March 21, 2003 The ADVOCATE Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties Volume 7, No. 24 Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown Page 3, Column 1: "Elsie L. Cobbs 1927-2003 Funeral services for Elsie L. Cobbs, 75, Garnett, are Saturday, March 22, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. at Coffel-Schneider Chapel, Mound City, KS. Interment will be in Sunny Slope Cemetery, Blue Mound, KS. Mrs. Cobbs died Tuesday, March 18, at Golden Heights Living Center, Garnett. The family will greet friends on Friday, March 21, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the chapel. Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home, Mound City, KS, is in charge of arrangements." Page 3, Column 2: "Mary M. Anderson 1919-2003 Mass of Christian Burial for Mary M. Anderson, 83, Garnett, was Wednesday, March 19, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church with Father George Matz and Father Tony Blaufuss as concelebrants. Lector was Sandra Chapman. Servers were Alissa Miller, Brice Fritz, and Michael Hermreck. Gift bearers were Mary's great-grandsons, Austin Chapman, Blayne Chapman, Clinton Chapman, and Jacob Humbert. Interment was in Holy Angels Cemetery. Mrs. Anderson died Sunday, March 16, at Golden Heights Living Center, Garnett. Mary M. Anderson was born December 9, 1919, at Garnett, the daughter of Anthony and Margaret (Nilges) Peine. She was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church in Garnett. She enjoyed cooking, working in her garden, and was especially fond of flowers. Mary and Earl J. Anderson were married June 12, 1948, at Garnett. Mrs. Anderson was preceded in death by her parents, Anthony and Margaret Peine. Mary is survived by her husband, Earl, of the home; her sons, Ed Anderson and his wife, Pat, Lenexa, KS, and Jim Anderson and his wife, Chris, Lenexa, KS; her daughters, Ann Humbert and her husband, Jim, Tulsa, OK, and Mary Rockers and her husband, Dan, Garnett; her sister, Agnes Watkins, San Diego, CA; eight grandchildren and four great- grandsons. Music was provided by Sue Hardman, organist, and Janice Foltz, vocalist. Musical selections included 'Come to Me', 'Prayer of St. Francis', 'On This Day, O Beautiful Mother', and 'How Great Thou Art'. Casketbearers were Mary's grandchildren, Dana Anderson, Sean Anderson, Jim Humbert, Erin Rockers, Nicole Anderson, Sandra Chapman, Dustin Rockers, and Melanie Rockers. The family received friends following the Wake Service on Tuesday, March 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorial contributions in Mrs. Anderson's memory, the beneficiary of which will be designated at a later time. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements." "Colonel Edson Duncan Raff 1907-2003 Memorial services for Colonel Edson Duncan Raff, 95, Garnett, are Saturday, March 22, 2003, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Garnett, with Rev. Vernon Beleuw officiating. A portion of Colonel Raff's remains will be scattered in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Bora Bora, French Polynesia and in Germany during an anniversary parachute jump. The remainder of his remains will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C. Col. Raff died Tuesday, March 11, at Anderson County Hospital Long Term Care Unit." "Chester 'Chet' Andrew 1920-2003 Funeral services for Chester 'Chet' Andrew, 82, Garnett, were Friday, March 14, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel with Rev. George Pasley officiating. Interment was in Garnett Cemetery. Mr. Andrew died Tuesday, March 11, at St. Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, MO. Chester 'Chet' Andrew was born March 18, 1920, near Bush City, KS, the son of Charles L. and Della (Williams) Andrew. He grew up in Anderson County and served in the United States Air Force in the European theater during World War II. After his discharge, he moved to Seattle, WA, where he lived until 1989. He was a locomotive mechanic for more than forty years for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, retiring in 1985. Chet and Lola Andrew were married in 1946 in Seattle, WA. Mr. Andrew was preceded in death by his wife, Lola, in 1980; his parents, Charles L. and Della Andrew; two brothers and three sisters. Chester is survived by his nephew, Bob Tyson, Alexandria, MN; his niece, Debbie Garver, Corvallis, OR; his sister, Ruth Claus, Camas, WA; and his sister-in-law, Hazel Andrew, Garnett. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements." Page 3, Column 3: "Eddie Ray Cunningham 1926-2003 Funeral services for Eddie Ray Cunningham, 76, Greeley, KS, formerly of Garnett, were Wednesday, March 19, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel with Rev. Gary Benjamin officiating. Interment was in Greeley Cemetery. Mr. Cunningham died Saturday, March 15, at Village West Care Facility, Ottawa. Eddie Ray Cunningham was born August 3, 1926, at Kansas City, MO, the son of Merle Raymond and Helen Persis (Sizemore) Cunningham. He had worked at the water plant in Garnett, for the maintenance department of Anderson County Hospital, and for Buildex in Ottawa. He later owned and operated an automotive body shop and worked at various other body shops in the surrounding area. Eddie and Velma J. Bell were married on April 27, 1947. They later divorced. He then married Frances J. Rouland on June 2, 1966. They also later divorced. Mr. Cunningham was preceded in death by his parents, Merle Raymond and Helen Persis Cunningham. Eddie is survived by his sons, Steven Cunningham and his wife, Laura, Princeton, KS, and Scott Cunningham, Ottawa, KS; his step-sons, Marty Rouland, Ottawa, KS, and Mike Rouland, Topeka, KS; his daughter, Gwynn Leigh McCurdy and her husband, Randy, Ottawa, KS; his grandchildren, Clarissa Cunningham, Christina Cunningham, Nathaniel Cunningham, Chad McCurdy, and Amanda McCurdy Pontius and her husband, Joseph; his great-grandson, James Joseph Pontius; his three step-grandchildren, Danny, Kimberly, and Samantha Rouland; and his aunt, Juanita Farrar, Garnett. Music was provided by Amanda (McCurdy) and Joseph Pontius, Eddie Ray's granddaughter and her husband, vocalists, and Laura Parks, organist. Casketbearers were Gene Cunningham, Raymond Cunningham, John Miller, Nathaniel Cunningham, Chad McCurdy, and Joseph Pontius. Honorary casketbearers were Bob Cunningham, Ralph Kelsey, Ned Kelsey, and Carl Mader. The family received friends on Tuesday, March 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Edward Raymond Cunningham Memorial Fund, the proceeds of which will be used for repairs at Greeley City Cemetery. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements." "Virgil C. Watts 1913-2003 Funeral services for Virgil C. Watts, 89, Erie, KS, were Tuesday, March 11, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. at the Christian Church of Erie with Pastor Debbie Lorenz officiating. Mr. Watts died Thursday, March 6, at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, Chanute, KS. Virgil C. Watts was born June 16, 1913, at Porterville, KS, the son of James 'J.R.' and Blanche Watts. He lived all his adult life in southeast Kansas. He farmed just west and south of Erie. Virgil was a member of the Christian Church of Erie. Virgil and Ruby Lowe were married March 11, 1937. Mr. Watts was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby, on February 18, 1988; his parents, James and Blanche Watts; four brothers and four sisters. Virgil is survived by his sister, Welda Justice, Kansas City, MO; several nieces and nephews; and his companion and 'Mighty Dear Friend' Vera Wilson. The family received friends on Monday, March 10, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association. Johnson Mortuary, Chanute, was in charge of arrangements." Transcribed for Anderson County Kansas USGENWEB By: Lulu B. Nixon