MELVERN, Kan. – Leo “Bill” Lawhorn Jr., 86, passed away Saturday, June 24, 2023, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence, Kan. He was born Oct. 30, 1936, in Hereford, Texas, the son of Leo and Thelma (Hagans) Lawhorn Sr.

Bill grew up in Melvern, Kan., and graduated from Melvern High School in 1954. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and became a wildlife biologist for the Bureau of Land Management for more than 35 years. He traveled with this job, and had lived in North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado and California before returning to Kansas.

He was an avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting, fishing and going to his grandkids’ games.

Bill served in the United States Air Force as an Airman 2nd Class from 1955 to 1959.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Thelma.

Bill is survived by his four children, Jim (Shelly) Lawhorn, Eudora, Kan., Darin (Cheryl) Lawhorn, Meriden, Kan., Robert Hagen, Damascus, Va., and Linda Mills, Hays, Kan.; two brothers, Jerry Lawhorn, Ottawa, Kan., and Jim (Jean) Lawhorn, Eudora; two sisters, Lynita Osborne, Osawatomie, Kan., and Joetta (Ron) Vowell, Carbondale, Kan.; eight grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 6, at Melvern United Methodist Church. Inurnment will be in the Melvern Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Jefferson County Humane Society, sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451. Condolences can be left at feltnerfuneralhome.com.