Thomas Morell Starkey Jr. passed away, January 27, 2012 at Newman Hospital in Emporia KS.

He was born on July 12, 1924 in Winfield KS the son of T.M. and Julia (Morrow) Starkey Sr. As a youngster Tom lived in Atlanta, Winfield and rural Latham KS, where he attended High School, graduating with the Latham class of 1941. On May 26th 1944, he was united in marriage to Lois Fern Wright. Two children were born to this union, their daughter, Sharon and son, Thomas Kent.

A World War II Veteran, Tom served with the 95th Infantry Division in Belgium, Luxemburg and Germany, during 1944-45. Upon his discharge from the Army, the family lived in Latham KS where he worked with his father raising cattle and operated a livestock hauling company. In 1959 they moved to Waverly KS where he farmed and fed cattle. Moving from the farm, they operated the Waverly Livestock Auction. In 1968 having sold the auction barn they moved to Burden KS where Tom worked as a Standard Oil Co. agent and later as a fuel delivery driver for Danny Smith and Leon Moore. Throughout his years in Burden, up until his retirement, he enjoyed making friendships with faculty and students, as a USD 462 school bus driver. In his retirement Tom enjoyed reading to elementary school students, most recently at Olpe's St.Joesph's school.

Tom and Lois were active in the churches of the various communities in which they resided. They actively participated in the effort to build the new Burden United Methodist Church. Tom was also involved as a School Board member and Mayor at Latham. Later at Burden he served several terms on the City Council and Burden Fair Association. For many years, Tom chaired Bloodmobile Drives in the Burden community. Tom was a longtime member of the Waverly American Legion Post and Burden Lions Club. The couple enjoyed traveling and staying in contact with lifelong friends and relatives. Winners of countless Pitch and Kings in the Corner games are recorded in Tom's journals.

Selling their home in Burden in 2006 in order to be closer to family, Tom and Lois moved to Emporia, where they spent their remaining years living at the Presbyterian Manor.

After having shared 66 years together, Lois preceded Tom in death, on November 2, 2010.

Tom was also preceded in death by his parents, step-mothers Rena Logsdon Starkey and Alberta Haaga Starkey, in-laws Bert & Ora Wright, his sister Betty Burden, two infant siblings, step-brother Bill Haaga, stepsister Helen Stevens, brother-in-law Kenneth Metz and niece Martha Burden Markwardt.

His survivors include daughter and son-in-law Sharon & Bill Linhart of Emporia, son and daughter-in-law Thomas Kent & Debra Starkey of Wellington.
Tom's Grandchildren are Stefanie (Kevin) Sparks of Olathe KS, Heather (Frank) Zang of Boise ID, Shannon (Travis) Shilling and Thomas Brandon Starkey of Manhattan KS.
Great-grandchildren are Nathan & Natalie Sparks and Alexander and Ethan Zang.
Other survivors include step-brother Bob Haaga, brothers-in law JE (Esli) Burden of Pittsburg, Sam & (Betsy) Wright of Douglass, a sister-in-law Delores Metz of Winfield along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, February 3, 2012 at 2:00 P.M. at Burden United Methodist Church. Private inurnment will take place at Latham Cemetery prior to the service. Miles Funeral Service in Winfield is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials to: The Burden United Methodist Church P.O. Box 172, Burden, Kansas 67019.