August 27, 2002 The ADVOCATE’s Free Press & Community News Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties Volume 6, No. 67 Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown Page 3, Column 2: “Richard (Dick) H. Sweers 1921-2002 Longtime Garnett florist, Richard (Dick) H. Sweers, Garnett, passed away on August 25, 2002, surrounded by his loving family. As an Air Force navigator, Dick led his crew safely home through twenty-nine missions. As a husband and father, Dick navigated his family safely through life’s joys and challenges with his love and wisdom. Mass of Christian Burial is Wednesday, August 28, 2002, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church, Garnett, with Fathers George Matz and Norbert Lickteig as concelebrants. Interment will be in Garnett Cemetery. Wake Service is Tuesday, August 27, 2002, at 7:00 p.m. at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel with visitation to follow. Dick was born December 15, 1921, in Kansas City, KS, to Nellie Pauline (Goss) and Henry William Sweers. During his youth, he earned the Eagle Scout award and graduated from Ward High School in 1939. He served his country during World War II as a navigator with the 483rd Bombardment Group and was recalled to active service during the Korean conflict. He continued serving in the Air Force and retired as Lieutenant Colonel in 1967. In 1949, Dick married Iona Hodgman. Following the completion of his military service in 1953, Dick and Iona moved to Garnett to enter business with his father-in-law and later became owner of the Garnett Greenhouse. After retiring from business in 1987, Dick devoted his time to his family and volunteer activities in the community. Dick was a lifetime member of the VFW and member of American Legion Post 48. During his florist career, he served as president of the Kansas State Florist Association and was a member and past president of the Garnett Chamber of Commerce. He served as Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 126 in Garnett. Mr. Sweers is survived by his wife, of the home, Iona Sweers; his sons, R.H. (Hank) Sweers II, Overland Park, KS, and Karl Sweers, Kansas City, MO; his brother, George Sweers, Gulfport, FL; and his grandchildren, Maureen Sherdan Dreiling, Callen Eileen Johnson, and Peter O’Sullivan Sweers. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.” “Lawrence ‘Tub’ Giffin 1917-2002 Funeral services for Lawrence ‘Tub’ Giffin are Tuesday, August 27, 2002, at 2:00 p.m. at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel, Garnett. Interment is in Blue Mound Cemetery, Blue Mound, KS. Mr. Giffin died Friday, August 23, 2002. Lawrence Giffin was born September 20, 1917, in Linn County, KS, the son of John C. and Emma (Orton) Giffin. He was a dairy farmer in Linn County until his retirement. Lawrence was a member of Assembly of God Church, Garnett. Lawrence and Maxine Jackson were married August 18, 1937, at Paola, KS. Mr. Giffin is survived by his wife, Maxine Giffin, Garnett; his sons, Johnnie Giffin, Olathe, KS, Carl Dean Giffin, Garnett, and Roger Giffin, Independence, MO; his daughter, Sandra Canada, Parker, KS; his brother, Lloyd Giffin, Woodland, CA; his sisters, Saramae Post, Mound City, KS, Erma Bishop, Blue Mound, KS, Deloris White, Tonganoxie, KS, and Pauline Gilroy, Eudora, KS; nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Music was provided by Pam McSwain, pianist, and Clarice McLaughlin, soloist. Musical selections included “Amazing Grace” and “Searching for Jesus”. Casketbearers are Lois Jolliff, Scott Giffin, Mike Giffin, Lori Northern, Eric Canada, and David Giffin. The family received friends on Monday, August 26, 2002, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.” Page 3, Column 3: “John H. Edgecomb 1920-2002 Funeral services for John H. Edgecomb, 82, Garnett, were Saturday, August 24, 2002, at 10:00 a.m. at Old German Baptist Church, Westphalia, KS, with Elders Weldon Hirt, Glenn