Donald (Don) Charles Madison, age 77, a resident of Wichita, Kansas, went to his Heavenly home, Tuesday, November 29, 2022. He was born November 23, 1945, in Wichita, Kansas, the son of Charles W. Madison and Mary E. Alliston Madison. Don grew up in Wichita and graduated from East High School in 1963. He graduated in 1970 with a BS in Agricultural Economics from K-State University. After graduating, he worked as feed salesman. While making a sales call at the Fursman Ranch near, Welda, Kansas, Don got acquainted with the rancher’s daughter, Sharon. A relationship began and they were married August 8, 1970 at the First Christian Church in Garnett, Kansas. Don and Sharon made their home in Parsons, Kansas, and later owned and operated their own farm near Erie, Kansas from 1973 to 1982. In 1979, began a career with the USDA. His career moved the family to Oakley and Seneca, Kansas, and finally to Iola, Kansas, where he remained until his retirement in 2006. When he was twelve, Don accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. Church was always an important part of his family’s life. While in Iola, Don was a member of the First Baptist Church where he served in several leadership capacities. After moving to Wichita, he became an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon and volunteered his time with various ministries of the church. He was also a member of Gideons International for many years. In his spare time, he enjoyed traveling and camping as well as woodworking but above all he enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s many activities. Don will be remembered for having a servant’s heart. He always put others’ needs above his own. His family finds comfort knowing that he is now in the presence of Jesus.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon, of the home and his three children, Joan Kramer (Tim) of Wichita, Tom Madison (Kitty) also of Wichita and Karen Traynor (Kip) of Walnut Cove, North Carolina, and eight grandchildren; Ashley Kramer, Catherine, Sam, and Elizabeth Madison and Robert, Rowan, Rachel and Rafe Traynor. Also surviving are a brother, Robert Madison (Beverly) of Goodland, Kansas, and a sister, Maratha Nash (Paul) of Oxford, Kansas, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Sylvia, and his in-laws, Bob and Francis Fursman.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, December 6th at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka Ave., Wichita, Kansas. The family will receive friends from 10:30 A.M. until service time at the church. The service will be livestreamed on the church’s website at ibcwichita.com. A graveside service will be held later that afternoon at 2:30 at the Colony Cemetery in Colony, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to either Immanuel Baptist Church Future Building Fund or Gideons International and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Amy Jane Hoffman-Franks, 62, of Chanute passed away unexpectedly at home on Thursday, November 24, 2022. Amy was born on January 24, 1960 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the daughter of Donn Lee Sr. and Lydia Mary (Lykins) Hoffman.
Amy grew up in Bartlesville and graduated from Stillwater High School in 1978. On September 30, 1977, Amy married Dennis Franks, he survives at the home. Amy was a very adventurous woman and loved to travel. Amy’s other hobbies included anything to do with Native American or Pioneer history, going to antique stores, listening to music especially Fleetwood Mac, Simon and Garfunkel, and Selena, spending time with her cats, and finding out as much genealogy history as she could.
Education was very important to Amy and she was a highly intelligent woman. In 1998, Amy graduated with highest honors from The University of Texas Health Science Center with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. After receiving her degree, Amy worked as a registered nurse in Pediatric Intensive Care as well as a home health nurse.
In 2007, Dennis and Amy moved to Chanute and became members of First Christian Church. Amy was also a member of Daughters of the American Revolution.
Amy’s grandchildren were her world and she spent as much time with them as she possibly could. Amy will always be remembered as a great cook and a devout, spiritual woman. She will be missed greatly by all that knew her.
Amy is survived by:
Her Husband:
Dennis Franks of Chanute, KS
Her Son:
Justin Franks and his wife Emily of Chanute, KS
Two Daughters:
Ashley Franks and her husband Joshua Philips of Chicago, IL
Autumn Matlock of Chanute, KS
Her Sister:
Melissa Hoffman-Noble of Tulsa, OK
Seven Grandchildren:
Everleigh Matlock, Tucker Matlock, Case Matlock, Mason Franks, Elsie Franks, Layla Franks, and Emma Franks.
Amy was preceded in death by her parents and brother Donn Hoffman Jr.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 10:00 am at First Christian Church in Chanute with a private family burial to be held on Saturday, December 10, 2022 at Sinnett Memorial Cemetery in Cleveland, Oklahoma. Memorials have been suggested to ACARF or the First Christian Church Bike Fund and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at: www.countrysidefh.com. Services entrusted to 101 N. Highland, Chanute, Kansas 66720.

