Joan Ayers

Joan Laura Hobson Ayers, age 70, passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2014 at the Swedish Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. Joan was born October 29, 1943 in Garden City, Kansas, the daughter of Richard Owen & Melba Loretta Stiles Hobson. Joan was a 1961 graduate of Wichita County High School in Leoti, Kansas and a 1964 graduate of Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas. She taught briefly in inner city Los Angeles, having achieved teacher certifications. Joan began study for a Masters Degree at San Francisco Theological Seminary in the fall of 1965, where she met her future husband, Charles McKendree Ayers from Riverside, Connecticut. They were married on April 29, 1967 at San Anselmo, California. Joan and her family returned to Wichita County, Kansas in 1971 to join the Hobson family farm operation. Joan eventually returned to education, working with grades K through 12. She acquired her Masters Degree in Special Education from Emporia State University, with an emphasis in gifted facilitation. Joan was a tireless advocate for students. She was a member of the former Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church in rural Wichita County, Kansas and was active as a 4-H Leader and Sunday School teacher. Joan was an awfully good cook and engaged in a variety of hand skills such as sewing, quilting and most recently knitting. Joan was an accomplished pianist, who was highly skilled in accompanying students, high school and various college musicals, Community Theater and melodramas, church music leadership and fun musical gatherings at home. Joan and Charles have two daughters- Marnie and her husband, Brian Bellamy of Clinton, Missouri Kara and her husband, Elias Cardenas, who live on the family farm in rural Wichita County, Kansas. Four grandchildren- Benjamin Bellamy & Graham Bellamy of Clinton, Missouri Elian Dorantes and Maya Dorantes of Leoti, Kansas. Joan's brother, Howard Hobson, who lives in Denver, Colorado. Other survivors include numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and loving family. A celebration of Joan's life will be held at 3:00 pm Sunday, February 16, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church in Leoti, Kansas with Reverend Steve Wing officiating and a host of musicians from across the area performing in Joan's honor. Following inurnment in Leoti Cemetery in Leoti, Kansas, there will be a time of sharing a meal and a breaking of bread in community fellowship at the Fellowship Hall of the United Methodist Church in Leoti, Kansas, to which all are welcome. Friends may call from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm Monday through Friday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials to the Joan Ayers Memorial Fund. An endowed fund will be established to provide scholarships to students for higher education. The scholarships will be awarded based upon a record of musical performance and accompaniment and sharing of music.