Richard Bearley

Richard Harrison ‘Bud’ Bearley died Thursday, March 31, 2016 at the Atwood Good Samaritan Center, at the age of 97. He was born, the third of six children of Harry A. ‘Gus’ and Effie Palmer Bearley Sr., February 23, 1919, at the homestead north of Atwood, where he was able to return and live the last 20 years of his life before entering Good Samaritan in 2014. After graduating from Atwood High School Bud and his brother Wilbur went in search of employment in Washington State. While there he met and married Harriet Haskell in McCleary, September 19, 1941. Shortly after their marriage he was employed by the U.S. Army Engineers, in Seward, Alaska, building barracks for the military. They returned to Atwood where he enlisted in the Air Corps. He was an airplane sheet metal worker while stationed in Texas. At his discharge, December 3, 1945, he received the American Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. They returned to Rawlins County where he was employed first by Palmer Glass Shop. He continued to farm and ranch and they purchased and operated the Western Auto store in downtown Atwood and later moved to Hwy 36 with the Western Auto/Apco Station. His strong work ethic allowed him to, at the same time, hold a dual appointment with the United States Post Office as a clerk/carrier, from which he retired with over 30 years of service. But, he liked nothing better than to get the cowboys together to work cattle. Bud also loved spending time with family and friends camping and fishing on the lakes near home. He was a member of the American Legion Post of Atwood, the Masonic Lodge, where he recently received his 75 year pin, and the United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; oldest son, Dick; brother, Wilbur and sisters, Albertina Richmond and Retta Berger.

He leaves to mourn his son, Craig and wife Valerie; siblings, Effie Fields and Harry A. Bearley Jr., of Atwood; granddaughter Sarah and husband, Aaron Tobaben, of Leawood, KS; grandsons, Freeman and wife, Niki Bearley, of McPherson, KS and Nicholas and wife Melody Bearley, of Atwood; eight great-grandchildren, Ashton, Preston, Owen, Noah, Grandy and Hadley Bearley, August Tobaben and Caleb Heskett and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Bud influenced many people in many ways, his integrity and loyalty were blessings he passed on to all those who knew and loved him. His words to live by, ‘growing old is not for sissies’.

Visitation is 4-7:00 p.m. Sunday, April 3, 2016 at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood. Funeral Service is 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 4, 2016 at the United Methodist Church, Atwood. Memorials are suggested to the Atwood Good Samaritan Center and God’s Little Saints Preschool of Atwood, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information/condolences, please visit www.baalmannmortuary.com