January 23, 2004
The ADVOCATE
Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties
Volume 8, No. 7
Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown

Page 5, Column 1:

“Doris Elizabeth Cleveland
1921-2004
Funeral Mass for Doris Elizabeth Cleveland, 82, Osawatomie, KS, formerly of Garnett, was
Monday, January 19, 2004, at Holy Angels Catholic Church with Father George Matz officiating. 
Interment was in Lane Cemetery, Lane, KS.  Mrs. Cleveland died at Life Care Center,
Osawatomie on January 16.
Doris Elizabeth Cleveland was born December 13, 1921, near Garnett, the daughter of Hubert
and Martha C. (Bowman) Feuerborn.  She lived in and near Garnett most of her life, then moved
to Lane in 1962.  She lived there until 1984, when she moved to Osawatomie.  She was a
graduate of Kincaid High School.  Doris was a member of the St. Philip Neri Catholic Church.
Doris and Dwayne Cleveland were married January 9, 1946.  He preceded her in death on July 7,
1983.
The recorded musical selection was ‘You’ll Be In My Heart’.
Casketbearers were Alex Dwayne Bartlett, Ted Bartlett, Hubert Feuerborn, Tom Lewis, Curt
Miller, and Mark Miller.
Mrs. Cleveland was also preceded in death by her parents, Hubert and Martha C. Feuerborn; and
her brothers, Denis Feuerborn and Raymond Feuerborn.
Doris is survived by her daughter, Chris Bartlett and her husband, Ted, Osawatomie; her
grandchildren, Alex Bartlett and Angel Bartlett, Osawatomie; and her sisters, Maxine Russell,
Leavenworth, KS, and Marilyn Eichinger, Vassar, KS.
The family suggests memorials to the Osawatomie American Legion and VFW, which may be left
in care of the funeral home.
Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.”

“Earl E. Medlen
1927-2004
Memorial services for Earl E. Medlen, 76, Princeton, KS, are Friday, January 23, 2004, at 1:00
p.m. at Dengel and Son Mortuary, Ottawa, KS.  Private family inurnment will follow the service. 
Mr. Medlen died Thursday, January 15, at his home.
Earl E. Medlen was born November 10, 1927, at Broken Arrow, OK, the son of Jess Hardin and
Ruby Grace (Parker) Medlen.  At the age of one year, he moved with his family to Miami County
and then moved to Franklin County in the mid-1930’s.  Earl attended Paola and Rantoul
elementary school and Rantoul High School with the Class of 1945.  He served in the United
States Air Force from February 5, 1946, to March 16, 1947.  On April 1964, he became employed
by the United States Postal Service.  He worked as postmaster for Rantoul for three months
before starting as a rural carrier.  Prior to that time, he worked in the oil field and as an
automobile and aircraft mechanic.  Earl was a past member of the International Order of Odd
Fellows and Masonic Lodge Ancient Free & Accepted Masons.  He served on the first school
board of Central Heights Consolidated School.
Earl and Glenda Mae Burgoon were married March 8, 1948, at Paola, KS.  They were later
divorced.
Mr. Medlen was preceded in death by his parents, Jess Hardin and Ruby Grace Medlen; and his
brothers, Calvin Medlen and Verneal Medlen.
Earl is survived by his daughters, Diane Cole, Coffeyville, KS, Shelly Welch, Princeton, KS,
Brenda Kratzberg, Richmond, KS, and Vicki Johnson, Rantoul, KS; his son, Dean Medlen,
Rantoul, KS; his sisters, Lois Haines and Bernice Jones, both of Topeka, KS; his brother, William
‘Bill’ Medlen, Lawrence, KS: fourteen grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many
nieces and nephews.
The family will greet friends following the memorial service.
Memorials may be made to Alcoholics Anonymous, and left in care of the funeral home.
Dengel and Son Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.”

Page 5, Column 2:

“Wanda R. Latimer
1911-2004
Funeral services for Wanda R. Latimer, 93, Moran, KS, were Wednesday, January 21, 2004, at
11:00 a.m. at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel, Colony, KS, with Rev. Mike Morris officiating. 
Interment was in Colony Cemetery.  Mrs. Latimer died Saturday, January 17, at Moran Manor,
Moran, KS.
Wanda R. Latimer was born January 9, 1911, at Iola, KS, the daughter of Lloyd Wilson and
Bertha (Retter) Donaldson.  She was a member of the Colony Christian Church and the Lone Elm
Quilt Club.
Wanda and Emmit Latimer were married June 17, 1936, at Lawrence, KS.  He preceded her in
death.
Mrs. Latimer was also preceded in death by her son, John Latimer; her parents, Lloyd Wilson and
Bertha Donaldson; and her brothers, Dorris Donaldson, Dallas Donaldson, Henry Donaldson, and
Alvin Donaldson.
Wanda is survived by her son, Kenneth Latimer and his wife, Carolyn, Kansas City, MO; her
grandchildren, Michael Latimer and Jenny Latimer; and her sister, Rena Hoch, St. Louis, MO.
The family greeted friends on Wednesday from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the funeral home prior to the
services.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or United Cerebral Palsy.
Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.”

