Kit Leasure Jr.

Kit Carson Leasure Jr, 91, of LaCygne, Kansas, died Thursday, July 3, 2008 at his home. He was born October 23, 1916 on the Leasure homestead in Linn County, one of nine children born to Kit Carson Leasure Sr. and Sarah Maude (Patterson) Leasure. He attended Prairie Home Grade School and then LaCygne Rural High School where he graduated in 1935. He rode his horse from the homestead to high school in LaCygne. During his years on the family homestead, he worked with his father using horses and mules in the early years. He married Irene Day April 21, 1939, they moved to Wichita, Kansas where he worked for Boeing Aircraft as a welder. They moved back to the Leasure farm after his father was injured in an accident. Their daughters, Joyce, Judy and Janice were born there. Carson and Irene bought their own farm a few miles west and moved in 1951, where they raised their family. Carson was an innovative farmer and stockman, using progressive ideas and methods. His farming always included conservation practices to control erosion by building terraces, ponds, and waterways. He was very resourceful, and could fix or build anything, using his inventive ideas. He loved the woods, trees and the native prairie meadows, knowing the names of the plants, animals and birds native to the area. He was a responsible hunter and fisherman and loved sharing those activities with friends and family/grandchildren. He enjoyed the family camping trips to the Missouri Ozarks, Colorado, Yellowstone, Washington, traveling to the Seattle World's Fair in 1962. He always made time for a "vacation" with the daughters and friends in the summer when there was a break in the farming. He and Irene traveled with their trailer to Canada and Alaska with friends and with the family to Bennett Springs, Missouri where he loved to fish for trout. He enjoyed the ski trips to Colorado and going fishing, clamming and boating in Washington. Other trips include visiting his daughter, Janice in Germany, trip to Arizona, then rode mules to the bottom of Grand Canyon with Judy, Joyce and grandson, Dustin; trail riding in Colorado at Judy's cabin area; his trip to Paris with Janice, Dave and Hilma and the trip to Maryland, Arizona and Colorado to visit Hilma's family. Carson was an active member of the LaCygne United Methodist Church where any building or work project found him in the middle of the planning or work crew. He was a member of the Methodist Men and sang in the choir. His memberships included Prairie Home School Board, LaCygne Flying Club, Linn County Planning Committee, Masonic Lodge #61, Scottish Rites, Fort Scott, Kansas and Mirza Shrine, Pittsburg, Kansas. He was a founding member of the Linn County Farmers Coop and Linn County Rural Fire Department. Carson always encouraged and supported his daughters and grandchildren to get an education and to follow dreams and goals, using hard work and application of talents and abilities. He always showed his love and respect for his wife, daughters, and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; six sisters, two brothers, his wife Irene in 1999, after 60 years of marriage, and one grandson, Tige Andrew Coffel. Survivors include three daughters, Joyce Sergent and Ron of LaCygne, Kansas; Judy Coffel and Wes of Mound City, Kansas and Janice Woodrum and Dave of Chehalis, Washington; grandchildren; Marty & Brian Hunt of LaCygne, Kansas; Susan & Chris Marshall of Lawrence, Kansas; Darcy & Dennis Pugh of Gardner, Kansas; Dustin & Kerry Coffel of Mound City, Kansas; Carolyn & Matt Rutter of Tacoma, Washington and Kit & Joslin Roth of Seattle, Washington; great grandchildren; John & Ella Marshall, Sydney & Payton Pugh, Shyla, Lexi & Indy Coffel, Sibyl Rutter & Carson Roth; step grandchildren; David & Ashley Woodrum; Bradley & Amber Woodrum and Steven & Rebecca Woodrum; step great grandchildren; Stevie, Kaydence, Brady, Benjamin, Brennan, Aliza, Zachary & Jacob Woodrum Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at the United Methodist church, LaCygne, Kansas. Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, Monday at the Coffel-Schneider Chapel, LaCygne. Contributions are suggested to the United Methodist Church or Hospice of Kansas. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery, LaCygne, Kansas. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.coffelschneider.com. Arrangements: Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home, LaCygne, Kansas.