Bob Abbott
Abbott, Bob, 77, retired Kansas Supreme Court Justice, died March 23, 2010 in Wichita, Kansas. Justice Abbott was born in Hodgeman County, the youngest child of Jesse Andrew and Ida Fern Abbott. He is survived by Kaye Cummings Abbott, his wife of 53 years; his children, Judge Bryce and Jana Deines-Abbott of Wichita, Robert Bren and Cecilia OConnor-Abbott of Kansas City, Missouri, Kyle Ann Abbott of Wichita, Jayme and Blake Abbott-Anderson of Salt Lake City, Utah; five grandchildren, Logan Abbott, Caroline Abbott, Reid Abbott, Carter Abbott and Marleigh Anderson. He is also survived by his sister, Alice Bump of Hill City, Kansas; his brother, Keith Abbott of Beaver, Oklahoma, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Wilma Babcock, and brothers, Lester, Lyle, George, Jesse, and Ray. Justice Abbott served the people of Kansas for 26 years as a Supreme Court Justice and as Chief Judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals. He practiced law in Junction City, Kansas until he became the first person appointed to the Court of Appeals when it was re-established in 1977 by Governor Robert Bennett, and he served as its Chief Judge until he was appointed to the Kansas Supreme Court in 1990 by Governor Mike Hayden. As private attorney he proudly represented people from all walks of life and served as the City Attorney for the City of Milford, Kansas, Grandview Plaza, Kansas and others. Justice Abbott graduated from Jetmore High School in 1950. He received his AA degree from Dodge City Junior College in 1952 where he was a three-sport letterman, a BS degree from Emporia State University in 1956, graduated second in his class from Washburn University School of Law in 1960, and received his Masters of Law Degree from the University of Virginia in 1986. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force serving as a navigator aboard a C-124 from 1953-1954. Justice Abbott served as an adjunct professor at the Washburn Law School, teaching Professional Responsibility from 1978 through 1988. He received Distinguished Alumnus Citations from Dodge City Community College, Emporia State University, and Washburn University Law School. While serving the Courts, Justice Abbott wrote over 2,000 opinions and participated in thousands more. He also served as Senior Editor of the Kansas Bar Association Appellate Practice Manual, as Chairman of the Continuing Legal Education Committee from 1970 to 1975, as member of the committee that authors the Pattern Jury Instructions used throughout the State of Kansas, and as a member of the Board of the Directors of the Kansas Bar Foundation. He gave freely of his time to countless community organizations and causes. He will be remembered for many more things from his public life. His family will remember him as their little league coach, hunting and fishing partner, rabid KU football and track fan, mentor and role model. Memorial established with the Kansas Bar Foundation, 1200 SW Harrison, Topeka, KS 66612-1806. Services will be held at Grace Episcopal Cathedral in Topeka, Kansas on April 1, 2010 at 1:00 PM. Downing Lahey Mortuary West.
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Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
We were out of town so missed the services for Bob. He certainly had a distinquished career but it is more important to say he was so caring and kind, helpful with a good sense of humor. We were sorry he had the long illness. Joe and I send sympathy and love to Kaye, Kyle, Bryce and Bren. You are in our prayers.
Bob was one of the classiest, most professional men I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. He will be greatly missed.
Kaye Abbot and family: please accept our sympathy. Winnie and Carl mailed Bob’s obituary to us.
Dear Abbott Family, About a light year ago, I lived up the street from you on Pine in Junction City. I babysat for you, Bryce, Bren and Kyle. Your Dad was a young lawyer then and to this day I remember and follow, Kaye, what you told me you did to keep your fingernails looking so beautiful – file a tiny bit every day. I have fond memories of your energetic and loving family so I wanted to express my condolences on Bob’s passing. What a stellar career he went on to have after those days starting out in J.C. I’m very sorry for your loss and am thinking of you. Sincerely, Linda Gill Taylor Kansas City Mo
The Dodge City and Jetmore communities will always remember the gentle man, great athlete and outstanding scholar we were privileged to associate with over the past years. He will be missed.
