Melissa Mitchell, 57, Weir

Melissa Sue Mitchell 57, Weir, died at 2:20 p.m. Saturday January 31, 2026 at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburg, following a sudden illness.Born May 27, 1968 in Columbus, Melissa was the daughter of James Russell Sr. and Marjorie Ann (Cash) Bennett.

Frances Woods, 65, Baxter Springs

Frances Nadine Woods, 65, Baxter Springs, died at Mercy Hospital February 3, 2026.Born June 9, 1960 in Elmhurst, Illinois, Frances was the daughter of Herman Sydney Lang Jr. and Jewel Lang.

Sherrial Smith, 73, Riverton

Sherrial Marie Smith, 73, Riverton, died at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 31, 2026 at Quaker Hill Skilled Nursing Facility.Born January 21, 1953, in Joplin, Mo., Sherrial was the daughter of Earl Berry, Jr. and Opal Marie (Adams) Berry. She spent most of her childhood living in Albuquerque, N.M.

Melissa Cassel, 73, Baxter Springs

Melissa Ann Chaney Cassel, 73, died January 31, 2026.Melissa was born in Fairland, Okla. July 13, 1952. She lived in Bartlesville, Okla. until she was eight, then moved with family to Merriam, in the Kansas City area.

Carl Schertz, 83, Miami, Okla.

Carl Ray Schertz, 83, a longtime Miami, Okla. resident, died at his home Thursday, January 29, 2026.Born August 25, 1942, in Chetopa, Carl was the son of Joseph William and Helen Lorene (Baunhofer) Schertz.

Kathryn Woods, 93, Missouri

Kathryn L. Woods, 93, Missouri, died peacefully January 29, 2026.Born November 4, 1932, in Carl Junction, Missouri, Kathryn’s was the daughter of Ora M. Carter and Lutie B. King-Carter.

Jimmie Bash, 81, Galena

Jimmie Leuellen Bash, 81, Galena, died Tuesday, January 27, at his home in Galena, surrounded by the family who loved him beyond measure. Born May 19, 1944, in Joplin, Missouri, Jimmie spent his life fixing what was broken, solving what was complicated and steadying whatever needed a steady hand.

Vicky Ross, 75, Oswego

Vicky J. Ross, 75, Oswego, died at 6:34 a.m. Thursday, January 29, 2026 at her home surrounded by her family after battling cancer for ten months.Born February 21, 1950 at Independence, Vicky was the daughter of George Forrest and Betty May (Kendrick) Gruver.

Thomas Zuzzio, 79 Santa Claus, Ind.

Thomas A. Zuzzio, 79, Santa Claus, Ind., died Thursday, January 29, 2026, at his home, surrounded by the love of his family and a life well lived.Born October 4, 1946, in Parsons, Thomas was the son of Anthony J. “Tony” and Eileen M. (Roskob) Zuzzio.

Jerry Mills, 84, Pittsburg

Jerry Lee Mills, 84, Pittsburg, died January 27, 2026.Born August 19, 1941, in Miami, Okla., Jerry was the son of Lillian Parrish Mills and Clifton Mills and was the youngest in a family of six.Jerry was preceded in death by all his siblings, Clifton Jr.