Deaths and funerals

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Mar 17, 2001 by Capital-Journal

Frank Barto Jr.

WASHINGTON --- Frank Barto Jr., 86, Washington,Kan., died Wednesday, March 14, 2001, at a Blue Rapids nursing home.

Mr. Barto was a mechanic for McDonald Douglas/Lockheed Aircraft. He was an Air Force veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

He was born Aug. 3, 1914, in Divernon, Ill., the son of Frank Barto Sr. and Agnes Supor Barto.

Mr. Barto attended St. Augustine Catholic Church at Washington, Kan. He was a former member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Washington,Kan.

He married Velma Steier on June 12, 1948, in Des Moines, Iowa. She survives.

Other survivors include a sister, Agnes Hans, Orville, Calif.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Washington, Kan. Burial will be in Washington City Cemetery. Mr. Barto will lie in state after 3 p.m. Sunday at Ward Funeral Home in Washingto, Kan., where a wake service will be at 7 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mass Offerings or to St. Augustine Catholic Church and sent in care of the funeral home.

Frank DeVore

WAKARUSA --- Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Penwell-Gabel Highland Chapel in Topeka for Frank R. DeVore, 75, Wakarusa. He died Thursday, March 15, 2001, at a Topeka hospital.

Mr. DeVore was a journeyman plumber and pipefitter. He worked 43 years out of Plumbers and Steamfitters Union Local 165 before retired in 1988. He was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II. He also was a lightweight boxer and chaplain for the Marine Corps, and he received the Purple Heart during his service in the war.

He was born June 10, 1925, in Lane, the son of John and Vida Cooley DeVore.

Mr. DeVore was a 50-year member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union, a life member of Disabled American Veterans and a member of Capitol Post 1 of the American Legion.

He married Pearl Clearwater on June 7, 1947, at Paola. She survives.

Other survivors include two sons, John D. DeVore, Overbrook, and Ronald L. DeVore, McPherson; a brother, John R. DeVore, Paola; a sister, Altha DeVore, Shawnee; and seven grandchildren.

Burial will be in Lynn Creek Cemetery at Berryton. Mr. DeVore will lie in state after 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral chapel, where visitation will be from 4 to 5 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 5375 S.W. 7th, Topeka, 66606; or to Midland Hospice Care, 200 S.W. Frazier Circle, Topeka, 66606.

Nellie Duncan

AMERICUS --- Nellie A. Duncan, 93, formerly of Americus, died Thursday, March 15, 2001, at an Emporia nursing home.

Mrs. Duncan worked in a restaurant in Americus for 30 years and she served as City Clerk for Americus for 10 years. She retired in 1983.

She was born Jan. 31, 1908, in Frankfort, the daughter of Ira and Sophia Coxley Ewing.

Mrs. Duncan was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Research Club, both in Americus, an Extension Home Demonstration Unit, and she was a 4-H leader.

She married Fae William Duncan in March 1934, in Frankfort. He survives.

Other survivors include two sons, William F. Duncan, Americus, and John Duncan, Emporia; a daughter, Martha Leavell, Lebanon, Tenn.; four brothers, Frank Ewing, Wichita, Ray Ewing and Eldon Ewing, both of Frankfort, and Forrest Ewing, Phillipsburg; a sister, Mabel Fetterman, in Florida; 12 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Duncan was preceded in death by two daughters, Phyllis Webb and Mary Duncan, and a granddaughter, Marcia Leavell.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home in Emporia. Burial will be in the Americus Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hand In Hand Hospice and sent in care of the funeral home.

Natalie Jo Howerton

SOLDIER --- Natalie Jo Howerton, 3-month-old daughter of Mark L. and Becky J. Simmons Howerton, Soldier, died Thursday, March 15, 2001, at an Onaga hospital.

She was born Dec. 1, 2000, in Onaga.

In addition to her parents, survivors include two brothers, Nicholas and Noah Howerton, at home; grandparents, Allan and Donna Simmons, Soldier, Kathy Finch, Haskell, Okla., Bruce Cockrun, Mountain Home, Ark., Marion and Sandy Howerton Sr., Mayetta, and Diane McClendon, Ottawa; and great-grandparents, Dale and Mary Starr, Holton, Perley and Lenora Seaton, Emmett, Shuck and Eunice Curtis, in Oklahoma, Mr. and Mrs. William Cockrun, Mountain Home, Ark., Hazel Kennedy, Ottawa, and Mrs. Charles White, Topeka.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Soldier Christian Church at Soldier. Burial will be in Buck's Grove Cemetery near Soldier. Visitation will be from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton.

Contributions may be made to the Natalie Jo Howerton Memorial Fund to be designated later and sent in care of the funeral home.

Harold Jessop

SILVER LAKE --- Harold L. Jessop, 63, Silver Lake, died Friday, March 16, 2001, at his home. He had cancer.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Parker-Price Mortuary.

Lane Keenan

OVERLAND PARK --- Lane F. Keenan, 52, Overland Park, died Thursday, March 15, 2001, at an Overland Park hospital.

Mr. Keenan was a general sales manager for various liquor companies for 20 years, and he was a sponsor for Kansas City Chiefs Ambassadors.