Julia “Julie” Ann Rayl Chalfant, 86, passed away April 12, 2025 at Hester Care Center/Wesley Towers, Hutchinson. Julie was born December 31, 1938 to A.D. and Florence Rayl in Hutchinson. Julie was by far the youngest of the Rayl’s children, with two older sisters (Louise and Martha) and one brother (Charles). Her father was a noted local businessman and entrepreneur and one of the country’s earliest Ford dealers.
Growing up, Julie spent summers at her father’s Turkey Creek Ranch outside Colorado Springs and at the Broadmoor. Julie graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1956 and attended and graduated from the University of Kansas with a teaching degree in 1960. While at KU, Julie was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, later serving as a chapter advisor for the sorority at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO.
In September of 1959, Julie married her high school sweetheart, Steve Chalfant. Following college, the couple relocated to Colorado Springs, where sons Brad and Jeff were born. The couple returned to Kansas in 1967, when husband Steve returned to finish college at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas. Following Steve’s graduation, the couple then returned to Hutchinson. Son Tom was born in 1970 and shortly after, the couple moved to Willowbrook, Kansas, where Steve had grown up.
Raised in a family steeped in community service, Julie was an active KU and Kappa Kappa Gamma alum, served for many years on the Altar Guild for Grace Episcopal Church, and a member and officer of P.E.O. Following in her sister Martha’s footsteps, Julie was a long-time board member and president of the Hutchinson Art Association, including the longtime organizer of Hutchinson’s annual Art Fair. Prior to developing debilitating arthritis, Julie was an avid weaver, producing her own art, as well as teaching weaving and selling yarns. However, her greatest passion was the raising of three sons, alongside her husband Steve.
Following a long illness, Julie’s husband Steve passed in December of 2020. Julie is survived by: sons, Brad and wife Dr. Brenda Johnson of Boulder, UT, Jeff and wife Lorie of Billings, MT, and Tom and wife Judy Deck of Round Rock, TX; grandchildren, Jac Chalfant of Kyle, TX, Joe Chalfant and wife Kaylie of Louisville, KY, Maddie Chalfant Long (Luke) of Conway, SC, Adara Deck-Chalfant, of Round Rock, TX; great-grandchild Avery Long of Conway, SC; sisters-in-law, Virginia Shackleford and Virginia Rayl, both of Kansas City, KS; and brother-in-law, Dick Hamilton of Hutchinson.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Louise Kirk and Martha Hamilton and brother, Charles Rayl.
Julie’s son’s wish to recognize and thank her physicians, particularly primary care physician, Dr. Sara Patry, as well as the excellent care and attention shown to her by the staffs of Wesley Towers, particularly Jamie Whitney and Hospice & HomeCare of Reno County.
Service information will be announced at a later date. Friends may sign her book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary.