today's record

Obituaries

Donald Eldon Welton

Donald Eldon Welton, age 84, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004. He was born Sept. 12, 1919, in Pawhuska, Okla., to the late Eldon Roswell Welton and Grace Lee Sheets Welton.

After graduating from Purdue University with a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, Don worked as a research chemist with DuPont for 41 years. He holds numerous U.S. and International patents. After retiring from DuPont, Don continued a productive professional life by consulting with Equistar, where a spokesman said his work was "valued greatly."

He was a past president and 62-year member of the Victoria Chapter of the American Chemical Society. Don was active in the community as a long-time Scoutmaster of the Boy Scouts of America, and a member of the DeLeon District Committee. He was a past president and long-time member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Victoria. He was the first president of the Smith Elementary PTA. He was also a member of the Toastmasters and worked with the Literacy Council, mentoring adults who were learning to speak English.

Don loved all types of music. He was a long-time supporter and a past president of the Victoria Bach Festival. He began his musical career learning to play the trumpet at age 6, and he performed in jazz and swing bands throughout his life. Don was a "tool nut," collecting hundreds of tools, all of which he knew how to use and would produce at the appropriate time. As an inventor, he took great pleasure in "re-engineering" every piece of equipment that he acquired. He was the first person in Victoria to build a television set from a kit. Don was generous with his time and talents, always available to use his many tools to help friends, family and strangers. Don loved his work, and was devoted to his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Welz Welton of Victoria; step-mother, Hazel Welton of Deerfield; daughters, Susan Hyak and husband Ronnie of Victoria, Texas, Carol Hurley of Conroe, Texas, and Laura Heupel and husband Dick of Bloomington, Ind.; sons, Michael Welton of Victoria, Texas, Bruce Welton and wife Pam of Mulberry, Ind., and Chris Welton of Dallas, Texas; brother, Boyd Lee Welton of Oakland, Calif.; grandchildren, Denise Mills of Phoenix, Ariz., Kristin Welton of Tucson, Ariz., Tiffany Welton of Corvallis, Ore., Ron Hyak of Victoria, Texas, Melanie Hyak of Victoria, Texas, Kate Hurley of Conroe, Texas, Melanie Heupel of Bloomington, Ind., Gina Heupel of Bloomington, Ind., and Claire Elizabeth Welton of Dallas, Texas; and great-grandchildren, Andrea Mills and Taylor Mills, both of Phoenix, Ariz.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004, at the First United Methodist Church in Victoria, Texas, with the Rev. Frank Schulman officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, Sept. 7, 2004, at Rosewood Funeral Chapels in Victoria, Texas.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Victoria Bach Festival or the Donald E. Welton Memorial Science Scholarship Fund at First Victoria National Bank through the Rosewood Funeral Chapels, 3304 Mockingbird Lane, Victoria, TX 77904.

Arrangements are under the direction of Rosewood Funeral Chapels, (361) 573-4546.

Robert L. Hayes

Robert L. Hayes, 84, Nevada, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004, at Christian Health Care, Nevada. He was born Feb. 6, 1920, in Nevada, to William Thomas Hayes and Emma L Seiglein Hayes. He married Patricia L. Stukesbary on Sept. 8, 1940, in Nevada, and she survives.

Robert was a 1938 graduate of Nevada High School and served in World War II with the 101st Airborne Division. He retired from the Missouri State Highway Department after 45 years of dedicated employment. In 1967, he was also ordained as a minister for the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ in Jefferson City, Mo. He was a member of numerous fraternal organizations and a volunteer for many charitable organizations To all those who had the privilege to meet him, he became a friend for life and would do anything to help another individual. To his family he was a wonderful, devoted, proud and humble man, full of life and fun.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Patricia L. Stukesbary Hayes; one son and daughter-in-law, Michael L. and Gail D. Hayes, Galena, Ohio; grandchildren, Lance Corporal Dustin Hayes and Amber Hayes of Galena, Ohio; one brother William Hayes Jr. of Boynton Beach, Fla.; two brothers-in-laws, Don and his wife Betty Stukesbary of Nevada, and their family; Gomer and his wife Becky Stukesbary of Ness City, Kan., and their family; and survivors of his late sister, Dorothy O'Neal and their families. The family would like to give a special acknowledgment to nephew Rick O'Neal for all of his time and support over the years.

Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004, at Newton Burial Park in Nevada, with Bill Garwood officiating. Family visitation will be held between 6 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2004, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. Friends may call from now and until 10 a.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Military funeral honors will be presented at the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made in Robert's name to the Cancer Society of your choice.

Carrie Ann Goodwin

Carrie Ann Goodwin was born on May 7, 1978, in Nevada, to Richard and Debbie Goodwin. Carrie departed this life on Sept. 5, 2004, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

She graduated from Walker High School in 1996 and was, a CNA at Nevada Regional Hospital and Community Springs Nursing Home in El Dorado Springs. Carrie was currently taking classes at Fort Scott Community College to fulfill her life goal of becoming a registered nurse.

Carrie had one child, Corbin Goodwin, age 4. Carrie was a loving and devoted mother and worked hard to provide a good life for her son. She enjoyed a wide variety of music, Nascar racing, fishing and working on vehicles with her dad. Carrie enjoyed horseback riding and spending time with her family. She was saved and baptized on Aug. 12, 2001.

