July 25, 2016

Francis Boyd “Boyd” Oshel Sr., 83, of Hidden Valley Lake, died on Monday, July 18, 2016, at Medicalodge, Fort Scott, Kan. Boyd was born Nov. 23, 1932, in DeSoto, Kan., to Lester and Elsie (Hall) Oshel, the third of nine children.

Boyd was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, beef cattle, horses and participating in rodeos. He owned a ranch in Edgerton, Kan., where he raised cattle and horses.

He was a member of the Miami County Fair Board for a number of years and for over 20 years served actively with the Happy-Go-Getters 4-H Club as the beef cattle and horse leader. He was involved with the Louisburg Saddle Club and was instrumental in organizing The Country Cowgirls Drill Team.

Boyd ran a dozer business in the Wellsville area where he built many farm ponds for local neighbors. Boyd was also an over the road trucker for Bones Trucking Co. of Ottawa, Kan. After Boyd retired from the Miami County Highway Department, after 15 years of service, he couldn’t just sit around so he began working for Mike Neal of Neal Manufacturing delivering trailers and at the same time was working for Hidden Valley Lake in the maintenance and security department. Boyd was an active member of the Mirza Shrine for several years until his health kept him away.

Boyd married Barbara Syme and from this marriage came eight wonderful children. Boyd married Georgia Kitchell on June 29, 2001.

Boyd was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Barbara; one sister Delores; two brothers Joe and Lester “PeeWee”; and one son-in-law Roy Burgoon.

Boyd is survived by his wife, Georgia Oshel, of the home; seven children: Debra and husband, Clyde Coons; JR Oshel and wife, Teresa; Mary and husband, Randy Bond; Bill Oshel and wife, Paula, all of Wellsville, Kan.; Linda and husband, Steve Elliott of Baldwin, Kan.; Bobbie Ann Burgoon of Wellsville; CoCo and husband, Randy Kalleck of Mound City, Kan.; Jackie and husband, Phillip Greenlee of Edgerton, Kan.; one stepson Spence Upham and wife, Charlotte, of Cherryvale, Kan.; five siblings: Laura Lee of Lawrence, Kan.; Bob of Louisburg, Kan.;  Lois of Shell City, Mo.; Sharon of Ottawa, Kan.; and Keith of Snowflake, Ariz.; 22 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews and friends.

The family had a memorial service for Boyd on Saturday, July 23, 2016, at Hidden Valley Lake Club House. Burial in Star Valley Cemetery, La Cygne, Kan. The family suggests memorials to Mirza Shrine Center General Fund, 110 W. 5th Street, Pittsburg, KS 66762 or Mercy Hospice of Fort Scott, 902 S. Horton, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Friends and family may leave online condolences at www.schneiderfunerals.com. Arrangements: Schneider Funeral Home & Crematory.