PERKINS, Lynn Leroy - b. February 10, 1936 - d. March 29, 2022

[patyrn]

Lynn Leroy Perkins, age 87, passed away March 29, 2023 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas.  He was born February 10, 1936 in Wichita, Kansas to Ralph and Zora (Root) Perkins.

Lynn grew up on the Bar P Ranch west of Howard, Kansas, the youngest of four children.  He attended Union Center Rural School and graduated from Howard High School with the Class of 1954.  He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State College in Manhattan, Kansas in 1958 and was active in the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity.  While at K-State, he took a sneak trip with some fraternity brothers to Wichita, Kansas where he met Lois Hiebert on a blind date.  On June 9, 1957, Lynn and lois were married in Wichita. 

Lynn brought his bride back to the Bar P Ranch where they raised their three daughters, Kathy, Janis, and Sandy.  Looking for new challenges and opportunities, in 1967 Lynn graduated from Washburn University Law School in Topeka, Kansas.  He practiced law in Howard, Kansas for the next 30 years, and for much of that time, he continued a cow/calf operation on the ranch. 

Lynn was very active in the community.  He served as legal counsel for the local school board and the City of Howard.  He was an active member of the Rotary Club, served on the board of the Benson Museum, and played a significant role in the establishemnt of the Elk River Festival.  He dreamed of turning the old country schoolhouse he attended into a community center, so he spearheaded the move to move the Union Center School House into Howard and donated it to the Benson Museum.

Lynn had a diverse range of interests and a lifelong thirst for knowledge.  As the children were growing up, Lynn and Lois took them on summer car trips, ultimately driving to over 40 states and visiting many national parks.  A family hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon in 1972 inspired a passion for that scenic wonder.  His daughters, sister, nephew, and grandchildren accompanied him on hikes there for many years.  Never one to be deterred by a challenege, Lynn attained his pilot's license in the 1970s and enjoyed ferrying friends and family around Kansas.  Lynn and Lois looked forward to annual trips to Sanibel Island, Florida with Lynn's sister, Louise, and other family members.

Lynn is surived by his daughters, Kathy Perkins (Stan Davis) of Lawrence, Kansas, Janis Perkins (Richard Hardin) of Iowa City, Iowa, and Sandy Perkins (Randy Leonard) of Howard, Kansas; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; his parents, Ralph and Zora Perkins; and his siblings, Ralph Junior, Elvin, and Louise.

The family will have a memorial service in Howard, Kansas on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at the Union Center School House.  Memorials may be made to the Howard Bank Building Fund in care of the Elk County Preservation Society, Inc, 1533 Killdeer, Howard, Kansas 67349.  Lawrence Chapel Oaks Cremation and Funeral Services of Lawrence, Kansas has been entrusted with arrangements.

(taken from the Chapel Oaks Funeral Services website)