KLKC Obituaries, Parsons, KS (2025)

12/22/2025

Wanda M. Cinotto, 99, of Parsons, passed away at 2:27 a.m., Saturday, December 20, 2025 at the Presbyterian Manor in Parsons. Further obituary information and service arrangements will be announced by the Carson-Wall Funeral Home of Parsons.

12/22/2025

David L. Davis, 64, of McCune, passed away at 12:20 p.m., Friday, December 19, 2025, at the Advena Living Center in Cherryvale.

Private family graveside services will be held at the McCune Cemetery.

He was born on April 12, 1961, in Parsons to Darrell and Norma (Franklin) Davis. David grew up at McCune and attended McCune schools graduating from McCune High School in 1979.

He is survived by his sister, Debra (Davis) Long; his brothers, Duane Davis (Terri), and Carl Davis (Tracy); and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Ron Long.

12/19/2025

Carolyn Esther Cowan, 82, of Jay, Oklahoma, formerly of Girard, died at 1:47 a.m., Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at her residence.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 22, 2025 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Girard with Pastor Michael Hofmann officiating. Burial will be in the Zion/Trinity Cemetery at Brazilton, Kansas.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Sunday at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard where friends may call after 2:00 p.m., Sunday.

She attended Lutheran Grade School in Brazilton, Kansas and graduated from Girard High School. She received her master’s degree in library sciences from Kansas State Teachers College, now Pittsburg State University.

Carolyn married Lylin F. Cowan in July of 1969 at Miami, Oklahoma and he survives of the home.

Carolyn taught grade school in Walnut before working as librarian at Haderlein Elementary School in Girard for a total of 45 years in education.

Carolyn was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Girard and she enjoyed her family, especially her grandchildren, reading, working puzzles, cooking, watching sports, collecting recipes, getting together with friends and having breakfast with friends and teachers at the Highway Inn in Girard.

She was always there for her children, helping them with school work, watching sporting events or helping them with 4-H projects.

Survivors, in addition to her husband, Lylin, of the home, are her sons, Matt Cowan, and his wife, Jamie, of Unitah, Utah and Nathan Cowan, and his wife, Rebecca, of St. Louis, Missouri; her daughter, Steffanie Cowan, of Gladstone, Missouri; her grandchildren, Ella, Eva, Jacob, and Lillian Cowan.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, a 2 year old son, Mark Cowan, her sister, Norma Lee Steffens, and her brothers, Richard Steffens, John Steffens, and Robert Steffens.

12/17/2025

William (Bill) Joseph Thomeczek, age 78, of Girard, Kansas, born on March 19, 1947, in Syracuse, Kansas, went home to be with the Lord on December 15, 2025, in Girard, Kansas. Services will be announced by Carson-Wall Funeral Homes later.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Carl Joseph Thomeczek and Marie Lillian (Kerns) Thomeczek; his infant sister, Patricia Carrol Thomeczek; his brother, Robert Eugene Thomeczek; his son, Troy Joseph Thomeczek; and his infant grandson, Marshall Thomas Woods.

He is survived by his loving wife, Carol Thomeczek; his children, Me’Chell Lind (Justin) Helton of Cherokee Village, Arkansas, and Melissa Ann Thomeczek (Rick Byers) of Glen Carbon, Illinois; his stepchildren, LaVera (David) Woods of Girard, Kansas, Annette (Matt) Crist of Wichita, Kansas, Curt Taylor of Dighton, Kansas, and Craig Taylor of Girard, Kansas; his siblings, Carla Marie (Larry) Jantz, Thomas Lee (Janet) Thomeczek, and Connie Sue Barlow; and his grandchildren: Kelsey Thomeczek, Paige (Cody) Hursh, Charles (Rachel) Thomeczek, Aric (Sami) Eichhorn, Kelin (Garrett) Sheppard, Isabella Byers, Elijah Byers, Taylor (Mallory) Woods, Maebry (Joseph) Mayabb, Andrew Crist, Ryan Crist, Jared Crist, Megan (Andrew) Stevenson, and Christian Taylor, as well as nine cherished great-grandchildren who brought him immeasurable joy; and brother-in-law Curt (Nancy) Thomas of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and sister-in-law Rita (Dave) Schmidt of Wichita, Kansas, and many nieces and nephews.

Bill graduated in 1965 from Syracuse High School in Syracuse, Kansas, and on August 1, 1965, he married Linda Kay Lewis in Syracuse, Kansas. To this union, three children were born: Troy, Me’Chell, and Melissa. On July 3, 1993, he married Carol (Thomas) Taylor in Dighton, Kansas.

Bill never shied away from hard work. In his younger years, he worked alongside his father and brothers caring for cattle on the family farm, learning lessons that shaped his strong work ethic and quiet determination. As an adult, he became the proud proprietor of Hilltop Lanes in Syracuse, Kansas, where he built lasting relationships within the community, including serving as the Mayor of Syracuse for many years. After marrying Carol, Bill worked for ten years in property management in the Denver and Colorado Springs areas. Later in life, Bill returned to his roots, finding contentment and joy in feeding cattle for Woods Cattle Company in Girard, Kansas.

Bill loved family and treasured his role as grandfather. Visits from his grandchildren were a highlight in his later years and brought him great happiness. In addition to visits from family, Bill often found comfort in watching westerns and Christmas movies. During the last few years of his life, Bill enjoyed occasional trips with his daughters, during which he would fondly reminisce about growing up in western Kansas.

Bill will be remembered for his devotion to family, and the simple joys he held dear. He enjoyed weekly Bible studies with family via phone and attending First Baptist Church of Girard and looked forward to seeing his Savior face to face. He leaves behind a legacy of hard work, love, and quiet strength that will live on through all who knew him.

12/16/2025

Reverend A. Harrison Smith, 98, of Parsons, formerly of Greensburg, PA, died at 11:58 P.M., Sunday, December 14, 2025 at his son’s home, Tom Smith. He moved to Parsons in October to be near family.

Burial will be at Farmington Bethel cemetery in Farmington, Pennsylvania. Interment will be private for the family only. Memorials are suggested to New Beginnings Church of Parsons or to The Church of The Brethren of Greensburg, Pennsylvania and these may be left or mailed to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home 112 N. 26th St., P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357.

He was born on December 19, 1926, a son of the late Ance W. Smith and the late Esther (Parnell) Smith on a farm near Munford, Alabama. He grew up in the Munford community and attended Munford elementary and high school. Just four months short of graduation he left school to enlist in the United States Navy Seabees and served three years during World War II in the South Pacific. At the end of the war, he came home to Munford for a short time and then moved to Greensburg, Pennsylvania with his wife, Eleanor Mae (Overly), whom he had married during the war. He and his wife raised their three children in the Greensburg, Mt. Pleasant area while he worked at several different jobs while preparing for the Christian Ministry. In 1960 he was called to the ministry through the Church of the Brethren where he served for 56 years. He served congregations in Pennsylvania, Kansas and North Dakota. One of the greatest joys of his ministry was leading people to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Eleanor to whom he was married sixty-seven years. Also preceding him in death was a daughter, Kathleen, a son, Ronald, a great grandson, Ky Harris, and daughter-in-law, Jerrie Smith. Also preceding him in death were ten brothers and four sisters. He is survived by his second wife, Virginia, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, his son, Thomas Smith and wife, Melanie of Parsons, Kansas, a daughter-in-law, Irela Smith of Fairchance, Pennsylvania. Six grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren, fourteen great-great grandchildren.

12/15/2025

Amber Y. Russ, 44, of Parsons, formerly of Big Spring, TX, died at 8:46 P.M., Friday, December 12, 2025 at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice at Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 P.M., Tuesday, December 23 2025 at Oakwood Cemetery with Rev. Randy Beeman officiating.

Among survivors are her father and step-mother – Verdale and Deborah Russ.
She was born January 19, 1981at Parsons, a daughter of Verdale Andre and Susan L. (Lawson) Russ). She was raised in Parsons, Pittsburg and Columbus, IN, where she graduated high school in 1999 She then attended college in Columbus. She returned to Parsons and later lived in Joplin, MO, Warren, OR and Big Spring, TX. While living in Warren, she was a manager at Wal-Mart. She also worked in home healthcare.
Amber was recently baptized in McKinney, TX. She enjoyed making candles and wreaths.
Survivors include:
Five sons – William T.A. Phillips, Lansing, KS
Tresean Russ, Parsons, KS
Trevian Pierce, Kansas City, MO
Harlem Russ, Parsons, KS
Ivy Iverson, Joplin, MO
Three grandchildren – Kingston Phillips-Quinzy, Parsons, KS
Royalty Phillips-Quinzy, Parsons, KS
Zah’taziah Phillips, Parsons, KS
Her father and step-mother – Verdale and Deborah Russ, Parsons, KS
Her Step-father – George Lawson, Columbus, IN
Four sisters – Sarah Quinzy, Parsons, KS
Taylor Myers, and her husband, Kerris, Parsons, KS
Doniesha White, Columbus, IN
Aaliyah Lawson, Columbus, IN
Her mother preceded her in death.

12/11/2025

Berniece LaForge, 100, former longtime Parsons resident, died at 4:55 p.m., Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at Benton House of Lenexa in Lenexa, KS. She was the widow of Paul LaForge, who preceded her in death on May 13, 2014.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:00 p.m., Monday, December 15, 2025 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Parsons. The rosary will be prayed at 12:30 p.m. prior to the Mass. Burial will follow in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday.

Berniece was born March 16, 1925, to Harry and Rose (Sampica) Treiber on a farm near St. Paul, Kansas. She attended St. Francis school and church in St. Paul, won the state spelling bee in eighth grade, and was the valedictorian of her graduating class in 1942.

In July 1942 Berniece moved to Parsons, Kansas with her sister, Gert, and worked as a bookkeeper for Johnston Motor Company until December 1946 and volunteered as a Red Cross nurse-aide during World War II.

Berniece married Paul LaForge in St. Paul Kansas at the St. Francis Catholic Church on December 30, 1946. They lived in Iowa and Illinois until they returned to Kansas in the late 1950’s. There Berniece was a lifetime homemaker, raising her ten children that were the light of her life. Her greatest joys were the family gatherings on Sundays after church, Easter egg hunts, Thanksgiving dinners, and Christmas parties when she was surrounded by her beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Berniece’s faith was very important to her, as she devoutly prayed every day. Her motto was always to take one day at a time and for her that added up to 100 years of love and patience for her spirited family. Paul & Berniece were longtime members of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Parsons. Her prayers led her to many religious travels around the world.

Her hobbies were gardening, sewing and playing bridge with her dear friends. Into her nineties, Berniece could be found riding her John Deere lawnmower and tending her garden. She was especially fond of her strawberry garden that she learned to care for from her mother.

Berniece lived a life of service. As one of the first organizers of the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store in Parsons, she volunteered at the store for several years. Much of her time was dedicated to St. Patrick’s Altar Society and was a member and president of the Alpha Reading Club, and the Garden Study Club. She also served as a Girl Scout troop leader and nursing home coordinator for Church Women United.

Berniece is preceded in death by her husband, Paul, in 2014; her parents, Harry & Rose Treiber; four sisters, Grace Carroll, Cecelia Burnett, Gerturde Campbell and Sister Rose Catherine; two brothers, Ray Treiber and Albert Treiber and one son Steve LaForge.

She is survived by her nine children, including five sons and four daughters; Paul Jr. and his wife, Dawn, of Shawnee, Kansas; Nick of Pittsburg, Kansas; Kenny and his wife, Debbie, of Lenexa, Kansas; Mary Shaw and her husband, Gary, of Laramie, Wyoming; Jane Maskus and her husband, Bryan, of Shawnee, Kansas; Emily Borovetz and her husband, Bob, of Shawnee, Kansas; Pat and his wife, Lori, of Parsons, Kansas; Greg and his wife, Karla, of Erie, Kansas; and Karen LaForge and her fiancé, Dan Paule, of Lenexa, Kansas. She is also survived by 25 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

12/10/2025

Lewis Ray Hevel, 91, longtime Parsons resident, died at 5:58 A.M., Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at the Parsons Presbyterian Manor. Among survivors is his Wife, Wanda.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30P.M., Friday December 12, 2025 at the First Baptist Church in Parsons with Pastor Tony Encarnacion and Reverend Travis Ball officiating. Burial will be in the Oswego Cemetery. Military Honors will be given by the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 Thursday evening at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Parsons Historical Museum or to the First Baptist Church.

He was born July 21, 1934 at McCune, a son of Frank Otto and Esther Constance (Selix) Hevel. He grew up McCune and Oswego and graduated from the Oswego High School in 1952. He then attended the Parsons Junior college, graduating in 1954, and Pittsburg State University, graduating with a BS degree in 1958. He then received a Master’s degree in 1962 and an Educational Specialist degree (Ed.S.) in 1975.

