Laura Reynolds-Wyatt

Laura Jane (Spangler) Reynolds-Wyatt, age 102, St. John, Kansas, died Friday, March 10, 2017 at Kenwood Plaza Assisted Living in St. John, KS. She was born September 5, 1914 to Joseph and Leota (Bazzill) Spangler on Spangler Hill near Roscoe in St Clair County, Missouri. She grew up around St Clair County, Missouri and Eastern Kansas, moving to Belpre, KS when she was 14.

Laura married Basil L. Reynolds January 7, 1933 in Larned, KS. Most of their years of marriage they resided in Macksville, KS until moving to Dodge City, Kansas in 1957. In the late 1940’s Laura started working outside the home; first as a part-time news reporter for the Macksville Enterprise newspaper, then as secretary for Hammond Real-Estate. Later, she was phone operator for the city of Macksville. After moving to Dodge City she worked for Eckles Department Store twenty years, retiring as office manager. Basil died in 1974 while living at Dodge City. Upon Laura’s retirement, she moved to Lakewood, Colorado where her son, Gordon and family, resided. In 1981, Laura met and married Clifford Wyatt and they resided in Littleton, CO. He died in 1990. In 1993 Laura moved from Littleton to St. John, KS.

At age 80, Laura became acquainted with the computer, and through the computer, wrote a book of her life memoirs, having the book commercially printed for her children and families. (“You Never Told Me” by Laura J. Wyatt, 1996)

Laura was baptized at age 17 in the First Methodist Church, Belpre, KS. She later belonged to the Grace Methodist Church in Macksville. Currently, she was a member of the Church of Christ in St. John. Through the years, Laura exercised love and great faith in the Lord while raising her family. Besides caring for her family, she taught Sunday Schools, vacation Bible schools, served on the Christian Education board, was den mother for Cub Scouts, actively belonged to PTA, YMCA, Mother’s Club, Rebekah Lodge, Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile, Friends of the Library and the Nineties Club.

Laura is survived by her six children and their spouses; son, Gordon (Janis) Reynolds, Branson, MO; daughters, Phyllis (Victor) Staub, St. John, KS; Lenna (Merwin) Frye, Bella Vista, AR; Doris (Dennis) Rice, St. John, KS; Catherine (Duane) Naccarato, Rogers, AR; Carol (Carl) Knaus, Garden City, KS; 18 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great grandchildren; a half-brother, Roy Spangler, Kingsville, MO; two step-children, Ginny (Wyatt) Stevens, Lakewood CO; Sharon (Wyatt) and Gary Mueller, Colorado Springs, CO. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, two infant children, a grandson, two great-great grandchildren, four sisters, a brother, a half-brother, a half-sister, two stepsons and a step-daughter.

Visitation is from 1-7 p.m. Tuesday at Minnis Chapel with family present between 5-7 p.m. Funeral service is Wednesday, March 15, at 10 a.m. in Minnis Chapel, St. John, Kansas with Carl Feril, minister presiding. Interment will be in the St. John Fairview Park Cemetery immediately following the service. Memorials may be made to the St.John Firemen’s Auxillary or Kindred Hospice, Hutchinson, KS.  Those can be sent in care of Minnis Chapel, PO Box 34, St. John, Ks 67576.