Bauman, David Hirt, and Kenneth Landes and Roger Filbrun officiating. Interment was in Bethel Cemetery, Westphalia. On August 20, 2002, he left for his eternal home. John H. Edgecomb was born July 23, 1920, in Franklin County, KS, the son of John W. and Mary (Barnhart) Edgecomb. He was a lifelong farmer. On September 1, 1940, he was baptized into the fellowship of the Old German Baptist Brethren, in the Eight Mile District. John and Martha Riffey were married March 25, 1944, by Elder Dan Flory. They shared the joys and sorrows of life for fifty-eight years. To this union were born four children. A few years ago, Daddy began to experience signs of dementia, to which he rapidly declined in the last seven months. After being in a Senior Diagnostic Unit for two weeks, he then entered the Golden Heights Care Center for the remaining three weeks of his life. He was anointed several times during his life, but as he realized his health was deteriorating, he asked to be anointed for the last time on June 5, 2002. The twenty-third Psalm was comforting to him until the end. Granddad enjoyed his garden, hunting, and liked to go fishing. He passed those enjoyments on. He gave each grandchild and great-grandchild their first fishing pole. He was able to partially enjoy, six weeks prior to his leaving, a weekend gathering of the entire family at the lake on the farm. With the help of sons and grandsons, he reeled in his last fish. Mr. Edgecomb was preceded in death by his sons-in-law, Wesley Miller and Ray Burns, a granddaughter, Carol Leigh Miller; a grandson, Jeremy Edgecomb; his parents, John W. and Mary Edgecomb; his mother-and father-in-law, John H. and Myrtle Riffey; brothers, Claude, Jesse, Owen, George, and Clarence Edgecomb; and sisters, Blanche Peffley, Florence Crist, Pluma Brovont, Pearl Flory, and Ruth Wells. John is survived by his wife, Martha Edgecomb, of the home; his sons, Galen Edgecomb and his wife, Janet, Garnett, and Merle Edgecomb and his wife, Lois, Garnett; his daughters, Barbara Miller Burns, Garnett, and Mary Wright and her husband, Bob, Garnett. His grandchildren, Dana and Matt Wise, Janine and Kent Fullmer, Bruce and Gail Miller, Amy and Ryan Sparks, Rachel Wright, Johnathan and Karen Edgecomb, Kimberly Edgecomb, Lana Edgecomb, Lonnie and Julie Edgecomb, and Loren Edgecomb and his fiancé, Crystal Wray; his great-grandchildren, Kalie, Jadon, and Kyra Wise, Manralyn, Kamron, and Karson Fullmer, Sierrea and Autumn Miller, Bronson Sparks, Ashley Edgecomb, and Korbin Edgecomb. He loved and enjoyed his great-grandchildren. Even when his speech would not let him say their names, he knew to which family they belonged. His step-grandchildren, Kayleen Burns, Tim and Nadine Burns, Lora and Kevin Burns, and Jeremy and Kelly Burns; his step-great-grandchildren, Zachary, Brandie, Jesse, Joshua, and Jamin Burns and Zachary, Blake, Tyler, and Kaitlyn Filbrun. His brothers and wives, Paul and Oella Edgecomb, North Manchester, IN, and Raymond and Nancy Edgecomb, Seaside, CA; his in-laws, Mildred, Louise, and Hazel Edgecomb, Joe and Frankie Wells, Amy Hirt, and Alva and Imogene Riffey; and many nephews, nieces, relatives, and friends. We will fondly remember him singing and yodeling and sharing stories of his boyhood. He will be sadly missed in the family circle. Casketbearers were Jim Edgecomb, Lester Edgecomb, Larry Schaake, Kenny Edgecomb, Lloyd Flory, and Leroy Schnittker. Visitation for Mr. Edgecomb was Friday, August 23, 2002. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.” “Everett Lee McGinnis 1918-2002 Funeral services for Everett Lee McGinnis, 84, Wellsville, KS, are Wednesday, August 28, 2002, at 1:30 p.m. at the Wellsville Baptist Church. Interment will be in Pleasanton Cemetery, Pleasanton, KS. Visitation is Tuesday from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Wilson and Son Funeral Home, Wellsville.” Transcribed for Anderson County Kansas USGENWEB By: Lulu B. Nixon