“Lois E. Blackburn
1919-2004
Funeral services for Lois E. Blackburn, 84, Richmond, KS, were Tuesday, January 20, 2004, at
2:00 p.m. at Dengel and Son Mortuary, Ottawa, KS, with Rev. Duane Pedrow officiating.  Mrs.
Blackburn died Friday, January 16, at Richmond Care Center, Richmond, KS.
Lois E. Blackburn was born January 23, 1919, at Fairfax, OK, the daughter of William Arthur and
Ethel Mae (Phinney) Shaffer.  She moved from Oklahoma to Franklin County as a child, and
attended school at Williamsburg.  Lois was a lifelong homemaker.  She also held jobs at
Mode-O-Day, Kramer Drug Store, and the Owl Donut Shop.  She was a member of the E.H.U. in
Ottawa and the Homewood Friendly Club, where she was treasurer.
Lois and Ernest Arthur Blackburn were married January 29, 1938, at Ottawa.  He preceded her in
death on December 19, 1996.
Mrs. Blackburn was also preceded in death by her parents, William Arthur and Ethel Mae Shaffer;
her step-mother, Hattie Shaffer; her brother, William Shaffer; her sisters, Georgia Fisher and
Helen Rempel; and her great-granddaughter, Cassondra Blackburn.
Lois is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Arthur D. and Claire Blackburn, Richmond, KS:
her grandchildren, Rick Blackburn, Ken Blackburn, Bud Blackburn, and Sharon Pridgen; 12
great-grandchildren; her brothers, Calvin Shaffer, Ottawa, KS, and Benjamin Shaffer, Great Bend,
KS; and her sisters, Sarah Shaffer, Ottawa, and Florence Rees, Benton, IA.
The family greeted friends on Monday, January 19, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to The Luke Comstock Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Dengel and Son Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.”

“Olin Hyatt
Olin Hyatt, 75, Littleton, CO, died at his home on December 4, 2003.  His wife is the former
Evelyn Roecker, a native of Greeley, KS.  Funeral services and interment were held in Colorado.”

Page 5, Column 3:

“Kenneth R. Mowat
1913-2004
Graveside services and inurnment for Kenneth R. Mowat, 91, Garnett, were Thursday, January
22, 2004, at 2:00 p.m. at Garnett Cemetery with Rev. Gary Benjamin officiating.  Mr. Mowat
died Monday, January 19, at Anderson County Hospital, Garnett.
Kenneth R. Mowat was born January 11, 1913, at Herrington, KS, the son of Kenneth R. and
Elda M. (Sinclair) Mowat.  He was a pipeliner.
Kenneth and Opal June Hamilton were married June 20, 1937, at Peoria, KS.
Mr. Mowat was preceded in death by his son, Glen Dale Mowat; and his parents, Kenneth R. and
Elda Mowat.
Kenneth is survived by his wife, Opal June Mowat, Garnett; his son, Kenneth L. Mowat,
Boonsboro, MD; his daughter, Judy Kay Schulman, West Palm Beach, FL; his brother, James
Mowat, Garnett; his sister, Anna Marie Abernathy, Idaho; two grandchildren and one
great-grandchild.
Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.”

“Robert Bernard Roecker
1926-2003
Funeral Mass for Robert Bernard Roecker, 77, Colorado Springs, CO, was celebrated on
Tuesday, December 9, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church.  Mr. Roecker, a
70-year resident of Colorado Springs, died peacefully in the presence of his family on December
4, 2003.
Robert Bernard Roecker was born November 1, 1926, at Kansas City, MO, the son of Anselm
and Philomena (Volz) Roecker.  When he was seven, his father died and he moved to Colorado
Springs with his mother and sister.
His education was cut short by World War II when he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving
on the USS Enterprise.  His naval experience led to a lifelong love of travel and geography.  He
worked at AMI for 49 years, retiring as a supervisor of the Tool and Die Shop.
Baseball and softball were Robert’s early passions.  His engineer’s passion for precision and his
eye for color found an outlet in the landscaping of his home, which was meticulously maintained. 
He was a member of Corpus Christi Church for 52 years.
Casketbearers were Jed Peterson, Gabe Meerts, Steve Hyatt, Craig Hyatt, Andrew Hyatt, and
Roy Purvis.
Honorary casketbearers were Billy Roecker and Cliff Roecker.
Mr. Roecker was preceded in death by his son, William Robert Roecker; and his parents, Anselm
and Philomena Roecker.
Robert is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Eileen (Cox) Roecker; of the home; his
daughter, Kathleen Buxton, Norfolk, England; his grandsons, Jed Peterson, Plattsburgh, NY,
Gabe Peterson Meerts, Sharon, VT, and Billy Roecker and Cliff Roecker, LaJolla, CA; two
great-granddaughters; and his sisters, Evelyn Roecker Hyatt, Littleton, CO, and Carole Centlivre
Bush, Colorado Springs, all of whom miss him dearly.
A Rosary was said on Monday, December 8, at 5:30 p.m. at Nolan Funeral Home.
Nolan Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.”

Transcribed for 
Anderson County
Kansas
USGENWEB
By:  Lulu B. Nixon