Gary F Conklin

Gary F. Conklin, 72, a longtime resident and attorney in Westmoreland, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at Mercy Regional Health Center of Manhattan. Gary was born May 6, 1936 in Savannah, Missouri, the son of Delmas M. and Alma M. (Kurtz) Conklin. He moved to Hutchinson, Kansas in his childhood years, and graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1954. He attended Hutchinson Junior College and graduated from the University of Kansas, with degrees of Bachelor of Science and Juris Doctorate. On January 25, 1964, Gary married Marjorie Parrish in Lawrence, Kansas. In 1965, they moved to Westmoreland, Kansas where he has practiced law for the last 43 years. He was also serving as the current Pottawatomie County Councelor. Gary was a member of the Westmoreland United Methodist Church, Westmoreland Masonic Lodge #257, the Kansas Bar Association and Pottawatomie County Bar Association, and served as a member of the Bench Bar Committee for the Second Judicial District. He was also a past Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 97 in Westmoreland. Gary genuinely enjoyed the practice of law and eagerly tackled each new challenge. He was curious about everything. He enjoyed history, travel, reading, and researching topics on the internet. He also enjoyed following sports at all levels and was a loyal Kansas Jayhawk fan. Christmas was his special joy, spending this holiday time with his children and grandchildren. Survivors include his wife Marjorie, of the home; a daughter, Kellie White and her husband Dennis Fitzpatrick, of St. Louis, Missouri; a son, Cory Conklin and his wife Kay, of Wichita, Kansas; his sister-in-law, Jannis Parrish and her husband Gilbert, of Memphis, Tennessee; and two grandchildren, Julia White and Beck Fitzpatrick. Funeral services for Mr. Conklin will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 31, 2008 at the Westmoreland United Methodist Church with burial following in Westmoreland City Cemetery. A visitation will be Thursday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Stewart Funeral Chapel in Westmoreland. He will lie in state at the funeral chapel starting at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday. Memorials are suggested to the Westmoreland United Methodist Church and may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home P.O. Box 48, Wamego 66547.