John Ray Bushnell, age 79, passed away on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at Harlan County Health System in Alma, NE.
He was born to John Wellington Bushnell and Sarah Frances (Eller) Bushnell on August 11, 1937, in Speed, KS. Ray graduated from Agra High School in 1956, and attended Kansas Wesleyan University on a football scholarship.
He was united in marriage to Janet Ann Freed, April 15, 1958, in Belleville, KS. Ray and Ann moved to Phillipsburg in October, 1958. Ray worked for Farmland Industries, Coop Refinery, and USD 325. He retired in 1999, after serving as a custodian for 17 years at Phillipsburg Middle School. Ray enjoyed working with people and made many life-long friends. Many times, he has said “Strangers are just friends that I haven’t met yet.”
Ray had many hobbies, including coon hunting, fishing, gardening, playing cards & snooker, and watching any sporting event or activity involving his grandkids.
To say that he loved animals would be an understatement. The family had pets ranging from raccoons & pigeons, to dogs & cats. It comforts his family to know that he is now able to enjoy his time with his beloved dog “Alex,” and the many other furry friends that touched his heart throughout his life.
Ray and Ann married young and grew up with their children. Family was always a high priority all through their lives. Ray was quite an all-around sportsman. He relived his own football playing days through his grandsons. He delighted in fishing and hunting with family and friends. He included his wife and children in his love of coon hunting. He would load up his dogs first, then Ann and the kids, driving in the darkness to the country creeks. He would tell the kids to be very quiet so he could hear his dogs baying on the scent of a coon and then he would take off on foot with his flashlight and gun after the dogs. He told Ann to watch for his blinking flashlight signal and drive to pick him up. Have you ever been in the dark of night looking for one blinking light—–but you see a million of them and wonder which one is Ray!!!!
When traveling with his family, whether it be short or long trips, someone would begin singing and all would join in. Ray enjoyed music but always said “I wish I could sing.” Many of the songs that were sung together have been passed down by Ray’s kids to their own children and grandchildren.
Ray spent many hours in the local pool hall with friends playing cards and snooker. He was on a traveling snooker team for several years. Due to a freak accident, he lost his left eye in 1981 which caused him to give up the game. After a good deal of encouragement from family and friends, he played again and seemed to be better than ever before.
Ray was very fond of Ann’s father who was called “Pop” by all his grandchildren. So when the time came for Ray to have grandchildren, he also, wanted to be called Pop to continue the legacy. Ray was “Pop” to his grandkids and many of their friends over the years, as well as most of Jan’s daycare kids.
Ray loved a good home-cooked meal and always told others that he had married the best cook in the world. He looked forward to the meals that Ann would bring him while he was in the hospital.
Ray is survived by his wife, Ann, of Phillipsburg; son, Rick Bushnell, of Chanute, KS; 3 daughters, Jill Johnson & husband, Blane, of Wray, CO., Jaque Wickham & husband, Galen, & Janet Means & husband, Patrick, all of Phillipsburg; 2 sisters, Ellen Adee, & Gloria Babcock & husband, Don, of Phillipsburg; 2 brothers, Gary Eller, of Florissant, CO, & Warren Bushnell, of Wilson, KS; 8 Grandchildren; Allison Bohall & husband, Treece, of Wray, CO., Arika Luedke & husband, Eric, of Holyoke, CO., Garrett Wickham & wife, Jenny, of North Platte, NE., Gabriel Wickham, & Grant Wickham, of Phillipsburg, KS., Karsen James & husband, Robert, of Phillipsburg, Dylan Means and Kylah Ellis of Wray, CO., & Brock Means of Phillipsburg; 7 Great Grandchildren, Hannah, Lane, & Britt Bohall, Link, Lakyn, & Lindyn Luedke, and Kynslee Means, and many other relatives and special friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Bushnell & Sarah Bushnell; step mother, Lucy Bushnell; 2 brothers, Will J. Schalansky, & Earl F. Bushnell; and grandson, Weston Lane Johnson.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at the First Christian Church, Phillipsburg, with Pastor LeRoy Herder officiating. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg.
Ray will lie in state from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday & again 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, 1115 2nd Street, Phillipsburg, KS.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Never Flinch, The Foundation, which was established in memory of Ray’s Grandson, Weston, who lost his battle with cancer.