He worked in the Parsons Public Schools thirty-five years from 1958 until retiring in 1993 and never used a day of sick leave. He began as a teacher at East Junior High School where he taught English and Social Studies until 1962. He became the first official Junior High School Counselor at Parsons Junior High School when the two junior high schools, East and West, were combined in 1962. He relocated to the former HS/Jr. College Building at 2719 Main St. In 1966 he became the first Junior High School Assistant Principal and served in that role until 1969. He then served as Parsons Junior High Principal from 1969 until 1972. He became Assistant Superintendent in 1972 and retired from that position in 1993. He touched many students’ lives and loved them all.

Lew joined the United States Navy Reserve in 1952. He served on active duty in the Pacific from 1954 – 1956 and served aboard the USS Gunston Hall (LSD-5) and the USS Bexar (APA-237). He remained in the Navy Reserve until 1976 and attained the rating of Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8) and then served in the United States Army Reserves from 1976 – 1977. He retired as Master Seargent (E-8) after a total of twenty-five years of reserve and active-duty service.

On December 29, 1956 he and Wanda Sue Hodgkinson were united in marriage at Parsons. She survives of the home.

He was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church at Parsons. He was a part of numerous professional teacher, counselor and administrator organizations including the Parsons Lions Club in the 1970s having served as President in 1976. He was a member of the Labette County Zoning Board, the Labette County Rural Water District No. Five and the Parsons Historical Museum Commission for fourteen years, having served as Chairman for seven years. He also was a driver for the Meals-on Wheels program since 1994 and worked many years, beginning in 1994 as a volunteer for the U.S. Park Service, building hiking trails along the

Buffalo National River in Northwest Arkansas for several weeks of each year. He also worked as a volunteer for the American Red Cross blood mobile and was a regular blood donor, donating over fourteen gallons as of 2009.

In addition to his wife, survivors include: his children – Jane Shue (David), Parsons, KS, Joe Hevel (Lori), Parsons, KS, Julie Encarnacion (Tony), Parsons, KS; six grandsons – Jason Stringer, Parsons, KS, Jared Stringer, and his wife, Micha, Parsons, KS, John Stringer, Springfield, MO, Christian Encarnacion, San Francisco, CA, Jordan Hevel, Manhattan, KS, Brett Hevel, Manhattan, KS; two great-grandsons – Isaac Stringer, Parsons, KS, Tyler Strringer, Parsons, KS; two great-granddaughters - Gracie Stringer, Parsons, KS, Kelsey Stringer, and her companion, Dakota Pousher, Parsons, KS; one great-great-grandson – Carter Pousher, Parsons, KS; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers and three sisters.

12/09/2025

The Reverend Debra S. “Debi” Lorenz, 72, of Joplin, and a former Parsons resident, passed away at 2:58 p.m., Sunday, December 7, 2025, at the Medicalodge in Columbus. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 12, 2025, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Parsons with the Reverend Wayne Mason officiating. Burial will follow in the Memorial Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday Evening.

She was born on May 6, 1953, in Parsons to Lesley and Nadine (Amrine) Lorenz. Debi grew up in Parsons and attended Parsons schools, graduating from Parsons High School in 1971. She then attended Parsons Junior College and Southwest Baptist University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Music. She went on to attend Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, where she received a master’s degree in divinity.

Debi served as an Associate Pastor at the Hillside Christian Church in Wichita. She then served on the Pastoral Staff at the Winfield, Wellington, and Coffeyville Christian Churches. Following her service as a Pastor in the Wichita area, she served as a Pastor at Christian Churches in Cleveland, Ohio and Belleville, Illinois before moving back to Parsons, where she was the Associate Pastor at the First Christian Church in Parsons and the Pastor at the Christian Church in Erie. She retired in 2010.

Debi was active in serving the Lord in her retirement years, working as a chaplain for Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. She enjoyed arts and crafts, particularly German arts and crafts, was an avid reader, and loved classical music. She enjoyed traveling, and her adventures led her to many places across the United States, attending the Christian Education Conventions. Her love of travel even led her on a trip to the Holy Land in Israel and to Germany, exploring her ancestry and visiting the family of her exchange student. Throughout her life, Debi was an active and faithful servant of the Lord.

