Oct 24, 2024

Melvin Leroy Musil

Posted Oct 24, 2024 2:35 PM
Melvin Leroy Musil
Melvin Leroy Musil

Melvin Leroy Musil, age 86, passed away Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at Citizens Medical Center in Colby, KS.

Melvin Leroy Musil was born in a boxcar in Ruleton, Kansas, on October 20th ,1938. He was the second of five boys born to Leonard and Elsie (Hale) Musil. Melvin attended school in Edson and loved playing six-man football for the Edson Rockets. His stories always entailed his personal highlights from each game.

Melvin met Dorothy Ramsey, just a girl from Fayette, Iowa, through a mutual friend. After two months of exchanging letters, Melvin married Dorothy on October 18, 1964. To this union, Melvin and Dorothy had four children: Tina,  Anita, Melvin Jr., and Shaun. Melvin was a farmer from beginning to end. At his peak, Melvin farmed 1,000 acres of his own land and rented another 1,000 acres. After his farming career ended, he also worked for the Kansas Department of Transportation and was a local farm-hand for Ralph Duell. Farming was still in his blood and transformed the Edson football field into his own 100-yard garden planted full of potatoes and sweet corn. It was an absolute joy for Melvin Sr. to sell his garden crops at the local farmers markets in Goodland, Colby, and even Hays.

In his free time, Melvin Sr. loved games, games, and games. Back in the day, he bowled several nights a week and traveled often to state and national bowling tournaments. More recently, Melvin Sr. was known as a card shark and would play any game available at the Senior Center. He also taught all his grandkids to play marbles and never let them win. Melvin had a passion for sports which was contagious to his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. He loved to watch the Denver Broncos, KU basketball, Husker football, Yankees and anything his grandkids participated in.

Melvin is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers (Lester, Marlin and Denny), three sister-in-laws (Yvonne, Kate, and Rebecca), his wife, Dorothy, his daughter-in-law (Kelly), and granddaughter (Kayla). 

Melvin is survived by his four children, Tina (Bruce) Hansen of Colby, KS; Anita (Stacy) Owens of Edson, KS; Melvin Jr. (Heather) of Wichita, KS; Shaun (Heather) Musil of Hays, KS; 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Goodland Senior Center and may be left at the services or sent in care of Bateman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Goodland, KS 67735. Information and condolences at www.batemanfuneral.com.