction of Kirby Funeral Home in El Dorado was in the Leon Cemetery.

Mrs. Cecil was born December 28, 1885, in Oklahoma, the daughter of George and Sarah Jane Lynn. She married Clark Olin Cecil September 4, 1904, in Leon. He died January 28, 1956. Mrs. Cecil had been a resident of the Leon community most of her life. She was a member of the Leon Christian Church.

Surviving are three daughters; Mrs. Irene Rector of Rosalia; Mrs. Lola McNally of Salina, and Mrs. Norma Gerhardt of Wichita; one son, Charles Cecil of St. Louis, Missouri; one brother, Elmer E. Lynn of San Leandro, California; 13 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, three sons and four sisters. (Augusta Gazette, December 19, 1974)

DeMOSS, FLORENCE K.

Florecne K. DeMoss, 80, homemaker, of Augusta, died Thursday, Aug. 18, 1994 at the Augusta Medical Complex. Services are 3 p.m. Saturday in the Leon Cemetery.

She was born Sept. 23, 1913 in Cedar County, Iowa, the daughter of Diedrick John Schepers and Wilhemina Riedesel.

On Nov. 7, 1948, she and Wilbur L. DeMoss were married in Wichita.

Survivors include: brother-in-law, Kenneth DeMoss of Latham; sister in law, Dorothy Arnold of Augusta, nephews, Eldon Esterhaut of Phoenix, Ariz., Wayne Esterhaut of Big Rock, Iowa.

Memorials are to Walnut Valley Manor in Augusta. Hillside Funeral Home in Augusta has the arrangements. (El Dorado Times, August 19, 1994)

GUY, MAGGIE MARGARET

Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 20, in the Leon Christian Church for Maggie Guy, 82, of Leon who died Sunday night, December 17, 1972 in the Augusta Medical Complex.

Officiating at the services was the Rev. Larry Kuhl, minister of the church. Mrs. Harold Jones, organist, accompanied Mrs. H. L. Hammer and Mrs. Paul Morris as they sang "The Last Mile of the Way" and "Going Down the Valley."

Bearers were Bruce Shepherd, Bill Smith, Bill Davis, Alfred Gannon, H. L. Hammer, and Gilbert Davis. Burial was in the Leon Cemetery, with Kirby Funeral Home of El Dorado in charge.

Maggie Margaret Guy was born in Pulaski City, Arkansas on October 4, 1890. She married Leslie Franklin "Deak" Guy on march 27, 1919 in Miami, Oklahoma. He died October 3, 1955.

Maggie and Deak moved to Leon from Oklahoma in 1927. She was a member of the Leon Christian church.

Survivors include three sons, Charles H. Guy of Medicine Park, Oklahoma, Junior Guy of Leon and George Calvin Guy of Wellsville; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one son. (El Dorado Times, December 21, 1972)

HARDESTY, GLENN A.

Graveside funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at the Leon cemetery for Glenn A. Hardesty, 77, of Route 1, Leon, who died at the Allen Memorial Hospital at El Dorado Tuesday.

Glenn A. Hardesty was born at Isabel, Okla., on June 22, 1895, the son of Joseph and Mary (Kemp) Hardesty. He was married to Hazel Richardson at Medicine Lodge on June 8, 1922. He moved to Leon from Wichita in 1958 and was a retired aircraft inspector for Boeing and Cessna aircraft firms.

He was a veteran of World War I and was a member of the VFW American legion and Masonic Lodge.

Survivors include his widow; a son, Robert K. Hardesty of Artesia, N. M., and four grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by four sisters and eight brothers. (El Dorado Times, December 28, 1972)

HEIDE, HARRY B.

Funeral services were held in the Dunsford Funeral Home Chapel, Augusta, on Wednesday, November 14, for Harry Heide, 83, of rural Leon, who died in St. Joseph Hospital, Wichita, on Monday, November 12, 1973. Officiating was the Rev. Robert Schmidt. Burial was in the Leon Cemetery.

Harry Benjamin Heide, was born March 16, 1890 at Fulton, Iowa. He married Myrtle Powell on October 13, 1913 in Dodge City.

A retired dairyman, he moved to rural Leon from Wilmore in 1948. He was a member of the Baptist Church.

Survivors include Mrs. Heide; two sons, Powell H. of Clifton and Carroll of Leon; three daughters, Maxine Chadwick of Fort Worth, Texas, Nadine Schmidt of Arlington, Texas and Christine Edmunds of Salt Lake City, Utah; one brother, Roy Heide, of Mosca, Colorado, two sisters, Mildred Syring of Las Animas, Colorado and Clara Wirth of Hutchinson; 17 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. (El Dorado Times, November 22, 1973)

McALLISTER, FRED ALLEN

Funeral services were held at Byrd Snodgrass Colonial Chapel in Wichita for Fred Allen McAllister, Friday afteroon March 26, at 2 o'clock. He passed away March 22.

Recorded church music was played softly for the services, which were conducted by Rev. W. F. McKean, pastor of the South Side Baptist Church of which the deceased was a member.

Casket bearers included his grandsons, Allen Joe, Jerry James Edwards and Darrell schriver, and Allen McAllister, Joe McAllister, and Robert McAllister, nephews.

Interment was made in the Leon cemetery.

Relatives attending were: his widow, Mable of the home; a son, Willis, wife, and Mrs. Matilda Lambky, of Mulavne, a daughter, Mrs. Gladys Edwards and husband, Charles of Leon, a sister, Mrs. Mae Sheaffer, of Rogers, Arkansas, grandchildren: Bill McAllister, of Claremont, California, Harold Garner of Eureka, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Edwards, Mark and Jerry, Satanta, Jim Edwards of Bellevue, Nebraska, Mr. and Mrs. Darrel Schriver and Darica of Leon; a niece, Mrs. Lucille Myers, husband Bill, and daughter, Mindy, Cawker City; a nephew, Oran McAllister and wife Mary and their children. Mr. and Mrs. Allen McAllister of Potwin, Mr. and Mrs. Meredith Litchfield and Terry of Riley, Robert McAllister of Newton, Mr. and Mrs. Joe McAllister and Scotty of Sylvia, Grover McAllister of Potwin, Crystal McAllister of El Droado, Mrs. Cora Beaman, El Dorado, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert (Etta) Buell, howard, Mrs. Velma canon, Oskaloosa, Mr. and Mrs. Earl (Bernice) Thompson and Mrs. Bill Garner, sandy and Brenda of Wichita. (El Dorado Times, April 1, 1965)

PALMER, CHAS. F.

Chas. F. Palmer, aged 90, of Burns, Oregon, son of pioneer parents, Marcellus A. Palmer and Susan Berry Palmer, who came to Butler County from Shawnee county, in 1867, died at Burns, Oregon, on Saturday, June 25, 1966.

Mr. Palmer was a past master of Joppa Lodge No. 223, Leon, and a member of Eastern Star at Leon.

He was a pharmacist for many years at Leon, Winfield, and in Long Beach, Calif.

Surviving are his wife, Beryl, and son, Marcellus, both of Burns, Ore., and two sisters, Mrs. Abigall Carroll of El Dorado and Mrs. Dale Rigg, Leon, and seven grandchildren. One daughter, Mrs. Helen Gills of Long Beach, preceded him in death. (El Dorado Times, June 30, 1966)

SMITH, EMMA B.

Services for Mrs. Emma B. Smith, 72, will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Leon cemetery. She died Saturday.

Born at St. Paul, Kan., she lived here approximately 40 years. Her husband, Benjamin, died in 1966.

Survivors include five sons, Laverne, Hamilton, Kan., Benford, Hays, Kan., Donald, Augusta, Roy, Yates Center, and Ray, El Dorado; three daughters, Mrs. Alvin Adkins, Hayward, Calif., Mrs. Henry Webb, San Lorenzo, Calif., and Mrs. Gene Scott, San Antonio, Tex., a brother, John Houge, Burden, Kan., and a sister, Mrs. Jess Mott, Chicago.

Miles Funeral Home has charge. (El Dorado Times, November 10, 1969)

SOWELL, DWAYNE

Dwayne Sowell, 45, rural Leon, died Sunday of an apparent heart attack while camping 1-1/2 miles south of Augusta.

Sowell and his wife, Rita, have managed the White Eagle Club at the Homestead Inn for around eight months.

Survivors include his wife, Rita and three children, Chet, Amanda and Chris. (El Dorado Times, May 4, 1981)

SOWERS, MRS. ARCHIE G.

Funeral services for Mrs. Archie G. Sowers, 68, who died Sunday, were held Thursday afternoon from Leon Methodist church. Rev. Richard Robbins, pastor, officiated.

Mrs. Paul Morris and Mrs. Harold Hammer in duet sang "Beautiful Isle" and "Rock of Ages," accompanied at the organ by Mrs. Harold Jones.

Casket bearers were Dave Bacon, James Knox, Willard Morgan, Paul Seward, Ivan Seward and Harold Jones.

Interment was in Leon Cemetery.

The Kirby Funeral Home was in charge of the services. (El Dorado Times, Friday, September 20, 1963)

STOKES, BERNICE LUCY

Bernice Lucy Stokes, 67, died Friday at the Medical Center Hospital in Chillicothe, Ohio. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Leon Cemetery.

Mrs. Stokes was born Aug. 25, 1913 in Butler County, the daughter of George and Lucy (Gibson) Wakefield. In 1931 she married Leo Stokes. He died in 1964.

Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Alone Myrl Kaiser, Leon; two brothers, Willard B. Wakefield, Pleasanton, Kan., and Homer Wakefield, Claflin; one sister, Mrs. Irene Buskirk, Chillicothe; and one niece, Lucy Detty, Chillicothe.

Friends may call at the Kirby-Morris Funeral Home on Monday evening. Kirby Morris Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (El Dorado Times, November 15, 1980)

WEST, MARGARET LOUISA DENNIS

Mrs. R. M. West, 95, died June 25, about midnight, in Allen Memorial Hospital, El Dorado, where she had been a patient for a month following surgery on a broken hip suffered in a fall May 23.

Services in charge of Kirby Funeral Home, El Dorado were held Tuesday, June 28, at 10:00 a.m. in the Leon Methodist church, with Rev. Tom Schneider officiating. Interment was in Leon Cemetery.

Arleta Hammer and Bette Morris sang "Eastern Gate" and "Take my Hand, Precious Lord," accompanied by Gladys Jones, organist. Flower girls were Jewel Beaumont, Charlene Ehrlich and Elizabeth Hansen. Serving as pallbearers were Roy Davis, Wayne Boman, Ed West, W. H. Guthrie, Willard Edwards and Jim Weaver.

Margaret Louisa Dennis was born south of St. Louis, Mo., on September 17, 1870 the daughter of Sampson David and Rhoda Dennis. She married Richard Monroe West at Cassville, Mo., December 26, 1898; and to this union two daughters, Norene Edna (Mrs. Frank Tatum), deceased and Mary Ann (Mrs. J. F. Austin,) were born. A daughter, Gladys, and a son, Bill Tate by a former marriage are deceased. Several brothers and sisters preceded her in death. Mr. West died October 29, 1960.

Mrs. West lived most of the time since 1916 in Leon. Her daughter, Norene married Frank Tatum, who has been like a son to Mrs. West. Frank and his daughter, Rogene Guy, as well as two nieces, Lena Brickley and Ethel Brickley, assumed most of the care of Mrs. West in recent years.

Surviving are her daughter, Mrs. Mary Austin of Kennwick, Washington, seven grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. (El Dorado Times, June 30, 1966)