BILL ELDON REASONER

Bill Eldon Reasoner, age 79, a resident of Bronson, Kan., died Friday, July 20, 2007, at the Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita, Kan. He was born February 3, 1928, in Redfield, Kan., the son of Wesley Norval Reasoner and Marjorie Evelyn Lathrop Reasoner. In 1938, the Reasoner family moved to California. Following his education in California, Bill served with the Merchant Marines from 1945 to 1949, Bill married Marianne Aberg in December of 1949, This marriage ended and he later married Beatrice Noreaga in 1961. This marriage also ended and he later married Darlene Woodward in 1976. She preceded him in death on Oct. 10, 2000. Bill returned to Bourbon County and settled there permanently in the 1960's For a time he sold and auctioned used cars in Bronson, later he owned and operated an Allis/Chalmers implement dealership in Bronson. For many years Reasoner was a self-employed truck driver. Bill was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, the Antique Truck Historical Society, and a past member of the Masonic Lodge and the Bronson Ruritan. He attended the Paint Creek Church of the Brethren.

Survivors include two sons, Ronald Reasoner and wife, Carol, Redfield, Kan., and Chuck Reasoner, Joplin, Mo.; two step-sons, David Rodke, Wichita, Kan., and Joe Rodke, Atlanta; two daughters, Rhonda Marie Murphy and husband, Jim, Wichita, Kan., and Irma Mindez, Derby, Kan.; two step-daughters. Lee Ann Everson, Houston, Texas and Sharon Lynn Bolling and husband Mitch, Bronson, Kan. Also surviving is a sister Velma Russell and husband Will, Fort Scott, Kan., 17 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and a close friend Lavonne Fickel. Southwest City, Mo.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Donald Lee Reasoner and a grandson, Randy Chaligoj. Rev. Ed Kite will conduct funeral services at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 24, 2007, at the Bronson United Methodist Church, Burial will follow in the Marmaton Cemetery near Redfield, Kan. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, at the Cheney Witt Bronson Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Bronson Flag Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Bronson Chapel, 501 Pine, P.O. Box 93, Bronson, Kansas 66716.