Weddings/Engagements from July 2006

Shelly Peterson, adorned in an ivory two-piece, strapless gown, with chapel-length train, became the bride of Doug Scotten on April 29, 2006, at the Whitney Mountain Chapel, in Garfield, Ark. Jack Galbraith officiated the ceremony. Parents of the couple are Greg and Ginger Peterson, of Garfield, Kay Julian of Nevada, Mo., and Dick and Angela Scotten, of Walker, Mo...

Genevieve Marie Klassen and Benjamin Alexander Walsh were married on Saturday, May 27, 2006, at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church in Kansas City, Kan. Genevieve is the daughter of Ron and Jean Klassen of Fort Scott, Kan. Her grandparents are Len and Fran Klassen of Hacienda Heights, Calif. The bride is a graduate of Kansas University and Arizona State University with degrees in French horn performance...

Megan Dawn Stewart and Kenneth Paul Felt were married at 5 p.m., June 3, at the First Missionary Baptist Church in Uniontown, Kan. The bride is the daughter of Mark and the late Debbie Stewart, Bronson, Kan. She is a 2003 graduate of Uniontown High School and will graduate in December 2007, from Pittsburg State University, with a Bachelor of Science in Management and Marketing. She is employed by The Medicine Shoppe in Pittsburg...

Jerry and Nancy Stoughton of Fort Scott, Kan., and David and Martha Byram of Sheldon, Mo., wish to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their children, Susan Renee Stoughton, Sheldon, and Kevin LLoyd Byram, Sheldon. The wedding will take place on July 29, 2006, at the Sheldon Baptist Church...

Tim and Marsha O'Connor, Neodesha, Kan., announce the engagement of their daughter, Deidra O'Connor, to Matthew Howard, son of Kenny and Trisha Howard, Fort Scott, Kan. The bride-elect graduated from Neodesha High School in 2001. She went on to receive her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Emporia State University. She plans to teach Special Education at Winfield Scott Elementary during the 2006-'07 school year...

Karen Beth Butler is engaged to marry Chadd Wayne Clary. She is the daughter of Dr. Doris Butler and W. Michael Butler, of Wichita, Kan. He is the son of Shawnee and Kenneth Clary, of Fort Scott, Kan. Karen graduated with honors from the University of Kansas in the spring of 2006. She holds bachelor's degrees in communication studies and art history. After a summer internship at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., she will return to KU to pursue a master's degree in indigenous nations studies...

Dr. Bernard James Maguire and DeEtta Overman Maguire, of Tulsa, Okla., celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 9, 2006, with a family reunion. The event was hosted by their children and grandchildren. The couple were childhood sweethearts. ...

Charles and Helen Land of Nevada, Mo., will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with a reception on Saturday, July 15, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the B.I.L. Lodge on South College Street, across from Radio Springs Park. Family and friends are welcome to help celebrate the occasion; omission of gifts is requested...

Robert Eshelbrenner and Sandra Dudley announce the approaching marriage of their son, Sale Eshelbrenner, to Sara E. Bultman, daughter of Andrew and Kathleen Bultman of Harbor Springs, Mich. The bride-to-be is a Kansas University graduate and a Spanish teacher at Pembroke Hill High School in Kansas City, Mo...

Christine Copeland, Nevada, announces the engagement and upcoming marriage of her daughter, Sara Katherine Copeland, to Mark Joseph Galus, son of Joseph and Dolly Galus, Nevada. Ms. Copeland, a 1995 graduate of Nevada High School, received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1999 and earned a Master's in City Planning from MIT in 2000. She is currently a project manager with Planning Works, an urban planning consulting firm, and resides in Kansas City...

Amy Wiltse and Adam Tourtillott announce their engagement and approaching marriage on Aug. 5, 2006. The bride-elect, daughter of Joy Wiltse, is a graduate of Fort Scott High School and a 2002 graduate of Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. She is currently employed by Mercy Health Center...

