April 7, 2006 The ADVOCATE Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties Volume 10, No. 25 Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown Page 5, Column 2: "Wilsey Phil McCracken 1910-2006 Funeral services for Wilsey Phil McCracken, Ottawa, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 7, 2006, at First United Methodist Church in Ottawa. Interment will be in Highland Cemetery with Masonic Services. Wilsey Phil McCracken was born on Friday, March 4, 1910, near Sterling in Rice County, KS, to James Ernest McCracken and Mary Eliza (Johnson) McCracken. He moved with his family to a farm near Vandalia, MO, in 1919 and a farm near Rantoul on January 20, 1920. In 1940, he moved to Ottawa, where he made his home until his death on Saturday, April 1, 2006, at the age of ninety-six years. He graduated form Rantoul Elementary School in 1924 and Rantoul Rural High School in 1928. Later, Phil took courses in electricity and electronics at Kansas University night school. In 1922, he accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer, was baptized in the Marais des Cygnes River on October 15, 1922, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in Rantoul. After his move to Ottawa with his family, he transferred his membership to the present First United Methodist Church and continued actively in the church and the Sunshine Class. On January 11, 1930, Phil was united in marriage with his high school sweetheart, Letha May Womble, and they were blessed with seventy-six years of loving companionship. To this union, three children were born: Beverly Clark-Hughes, who preceded him in death, Shirley Terrill and her husband, Joe, of Topeka, and Larry McCracken and his wife, Kay, of Overland Park, Kansas. The extended family now includes nine grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by three brothers, Everett McCracken in 1976, Clyde McCracken in 1997, Paul McCracken in 1998; granddaughter, Melinda Ann McCracken; and great grandson, Shaun Strain. Phil has been involved in several vocations; farming, flour milling, electrician, electrical contracting, retail sales, and as Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for Franklin County. He was somewhat of a sports enthusiast and enjoyed baseball, basketball, fishing, hunting, horseshoe pitching, and golf. Phil was active in the following fraternal organizations: On August 27, 1946, Phil was raised a Master Mason at Ottawa Lodge No. 18, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Kansas, where he served as Worshipful Master in 1952 and 1981. He later served as District Deputy Grand Master of the 11th District of the Grand Lodge of Kansas in 1957- 1958. On November 19, 1947, Phil became a 32nd degree member of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, and in 1987, Phil received his 33rd degree coronation. In 1979, he received the Rank and Decoration of Investiture Knights Commander of the Court of Honor. For approximately 10 years, he served as District and Area Lecturer. He was Assistant Grand Tyler in 1982. Phil served in Ottawa Lodge No. 18 in almost every position throughout the years, but most notably; he served the Lodge as Chaplain continuously from 1955-2005. Additional memberships include all York Rite Bodies of Ottawa, Ottawa Chapter No. 7, Royal Arch Masons; Ottawa Council No. 18, Royal and Select Masons; Tancred Commandery No. 11 Knights Templar; Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests; Past Commanders Association of Kansas; Royal Order of Scotland; Retta Conclave No. 8, Order of True Kindred; White Shrine of Jerusalem, No. 19 and Union Chapter No. 15, Order of Eastern Star. He was also a member and past president of Ottawa Rotary Club, worked in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and was a former district chairman of Kaw Council in 1952. The family suggests memorial contributions to Midland Hospice or Ottawa First United Methodist Church. Dengel and Son Mortuary is in charge of arrangements." Page 5, Column 3: "Larry Dean Collins 1947-2006 Graveside services and interment for Larry Dean Collins, 58, Mounds, OK, were Wednesday, April 5, 2006, at Welda Cemetery with Pastor Donald P. Homeday officiating. Mr. Collins died Friday, March 31, at his home in Mounds, OK. Larry Dean Collins was born July 12, 1947, at Ottawa, the son of Lawrence and Shirley Joan (Scars) Collins. He grew up in Garnett and graduated from Welda High School in 1966. Following high school, he joined the United States Air Force, serving until 1970. Later, he served in the Army National Guard Reserves from 1975 to 2000. He returned to Garnett from the Air Force to work on the family farm before taking a job with the city of Garnett, where he met Peggy Wilson. Larry married Peggy on February 17, 1975, at Garnett. This union was blessed with two children, Amanda Collins, and Charles R.K. Collins. In 1983, he moved to Tulsa, OK, where he worked as an armed security guard until becoming medically disabled in 2004. Mr. Collins was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence Collins; and by his grandparents, Joseph and Josephine Collins. Larry is survived by his wife, Peggy of the home in Mounds, OK; his daughter, Amanda Collins and her fianc‚e Jesse Carter of Sand Springs, OK; his son, Charles R.K. Collins, of the home; his sister, Terry Sherrod of Fairland, OK; his mother and step-father, Shirley and Clifford Wells of Langely, OK; and his grandchildren, Dakota Collins and Kali Collins. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements." "Rodney Gene Simmons 1960-2006 Rodney Gene Simmons, 45, Ottawa, died Saturday, April 1, 2006, at his home. Private family services were held. Interment was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Centropolis. Rodney Gene Simmons was born July 23, 1960, at Ottawa, the son of Rex and Shirley (Robbins) Simmons. He was a lifelong Centropolis resident. He attended Appanoose Grade School and graduated from Pomona High School with the Class of 1978. Rod was an outdoorsman who enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing with his son. He was highly skilled in many different areas and never found a problem he could not master. He worked at various occupations until the time of his disability in 2004. Mr. Simmons was preceded in death by an infant brother, Michael Dean Simmons; and brother, Roger Allen Simmons. Rod is survived by his parents, Rex and Shirley Simmons of Centropolis; his son, Jason Simmons of the home; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Susan and Richard Gammon of Centropolis and Pamela and Corky Mills of Princeton, his sister, Laurie Simmons of Centropolis; his nieces, Kari Pope, Natasha Morgan-Mills, and Jenny Gammon; and his nephews, Ricky Gammon, Eric Simmons, and Jared Simmons, and Skye Mills. The family suggests memorial be made to the Jason Simmons Education Fund. Dengel and Son Mortuary, Ottawa, was in charge of arrangements." Transcribed for Anderson County Kansas USGENWEB By: Lulu B. Nixon