All Obituaries

Blakely Nicole Elkins was born sleeping on January 11, 2020 at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center. She is survived by her parents, Jocelyn Howland and Kale Elkins, grandparents: Jennifer Howland, Joe Aston, Toby Howland, George and Jill Elkins and many more loving family members. Our lives were touched by Blakely Nicole for the short time we held her. Please keep us in your thoughts as we prepare for her service and coming to terms with our lives without her. A memorial service will be...

Catalina A. Ervin (Cathy), 75, of Independence, Kansas, passed away on January 9, 2020 at her home. Cathy was born April 30, 1944 in Independence to Socorro and Inez Ortiz.  She attended St. Andrews Catholic School and Independence High School. Cathy married Theodore Solis in February 1968. They had two daughters, Raquel and Adrianna. They later divorced.  Cathy worked at City Publishing Company for many years before moving to Wichita to work for Learjet Aircraft company. She...

Betty Jean Wiley, 90, passed away on Sunday January 5, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. A Celebration of Life service will be held Thursday, January 9th at 10:00am at the Church of the Brethren. Visitation will be held 1:00pm-7:00pm, with family greeting friends 5:00pm-7:00pm on Wednesday, January 8th at Potts Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to The Church of the Brethren and can be left at the funeral home.   Betty was born Dec. 4, 1929 to Bud Godsey and Alma...

Connie Joanne Smith, 66, of Parsons, Kansas passed away peacefully at Labette Health Hospital in Parsons, Kansas on December 27th, 2019. Cremation has taken place. A Memorial service will be held Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 10:00am at Potts Chapel of Independence. Inurnment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Independence.   Connie was born on February 26th, 1953 in Independence, Kansas to Henry and Elizabeth Allen (Bennett). She attended Wann, Oklahoma High School. Connie was a...

Leon Ray Stark, of Independence, passed away Saturday, December 21, 2019 at the Medicalodges. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday, December 27, 2019 at 11:00am at Potts Chapel. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be Thursday, 5:00-7:00pm. Leon ray Stark was born on May 4, 1943 in Battle Creek, Michigan. He was the son of Oscar and Helen (Vincent) Stark. He was one of five children. He grew up in Richmond, Indiana and joined the...

Russell Leon Baldwin, 70, of Independence went to rest in the arms of his Lord on Wednesday, December 12, 2019 at Via Christi in Wichita, KS. He was born December 16, 1948 in Neodesha, KS to Donald R and Neoma “Pat” Hash Baldwin. He attended Neodesha schools and graduated in 1967. He attended ICC and then went on to join the U.S. Army, serving his country in the Vietnam war for which he received a bronze star and a purple heart. Upon returning stateside, Russell was employed by...

Nadine Lois Elliot, 96, passed away at Guest Home Estates in Caney surrounded by her family. Nadine was born March 7, 1923 in Independence, Kansas to Carl and Flava (Blankenship) Elliott. She graduated from high school in Independence. Nadine worked at Braden Steel in Tulsa, OK as a secretary for many years. She also taught ballroom dancing at the Arthur Murray Studio in Tulsa, OK. In her later years, she was a waitress and caregiver for her parents. She enjoyed her many years as a...

Eloise Belle (Holmes) McCarty, 78, of Independence, Kansas passed away peacefully at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. Eloise was born on March 7, 1941 in Independence, Kansas to Alvin and Mabel (Hendrix) Holmes. She attended Jefferson School for eight years and then attended and graduated from Field Kindley High School in Coffeyville in 1959. On March 16, 1962 Eloise married Virgil “Wilke” McCarty. The two made their home in Jefferson for...

Denzell E. “Red” Jones June 18, 1926 – December 2, 2019 Red Jones, farmer and long-time owner operator of Red’s Restaurant in Independence, passed away on December 2, 2019 at his daughter’s home in Kingman, Kansas Red was born in Peru, Kansas but grew up and lived in the Independence area from a very young age. He attended Independence schools and graduated from IHS in 1943. He worked and farmed immediately after graduation until joining the United States...

Julia Kay Flowers passed away in Laredo, Texas on November 22, 2019, at the age of seventy-three. Julia was born on March 22. 1946 in Fort Worth, Texas to James and Dorothy Strickland. Julia met Gail Flowers in Liberal, Kansas in 1962. The first time she saw him she said, “I’m going to marry that man.” They were married on July 11, 1963 in Liberal, Kansas and were happily married for fifty-six years and eight months. Julia and Gail had two children Julie Anne Flowers...