Waylan Wade

Waylan Wade, 88, died March 1, 2023, at his home in Wichita, Kansas. Waylan was born October 1, 1934, in Clovis, New Mexico to William and Laura Wade. Waylan’s dad passed away very early in his life. As a result, Waylan was raised by a single mother during the Great Depression near Antlers, Oklahoma. They did not have a lot of material wealth, but Laura provided a wealth of love and an amazing example of faith, sacrifice, hard work, and a positive attitude -- traits that would shape Waylan throughout his life. His likeable nature served him well in high school as FFA president, captain of the football team, and homecoming king. Waylan and his older brother, Bill, were extremely close growing up and remained so throughout their adult years. Looking back at Waylan’s life, nothing describes him more accurately than the way his daily actions showed the love he had for his wife, family, community and country. Waylan followed in his brother’s footsteps and joined the Navy at age 19. As a proud member of the Seabees, he served in Turkey and Newfoundland. During his service, he would send his paychecks stateside to his brother Bill to build a house on their farm in Antlers for their mother. After leaving the Navy, he attended Oklahoma State University on the GI bill where he received an engineering degree. This led to a long and distinguished career in the petroleum industry, earning him numerous awards and the respect of his colleagues. He met the love of his life and best friend, Judy, and married her on September 2, 1966, in Amarillo, TX. For the next 56 years, they worked and played side by side, building their life together. Waylan’s career took them to Iowa where their two daughters, Lorna and Melanie, were born. After a short move to San Antonio, TX, Waylan’s career brought them to Wichita. They bought a small farm and cattle ranch outside of Valley Center, where Waylan and Judy resided for 47 years. It was not as much about raising Simmental cattle at Chisholm Creek Farm as much as it was about raising his two daughters and instilling the satisfaction of hard work, the appreciation of God’s creations, and the value of working together as a family. He was deeply involved in their activities growing up and was a long-time beef 4-H leader in the Valley Victors 4-H Club. He had a gift for figuring out how to build or fix anything, having made many unique and treasured items for his daughters, such as a giraffe slide and the sturdiest cattle fitting chute on the planet. He also delighted in keeping the beat-up, no frills farm truck in top notch mechanical condition for his daughters to drive to high school. Still, Waylan played nearly as hard as he worked. After his daughters graduated from college, Waylan and Judy spent their free time becoming avid shooting sportsmen. They traveled the U.S. trying out sporting clays courses, discovering unique eating establishments, and exploring the beautiful countryside. His family also shares many fond memories of skiing trips, hunting excursions, cattle shows, and other adventures, but the common denominator was that it always centered around family. Many men aspire to be a good husband, a loving father, and a man of faith. Waylan epitomized what it meant to be all three. He will long be remembered at work and in the Valley Center and Park City communities for his willingness to help others no matter the task, his quick smile, welcoming nature, sense of humor, selflessness and work ethic. And while Waylan was a humble man, anyone who spent time with him could see the pride and love he had for his daughters. Perhaps more noticeable than his love and admiration for Judy and his daughters was the love, admiration, and respect they held for him. He would be proud of the legacy that he and Judy created through them, one that continues now in their grandchildren, who were the highlight of his later years. Waylan was preceded in death by his parents, William and Laura Wade, his father-in-law and mother in-law, Jim and Edith Magnuson and his brother, Bill Wade. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Judy, and his two daughters, Lorna (Troy) Marshall of Saint Joseph, MO and Melanie (David) Mansingh of Queen Creek, AZ and his five grandchildren, Wyatt, Justis, and Wynn Marshall and Marissa and Miranda Mansingh. Visitation 10:00 am, Funeral Service 10:30 am, on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary. Graveside service will be at 2:00 pm, Saturday, March 11, 2023, at Hillside Cemetery, Sedgwick, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Extension Education Foundation, Inc., in support of Sedgwick County 4-H, 7001 W. 21st St. N., Wichita, KS 67205 or the Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516, www.woundedwarriorproject.org