Elizabeth P. Gregeory, age 80, passed away on November 23, 2022 with family by her side at her home. She was born on September 21, 1942 to David and Alma (Broom) Allen in Van Nuys, California.

She was a loving, caring wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed going to church, crafts and growing houseplants. She enjoyed puzzles, reading, country music and loved everyday life in general.

Elizabeth is survived by her daughters:
Linda Compton of Chanute, Kansas
Brenda (Bruce) Henderson of Columbus, Kansas
Susan (Michael) Jones of Chanute, Kansas
A brother, Bill (Nikki) Harmon of Chanute
Five grandchildren
Ten great-grandchildren
And two great-great grandchildren
She was preceded in death by her parents
Husband George A. Gregeory, Jr.
Pauline (Bud) Harmon
Grandmother Mae K. Broom
And one great-grandson.

Graveside service will be held on Monday, December 5, 2022 at 1:00 pm at Memorial Park Cemetery in Chanute, Kansas.

Online condolences can be left at www.countrysidefh.com. Services entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home, 101 N. Highland, Chanute, KS 66720.

Samuel Alonza Blile, 76, a resident of Miami passed away on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at Mercy Joplin.
There will be a graveside for Sam at a later date. Cremation services have been placed in the care of Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation service in Miami.
Friends and family may send the family notes of encouragement by viewing Mr. Blile’s Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com.

James S. McAfee age 59 of Wyandotte, Oklahoma passed away Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at Integris Baptist Hospital in Miami, Oklahoma. He was born on February 25, 1963 in Thayer, Pennsylvania the son of Norman & Judith (Smith) McAfee.

He is preceded is death by his mother, 3 brothers, Russell McAfee, William McAfee and David McAfee.

He is survived by his wife, Melinda of the home, his father, one son, Rusty Wallin and his wife, Rachel of Wyandotte, Oklahoma, a daughter Amanda Peirce, of Moore, Oklahoma, a brother, Robert McAfee of Goodman, Missouri, 2 sisters, Debra Vessel of Pennsylvania and Doris & her husband Frankie of the State of Arkansas. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, a great-grandson and other relatives and friends.

Services for James S. McAfee will be held at a later date.

Donald Lee Miller, 10 month old infant son of Levi and Destiny Miller passed away at 3:46 pm, Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at Mercy Hospital, Columbus, KS.

Donald was born January 14, 2022 at Kansas City Missouri. He is survived by his father, Charles Levi Miller; his mother, Destiny Rochelle (McFarland) Miller, one brother, Noble Chance McFarland, all of Columbus; Maternal grandparents, Robert and Sarah McFarland, Pittsburg, KS; Paternal grandparents, Charles Howard Miller, Kansas City, MO and Buel Dell Duree (Jeannie Marie), Carl Junction, MO; Maternal great-grandparents, Richard Northcutt, Kansas City, MO and Terri Northcutt, Galena, KS.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm, Monday, December 5, 2022 at Derfelt Funeral Home, Columbus, KS. Pastor Ben Johnson will officiate. Burial will be in Park Cemetery, Columbus, KS.

Della Mae Gordon, 92, passed away on Tuesday, November 29, 2022 in Nevada, Missouri. She was born August 1, 1930 in Nevada, Missouri, the daughter of Glenn H. and Grace Weakley. Della graduated from Nevada High School Class of 1948.

Following graduation, she worked for Armitage Hardware on the square in Nevada. Della married her sweetheart, Donald Lee Gordon on August 19, 1951, and they celebrated 63 years of marriage. They moved to Jefferson City, Missouri where they had their first child. Della was a great cook and baker. She gardened and canned during the years they lived in St. Joseph, Missouri which was 1955-1966. She was president of the PTA and a Girl Scout Cookie Chairman. Della was an insurance agent for 30+ years, helping her community in their need for cancer-care and Medicare supplement policies. She and Don square danced many years in Nevada. They also enjoyed traveling to most of the US states in their motorhome.

