February 25, 2005 The ADVOCATE’s Free Press & Community News Serving Anderson, Southern Franklin and Western Linn Counties Volume 9, No. 16 Transcribed with permission of Vern Brown Page 5, Column 1: “Mitia Marie (Thomas) Watkins 1985-2005 Funeral services for Mitia Marie (Thomas) Watkins, 20, Kincaid, were Monday, February 21, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. at Stark School Gymnasium at Stark, KS, with Pastor Michael Longfellow officiating. Interment was in Mt. Moriah Cemetery, north of Stark. Mrs. Watkins died on Thursday, February 17, from injuries she received in a car accident one mile north of Moran. Mitia Marie (Thomas) Watkins was born January 4, 1985, at Chanute, the daughter of Michael R. and Portia M. (Wools) Thomas. She grew up at Stark and attended Erie High School through her junior year. She graduated from Spring Hill High school in 2003. She attended Neosho County Community College and was a certified nurse’s aide. She had worked as a C.N.A. at Olathe Medical Center. Mitia loved to write poetry. She was a member of the United Brethren Church in Christ at Chanute. Mrs. Watkins was preceded in death by her grandparents, Mike and Nadine Thomas and Richard Murphy. Mitia is survived by her husband, Danny Watkins of Williamsburg; her step-daughter, Alexis Smith of Williamsburg; her parents, Rick and Portia Murphy of Stark and Mike and Amy Thomas of Spring Hill; her brothers, Christian and Jodie Murphy, both of Stark, and Riley and Ryan Thomas, both of Spring Hill; her grandparents, Ray and Grace Wools, of Kincaid, Jeanie and Ray Whiting of Humboldt, and Paul and Helen Houlme of Overland Park; her great-grandmothers, Sylvia Wools and Irene Sinclair, both of Moran, and Margurite Madl of St. Paul; and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins. The family suggest memorials to the Mitia (Thomas) Watkins Memorial Fund. Waugh-Yokum and Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola, was in charge of arrangements.” “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 on February 25, 1982, who preceded her in death in 1989. 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: “Thelma Daisy Hamilton 1914-2005 Funeral services for Thelma Daisy Hamilton, 90, Garnett, were Wednesday, February 23, 2005, at 2:00 p.m. at Garnett Presbyterian Church with Rev. George Pasley officiating. Interment was in Garnett Cemetery. Mrs. Hamilton died Sunday, February 20, at Golden Heights Living Center. Thelma D. Hamilton was born November 8, 1914, at Lexington, KS, the daughter of John Cloyd and Daisy Anna (Fox) Vallentine. She grew up in Lexington and the Ashland area, graduating from Ashland High School with the Class of 1932. Thelma and Ralph N. Hamilton were married November 23, 1932, at Ashland. This union was blessed with one son, Darwin. Thelma and her family moved to the Garnett area in 1944, where they purchased a farm. She was an active member of the Garnett Presbyterian Church, CIHU, and the American Legion Auxiliary. She always loved the Lord and her church family, as well as her own family and cherished the times she spent with them. Thelma was a loving and giving mother and grandmother who always put her family first. In later years, she sacrificially cared for her mother-in-law and father-in-law until their deaths. She loved to cook and to raise a big garden. On the farm, Thelma raised chickens and turkeys, and helped with the livestock. She also spent many hours doing sewing and handiwork, as well as working on jigsaw puzzles. Thelma will be greatly missed by family and friends. Mrs. Hamilton was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; her parents, John and Daisy Vallentine; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Fred and Margaret Hamilton; her sisters, Jennie May Crane and LeNora A. Waugh; and her brothers, Roy E. Vallentine and John F. Vallentine. Thelma is survived by her son, Darwin Hamilton and his wife, Mary, of Garnett; her granddaughter, Denise Hamilton of Winfield; and her sister, Ruth Pike of Ashland. Music was provided by Laura Parks, organist, and Ruth Martinez, soloist. Musical selections included “Amazing Grace” and “The Old Rugged Cross”. Sung as congregational hymns were “Sweet Hour of Prayer” and “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”. Casketbearers were Ron Anderegg, Gene Lee Beauchamp, Dave Branton, John Cubit, Gary Ecclefield, and Jerry Padfield. Honorary casketbearers were Dick Bardsley, Bob Boots, Bob Certain, Don McAfee, Clyde Merrill, Gary Teel, Howard Walker, and Mike Wawrzewski. Memorials are suggested to Garnett Presbyterian Church. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.” Page 5, Column 3: “Mildred M. Adkinson 1918-2005 Funeral mass for Mildred M. Adkinson, 86, Garnett, is Friday, February 25, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Greeley. Interment is in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery.” “Marita Rochelle McDiffett 1956-2005 Funeral services for Marita Rochelle McDiffett, 48, Colony, were Thursday, February 24, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. at Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel in Colony with Rev. Steve Bubna officiating. Interment was in Colony Cemetery. Mrs. McDiffett died Saturday, February 19, at KU Medical Center. Marita Rochelle Ensley McDiffett was born March 12, 1956, at Garnett, the daughter of Gordon and Ruth (Swinder) Ensley. She attended Linn County Schools and Prairie View High School. The family moved to Council Grove and Marita graduated from Council Grove High School in 1974. After high school, she lived in Oklahoma and Wyoming before returning to the Colony area where she had lived for the last 15 years. Marita attended Emporia State University from 1994 to 1996. Marita and Roger L. McDiffett were married in December of 1975 at Council Grove. Three children were born to this union. The couple later divorced. Mrs. McDiffett is survived by her roommate, Pat Wilson of Colony; her sons, Roger Nicholas McDiffett of Emporia, Craig Michael McDiffett of Chattanooga, TN, and Jacob Randall Wilson of Colony; her daughters, Chrystal Mitchum and her husband, Daniel, of Oceanside, CA, and Jo Collins and her husband, Jeff, of Chanute; her parents, Gordon and Ruth Ensley of Colony; her brother, Gordon L. Ensley and his wife, Pauline, Lakeview, OR; her sisters, Brenda Thexton and her husband, Richard, of Stella, MO, and Susan Mills and her husband, James, of Ark City; and eight grandchildren. Music was provided by Evelyn Bubna, organist, and Roger Nicholas McDiffett, soloist. Musical selections included “Fur Elise”. Casketbearers were Jeffrey Lynn Collins, Derrick Rawlin Gates, Craig Michael McDiffett, Roger Nicholas McDiffett, Daniel Lewis Mitchum II, and Jacob Randall Wilson. Honorary casketbearers were Gordon L. Ensley, James Mills, and Richard Thexton. The family suggests memorials to the Marita McDiffett Memorial Fund. Farris-Feuerborn Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.” Transcribed for Anderson County Kansas USGENWEB By: Lulu B. Nixon