BUNYARD, Jackie Wilbur "Jack" - b. July 3, 1938 - d. January 4, 2021

[patyrn]

Jackie Wilbur Bunyard, 82, of Augusta, Kansas, passed away January 4, 2021 at home surrounded by his loving family.  He was born in Yukon, Oklahoma on July 3, 1938 to Della Kathryn (Holloway) and Orville A. Bunyard.

Jack grew up in Coats, Kansas until around age 15.  He traveled with his dad and uncle custom cutting wheat in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.  Farming was his first love at a very young age.  His family moved into the Haysville, Kansas area where Jack attended school and shortly transferred to the Derby schools in Derby, Kansas..  There he met the love of his life, Melba Landon.  Jack and Melba were married March 21, 1958 in Newton, Kansas.  They became parents of two children, Billy and Debbie.

Jack drove a transport fuel truck for a short time, and in 1968, he built Bunyard's Service Center in Wichita, Kansas.  In 1972, Jack and Melba bought the farm in Leon, Kansas.  In 1974, he sold the service station, and farming and raising cattle became his full time job.  After the death of Billy and Melba, he sold the farm and mde his new home in Augusta, Kansas and kept busy with his crop insurance business.

Jack had a deep love for Butler County, Kansas.  He was active in many organizations and served on many boards.  He was a 50-year plus member of the Latham/Leon Masonic Lodges and was a very proud member of the Butler County Shrine Club.  He and his family enjoyed growing up at Table Rock Lake in Missouri where he loved to fish and golf.  He also enjoyed watching car races as well as participating, having built his own dirt sprint car.  Jack also enjoyed tractor pull competitions having receive a national award in 2007.  He was an accomplished pilot obtaining a private pilot's license. 

His three granddaughters and his three great-grandchildren were so very special to him, and he loved spending time with them.  Jack was a people person and never met a stranger.  He had the utmost respect for anything and everything.  He always put his family first and loved them with all his heart.  He kissed his kids every night and told them he loved them.  If he and Melba were gone for  few days, he doubled up to make up for days he missed.  Jack was a classic fellow and will be missed by many. His family was extremely blessed to have such a man in their lives.

Jack is survived by his daughter, Debbie (Ronnie) Ervin of Eureka, Kasas; his grandchildren, Kelsey Ervin of Howard, Kansas, Jordan Ervin of Wichita, Kansas, and Katelyn (Jerrad) Pope of Howard, Kansas; and great-grandchildren, Sutton and Arringtyn Sleezer and Lucy Pope.  He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Melba Kay Bunyard; his brothers, Billy, Buddy, and Danny Bunyard; his sister Mickey(Roy) Gray; and his son, Richard "Billy" Bunyard.

Visitation wil be held on Thursday, January 7, 2021 at Headley Funeral Chapel, 813 State Street, Augusta, Kansas from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Graveside service will be held on Friday, January 8, 2021 at Leon Cemetery in Leon, Kansas.  Memorial  donations in his memory may be sent to the Butler County Shrine Club. P.O. Box 82, Towanda, Kansas 67144.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Headley Funeral Chapel.

(taken from the Headley Funeral Chapel website)