Arnett and Eleanor Allen were married June 23, 1946, at the First Baptist Church in Nevada, Mo. They have two children, Dianne Bruce of Conroe, Texas, and Wayne Allen of Ogden, Utah; six grandchildren and severn great-grandchildren. A family dinner in their honor was held at their daughter's home in Conroe...

L. Joe and Kathy Rayburn observed their 35th wedding anniversary on July 10, 2006. They were married July 10, 1971, at the Horton United Methodist Church. The Rayburns have three daughters, Kathi Jo Cain, her husband, Jerry, and children Kieran and Keilah, Milo, Mo.; Angie Rayburn-Piper, her husband Tom, and children Spencer, Tucker and Sawyer, San Jose, Ill.; and Shannon Rayburn, San Jose, Ill...

Clifford Ratcliffe and Amanda Piagari announce their engagement and approaching marriage on July 29, 2006, in Denton, Texas. The bride-elect is the daughter of Barbara Piagari, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She is a 2002 graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University. She currently teaches at Bridgeport Intermediate School in Bridgeport, Texas...

Angela Michelle Cole and Dustin Nicholas Huff, Iola, Kan., are planning a Sept. 9 wedding at River Tree Christian Church in Iola. The bride-elect is the daughter of Steven and Rema Cole, Gas, Kan. She is a graduate of Iola High School. She is employed by the city of Iola...

Mr. and Mrs. Leon Forsythe and Mr. and Mrs. Doug Eden, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their children, Rachel Forsythe and Vance Eden. The bride-to-be is a 2004 graduate of CBI Academy and attended Ozark Christian College. The prospective groom graduate from Uniontown in 2003 and will graduate from Pittsburg State University in December with a degree in elementary education...

April Dawn McMechan became the bride of James Edward Ragan on Saturday, July 8, 2006, in The Old Congressional Church in Fort Scott, Kan., which had been decorated with an arch in the bridal colors of red and white, accents of greenery, white tulle and large white pew bows. Clyde Hendricks officiated the 4 o'clock ceremony...

Terry and Donna Rolando of Bronaugh, Mo., celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary June 2, 2006, by renewing their vows at Radio Springs Park, Nevada. Family and friends were present for the occasion.

Charles and Mildred (Lessen) Leamon, Fort Scott, Kan., formerly of Arma, Kan., will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on July 26. They were married July 26, 1946, at the United Methodist Church at Arma. Dr. Bramble conducted the service with Robert Lessen and Helen Kriegsman attending the couple...

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Johnson, Nevada, Mo., celebrated their 25th anniversary on July 18, 2006, with dinner in Kansas City. The couple plans to renew their vows in a private ceremony at a future date, with vows to be solemnized by the Rev. Wendell Johnson, the groom's brother-in-law, who also officiated the couple's wedding on July 18, 1981, at the Beloit Baptist Church, Beloit, Kan...

Russell and Marian Erwin, of Nevada, Mo., announce the marriage of their daughter, Robin J., to Clinton Eugene Williams. Clinton is a son to Don Williams, of Blue Mound, Kan., and Ron and Judy Maus, of Schell City, Mo. The maternal grandparents are Howard and Gerry McKee, of Stockton, Mo., Bill and Jo Erwin, of Nevada, and Maurice and Charlotte Cundiff, of Lamar, Mo. The paternal grandparent is Lorene McCollam, of Pleasanton, Kan...

Alan Arnold and the former Arlene Kathryn Hahn were married in a ceremony in the Presbyterian Church in Torrington, Wyo., by the Rev. Robert O. McCaslin, on Sept. 15, 1956. Three sons were born to this union, Ken Arnold, who lives in Houston, Texas, Carl, who is married to Kristy Arnold, in El Dorado Springs, Mo., and Keith Arnold, who is a resident of League City, Texas. They have one granddaughter, Joanna Arnold, living in Houston...

Casey and Angie Newton, Nevada, Mo., celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary on June 14, 2006, by renewing their vows in an intimate ceremony at the Tree Top Chapel in Branson, Mo., with their daughter Macey, sharing in the occasion.