Bill Dean Jellison

Billy Dean Jellison, 82, of Linn, KS, died April 30, 2009, at the Linn Community Nursing Home. A funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 4, at the United Methodist Church in Linn. The Rev. Randy Jellison-Knock officiated. Burial was Monday at 2:30 p.m. in the Greenwood Union Cemetery, Hunter, KS. A memorial service was held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 5, at the First United Methodist Church in Hays, KS. The family received friends one hour prior to service time at the church. The Rev. Jerre Nolte officated with Rev. William Miller and Rev. Delbert Stanton assisting. Deb Savage played the organ at the service in Linn and Lexi Robinson played the organ at the service in Hays. Music included “How Great Thou Art”, “Amazing Grace”, “Hymn of Promise” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic”. Pallbearers were Pat Petterson, David Winkelmann, Gerry Heil, Dorothy Knoll, Steve Wood, Michael Oldfather and Randy Jellison-Knock. Honorary pallbearers were Bob Jellison, Bill Jones, Bill Stewart, Paul Jellison, Milford Messer, Jimmy Jellison and Wilbur Schraeder. Bill was born April 27, 1927, in rural Lincoln County, the son of James Samuel and Bertha (Gottberg) Jellison. In 1945, he graduated from Sylvan Grove High School and served in the U.S. Army during the final months of World War II. After his discharge from the military in 1947, he attended college on the GI Bill, earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Fort Hays State University in1951 and a master's degree in education from FHSU in 1952. In 1965 he received a doctoral degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Colorado. He was a Kansas Master Teacher and held numerous positions as an educator: teacher, guidance counselor, and assistant principal at Scott County Community High School; principal at Greeley County Community High School; principal at Garden City High School; dean of men, dean of students, vice president for student affairs, and special assistant to the president at Fort Hays State University. He served on the Hays city commission and was mayor of Hays for two terms. In 1970, he was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Kansas's first congressional district. On August 28, 1948 he married Margaret Brown in Osborne, KS. She preceded him in death on July 9, 2002. He was also preceded in death by his parents; two sisters; and six brothers. Survivors include his twin sister, Bette Schulte of Topeka; two daughters, Katherine Jellison and husband David Winkelmann of Millfield, OH, and Sandra Jellison-Knock and husband Randy; one grandson, Keenan Jellison-Knock, all of Washington, KS; and many nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the Herndon Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic or The Stroke Recovery Research and Wellness Center, both at Fort Hays State University. Memorials may be sent c/o the Ward Funeral Home, which with the Hays Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bill Dean Jellison, please visit our flower store.