Bob will be deeply missed. He was an excellant lawyer and an astute jurist, but most of all, a fine gentleman.
Justice Abbott was the best; always looking for a way to help people.
We will all miss him. He was a great Justice but, more than that, a good man.
Please accept my since sympathy. He was a great asset to our court system and to this state.
Great man. Great judge. Great Justice. Mediocre golfer. He will be missed by all who had the good fortune to know him.
Always enjoyed his stories Hunting with him and Bryce at Flint Oaks.
Another Judicial Icon passing. Condolences to his family and we will miss him as well.
Justice Abbott was an excellent professor. He was the epitome of a true legal scholar and professional. I extend my sincere condolences to the entire Abbott family.
Many years ago, at a bar function in Colorado, I went on a river rafting ride with Judge Abbott and one of his sons. I still have a vivid recollection of the Judge, the sunlight gleaming on his white hair, paddle in hand, an open smile on his face. He was a warm and kind man. My sympathy to his family.
My sympathies to the Abbott family. I have fond memories of working with Judge Abbott as a law clerk while he was on the Court of Appeals. He enjoyed mentoring young lawyers and I am better for the experience.
I spent time with Justice Abbott when I was a Research Attorney for the Supreme Court. He was a wealth of information and insight, not just about the law but also about the history of the institution. I learned much from him. My thoughts are with his family.
My condolences to Justice Abbott’s family on the passing of an outstanding person and public servant. I had the privilege of arguing before him at the Court of Appeals’s first session after its reconstituion and was fortunate to maintain a professional relationship with him after I was appointed to the federal bench. He was a role model and mentor to many, myself included. He will be missed.
I feel very lucky to have known Judge Abbott and to have had the opportunity to spend time with him. As I constantly reminded him, he was a very lucky man to have so many good brain cells. Our world here will miss him and all his contributions. I wish his wife, Kay, a special prayer and my deepest sympathies to all the family.
I was very sorry to learn of the death of Bob Abbott. He was truly a prominent Judge and Justice for many years, and served with distinction,. He gave much of his time aside from normal duties to the improvement of the administration of justice. He was also a good friend and colleague in the Kansas Judiciary. He will be sorely missed, and I extend my deepest sympathy to his family.
Our sincere sympathy on the loss of your Dad.Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Bren: So very sorry to learn about your father’s passing. Justice Bob Abbott was a learned, friendly, intelligent jurist, whose son is my ATO Brother and friend. My condolensces to you and your extended family. Love and Respect. Bill Muir, Assistant Vice President, Kansas State University; Alpha Tau Omega National Secretary
Justice Abbott was remarkable, and I have a quick story. He was my ethics instructor at Washburn. One night he took our class on a private tour of the Judicial Center, telling us many wonderful stories, but during class that night I gave a stupid response to a hypothetical ethics problem. Instead of belittling me, Justice Abbott lead me through the problem and my answer. When finished I felt brilliant because Justice Abbott cared about me and all his students. He was a fantastic judge, man, father and husband, and his passing is indeed a huge loss for Kansas. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire family. District Judge Daniel Dale Creitz, Washburn Law School Class of 1985.
A short anecdote. I am in a Rotary club that boasted Dave Abbott (Postmaster of Shawnee Mission Post Office and nephew of Bob Abbott)as a member. Dave once brought his ‘Uncle Bob’ to our morning club meeting and I had the privilege of sitting next to Uncle Bob. I am an atty and had been practicing in Ks for years on the coat tails of my partner who had been admitted to the Ks Bar many years previously. I had been practicing for years with my Mo license.. I asked Uncle Bob, (his choice of being addressed that morning) as to when Ks would allow Mo attys to be grandfathered (without having to take the Ks Bar exam) into the Ks Bar after 5 years of experience in a neighboring state’s bar (Mo). He looked at me and smiled, ‘You better study up, son.’ I applied soon thereafter, took the Bar exam and passed. When I attended the swearing in ceremony in Topeka as I passed through the line of congratulations and handshakes from the members of the Kansas Supreme Court, he paused, and said, ‘Congratulations, Joe…:)’ J. Joseph Morris, Vold and Morris, LLC, Leawood, Ks
Bob and Bren, Joyce and I are very sorry to hear about your dad’s passing. He was loved by all, and we will miss him. I hope you are doing well. Dudley Smith
I thought of Justice Abbott often and felt proud and privileged to have worked for him at the Judicial Center as his judicial assistant for several years. Many times I have said, and still say, ‘When I worked for Justice Abbott, we . . .’ He was a very smart man and will always be thought of very highly in the legal field. Such an honor to have the American flag flying at half-staff for a person! Janice Butterfield
Bob and I became friends from the time we litigated together in our early days of law practice. Later it was an honor for me to appear before him, when he served on the Kansas Court of Appeals. He was a great lawyer, jurist, and friend, even tempered as a judge and with a wonderful, kind sense of humor. He will be missed, but good memories of him remain. My condolences and hopes for peace go to his family.
