Obituary - John William Graham

John William Graham was born Mother’s Day, May 14, 1940 to Burnice and Bill Graham at home in Clinton, Missouri. He passed away peacefully on the evening of Friday, February 17, 2023 at the age of 82.

He attended school at Appleton City, Mo., later attending Clinton High School, graduating in 1958. He married Jean Kelsey on May 27, 1962 in Clinton, Mo., and she survives of the home.

John was employed with Missouri Public Service Company in Warrensburg, Mo., from 1959 to 1963 as a lineman. He attended the University of Central Missouri and Southeast Missouri State University, majoring in Industrial Arts. His training enabled him to become a journeyman electrician for Electric Supply Company in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and general foreman of Aschinger Electric Company in St. Louis, Mo.

He was a member of the International Brothers of Electrical Workers. He was Master Counselor of Demolay in Clinton, and a member of the Masonic Lodge in Cape Girardeau, Mo. He served as President of Men’s Club, Chairman of Trustees, Sunday School teacher and youth leader with Grace Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, Mo., where John and Jean lived for 50 years.

John and Jean returned to their hometown, Clinton, in 2013 where he joined the Elks Lodge, Meadowlake Country Club and Clinton United Methodist Church.

He is an Eagle Scout, a member of Tribe of Mic-O-Say and Order of the Arrow, and very proud that his family and extended family is made up of 13 Eagle Scouts. He enjoyed assisting with Troop 311 in Jackson as his son, Jeff, also earned this honor.

He loved to fish and float, spending many good times with friends and family on Missouri’s rivers. He is known for his sense of humor and delight in designing gag gifts for grandchildren, nieces and nephews at Christmas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Burnice (Huey) Graham, one sister, Judy Carolyn Graham, and one brother, Tom Graham.

In addition to his wife Jean, surviving are one daughter, Janelle (Graham) Sachse (Nick), Huntsville, Alabama; one son, Jeffrey William Graham (Rhonda Farver), O’Fallon, Mo.; four grandchildren, Danielle Graham, Kelsey (Sachse) Friend, Shanen Graham-Deline and Caleb Graham Sachse; five great-grandchildren, Addy McCarthy, Peyton Curry, Liam Friend, Leo Deline and Madelynne Friend; one sister, Mary Alice (Graham) Braun (Harding); and sister-in-law, Virginia Graham.

He was delighted with these children and anytime there was a family function he left the adults and went outside to play with the children.

Memorial services will be scheduled for later this spring under the direction of the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton. Condolences may be left online at www.bradleyhadley.com

Class 1 Missouri State High School Wrestling State Championship Results:

106 Class 1
1st Place - Garrett Beane of Lathrop
2nd Place - Andrew Garcia of St. Pius X (Kansas City)
3rd Place - Bryson Dubes of Centralia
4th Place - Eli Sperry of Gallatin
5th Place - Trayce Switzer of Brookfield
6th Place - Luke Lawson of Palmyra

113 Class 1
1st Place - Christopher Ankenman of Father Tolton Catholic
2nd Place - Drew Griffin of Marceline
3rd Place - Alex Martin of Penney
4th Place - Brandon Brewer of Versailles
5th Place - Alek Tune of Fatima
6th Place - Mason Grosz of Knob Noster

120 Class 1
1st Place - Brayden Dubes of Centralia
2nd Place - Daylen Greene of Holden
3rd Place - Cooper Berry of Maysville
4th Place - Gage DeShon of Lathrop
5th Place - Dillan Chisam of St. Pius X (Kansas City)
6th Place - Tennison Nixdorf of Penney

126 Class 1
1st Place - Peyton Parn of Brookfield
2nd Place - Weston Ward of Centralia
3rd Place - Cody Strope of Fatima
4th Place - Preston Mallatt of Butler
5th Place - Frank Ruether of Father Tolton Regional Catholic
6th Place - Jesse Lane of Brentwood

132 Class 1
1st Place - Noah Gonzalez of St. Pius X (Kansas City)
2nd Place - Gambal Staddie of Brookfield
3rd Place - Lane Kimbley of North Callaway
4th Place - Jesse Shannon of Centralia
5th Place - Blake Eads of Sherwood
6th Place - Brody Narron of Father Tolton Regional Catholic

138 Class 1
1st Place - Marco Dalakishvili of St. Pius X (Kansas City)

2nd Place - Rex Bryson of Centralia
3rd Place - Kellen Long of Butler
4th Place - Brayden Hughs of Trenton
5th Place - Draken Bennett of Maysville
6th Place - Blayze McCullough of El Dorado Springs

144 Class 1
1st Place - Brendin Patrick of Butler
2nd Place - Hunter Mcatee of Trenton
3rd Place - Conner Quinn of Marceline
4th Place - Conner Menke of Lawson
5th Place - Elijah Avery of Knob Noster
6th Place - Keaton Coots of Lathrop

150 Class 1

1st Place - Collin Arch of Palmyra
2nd Place - Colton Parn of Brookfield
3rd Place - Nick Bagley of Warsaw
4th Place - Braxton Ernst of Lafayette County
5th Place - Justus Martin of Father Tolton Catholic
6th Place - Peyson Chandler of West Platte

157 Class 1
1st Place - Elijah Sanders of Richmond
2nd Place - Jeramiah Smith of Summit Christian Academy
3rd Place - Kyden Wilkerson of Centralia
4th Place - Michael McCoy of Adrian
5th Place - Eli Henry of North Callaway
6th Place - Brendan Barton of Maysville

165 Class 1
1st Place - Brayden Shelton of Centralia
2nd Place - William(Frank) Hazelrigg of Father Tolton Catholic
3rd Place - Kendrell Carter of Brookfield
4th Place - Kavan Slater of St. Pius X (Kansas City)
5th Place - Blake Esparza of El Dorado Springs
6th Place - Seth Sims of Lexington

175 Class 1
1st Place - Devan Parn of Brookfield
2nd Place - Ryder Gooch of Marceline
3rd Place - Jackson Rotterman of St. Pius X (Kansas City)
4th Place - John Newton of Summit Christian Academy
5th Place - Isaac Rodriguez of Butler
6th Place - Logan Bottcher of Gallatin

190 Class 1
1st Place - Sam Gibson of Trenton
2nd Place - Max Heintz of Maysville
3rd Place - Trey Payne of Knob Noster
4th Place - Elijah Benningfield of South Callaway
5th Place - Aidan Ivison of Richmond
6th Place - Ty Blakey of Central (New Madrid County)

215 Class 1
1st Place - Fisher Nixdorf of Penney
2nd Place - Caden Munson of Lafayette County
3rd Place - Tristin Gavette of Versailles
4th Place - Dakota Rankin of Plattsburg
5th Place - Lane Scott of West Platte
6th Place - Scout Gooch of Marceline

285 Class 1
1st Place - Seth Hasekamp of Centralia
2nd Place - Dawson Miller of Penney
3rd Place - Gabriel Parker of Gallatin
4th Place - Konnor Watkins of Maysville
5th Place - Jarrett Eivins of South Harrison
6th Place - Larry Penniston of Richmond

Long finishes impressive Freshman season for the Butler Bears Wrestling Team

We would like to congratulate Butler Freshman Kellen Long on winning 3rd place yesterday at the state wrestling championships in Columbia, Missouri.

Kellen will finish the year with a very impressive record of 42-3. The future of Butler wrestling looks to be in good hands with a lot of talented younger athletes!

Kellen is the son of Dale and Lindsey Long. 

Photos courtesy of Mallory Taylor 

City of Butler accepting sealed bids on hay crop ground

The City of Butler, Missouri, is accepting sealed bids for approximately 20 acres of hay crop ground for mowing, baling and removing first cut by July 1, 2023 and keeping property within the limits of City Code by either the city mowing or with a second cut by November 1, 2023. If the second cut is not desired the city will maintain the tract. The properties included in this bid are as follows:

Tract 1: Approx. 10 acres directly west of Oak Hill Cemetery between Pine Street and MO Rt. H

Tract 2: Approx. 10 acres at the Butler City Lake north of MO
Rt. 52 Tour needed to identify specific acreage

All bids shall be on a per acre basis. Bidders will be bidding for three years on the tracts. Bidders may bid on individual tracts and are not required to bid on all tracts. The bidders shall specify the tract number and the amount bidder will pay per acre. The successful bidder shall make payment after acceptance of this bid by the City based on the farm lease conditions.

In the event, the successful bidder fails to remove the bales by the specified date, they shall forfeit any and all interest they may have in all remaining bales, and such shall become the sole property of the City of Butler. Sealed bids are due in the Butler City Clerk’s office by 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 24, 2023.