She is survived by her sister, Connie Bolt of Joplin, Missouri; her nephew, Josh Bolt, and his wife, Minna of Parsons; her great-nephews, Bryce Bolt, Ethan Florence, Jaxen Bolt, and Grayson Bolt; her great-niece, Ragan Bolt; and many cousins. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her nephew, Jason Bolt, on July 27, 2016.

12/09/2025

Danny E. Best, 72, of Girard, died at 3:02 p.m., Sunday, December 7, 2025 in Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Missouri.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 11, 2025 at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard with Pastor Rick Prideaux officiating.
Burial will be at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, December 11, 2025 in the Fort Scott National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kansas with Military Honors by the 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., on Wednesday at the Smith-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Girard where friends may call after 2:00 p.m., Wednesday.

Danny was born June 5, 1953 in Girard, a son of William F. and Mary Ellen (Ruston) Best. He attended schools in Girard and graduated from high school in Enid, Oklahoma. He graduated from Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott.

Danny served in the US Army from October 23, 1970 before receiving his honorable discharge on June 6, 1972.

Danny worked for the City of Girard in various positions including reading meters. He was in charge of water treatment for the City of St. Paul before retiring from Etco Specialty Products in Girard in 2021.

Danny enjoyed his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his dog, listening to Blue Grass music and attending Blue Grass shows in Fort Scott and Branson.

Survivors include his son, William L. Best of Joplin; his daughters, Danielle D. Best of Girard and Angela L. Best of Fort Scott; six grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren; his brothers, Robert Best of Georgia, Bill Best of Girard, and Roger Best of Cherokee; numerous nieces and nephews.

Danny was preceded by his parents, a grandson, Haven Skyler Morse, a brother, Larry Best, and his sister, Betty Fisher.

12/05/2025

Shellie L. Bauer, 59, of Erie, died at 10:41 A.M., Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at Labette Health.
A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Memorials are suggested to defray expenses and checks can be made payable to the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home.

In addition to her husband, survivors include: one son – Keith L. Yarnell, Erie; one daughter – Gloria L. Schoenhofer, and her husband, Chris, St. Paul; four grandchildren – Kynlee Yarnell, Erie, Marshall Schoenhofer, St. Paul Natalie Schoenhofer, St. Paul, Cainen Yarnell, Edna; two sisters – Ineva Fitzgerald, and her husband, Mark, Parsons, Theresa Nye, and her husband, Steve, Parsons; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a son – Daniel “Danny” Yarnell on September 2, 2019.

12/02/2025

Glen David “Bear” Hedrick, 85, of Altamont, died at 9:41 A.M., Monday, December 1, 2025 at his home. Among survivors is his wife, Linda, of the home.
Following cremation, a celebration of life service will be held at a later date. The Carson-Wall Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

He was born July 23, 1941 at rural Altamont, a son of Henry Glen and Julia Grace (Crown) Hedrick. He grew up on a farm near Altamont with five sisters. He graduated from Labette County Community High School in 1959.

On May 16, 1966 he and Linda Faye Ringle were united in marriage at Miami, OK. The were about to celebrate their sixtieth anniversary.

Dave worked for the City of Altamont for many years. He loved to pull ponies, hunt coyotes and spend time with his grandkids.

Survivors include: his wife – Linda Faye Hedirck, of the home; two step-daughters – Debra Wulfkhle, of Oswego, KS, Lora Lee Wass, of Nowata, OK; five grandchildren – Josh Gwillim, and his wife, Amber, of Altamont, KS; Alexander Hartzell and her husband, Ryan, of Denver, CO, Michael Wass, of OK, Sarah Wass, of OK, Randell Larson, of Newton, KS; four great-grandchildren – Clinton Hon, of Altamont, KS, Nathaniel Tiemann, of Chanute, KS, Lincoln, Gwillim, of Humboldt, KS, William Wass, of Nowata, OK; two sisters – Betty Oler, of Wichita, KS, Bethel Posey, of Andover, KS. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters – Dolores Cornett, Shirley Moore and Dorothy Breman; two step-daughters – Brenda Gay Porter and Dana Jolene Gwillim; one grandson – Tylor Gwillim; one granddaughter – Jennifer Hon.

KLKC Obituaries

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