Arthur F. "Artie" Hufford

Arthur F. “Artie” Hufford, 79, of the Appanoose community, passed away Sunday, January 3, 2016, at Olathe Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Friday, January 8, 2016, at Dengel & Son Mortuary. Family will meet with friends from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Thursday, January 7, 2016, at the mortuary. Interment Dean Cemetery, north of Pomona, Kansas. Artie was born Wednesday, February 26, 1936, in Michigan Valley, Kansas, the son of Ora Earl and Edythe Mae (Wade) Hufford. He was a lifelong resident of the Appanoose community. He graduated from Appanoose High School with the class of 1955. Artie was united in marriage with Betty Walburn June 6, 1959, in Pomona, Kansas. She survives of the home. Other survivors include his three children, Teresa Hawkins and husband Joe of Michigan Valley, Randy Hufford and wife Debbie of Michigan Valley, and Marilyn Stevenson and husband Brad of Ottawa; sister, Elva Banning of Topeka; nine grandchildren, Stacey Bell and husband Johnny of Topeka, Clint Hawkins and wife Heather of Scranton, Evan Hawkins and wife Kristen of Pomona, Annie Hufford of Lyndon, Daniel Hufford and wife Kasee of Lyndon, Tom Lister of Portland, Oregon, Rachel Lister of Lawrence, Danielle Stevenson of Ottawa, and Susanne Stevenson of Dodge City; and eight great grandchildren, Brady Bell, Cambrie Bell, Bowen Hawkins, Jordy Hawkins, Serena Hufford, Donovan Brown, Addyson Hufford, and Sophia Hufford. He was preceded in death by his mother and father; sister, Geneva Newkirk; infant brother, Claude Hufford; and infant granddaughter, Erica Hufford; Artie served in the United States Army from October 1955 to October 1961. His title was Heavy Weapons and Infantryman. Artie was a hard-working lifetime farmer in Franklin County. He was employed for 10 years with Franklin County as a road grader operator in the 1960s, 12 years with West Franklin USD 287 as a bus driver from 1970s to early 1980s, 5 years with Killough Quarry as a heavy equipment machine operator in the late 1980s, and 5 years with Walmart DC, retiring in 2001. He was a 20 year trustee of Appanoose Township. Artie was a loving and devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather, whose greatest joy was spending time with his family. He enjoyed taking care of his donkies and horses, watching Wheel of Fortune, KU basketball, and doing word search puzzles. The family suggests memorial contributions to Michigan Valley United Methodist Church c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Artie’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com