Leroy Charles Addison, 96, passed away on January 1, 2022, in Wellington, Kansas. He led an active and varied life during the Dust Bowl in Western Kansas, throughout his service in World War II, as a saxophone player in his navy band and other bands from Oklahoma to South Dakota, while working in the oil and gas industry, and when farming in Gray County, Kansas.
Leroy was born on July 23, 1925, the son of Forrest Arthur and Hazel Grace (Beery) Addison at their farm home four miles south of Cimarron, Kansas.
Leroy graduated from Cimarron High School in 1943 and enlisted in the Navy in 1944, serving for two years in the Pacific before the end of World War II. Leroy was baptized in the First Christian Church and was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
He married Madaline Maxine Byer Hewes on April 12, 1949, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The couple farmed north of Ingalls in l949, and Leroy was elected to the Ingalls Board of Education in l950.
In 1951, they bought land south of Cimarron, where they lived and farmed.
During the drought of the mid-1950s, Leroy took a job with the drilling and production department of the Northern Natural Gas Producing Company in Hugoton. Later, upon his promotion to foreman for Northern’s South Central United States division, he moved his family to Midland, Texas.
In 1964, Northern was bought out by the Mobil Oil Company, and Leroy and his family moved back to Kansas, where he worked as supervisor for the Kansas Corporation Commission’s Oil and Gas Department over the Central Kansas area. He began independent drilling and production, opening a consulting business in that field.
At this time, Leroy and his family made their home in Cimarron. He also began consulting for Gear Petroleum Company, of Wichita, and drilled a discovery well in Gray County, south of Ingalls. A licensed pilot since 1948, Leroy flew from South Texas to Canada, consulting for Gear Petroleum.
Leroy and Madaline enjoyed traveling together, and between l974 and 2007, they wintered at their homes in Port Isabel, South Padre Island, Texas.
Leroy and Madeline had two children together: Ritchie Eugene Addison, Wellington, Kansas; and Deema JaRue Addison, of Arlington, Texas. Leroy also helped raise three step-sons: Rick Hewes, of Garnett, Kansas; Michael Hewes, of Storrs, Connecticut; and Dan Hewes.
Leroy is survived by his son, Ritchie and wife Patty, his daughter JaRue; two stepsons; five grandchildren, Josh Addison, Wichita, Kansas, Beau Addison, Highland Township, Michigan, Kevin Addison, Overland Park, Kansas, Sharon Mendoza and husband Jorge Eduardo, Columbus, Ohio and Jaqui Arreola, Overland Park, Kansas; and one great-granddaughter, Kaylee Rose Addison.
He was preceded in death by his wife Madaline in 2009, just after the couple’s 60th wedding anniversary. His brother, Carl Eugene (“Doc”) Addison, who passed away in 2002 and a step-son, Dan Hewes.
Graveside service will be on Monday, January 10, 2022 at 1:00 PM at Cimarron Cemetery with David Johnson officiating. There will Military Honors by the Howard Gotschall VFW Post 1714. Visitation will be Sunday, January 9, 2022 from noon to 5:00 PM at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Cimarron, Kansas.
The family suggests memorials to the Cimarron Over 50’s Center in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801.