John Grover, 104, Passes Away

John S. Grover, age 104, died Monday, May 31, 2010 at his residence in Liberal. He died quietly in his sleep surrounded by members of his family. He was born November 3, 1905 to Merritt Lewis and Mary Ellen (Smith) Grover at LaHarpe, Kansas.

He came to Liberal at the age of 6 with his mother and father in a covered wagon in 1911. The family settled on a farm west of Liberal and he attended the Wide-A-Wake rural school and graduated from the Liberal High School in 1921, where he was involved in music and track. He attended Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas and received a diploma in business from the Wichita Business School. He farmed at Liberal and near Larned, Kansas for fifty two years and retired at the age of seventy six.

On May 26, 1929, he married Cicilia Buhrer in Larned, Kansas. She died September 16, 1986. On November 15, 1986, he married Saundra S. Hawk in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She survives.

He remained very active after retirement taking care of rental properties, his farming and family interests. He was an active member of the Gideo s International of Kansas and a founding member of the Faith Tabernacle Church and Chairman of the Board for many years. He was a long time resident of Liberal.

He was a man of great Christian faith and touched many lives through his generosity of spirit and life. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Funeral service will be 2:00 pm, Thursday June 3, 2010 at Faith Tabernacle, Liberal, with Pastor Rex Petty presiding. Burial will follow at Liberal Cemetery. Visitation will be 1 8 pm Tuesday and 9 am 8 pm Wednesday with the family present to greet friends from 6 8 pm Wednesday at Kitch-Brenneman Funeral Home.