Friday, December 27, 2013


Maxmilan Edgar Greer Obituary



Maxmilan Edgar Greer, 68, LeRoy, KS, passed away Saturday, December 21, 2013, at his home.

He was born October 11, 1945, to Edgar & Ruth (Clay) Greer.

He attended rural schools in Montgomery and Elk Counties. He then served in the U.S. Army, 1011th Reserve Unit, for 4 years with active duty in Vietnam from 1968-69.

He worked in oil field service for Layton Oil Cmpany, later known as Equinox Oil in the Independence and Iola, KS area.

Max and Cheryl Ann Gidney were married on April 20, 1968, in Independence. She survives of the home. He also leaves his daughter, Misty Elaine Tate and husband Jeff, Topeka, KS; brother-in-law Mike Gidney; nieces and nephews; Audrey & Jeff Thompson & family;and Erica & Rod Schlegel & family of Neodesha, KS.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Sydney Diane Tate.
Cremation is planned. A memorial service will be held 1:30 P.M. Thursday, December 26, 2013, at Jones Funeral Home in Burlington, KS.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Coffey County Hospital Auxiliary and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

PASSING OF MAX GREER

THE 1011TH HAS RECEIVED WORD OF THE PASSING OF MAX GREER OF LEROY, KS.

HIS OBITUARY AND INFORMATION ABOUT HIS MEMORIAL WILL BE COMING LATER.

HIS FUNERAL SERVICE WAS HELD IN BURLINGTON, KS. ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26TH.

OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH GREER FAMILY.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Addition to the 45th reunion schedule

The 1011th's Reunion Committee has added an additional event for this year's reunion.  We encourage everyone that can, to attend.
 
At 2:00 pm on Saturday, September 28th, there will be a Wreath Laying Ceremony conducted at the All Veterans Park in Emporia.  The ceremony will be very brief and informal.  A wreath will be laid behind a ground plaque that lies along a walkway in the park.  The plaque commemorates the 1011th's service in Vietnam, complete with the "Jayhawk" patch we wore.  This plaque is also inscribed with Mike Hubert's and Sammy Kinnamon's names.  It is a fitting tribute for us to pay on our special reunion weekend.
 
The park is located at the very south end of Commercial Street (Hwy 99) just before the highway crosses the bridge over the Cottonwood River.  Look for the U.S. flags, a WWII Sherman tank and a "hovering" Huey helicopter that is also a Vietnam Vet!  Emporia is the Home of Veterans Day and this park is a unique memorial dedicated solely to veterans.  There are several other interesting displays besides the ones listed above.
 
We realize this is short notice but we hope to see you there.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

LARRY VINCENT GALES OBITUARY

LARRY VINCENT GALES

Larry Vincent Gales, 71, Burlington, KS, passed away Friday evening, July 26, 2013, at his home. He was born January 20, 1942, in Belpre, KS, the son of Vincent and Florence (Frazee) Gales.

 Larry grew up in Belpre and graduated from Belpre-Trousdale High School. He attended college until entering the U.S. Army. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam, returned to Kansas, and attended Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia. While in college he met Kathleen Hoffman from Parsons. He and Kathy were married on August 26, 1967, in Parsons.

 Larry was then called back into the Army and served another tour in Vietnam. He returned again to Emporia and earned a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Emporia State University. He worked in personnel at ESU until 1978 when he became an administrator for the Mental Health Center in Concordia, KS. In 1980 he became the Human Resources Director for St. Joseph Hospital in Concordia. He later served as administrator for hospitals in Wellington, Greensburg, and Johnson, KS. In 1998, he became the first Human Resources Administrator for Coffey Health Systems in Burlington, KS, a position he held until retiring in 2009. 

 Larry served in the U.S. Army reserves until 1995, when he retired from the Army Reserve Command Headquarters in Wichita. 

 He was a member of the Burlington United Methodist Church and the Burlington Rotary Club. He served on the board of trustees for Coffey Health Systems and volunteered with the Employers Support of the Guard and Reserve. He was currently serving in the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature and was a Republican Precinct Committee Person. He served on the Southeast Kansas Work Force Committee and on the Coffey County Council on Aging.

 Larry enjoyed golf, bowling, fishing, hunting, and range shooting.

 He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Connie and Janet Gales. He leaves Kathy, his wife of more than 45 years; his son, Scott Gales and wife Cheryl, Topeka, KS; two daughters, Kristel Gales, Dodge City, KS, and Kari Gales, Overland Park, KS; 3 grandchildren, Morgan, Ally, and Jake Gales; and his siblings, Jon Sward, Emporia, KS, Lenny Gales (Donna), Great Bend, KS, Beth Seba, Belle Plaine, KS, Joyce Korf, Salina, KS, Phyllis Rodgers (Dale), Gridley, KS, Kelvin Gales (Debbie), Kansas City, MO, Janel Martin (Roland), Belpre, KS, and Randy Gales, Lyndon, KS.

