James "Earl" Kitchings
November 2, 1937 ~ March 28, 2021
James “Earl” Kitchings, 83, Retired Haysville Chief of Police, died Sunday, March 28, 2021. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, Friday, April 2, 2021; Funeral Service will be at 11:00 am, Saturday, April 3, 2021, both at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary. Funeral service will be live streamed and available to view by clicking "Watch Event" below. Burial will take place in Arvada, CO. Preceded in death by his wife, Dora Lee Kitchings; parents, Walter and Jettie Kitchings. Survived by his children, Michael (Raquel) Kitchings, Michelle (Tony) Harrold, both of Arvada, CO, Skip (Shelley) Nielsen of Carlsbad, NM, Kim Strohm of Haysville, KS, Dan (Lisa) Nielsen of Westminster, CO; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; brother, Robert (Evelyn) Kitchings of Merritt Island, FL. A memorial has been established with: Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516.
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If it were not for Chief Kitchings I probably would not be in law enforcement today. He took a chance on me. In 1999 he hired me to work for him and the Haysville Police Department. I promised him I would not let him down. Here I am twenty-two years later still working for the same department. I will always remember how intimidating he could be with his “grizzly bear” demeanor. I soon realized that once you got to know him he was really a funny and kind man who was always willing to help. He took pride in his work and in his staff. He always had a seat and a soft drink for you if you stopped by his house while on duty. I will always be thankful for for the opportunity he gave me. To Chief Kitchings family – I am so very sorry for your loss. I will miss seeing him around Haysville and his occasional stops he would make at the police station to drop off law enforcement magazines he would collect over time. He was one of a kind and will be missed by many. Lt. Kevin Sexton #085
When I was about 4 or 5 we would go and have dinner at grandpas house and when we had dinner and almost after every dinner everyone would be outside riding bikes or playing with chalk and me and grandpa would go in the Cadillac around town and we’d come back and we would go to the living room and watch tv until we had to leave. Fly high grandpa , Joshua
We were so sad to hear about the “Chief” and his passing. He was such a great guy! We had not seen him for a long time, but the last time we did see him he talked about his kids and grandkids. You could tell he loved them all so much! Rest in peace Earl…Terry & Sue Dickey
Many fond memories of Earl and Dorie from their time in Colorado. Sorely missed but will always be remembered.
Kitchings Family; Earl was one my my first graveyard sergeants in 1973. There were a number of new hires coming in back there. He was instrumental in guiding me through the early part of my career; and for that I am forever in his debt. For the out of state folks he was always checking and making sure we had furniture and stuff to use. Many years later, after he was Chief in Haysville, I was making a trip from Hepler, KS to Arvada. I swung down through Haysville specifically to see him and Dorie. Turned out he need to get back himself, so I went to his house and took a nap. We left at dusk driving through the most spectacular thunderstorm I have ever seen. Good trip, great memories and a lasting friend. Prayers and thoughts for all of you. I will never forget him; RIP Chief. John Garavaglia, Arvada PD (R)
When I was hired by Arvada PD, Earl was one of the first of the staff to make me feel comfortable and welcome. My prayers go out to his family in this time of loss.
Our sympathy goes out to Earl and his family. Earl’s maternal grandmother and my paternal grandmother were sisters. Earl was a great cousin and we always enjoyed visiting with him when he came back home to South Carolina. Our last visit together was on Wednesday, March 10 just a few days before he left South Carolina headed back home. We will cherish all of the fond memories. Love, Robbie & Wanda Littlejohn, Jonesville, SC (Union County).
Lt Earl Kitchings played a pivotal role in my career with the Arvada Police Department not only during my rookie year but throughout my 31 year career with the APD. His teachings and guidance were drawn upon many times throughout my career. Earl was not only a great leader and an excellent teacher but just as important, a true friend. So long Earl, may God Bless You Tom Bennett
Though this is late. I wanted to say this about Earl. He taught me a lot about being professional as a law enforcement officer, to do my job without prejudice, and not let others define how I did my job as a police officer. Those and other lessons he instilled in me in my short time at Haysville, stayed with me my entire life and I applied those my daily life. Thank you Earl. Sorry for being late, but I think you wouldn’t wanted it any other way. Steve Gonzales HPD 1980-81