Kenneth Everhart

Kenneth Leroy Everhart was born to Clinton Harold Everhart and Frances Fern (Phares) Everhart on June 27, 1933, in Utica, Kans. Ken died peacefully on October 30, 2021, in Winfield, with his family at his side.

Ken’s work ethic, faith and devotion to others started at a young age being raised on a farm in Dodge City, Kans. along with his five siblings. Ken enjoyed a successful football career at Dodge City High School before joining the Marines.

After an honorable medical discharge from the Marines, he returned to Kansas and was recruited to play football at Southwestern College. His sports career landed him many awards including All-State Guard in high school, All-Conference honors for all four years in college in differing positions, and Second Team National All Methodist Team.

He was also inducted into the Southwestern College Athletic Hall of Fame and was named to the Dodge City High School All-Time, All-Star Football team. In 1956, Ken married Shirley Jo Marsh. They met in Winfield when his coach and his future brother-in-law arranged for him to go find “a good-looking pair of shoes” at her father’s shoe store.

Shirley and Ken immediately fell in love and spent the next 65 years deeply devoted to each other as well as their family, friends and the communities they lived in. After graduating from Southwestern, he accepted a teaching and coaching position in the Winfield School System. It was a chance for him to begin his lifelong passion of working with youth.

While Ken enjoyed coaching football, he decided to accept an opportunity in Wellington,to be the Superintendent of Recreation as it afforded him more time to devote to his first son Rex, who had Down’s Syndrome. Ken remained in this position for 32 years, retiring in 1993.

During this time, Ken positively impacted the community of Wellington. Through his work and volunteer efforts, he helped establish programs for youth, senior citizens and those with differing abilities. He is fondly remembered for his ski trips, his golden age trips, his work to build and renovate ball fields, the swimming pool and many other recreational sites that are still used today.

Ken received numerous awards throughout his career including the Kansas Recreation and Parks Association (KPRA) Distinguished Service Professional Award, The Wellington Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award, Elk of the Year, Distinguished Young Man Award and the KPRA Distinguished Fellow Award to name a few.

Ken served on many boards/committees in the area including the Girl Scout Board of Directors, the Elks Training Center Board of Directors, Future’s Unlimited Board of Directors, First United Methodist Church and the KPRA Board. Ken and his wife Shirley were active in the formation of Futures Unlimited Inc. Ken served on the Citizens Planning Group for Services for the Handicapped when it was formed in 1973. He then served on the executive advisory committee that was instrumental in securing land and creating a strategic plan to create Future’s Unlimited, Inc.

His devotion to the handicapped went beyond serving on the board. Ken was also a Special Olympics advocate, assisting in hosting local and regional events. He also planned and hosted dances, swim parties and other recreational activities for those with differing abilities in Sumner and surrounding counties.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Shiley; children, Lori Oathout and husband Scot; Jeff Everhart and wife Toni; and Joni Hopkins; grandchildren, Lyndsie Oathout and significant other Joshua McWithey, Mallory and husband Josh Sapp, McKenna Oathout, Jared Oathout, Krista Everhart, Matthew Everhart, Jordan Hopkins, Navya Hopkins, Marshall Hopkins, Kedzie Hopkins East and husband John East, Selci Hopkins, Divya Hopkins, Sara and husband Nick Hale, Sidney Gile and Samuel Gile. Great Grand Daughter Emma Sapp and Great Grandson Jamie Hale. Ken is also survived by two sisters, Myrna Eastin, and Barbara Wilson; one sister-in-law Virginia Everhart; brothers-in-law Gene Eastin and Don Wilson; and a large extended family.

Ken is preceded in death by his beloved son Kenneth Rex, his parents, Clinton and Fern Everhart, his sister, Bonnie Vail, his brother Vernon and his wife Dorothy Everhart, his brother Delwin Everhart, brothers-in-law Gene Eastin and Don Wilson and sister-in-law Jane Lee Clift and her husband Worrall Clift.

Visitation will be held at the Cornejo Funeral Home from 1 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, November 4, 2021. Family visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wellington Recreation Center in Wellington. Funeral services for Ken will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, November 5, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church, Wellington.

Graveside service will begin at 3 p.m. at the Highland Cemetery in Winfield. The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, please consider giving a memorial contribution to the Wellington Recreation Center or Southwestern College Athletic Department Share a memory, leave condolences or sign his digital tribute wall at www.cornejofuneralhome.com Arrangements by Cornejo Funeral Home + Crematory, 1030 Mission Road, Wellington, Kansas.