 Larry was a loving husband, father, and brother. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and attending their activities. Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at the Burlington United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery at Burlington.

 The family will meet with friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Tuesday at Jones Funeral Home in Burlington.

 Memorial contributions may be made to the Coffey County Cancer Support Group or Camp Hope, a camp for children with cancer located near Great Bend, KS, and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

THE PASSING OF LARRY GALES

LARRY V. GALES PASSED AWAY AT HIS HOME FRIDAY EVENING, AFTER BATTLING CANCER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

THE FAMILY  WILL MEET FRIENDS ON TUESDAY EVENING (JULY 30TH) AT THE JONES FUNERAL HOME IN BURLINGTON, KS., FROM 6:00 TO 8:00 P.M.. THE FUNERAL HOME IS LOCATED AT 801 GARRETSON ST., IN BURLINGTON.

THE FUNERAL WILL BE HELD AT 11:00 A.M. AT THE BURLINGTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 31ST.

THE MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE MADE TO THE COFFEY COUNTY CANCER SUPPORT GROUP OR CAMP HOPE, A CAMP FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER LOCATED NEAR GREAT BEND, KS. CONTRIBUTIONS CAN BE SENT TO THE JONES FUNERAL HOME AT P.O. BOX 277, BURLINGTON, KS.  66839.

WE WILL PUBLISH HIS OBITUARY ON THIS BLOG LATER.

Monday, May 6, 2013

2013 Reunion


In case you did not receive your postcard notice:




1011TH S&S REUNION
SEPTEMBER 27TH AND 28TH, 2013
IN EMPORIA, KS.
We plan on having an informal get together on
Friday evening Sept. 27th and a dinner/business
meeting on the 28th. 
Some of the group are planning a golf game for Friday morning at the Emporia
Municipal Golf Course, and all are welcome to join in.
Further details and registration forms will be sent out in August. Mark your calendars!
If we do not have your email or you did not receive the postcard notice recently please write to us at:
bearcat1011th@yahoo.com

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Passing of Keith Billingsly

Longtime resident of Mound Valley, Ks., Keith Billingsly passed away Monday, April 22, 2013, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin Mo.

Keith was born April 28, 1942 on the family farm near rural Mound Valley to Leonard and Ann Billingsly. He grew up and attended school in Mound Valley and graduated from the Mound Valley High School in 1960. He earned an associate degree from Parsons Junior College, a master's degree from Pittsburg State University, an education specialist degree from Kansas State University and  near completion of a doctorate degree.

During the Vietnam war, he served  honorably in the 1011th Army unit located out of Independence, Ks. After his service in the army he returned to Mound Valley.

He taught psychology at Parsons, Coffeyville and Independence junior colleges and had also worked for the Parson's State Hospital and Training Center. He worked in these areas for more than 40 years.

Keith was very active in his community serving as mayor and on the city council of Mound Valley and he also was also instrumental in the development of the Mound City library.

He enjoyed spending time with his 14 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren and other family members along with his hobbies of working on old cars, wine making, fishing, gardening and animals. He loved farm life and spending time on his tractor

Keith married Sharon K. Washam in Mound Valley in December of 1963. She survives along with their children Steve and his wife, Chris, Doug and his wife, Brenda, Jimmy Jarman and his wife, Kelli, daughther Krista Moreno and her husband, Bobby and the 14 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

He was preceded by his parents, three brothers and two sisters.

Funeral services were held in Parsons on the 25th of April, burial was in Mound Valley Cemetery, with memorials going to the Mound Valley Flag Pole Festival. Memorials can be mailed to the funeral home. P.O. box 374, Parsons, Ks. 67357.

Our condolences go out to the Billingsly family.


Saturday, February 16, 2013

Jon Norman Kirk deceased

Information was recently received through Dan Kirk and Dave Stormont of the passing of Jon "Norman" Kirk.

The 1011th had lost track of Norman as he has been on our "missing persons list" for several years. He actually passed away about 2 years ago of Alzheimers.

Norman, as he was called by his friends and family, lived in the Houston, Tx. area and worked in oil exploration for oil companies based in the Houston area. He was a geologist by profession.

Norman leaves a wife and 2 children in the Houston area.

This information was forwarded to us by Dave Stormont. Dave and Norman graduated together from Roosevelt High School in Emporia and they had taken both basic training in Fort Bragg and AIT training in Fort Lee Virginia together prior to our unit being called to active duty. Norman was then stationed with us at Fort Benning  but remained there rather than going with our unit to Vietnam. He later was sent to Vung Toa but joined our unit when it returned to the states.  

Our belated sympathy goes out to Norman's family.