Gary Lee Lair, 79, Galena

Gary Lee “Papa Gee” Lair, 79, of Galena, died at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at Mercy Hospital of Joplin, Mo. Born August 19, 1942, in Galena, Gary was the son of Marie N. Barker. From a young age, his stepfather Alfred “Cotton” LaTurner entered his life and helped Marie raise him.

Leonard D. Harris Jr., 48 Weir

Leonard Donald “Big Don” Harris Jr., 48, lifelong resident of Weir, died Thursday, February 10, 2022, at Ascension Via Christi Hospital.

Carl Strickland, 74, Oswego

Carl Strickland, 74, of Oswego died at 8:42 a.m., Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Mercy Hospital, in Springfield, Mo. following an illness. Born November 19, 1947, in Labette County, Carl was the son of Wayne and Betty (Brown) Strickland. Carl had lived in Oswego all of his life.

Lafana ‘Susie’ Frank, Columbus

Lafana Gale “Susie” Frank, 81, of Columbus, died at 5:11 a.m. Monday, February 21, 2022, at Medicalodge of Columbus with her daughter at her side. Born April 1, 1940, in Baxter Springs, Susie was the daughter of Carl “Buck” and Virginia (Bash) Sturgeon.

Brian David Jones, 58, Oswego

Brian David Jones, 58, of Oswego, died at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at Labette Health, Parsons following an illness. Born October 2, 1963, in Parsons, Brian was the son of Donald Lee and Rojean Ann (Beeman) Jones. He had lived in Oswego since 1994, moving from South Weber, Utah.

Dennis Decker, 82, Weir

Dennis C. Decker, 82, of Weir, died Thursday, February 10, 2022. He was born January 21, 1940, in Roscoe, South Dakota, Dennis was the son of Raymond and Vera Decker. They preceded him in death. Dennis lived in South Dakota most of his life.

Gary Weir, 81, Baxter Springs

Gary Charles Weir, 81, of Baxter Springs, died Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at Freeman Hospital, in Joplin, Mo. Born November 10, 1940 in Kansas City, Mo., Gary was the son of Edwin Hall Weir and Thelma Helen (Johnson) Weir. Gary was united in marriage to Helen Bath-Weir (Langer).

James Sherrod, 74, Joplin, Mo.,

James Eugene Sherrod, 74, of Joplin, Mo., died Saturday, February 12, 2022. Born in Ponca City, Okla., March 27, 1947, James was the son of Lewis and Hazel Sherrod. They preceded him in death. James was also preceded in death by a sister Kay Harrison and daughter Jan Cude.

Keith Beaver, 87, Pittsburg

Keith E. Beaver, 87, of Pittsburg, died February, 10, 2022, at Via Christi Village in Pittsburg. He had been in good health and living independently until he had a stroke in March of 2021, which declined his health. Keith was born June 27, 1934, in Pittsburg.

Alberta Ray, Carl Junction, Mo.

Alberta Jean “Jeanie” Ray, 69, of Carl Junction, Mo., died Friday, February 11, 2022, at Freeman Hospital, in Joplin, Mo. She was born in Baxter Springs. She was the daughter of Rita Alberta Daniel Cramer and James William Cramer. Her father preceded her in death.