Before and after his retirement Justice Abbott was a walker around the inside of the West Lake Mall in Topeka. He often trailed in his wake a small entourage of friends and fellow lawyers enjoying the laps and the outing with him. My best to his family.
Dear Kaye and Family; I only meet the two of you person one in person. However both you and the Justice (who asked me to called Bob) may an impression on me that will last my lifetime. The genuine warmth, kindness and compassion you both expressed, as I assisted with the funeral arrangements at the loss of his brother George. One of your beautiful paintings, hang in my home. There are very few people in the world who have lived such a helping diverse life. The people of Kansas have truly suffered the loss of a great, kind and fair man. Justice Abbott was a man that I young attorneys should strive to emulate. If there is anyway, I can help or be of assistance to you, please let me know. With my sincere condolences,
Kaye and family…I send my deepest sympathy to all of you. My memories go back to the ‘young’ days of our friendship when we were building careers and families. Bob was always a pillar of respectability and trust in the legal community. I remember fondly our days of crafting the globe warmers and felt ornaments, of raising young children, playing bridge and charting our futures. My heart goes out to you.
I had the great good fortune to work with Bob for his last several months at Harper & Hornbaker; and, then to visit with him monthly in Topeka while I practiced in Junction City. Bob gave me a terrific start in practicing law with a number of practical ‘pearls of wisdom’. I am saddened by his passing, and very grateful for the chance to have worked with Bob. I will ever be lifted up by the memory of how much he helped me, and I will hold Bob and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
I and my family send to Kaye and the kids our sincere condolences in the loss of Bob. He was a partner with my father in the Junction City law firm and I regarded him in the highest esteem. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I am sorry to hear of your loss. May God be with you and your family at this time. Bob had a wonderful private life and a super great public life. I am a first cousin to Bob. My name was Nora Kathleen Holmes, named after my Grandmother Nora Abbott. My Father was Roscoe Abbott Holmes.
Our condolences on your loss; Bob will be remembered for a long time for his service to Kansas.
Great Professor and Great Justice.
Bren and Kyle, it’s been many years since we were all at Topeka High together, but I wanted to express to both of you my deepest sympathies on the passing of your father. You are in my prayers.
Just wanted you to know our thoughts and prayers have been with you and will continue to be. The Junction City paper had a great write up paying tribute to Uncle Bob and what he meant to different ones who worked with him. Knowing he is at last free from the pain and suffering of the past few years helps. But saying that final goodbye is never easy. We send our love.
Bren and Family, I am saddened to learn of Bob’s passing. Like my fellow members of the bar, I held Bob in high esteem. I had the opportunity to appear in front of him in the appellate court several times and he was always a kind and compassionate man. My thoughts and prayers are with you in this most difficult time. Your family and our state have been enriched by his guidance and we have all suffered from his passing. May Peace be with you. Sincerely, Dennis L. Horner Lenexa,Kansas
My sympathies on the loss of your dad. He left a huge legacy not only to his family and the state legal community but also to those who took his class at Washburn. May you be comforted with great memories to pass on to your children. Susan Tannenwald-Miringoff (’85)
My thoughts and prayers are with the Abbott family, Bob was a class act and I always enjoyed our interaction with the Abbott family.