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.