In addition to her parents, Della was preceded in death by a brother, Donald Lee Weakley on March 29, 2009 and her husband, Don on February 20, 2015.  She is survived by her daughters, Pamella Lynn Hartley and husband Larry, of Seymour, IN, and Janice Lee Webb and husband Scott, of Nevada, MO; and a son Dave Scott Gordon of Springfield, MO; two nephews, Tom Weakley and Danny Gordon; nine grandchildren, Lucas Hartley, Isaac Hartley, Micah Hartley, Caleb Hartley, Michal Leah Bevers, April Wendt, Mitchell Gordon, Evan Gordon, and Brynn Gordon; her sixteen great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at Newton Burial Park in Nevada.

Memorials contributions are suggested to the Nevada Senior Center c/o Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

Mechelle Renee Jones, age 55, of Nevada, MO, passed away at Mercy Hospital, Joplin, MO after a short battle with cancer.

Mechelle was born December 25, 1966, in La Habra, CA. to Robert Virgil and Anna Mae (Boyd) Jones, and grew up in California. She has lived in Nevada for the past 15 year and she had worked as a housekeeper at area nursing homes. She was a football fan, especially the Green Bay Packers, and loved going to the beach with her family

Mechelle is survived by a son, Robert Rockstad and his wife, of Whittier, CA; two brothers, Wallace Jones and his wife Jerri, and Herbert Jones, all of Nevada, MO; a sister, Mary Brinson and her husband Doug, of Frontenac, KS; one grandchild, Ava Rockstad; several nieces and nephews, as well as two special friends, Brenda Galviz and Bonnie Wilson.

Preceding her in death were her parents and a sister-in-law, Mary Jones.

The funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 5, 2022, at Ferry Funeral Home.  She will be laid to rest next to her parents in Newton Burial Park, in a private service.

Memorials are suggested to the family with the funeral home serving as custodian.

June Marie (Gray) Curtis-Dodds, 89, of Parsons, died at 5:08 A.M., Tuesday, November 30, 2022 at the Parsons Good Samaritan nursing home.

She was born April 7, 1933 at Carlton, Kansas, a daughter to Otis William and Myrtle Gladys (Tunget) Gray. At an early age she moved with her family to Parsons and she attended the former Center School south of Parsons and later the Labette County Community High School.

She was united in marriage to Albert “Buzz” Harrison Curtis on December 22, 1950 at the E.U.B. Church Parsonage at Parsons. She was a home maker and raised their family during the first years of their marriage and then worked at Swift and Company. She was later employed for ten years as a cook at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center and later worked in home health at S.R.S.. Most recently she was employed at the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant. Mr. Curtis preceded her in death on November 13, 2011.

She later married Jimmy Wayne Dodds on October 30, 2015 at Parsons. He preceded her in death on December 18, 2020.

She was a member of the Church of God and was active in the L.W.W.B., having served as Clerk, Vice President and President. She was also a Sunday school teacher and substitute teacher. She enjoyed crafting, puzzles, computer games, family tree writing, reading Bible studies and cooking.

Survivors include one son – Donald Dean Curtis, Parsons, KS; three daughters – Dixie Lynn Taylor, Parsons, KS, Donna Jane Span, Parsons, KS, Diana Christine Low, McCune, KS; fourteen grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; four brothers – James R. Carson, Parsons, KS, Rodney Gray, Grandview, TX, Richard Gray, Oregon, Randy Gray, Oklahoma; eight sisters – Nancy Manners, Parsons, KS, Karen Carson, Parsons, KS, Betty Fransway, Grandview, TX, Loretta Walsh, Oregon, Sharon Glenn, Lake Bay, WA, Sue Baily, Portland, OR, Barbara Trotter, Tillamook, OR, Diane Ritz, Tillamook, OR. She was preceded in death by three brothers – Charles E. Gray, John D. Carson and Rocky Gray; three sisters – Shirley Mathis, Roberta Wilson and Judy Rosenburger; one son – Dale E. Gray; one daughter – Denise Kaye Curtis; one grandson – Donnie Curtis; one great-grandson – Robbie McKinney; one great-great grandson – Onyx O’Brien.

Graveside services will be held at 1:30 P.M., Friday, December 2, 2022 at the Springhill Cemetery patio with Reverend Vernon Norris officiating. Friends may call at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home at their convenience. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.