Earnest “Wayne” Alison, 88, of Halstead, Kansas, died Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at Newton Medical Center in Newton, Kansas, from complications related to a stroke.
Born March 13, 1932, in Shattuck, Oklahoma, he was the son of John R. and Maud (Wright) Alison. The family moved to Kansas four years later and to Halstead in 1937 where he attended Halstead public schools and his parents operated a flower shop and greenhouse.
Upon graduating high school in 1951, he joined the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the Argentia Naval Base in Newfoundland.
Upon his discharge in 1953, Wayne attended Cliff Mann Floral School in Denver, Colorado. There he met Mary Lou Offenhauer of Palmetto, Florida. They were married Jan. 24, 1954, in Palmetto. She preceded him in death June 26, 2017.
The couple spent their entire married lives in Halstead where they reared their five children, Dale (Allison) Alison of Burlington, Iowa; Dean (Renae) Alison of Hesston, Kansas; Karen (Gerald) Koehn of Halstead; Sherri (Greg) Van Campen of Fort Worth, Texas; and Alan (Tamara) Alison of Strawn, Texas.
For most of his career, Wayne was a lineman/installer for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., where he was known throughout Halstead as the “telephone man.” After retiring in 1982, he went to work for the Halstead Housing Authority, eventually managing its three complexes. Over the years, he drove buses for the school district, Halstead Hospital, and Harvey Interurban.
Wayne was an enthusiastic Halstead booster. Among the organizations he belonged to were the Ruth-Wilson American Legion Post and the Halstead Lions Club. He served on the Halstead-Bentley School Board and the Harvey County Regional Planning Board. He also was a past chairman of the Old Settlers Committee. For 15 years in the 1960s and ’70s, he was scoutmaster for Troop 125 and volunteered for many committees within the Quivira Council. He was a member of Halstead First United Methodist Church and served on many of its committees and boards.
In 2012, he and Mary Lou were the Old Settlers King and Queen. The couple enjoyed traveling and Wayne was proud that he visited all 50 states — the last, Hawaii, two years ago with his daughters.
Other survivors include nine grandchildren, Aaron (Nanette) Van Campen of Sugar Land, Texas; Travis (Debbie) Van Campen of Joshua, Texas; Ryan (Shannon) Van Campen of Dallas, Texas; Ben (Sarah) Alison of Harrisonburg, Virginia; Matthew (Marissa) Alison of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Kate (Steffen) Sommers ofLeila, Pennsylvania; Kendra (Edward) Davila of Newton, Kansas; Rachel Alison of New Bedford, Massachusetts; Owen (Diamante) Alison of Strawn, Texas; and Ross (Ariana) Alison of Halstead; and nine great-grandchildren, Elijah, Evan, Rebekah, and Quinlyn Van Campen of Joshua, Texas; Kanyon and Hope Van Campen of Sugar Land, Texas; Emma Sommers ofLeila, Pennsylvania; Milo Alison of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Elena Alison of Strawn, Texas.
According to his wishes, the body has been cremated. A memorial service is planned for Aug. 7 at a time and location to be determined. Memorials have been established with the Halstead First United Methodist Church Endowment Fund and the Halstead Historical Society, both in care of Kaufman Funeral Home, 418 Chestnut St., Halstead, Kansas 67056.