December 12, 2023

Linn County News

Published December 13, 2023

Charles Andrew “Chuck” Stanley, age 86, of Centerville, Kan., passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.

Chuck was born at home on April 19, 1937, in Garfield, Ark., the son of Byrdsell Andrew and Freda Alma (Reddick) Stanley. Chuck’s family lived in Arkansas until moving to Exeter, Mo., when he was around 10 years old. In 1949 the family moved to Stark, Kan., where Chuck attended and graduated from Stark High School with the class of 1955. Following school Chuck began working as a carpenter in Chanute, Kan., with Eby Construction Co., Inc.

In 1958, Chuck met his future wife, Katherine Delores Byerley through mutual friends and on Feb. 22, 1959, Chuck and Katherine were united in marriage in Centerville, Kan. Their union was blessed with two children, Ron and Anita. They first made their home in Leavenworth. Due to the nature of Chuck’s work with Eby, they would go on to live in many places, finally settling in DeSoto, Kan., in 1965. He built their home in DeSoto from lumber he salvaged from a store in Mildred, Kansas and the elementary school in Stark, Kan. They remained there until 1980 when work once again took them on the road to Jacksonville, Fla.; Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and Orlando, Fla. In 1990 he left construction and came home to the ranch he purchased in Centerville, Kan.

Chuck was a modest, hard working, honest man who gave 100 percent to anything he undertook. He was the chairman of the Centerville Community Church board for many years, a member of the Parker Masonic Lodge and awarded the 2017 Kansas Banker’s Association Grassland Award. He built two homes for himself and Katherine; the family home in 1965 and again on the ranch in 1996. He also built homes for Ron and Kim in Eudora in 1999 and for Rob and Anita in Paola, Kan., in 1997.

He loved to be outdoors and enjoyed fishing, quail and pheasant hunting, canoeing, and kayaking. The family took many memorable camping vacations between jobs for Eby, including California, Canada and nearly every other state in the country. He would also take them to southern Missouri any weekend he could to canoe the rivers there. He loved his church and could be found quietly taking care of anything he saw there that needed attention.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Leon McCoslin; and sister, Thelma Rhea.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Katherine, of the home; his son, Ronald Charles Stanley and fiancee Tammy Austin of Stanton, Kan.; his daughter, Anita Burdge and husband Robert of Paola, Kan.; former daughter-in-law, Kim Stanley of Eudora, Kan.; five grandchildren, Katie Romero, Tom Stanley, Alex Burdge, Rachel Linder, and Nick Burdge; six great-grandchildren, Spencer Burdge, Camden Burdge, Phoebe Romero, Miller Linder, Henry Burdge, and Aiden Burdge.

A celebration of Chuck’s life is being planned for spring of 2024; details will be announced when they are available. Memorial contributions are suggested to Centerville Community Church and can be left in the care of Feuerborn Family Funeral Service. Condolences may be left for the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.