Dwayne Ezra Simon passed away Monday, September 26th, 2022, at the Sheridan County Health Complex, Long Term Care. He was 88 years old.
Dwayne was born May 5th, 1934, on the family farm in rural Sheridan County, to Murl and Stella (Sterrett) Simon the oldest of four children. He attended Bee Hive country school through his eighth-grade year, then attended Hoxie High School graduating with the class of 1952. Dwayne learned to drive tractors and trucks very young as a child and began helping on the farm. He developed mechanical and electrical skills which he used all his life and could work on anything and fix it. The children do not remember “repair men “ coming to the home for hardly anything because their dad “fixed it.” When Dwayne was growing up and working with the cattle on the farm silage was still fed with a pitchfork and chores were a big part of the day. Dwayne loved cattle and horses and passed that love on too many of his children and grandchildren. He participated in 4-H and was a part of Saline Valley 4-H club. Dwayne rode horses on the farm and many recall his horse Smokey that was a favorite. Entertainment was getting together with family and friends usually at a church social event. He was proud of the fact that his family was instrumental in founding Mt. Pleasant Church and over the years he shared his Christian faith with many that he came across on the road while driving trucks. In later years he went with a church group to Louisiana and helped provide needed services after hurricane devastation. That became a ministry focus for him in these recent days.
On December 21, 1952, Dwayne was united in marriage to Ila Richards at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in rural Studley, KS. For a short time, he worked in Colorado for the telephone company climbing many a pole. Then they returned to the family homestead just west of the church. Dwayne raised cattle and hogs and to supplement the family income he did custom hay work with many an early morning in the hay field swathing and then baling for many neighbors. Cowboy as he was known began trucking and hauled grain, livestock, and hot oil for highway construction. He took many trips to Kansas City to haul wheat to the terminal there. Over the years he had his own trucks and sometimes worked for various trucking companies. Trucking took him all over the country and none of the family can remember any serious accidents. He always said, “treat the other driver like it is your mother.” He was an advocate for the industry even testifying at the State House on issues.
Dwayne will be missed by his three children, Curtis Simon and wife Deb of Quinter, Kansas; Melanie and husband Kevin Cooper of Hoxie, Kansas; and David Simon and wife Leah of Brighton, CO; grandchildren, Stephen Simon and wife Sarah of Quinter, KS; Becky and husband Lance Bruna of Barnes, KS; Jaime McMillan of Joplin, MO; Jesse Cooper and wife Sydney of Fayetteville, GA; Justin Cooper and wife Lindsay of El Dorado, KS; one brother, Lawrence Simon and wife Katherine of Morland, KS; great grandchildren Taylor and Madison Bruna, Oliver and Autumn Simon; Derrick, Colton and Hannah McMillan; Tatum and Micah Cooper; Kayden and Kolby Cooper; and a host of extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two infant children, Dwana and Danny Simon, a brother Fred Simon and a sister, Ruth Kerman.
A Celebration of Life is planned for Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, rural Studley, at 10:30 A.M. Visitation will be Monday, October 3, 2022, from 2:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M, with family receiving friends from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, Hoxie, Kansas. Inurnment will be later in the Baker Township Cemetery in Quinter, Kansas. Date to be announced and all are welcome.
Memorials are suggested to Sheridan Health Complex LTC and Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Ministry (Shoeboxes). This service will be livestreamed on the Mount Pleasand Baptist Church Facebook Page.