Richard Burbank Fleming

Richard Burbank Fleming, age 85, resident of rural Fort Scott, Kan., died Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010, at the Mercy Health Center Emergency Room, Fort Scott. He was born in May, Okla., on Sept. 11, 1925, the son of Thomas H. Fleming and Mable E. Robertson Fleming. He was 14 when his family moved to Missouri. He served in the United States Army in Korea during World War II. He married Freada L. Brundridge on May 25, 1950, in Nevada, Mo. He attended farming school in Nevada. He spent his working life farming on the family farm and running their dairy business for 31 years. Richard loved horses. He was faithful in his service to the Lord. He never had a bad word to say about anyone. He earnestly prayed daily for his 3-month-old great-granddaughter, Brylynn Koppa, who was born with a kidney disease. He was blessed to see her directly after she was dismissed from the hospital, two hours before his passing. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints.

Survivors include his wife Freada of the home; two sons, Doug Fleming and wife, Patricia, and Rodney Fleming and wife, Kelly, all of Fort Scott; two daughters, Brenda Tourtillott and husband, Kenneth, and Debbie Shaw and husband, Kenny, all of Fort Scott; a brother, Ralph Fleming of Maryland; and a sister, Marilyn Schaffer and husband, Albert, Topeka, Kan. Also surviving are 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren with one on the way; and eight stepgrandchildren. He was preceded in death by three brothers, infant James "Bubby," Thomas and Norman Fleming; four sisters, Ethel Casler, Ida Lowery, Delores Hale and Naomi Lawrence; and his parents.

President Kenneth Hutchins will conduct funeral services for Richard Fleming at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 27, at the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, Fort Scott. Burial will follow in the Virgil City Cemetery, Vernon County, Mo. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, in the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, and may be left with the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com