She is survived by her son, Corbin Goodwin; her father and mother, Richard and Debbie Goodwin of Nevada; her sister and brother-in-law, Jackie and Mike Harth of Nevada; nieces, Emily and Kendra Harth; nephew, Hayden Harth; her grandmother, Marguerite Goodwin of El Dorado Springs; and her grandfather, Max Ray of Nevada. Carrie, also leaves behind numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and a host of loving friends. She is preceded by grandparents, Betty and Clair Troupe; grandfather, Wayne Goodwin; and grandmother, Sara Ray.

Funeral services for Carrie Ann Goodwin will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004, at 2 p.m. at the Hackleman Chapel with the Rev. Derl Hicks officiating. Musical selections will be provided by Nancy Mays and Chris Roe. Interment will be in the El Dorado Springs Cemetery under the direction of the Hackleman and Sons Funeral Home. Pallbearers are Daniel Brum, Zayne Bruce, J.R. Yakel, Jason Yakel, Jeremy Troupe and Jason Troupe.

Memorial contributions may be made to a trust for Carrie's son, Corbin.

Deaths

Harriet Jewel Robertson

Harriet Jewel Robertson, 62, Jasper, Mo., died Sept. 5, 2004, at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin. She was born on Aug. 5, 1942, in Carthage, Mo., the daughter of Earl and Lenna (Quade) Fitchpatrick. She married Melvern Robertson on April 13, 1968, in Jasper, and he survives of the home.

She worked in home daycare for 30 years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Jasper.

She is survived by two daughters, Becky Thomas, Garden City, Mo., and Nancy Dockery, Carthage; three brothers, Carroll Fitchpatrick, Topeka, Kan., Clifford Fitchpatrick, Jasper, and Ben Fitchpatrick, Jasper; five sisters, Thelma Shaffer, Jerome, Idaho, Wanda Rector, Nevada, Eva Louise Cavener, Springfield, and Delores Whitehead, Neosho, Mo.; five granddaughters; 25 nieces and nephews; and 62 great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Lenna Fitchpatrick.

Services will be held at 2 p.m., on Sept. 8, 2004, at the Weng Funeral Chapel in Jasper. Visitation was from 7-8 p.m., today, Sept. 7, 2004, at Weng Funeral Chapel in Jasper. Interment will be in Mitchell Cemetery, east of Jasper. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund or to St. John's Hospice in care of the funeral home. Arrangements are by Weng Funeral Chapel, Jasper.

Helen Marie Harman

Helen Marie Harman, 78, died Sept. 2, 2004. Services were held at Beeny-Ferry Funeral Home on Sept. 7, 2004, at 10:30 a.m., with John Swatosh officiating. Soloist was Monty Gordon. Musical selections were "In the Garden" and "How Great Thou Art." Organist was Helen Leininger. Pallbearers were John Hornecker, Travis Denney, Troy Denney, Jim Elderton, Thomas Harman and James Harman Jr. Honorary pallbearers were Bob Crockett, Bill Pitman, Dennis Haffner, Howard Phipps, Rick Baird and Glen Pitman. Interment was in Sheldon Cemetery. Arrangements were by Beeny-Ferry Funeral Home.

Charlene Marie Lightfoot

Charlene Marie Lightfoot, 56, died Sept. 1, 2004. Services were held at Ferry Funeral Home on Sept. 7, 2004, at 1:30 p.m., with John Swatosh officiating. Musical selections were "To Where You Are," "Just for You" and "Amazing Grace." Pallbearers were Bill Marklin, Doug Bryant, James Archer, Lonnie Bargen, Gene Elphingstone and Todd Deruchia. Interment was in Sheldon Cemetery. Arrangements were by Ferry Funeral Home.

Rebecca June Bailey

Rebecca June Bailey, 48, Hiattville, Kan., died Monday, Sept. 6, 2004, at St. John's Medical Center in Joplin. She was born in Fort Scott, Kan., on July 29, 1956, the daughter of Russell J. Rourk and Carolyn Middleton Rourk. She graduated from Bronaugh High School in 1974. She married Donald Gene Bailey on Feb. 11, 1987, in Miami, Okla. She worked as a para-educator at the Cherokee Village School, and had previously worked at the Western Insurance Company and Vista Pharmacy. She was a 20-year member of the Olive Chapter Order of Eastern Star. She was a member of the Arcadia Baptist Church and also attended the Cherry Grove Baptist Church.

Survivors include her husband, Gene, of the home; her parents, Russell and Carolyn Rourk, Bronaugh; one son, Shane Peterson, Bronaugh; three step sons, Don Bailey, Fort Scott, Kan., Chris Bailey, Fort Scott, Kan., and Jason Bailey, Wichita, Kan.; one brother, Russell L. Rourk, Bronaugh; two grandchildren; three step grandchildren; and a niece. Also surviving are her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Wesley and Marjory Bailey, rural Fort Scott, Kan.

The Rev. R.B. Shoemaker will conduct funeral services at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004, at Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. at Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and may be left in care of Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.