Max Gordon Byerley, age 102, of Parker, Kan., passed away Monday, March 6, 2017, at Hospice House in Olathe, Kan.
“Mick,” as he was known to all, was born to William and Louisa Antoinette (Willis) Byerley on Feb. 16, 1915. He was a lifelong resident of Linn County, Kan., and lived south of Goodrich for many years but has called Parker home since 1973.
Mick grew up in a world without electricity or any other modern convenience. He spent his days playing baseball, swimming, hunting and fishing. He and his four older siblings enjoyed having walnut and corn cob fights with their father who was reputedly able to throw a walnut around the corner of the barn.
He married Gertrude Delores Jackson in 1935 and together they had two children, Byron Eugene “Gene” Byerley and Katherine Delores (Byerley) Stanley. Gertrude passed away in 1971 after a prolonged battle with cancer.
Mick married Doris Virginia (Stainbrook) Kehl in 1973, and they enjoyed 39 years together until her death in 2010.
Mick was a farmer and rancher all of his life. He told stories of the “Dirty Thirties” when dust storms killed most of the crops and grasshoppers ate the rest … then they ate the fence posts. He owned cattle until he was well into his 90s when kidney failure forced him to retire in 2008. He then defied the doctor’s prognosis, and his kidneys resumed functioning after nearly a year on dialysis.
He loved to play pitch, dominoes, Yahtzee or any other game that gave him a chance to spend time with family and friends. He lived on his own in Parker until congestive heart failure caused his admittance to Hospice House on Feb. 27.
Mick was preceded in death by his parents, William and Louisa; his siblings, Nellie, Harry, John and Warren; his wives, Gertrude and Virginia; his son, Byron Eugene “Gene”; and stepdaughters Anne Shulista and Tracey Kehl.
He is survived by his daughter, Katherine Stanley and husband Charles of Centerville, Kan.; stepsons Larry Kehl and wife Loretta of Parker, and Allen Kehl and wife Cathy of Russellville, Ark.; his grandchildren, Ron Stanley of Centerville, Katherine “Betsy” Hamilton and husband Eli of Stafford, Va., John Byerley of Mesa, Ariz., and Anita Burdge and husband Robert of Paola, Kan.; and six great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and many other family and friends.
Funeral services were held Friday, March 10, 2017, at Centerville Community Church. Burial followed in the Goodrich Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parker (Kan.) Heritage Park or to Hospice House of Olathe, https://www.olathehealth.org/Donations#.WL4J4H9diMV.
You may send your condolences to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.
OBITUARIES
Robert “Bob” Eugene Markley ~ 04-11-1936 to 04-15-2024
Linn County News Published April 17, 2024 Robert (Bob) Eugene Markley, 88, was born on his family farm north of Mound City, Kansas, April 11, 1936, to Aaron R. and Hallie (Bell) Markley. He passed from this life on April, 15, 2024, at the very place he was born,... [More]
Ronald Joe Smith ~ 05-10-1944 to 04-11-2024
Linn County News Published April 17, 2024 Ronald Joe Smith, 79, LaCygne, Kan., passed away Thursday, April 11, 2024, at Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, Kan. Visitation will be 10 – 11 a.m. Friday, April 19, 2024, at Bruce Funeral Home, 106 S. Center, Gardner,... [More]
Mary Tinsley ~ 12-15-1935 to 04-09-2024
Linn County News Published April 10, 2024 I, Mary Tinsley; being of sound mind and steadfast in my faith died today. My body decided to give out. Here I am, onto my next adventure, carried home to heaven by these wonderful angels shouting, ‘She is here, She... [More]
More Obituaries
- Frederick John “Fritz” Johanning, Jr. ~ 08-10-1948 to 03-26-2024
- Doris Maxine Basore ~ 01-02-1920 to 03-10-2024
- Janice (Good) Waltmire ~ 08-20-1937 to 03-09-2024
- Richard Lee Strader ~ 06-08-1974 to 02-24-24
- Robert William Harper, Jr. ~ 07-14-1947 to 02-24-2024
- Richard Eldon Baldwin ~ 07-21-1963 to 03-04-2024
- Michael Barry Hixon, Sr. ~ 08-31-1952 to 01-31-2024
- Charles Vernon Rowe ~ 08-14-1930 to 02-26-2024
NEWS
Commissioners appoint new county counselor
The Linn County Commissioners held several interviews in executive session following their meeting on Monday, Apr. 15, for the position of county counselor, legal advisor to the Board of County Commissioners. This week the commissioners appointed Mark Hagen, of Hagen Law Offices,... [More]
La Cygne accepts desludging cost
Biosolid removal at lagoons part of major sewer project La Cygne city leaders have accepted a cost for desludging at two of the city’s three wastewater lagoons. In a unanimous action at their regular meeting last Wednesday, the council approved $412,400 for... [More]
USD 362 sets capacity numbers
District now prepares for lottery applications Prairie View Unified School District 362 has set capacity numbers for the 2024-25 school year. At their monthly meeting April 16, the board of education unanimously adopted capacity of 80 students per grade level at... [More]
More News
- Pull Tabs for Pound Puppies
- Linn County Planning Commission proceeds with prohibiting commercial solar fields
- Commissioners send CUP for rock quarry back to P&Z again
- La Cygne to update police gear
- STARS welding competes at GCCC 2024 competition
- Mine Creek Battlefield Foundation to hold music festival
- SEKMH presents outreach program to commissioners
- Linn Valley residents respond to council appointment
SPORTS
Prairie View softball goes 4-2 in busy week
The Prairie View softball team played three double-headers this past week. On April 15 they hosted Paola and swept the Panthers 16-7 and 8-7. Then on April 16 they traveled to Osage City and split against them losing the first game 4-10 and winning the second 6-3. On April 18... [More]
Pleasanton baseball sweeps St. Paul and Oswego
The Pleasanton baseball team recently played league foes St. Paul and Oswego and swept them each in double-headers. On April 15 the team traveled to St. Paul and won both games 13-1 and 16-3 and then on April 22 they hosted Oswego and won both games 15-0 and 17-2. In the... [More]
More Sports
- Prairie View track has strong performance at Anderson County
- Jayhawk track wins Pleasanton Invitational
- Pleasanton track hosts home invitational
- Jayhawk softball sweeps Crest
- Prairie View track takes on tough challenge at Paola
- Pleasanton baseball routs Yates Center
- Pleasanton baseball starts season 4-0
- Jayhawk softball sweeps Central Heights, splits against Uniontown
OBITUARIES POLICY
• May be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered.
• Must be received by 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning in order to appear in that week's edition.
• Obituaries submitted by funeral homes will be billed to the funeral home.
• Full obituaries submitted by individuals are required to be paid in advance.
• Cost: $40 for 300 words or less. Each additional word over 300, 10¢. Photograph $5.
Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com