February 18, 2005 The ADVOCATE’s Free Press & Community News Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties Volume 9, No. 14 Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown Page 5, Column 1: “Arlene M. Koons Hirt 1923-2005 Funeral services for Arlene M. Koons Hirt, 81, Garnett, were Wednesday, February 16, 2005, at First Christian Church with Rev. Gary Benjamin officiating. Interment was in Colony Cemetery. Mrs. Hirt died Sunday, February 13, at Kansas City Presbyterian Facility, Kansas City, KS. Arlene M. Hirt was born November 15, 1923, at Carlyle, the daughter of John and Addie (Heinlein) Tippie. She was a 1941 graduate of Colony High School. Arlene was a member of First Christian Church and was a volunteer for Tri-Ko and the Thrift Store in Garnett. She had worked as a CNA at Arkhaven Nursing Home in Garnett. Arlene and Claude Aaron Koons were married October 23, 1949. He preceded her in death on January 19, 1960. Arlene and Frank LaRue were married on June 12, 1964. He preceded her in death on July 19, 1977. She then married Elmer Hirt, who preceded her in death in 1991. Mrs. Hirt was also preceded in death by her father, John Tippie on March 4, 1968, and her mother, Addie Tippie on July 8, 1935. Arlene is survived by her son, Gene Koons and his wife, Sharon, of Lawrenceburg, KY; her daughter, Claudia Martin and her husband, Floyd, of Kansas City, KS; her sisters, Donna West and her husband, Lawrence, and Dorothy McGhee and her husband, Duane, all of Iola; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Music was provided by Jeanine Zentner, organist, and First Christian Church Choir, who sang “Beyond the Sunset”, “How Great Thou Art”, and “Amazing Grace”. Casketbearers were Ed Bailey, Kathy Martin, Michael Martin, Darlene Robinson, Joe Robinson, Pete Smith, Mike Taylor, and George Zentner. Honorary casketbearers were Elders of First Christian Church and Bob Meliza. Memorials may be made to First Christian Church or Tri-Ko. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.” Page 5, Column 2: “Obed J. Miller 1921-2005 Funeral services for Obed J. Miller, 82, Arthur, IL, formerly of Garnett, were Sunday, February 13, 2005, at 12:30 p.m. at Sunnyside Mennonite Church in rural Arcola, IL, with Pastor Larry Rocke officiating. Interment was in Sunnyside Mennonite Church Cemetery. Mr. Miller died Thursday, February 10, at Palm Terrace Nursing Home in Mattoon, IL. Obed J. Miller was born June 6, 1921, at Arthur, IL, the son of John D. and Lizzie (Beachy) Miller. He was raised in the Arthur area. He was a member of Sunnyside Mennonite Church in Arcola. Obed and Elizabeth Herschberger were married on September 6, 1945, at Arthur. They moved to Garnett in 1958 where they farmed and drove a school bus until they retired in 1992 and moved back to Arthur. Mr. Miller was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lizzie Miller; his daughter, Mary Miller; his great-granddaughter, Megan Miller; his brothers, Samuel and Amos Miller; and his sisters, Fanny, Saloma, and Anna Miller, Sarah Lee Yoder, and Lydia Schrock. Obed is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, of Arthur; his sons, Lloyd Miller and his wife, Sarah, of Macon, MS, Willard Miller and his wife, Debbie, of Harrisburg, MO, Joe Miller and his wife, Shari, of Shawnee, and Melvin Miller and his wife, Jewel, of Macon, MS; his daughter, Rosana Yoder and her husband, Virlin, of Montgomery, IN; 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Palm Terrace Nursing Home in Mattoon. Edwards Funeral Home, Arcola, IL, was in charge of arrangements.” Page 5, Column 3: “Opal W. Kelley 1917-2005 Funeral services for Opal W. Kelley, 87, Garnett, are Friday, February 18, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church with Rev. Jim Skedel officiating. Interment is in Garnett Cemetery. Mrs. Kelley died Monday, February 14, at Anderson County Hospital. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.” “Ronald R. Vaughan 1945-2005 Ronald R. Vaughan, 59, Colony, died February 10, 2005, at Shawnee Mission Hospital, Merriam, KS. Private family services are planned. Ron was born October 3, 1945, at Garnett, the son of Edward Ray and Mary Maxine (Reiling) Vaughan. He graduated from Garnett High School with the Class of 1963. He served in the United States Marines from 1963-1967 during the Viet Nam War, receiving the Purple Heart. Ron worked as a welder for Southern Star Pipeline for 39 years, retiring June 1, 2004. Ron and Kathleen Robertson were married November 1, 1968. Mr. Vaughan was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Maxine Vaughan. Ron is survived by his wife, Kathleen, of the home; his daughters, Amber Brown and her husband, Bill Brown, Jr., of Chanute, and Wendy Vaughan and her companion, Susan McFarlane, of Wichita; his grandchildren, Briana and Cody Brown; and his sister, Beth Ann Sobba and her husband, Marvin, of Garnett. Expressions of sympathy may be left at the family home in Colony. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.” Transcribed for Anderson County Kansas USGENWEB By: Lulu B. Nixon