Interested parties may contact Corey Snead City Clerk at 660-679-4182 with questions. Bids shall state the name, address, and phone number of bidder. The City reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

Stolen vehicle in Cass County recovered in Kansas

Kansas State Game Wardens never know what they may come across when on patrol. This past week, Warden Falls and Warden Zoglmann found a stolen vehicle on the LaCygne Wildlife Area. 

Some extra effort was needed in recovering the vehicle, which Warden Falls was more than happy to assist with. 

The vehicle theft recently occurred in Cass County, Missouri.

Courtesy of Kansas Wildlife and Parks

Pleasant Hill Wrestling Team does well in State Tournament

We would like to congratulate the Pleasant Hill Rooster wrestling team for winning their 3rd state championship in a row! Medalists include Alana Thelin - 4th place, Sam McDowell-Driskell - 5th place, Sam Ewing - 3rd place, Lane Snyder - 2nd place, and your individual state champions Garrett Lyons, Brayden Bush & Jacob Hanes. 

Other state qualifiers include Skylar Cyr-Coe, Victor Schmalz, Aiden Minor & Troy Gustin.

Congratulations to all of our wrestlers participating in the state tournament!

Obituary - Orval Ray Doty

Orval R. Doty, age 88, resident of Fort Scott, KS died February 16, 2023, at Arma Health and Rehab, Arma, KS, from complications following a stroke. We are grateful he is no longer suffering. Orval was born September 14, 1934, in Fort Scott to William Bradford Doty and Erma Marie Marshall Doty. They preceded him in death as did brothers, Roy Doty, Bob Doty, Delbert Doty, Larry Moore and one sister Jean Doty Cook. He was also preceded in death by two infant sons, Norman Doty, and Gerald W. Doty.

Orval is a Marine Veteran of the Indochina War and the Korean War. During his service he earned several service medals for his bravery in battle. He never liked people knowing what medals he had, so we won’t share. Orval was a member of VFW Olson-Frary-Burkhart Post 1165, Fort Scott, KS. As a member he headed the Honor Guard for many years. He was very dedicated to giving respect to the US Flag and any Service Member.

Orval, upon being honorably discharged from the Marines, attended Pittsburg College Electronic School, and went on to work for Montgomery Wards as a TV Service Repair Man in Bartlesville, OK and Great Bend, KS. Upon returning to Fort Scott with his family in 1965, he worked for Comstock Service Station while attending FSCC. After graduating from FSCC, Orval worked for Dover Elevator Company as a Helper for many years and later as Construction Superintendent until he retired. Upon retirement, Shirley and Orval moved back to Ft Scott, KS.

He is survived by one sister, Betty Doty Nichols, Joplin, Mo, His Wife, “His Main Squeeze,” Shirley M Andrews Doty and five children. Jacque K Doty, “Jackson, Queen, Short Nose,” Fort Scott, KS, Orval R. Doty Jr, “Old Man,” (Teresa) Blue Mound, KS, David, “Shorty,” DeSoto, KS, Susan Doty Plummer, “Baby D,” (Dave) Desoto, KS, and John B Doty, “Baby Boy,” Fort Scott, KS. Orval was a wonderful Poppy to eight grandchildren, Brooke M. Crossley, “Brat”, Panama City Beach, Fl, Brad A. Crossley, “Tuff”, (Emma) Olathe, KS, Brittany S. Normand Kibel, “Macaroon”, Colby, KS, Amy M. Doty Reynolds, “Squeeky,” (Wally) DeSoto, KS, William R. Doty, “Morty,” (Andrea) Shawnee, KS, Krissy L. Plummer Lohmeyer, “Wrinkles,” (Eric) Barrington, IL, Amanda K. Plummer, “Tator,” DeSoto, KS and Dylan R Doty, “Baby Boy Jr.,” Fort Scott, KS, thirteen great grandchildren, Amy, Cameron, Kimber, Tristan, Kaylee, Maddie, Lucas, Sophia, Adeline, Emma, Chase, Peyton, and Brady and One great-great grandchild, Luna.

Graveside services for Orval will be held at 1:30 PM Wednesday, March 1, at the U. S. National Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to VFW Olson-Frary-Burkhard Post 1165 and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

McNack wins first woman's state wrestling championship in Clinton School history!

We would like to congratulate Clinton Cardinal Sophomore Amitria McNack for winning the 2023 MSHSAA Class 1 Girls Wrestling Championship at 140lbs.

Amitria pinned senior Tatum Levendahl of Benton in the final match to finish her sophomore season with an impressive 49-1 won/loss record! 

Congratulations!!

Photo courtesy of the Missouri State High School Activity  Association