Raymond Stanley Mayers was born August 23, 1918, to John and Maudie (Foster) Mayers in rural Clifton, Kansas, the fourth of their five sons. He departed this life on September 14, 2021, in Osborne, Kansas, at the age of 103.
The family moved to a farm southeast of Osborne in 1927 and Raymond attended Mount Hope, a one-room schoolhouse, through eighth grade and graduated from Osborne High School in 1935 at the age of sixteen. After graduation, Raymond expanded the farming and livestock operation and continued to spend his remaining 94 years on the family farm.
He was united in marriage to Laurine Krier on May 24, 1949, and seven children were born to this union including one son Joseph who died at birth (1957). Raymond was blessed with 19 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.
As a young man, two of Raymond's brothers were drafted into the service which shifted many farm responsibilities to him such as teaming up the horses to work the fields, milking cows, feeding livestock, harvesting crops, cutting wood, and whatever else needed to be done.
Raymond entertained his family and friends with numerous memories of growing up on the farm, experiencing the Stock Market Crash of 1929, the Dirty Thirties, grasshopper invasions, the introduction of using tractors for farmwork, purchase of the family's first vehicle, the installation of electricity on the farm, the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, WW II, JFK assassination, and the first man stepping on the moon.
Raymond recalled that during his childhood years his mother played the organ for barn dances on the farm. Dancing remained a leisure activity and five years ago the granddaughters were honored to dance with him at his grandson's wedding dance. He enjoyed playing cards, fishing, hunting, and going for drives to view his crops while sharing stories about people who lived on the homesteads over the last few generations. A well-known trademark of Raymond was him still having his thick head of black hair.
Raymond was a member of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic Church in Osborne and was a Charter member of the Knights of Columbus.
Raymond is survived by his six children: Cynthia (Larry) Kendig, Darlene (Craig) Hadley, Shirley (Kent) Thompson, and Lisa (Doyle) Spears, all of Osborne; and Deanna (Rick) Smith, and Stan (Pam) Mayers both of Hays, Kansas. Grandchildren are Carrie (Thompson) Rottinghaus, Brian Hadley, Laurie (Kendig) Pitman, Jill (Hadley) Guajardo, Lance Kendig, Ryan Smith, Jacqueline (Thompson) Remus, Brett Kendig, Scott Thompson, Derek Spears, Holly (Smith) Cook, Dustin Spears, Renee (Thompson) Harrell, Andrew Smith, Jenna (Mayers) Meyer, Tana (Spears) Fuentes, Jason Mayers, Dylan Spears, and Jared Mayers. He is also survived by 39 great-grandchildren. Raymond was predeceased by his parents, his wife, his infant son, and four brothers Cecil, Marvin, Walter, and Virgil.
Click HERE for service details.