Stella May Wehar

Stella May Wehar, 71, a resident of rural Fort Scott, died early Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009, at her home following a lengthy illness. She was born Feb. 8, 1937, in Fort Scott, the daughter of Robert Rivers Holt and Dora Agnes Moore Holt. Stella father died when she was 8 and she was reared by her mother and Thad West. She married Robert Shrakes. They were later divorced. She then married Linn Orville Durossette, they were also divorced. She then married Jim Wehar on Jan. 25, 1977. Stella began working at the Trail Blazer Restaurant at the age of 15. She later purchased the Trail Blazer which she operated for 44 years retiring in 2004. She was a member of the V.F.W. Auxiliary.

Survivors include her husband, Jim Wehar, of Fort Scott; five daughters, June Brumbaugh, Long Beach, Miss., Sandra Rasmussen, Moundville, Mo., Bobby Miller, Leadora "Button" Wise and Michelle Hunt, all of Fort Scott. Also surviving are a brother, Clark "Red" Holt, Canyon City, Colo.; 13 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Byron Cecil Holt, Maron Frances Holt and George Sherman West and three sisters, Naomi Cox, Mildred Bowen and Juanita Monroe.

Pastor Chuck Russell will conduct funeral services at 11 a.m., today, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Following funeral services, there will be cremation with private family burial in the Deerfield Cemetery at a later date. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the V.F.W. Auxiliary and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.

Words of sympathy may be e-mailed to the family at condolences@cheneywitt.com.