JESS GILBERT SEARLES

IANTHA- A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Iantha Cemetery for Jess Gilbert Searles, 92, who died Monday, April 6, 2020, at Cox Barton County Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family.

Arrangements are under the direction of Konantz Warden Funeral Home, Lamar.

Online condolences may be left at www.konantzwarden.com.

Survivors include his wife, Clara Searles; son, Jess O. Searles and wife Janet, Iantha; daughters, Susan Bronson, Lamar, Carrie Cenzer and husband Steve, Las Vegas, Nevada, Mary Jo Mincks and husband Chuck and Audrey Hunt and husband Mike, Lamar; 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren plus one on the way; one sister, Mary Ann Therkildsen, Bentonville, Ark. and a host of other family members and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Isaac Searles, Owen Searles, Jim Searles, Harvey Searles and his twin, John Searles; two sisters, Zora Fast and Margaret Davis; a son-in-law, Bob Bronson and a great granddaughter, Ava Bronson.

Mr. Searles was born June 13, 1927, in Liberal, to Harvey and Bessie (Adams) Searles. He was one of nine children. He was a 1946 graduate of Liberal High School. He joined the Navy right out of high school, serving in the South Pacific at the end of WWII. He married Clara Belle Geisler and they spent 65 wonderful years together in Iantha.

He had many different jobs including working for MFA and driving a road grader for the county. He worked for MO Pub Service, setting power lines, hauled hay and followed the wheat and potato harvest through many states. He was a long-time employee at O’Sullivan Industries, where he and his wife retired on the same day in 1999.

He enjoyed putting out a big garden every year and will be remembered for his generous and giving nature; always ready to help friends, neighbors and family in any way that he could.