Raymond Edwin Meyer Sr.

Raymond E. "Coach" Meyer, Sr. was called home by the Lord on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at Guest Home Estates, Garnett, Kansas. Faith was very important to Ray. His faithful church attendance, with the assistance of loyal church friends, continued to January 29. He was born May 21, 1920, at Hiawatha, Kansas, the son of Louis W., Sr. and Bertha (Lange) Meyer. He graduated from Hiawatha High School, earned a Bachelor Degree at Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia, and a Master's Degree at University of Illinois, Urbana. Raymond married Mabel D. Meyer on January 11, 1941 in Hiawatha, Kansas. This union was blessed with two sons, Ray Jr. and Duane. Ray and Mabel were very active members in Faith Lutheran Church, Ottawa, Kansas from 1949-84, and charter members of Trinity Lutheran Church, Garnett. Ray served in multiple offices in each congregation, including as a chairman. He was a 65-year member of Garnett Lions Club and a member of the American Legion. Coach lettered four years in basketball at KSTC. He coached football briefly at Westphalia, KS before entering the Army Air Corps for two years. Coaching one semester of girls' basketball in Morrill, KS was followed by three years of coaching at Horton, KS. He led football, basketball and track teams, with the basketball team going to state in 1949. Arriving in Garnett in 1949, Ray coached football until 1975, basketball and track until 1983, and several years of girls' golf. His basketball teams went to state in 1966 and 1968. Ray coached by example, both athletically and with integrity. He could demonstrate almost every position in each sport. He demanded the sport's rules be followed, and his abstinence from tobacco and alcohol allowed him to educate his teams about how their decisions affected their sports performance. Coarse language was not tolerated. Phys ed. classes allowed him to teach life sports: volleyball, bowling, tennis, archery, juggling, rope jumping, tumbling, baseball, horseshoes etc. He initiated the Garnett biddy basketball recreation program. Ray was in the insurance and investment industry until 2000, helping people improve. Ray loved spending time with all three family generations. He was enthusiastic about their academics, athletics, and activities. He watched all sports, even soccer, on TV—offering coaching tips when required. His competitiveness persisted, evidenced by counting laps and striving for better times at the recreation center and care facility—regular walking, then with a cane, then with a walker. He complained with a grin that he was now only in the middle of the pack. For hobbies, Ray pitched fast-pitch softball and played "town team" basketball. He was an accomplished bowler. Besides several leagues, he and Mabel bowled in weekend tournaments. Ray and Mabel were inseparable fishing teammates and competitors, taking day trips to Arkansas's White River well into their eighties. Hunting efforts involved small game, from squirrels to deer, and game birds, from quail to turkeys. It was rumored that furnishing Coach a hunting or fishing spot could get you a good grade in phys ed. Raymond is survived by sons, Raymond, Jr. (Judy) of Ottawa, KS, and Duane (Janis) of San Antonio, TX; four grandchildren: Ryan Meyer (Sandee) of Princeton, KS, Derek Meyer (Chandria) of Bixby, OK, Megan Hixon (Tom) of Hot Springs, AR, and Jenni Meyer of Overland Park, KS; ten great-grandchildren: Sydney, Abigail, Caleb, Lily, Connor, Chloe, Joshua, Mikayla, Paige, and Annalynne. He was preceded in death by beloved wife Mabel on December 29, 2012 and siblings Esther Clarkson and Louis Meyer, Jr. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2017, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Garnett with burial to follow in the Garnett Cemetery. Family will greet friends at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com