MELVERN, Kan. – Jerry Dean Arb, 65, passed away on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Lincoln, Neb. Jerry was born on Feb. 17, 1953, in Emporia, Kan., the son of Orville and Lois Kramer Arb.

Jerry graduated from Melvern High School in 1971 and lived the majority of his life in the Melvern, Kan., community.

Jerry was a member of the Operators Union Local 101 as a heavy equipment operator for many years. During Jerry’s years as a heavy equipment operator he worked several jobs across the country, including the building of Melvern Lake and as a crane operator at Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant. He retired from McAnany Construction in 2018. 

LYNDON, Kan. – Charles Beatty, 87, passed away on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, at his home in Lyndon, Kan. He was born on Dec. 5, 1931, in Lyndon, the son of David Carl and Vesta Burkdoll Beatty.

Charles had lived most of his life in Lyndon, except for two years in Lawton, Okla. He graduated from Lyndon High School in 1951, and then served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954 at Ft. Sill. On June 6, 1953, Charles was married to Viola Mickelson, in Garnett, Kan.

Charles was an auctioneer from 1959 to 2013, co-founding Beatty-Wischropp Auctions in 1967. For many years, he ran horse auctions in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. He owned Beatty Western Wear in Lyndon for 33 years.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Daniel R. Towle, 56, passed away on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, at Rolling Hills Assisted Living, Topeka, Kan. Daniel Robert Towle was born June 12, 1962, in Topeka, the son of James A. and Roberta A. (Sparks) Towle.

Daniel grew up in Osage City, Kan. Daniel was disabled and had lived in Hartford, Kan., under the care of Quest Services for many years. He was living at Rolling Hills Assisted Living for a few months.

MILLER, Kan. – Shirley Nadine Parks, beloved wife of Lawrence E. Parks, Miller, Kan., passed away Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, at Stormont Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan., surrounded by her family. Shirley was born April 5, 1931, to Ed and Fern Johnson, at Miller, Kan.

She graduated from Miller High School in 1949. She worked as a nurse aide before marrying her high school sweetheart, Lawrence, on March 26, 1950. They were married in the house where she lived until her passing.

MEXICO, Mo. – Edward David DeForest, 83, died Dec. 6, 2018, at the Veteran’s Home in Mexico, Mo. He was born May 17, 1935, near Melvern, Kan., the son of Francis Lee Veal DeForest and Bertha Goldie DeForest.

Edward graduated from Lebo High School in 1953. He was an army veteran, and served in Korea. Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art education were granted to him from Emporia State University. Teaching, and secondary art, was his great passion. Ed taught in Cleveland, Ohio, and Marysville, Kan. Later he was employed as a graphic designer at Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant, near Burlington, Kan., and worked as a creel census taker for the Kansas Department of Parks, Wildlife and Tourism at Melvern Reservoir. He was a longtime member of the VFW Post 2699, Marysville, and Post 0323, Lebo, Kan.

WICHITA, Kan. – George Eldon Hackett was born on June 14, 1944 on a farm east of Melvern, Kan., the son of Milo and Mabel Tompkins Hackett. He departed this life on Jan. 5, 2019, in Wichita, Kan., at the age of 74 years, 6 months and 21 days.

George grew up on a farm southwest of Willow Springs, Mo. In 1969, George moved to Louisburg, Kan., and later to the JC Ranch, Augusta, Kan., and then to the Timbers, Wichita. He had worked as quality control for Center Industries for several years in Wichita.