James G. Malson

James G. Malson, 81, a longtime Franklin County resident, passed away Wednesday, September 20, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Monday, September 25, 2017, at the First United Methodist Church in Ottawa. Family will meet with friends from 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M., Sunday, September 24, 2017, at Dengel & Son Mortuary. Interment Shaw-Evergreen Cemetery, Shaw, Kansas at 3:00 P.M. Monday. Jim was born August 21, 1936 in Erie, Kansas, to Fred and Vivian (Wright) Malson. He moved in the early 1960s to Johnson County. In the early 1970s, Jim moved to the Franklin County area where he made his home until his death. He graduated from Chanute High School in 1954. Jim attended Neosho County Community College and Kansas State University. Jim served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1960 in Germany. Following his military discharge, he served with the Kansas Highway Patrol at Chanute and Kansas City, before resigning to accept a position as deputy sheriff with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department in 1962. In 1969, he was appointed as a special agent with the KBI. He was promoted to KBI assistant director at Topeka in 1989. In 1990, he was appointed director of the KBI. Jim retired in 1992 and enjoyed retirement on his farm near Ottawa. Jim was united in marriage to Ann Stockwell in 1961, to this union 3 daughters were born. They later divorced. He married Marilyn Braum-Steele on September 30, 1987. She survives of the home. Other survivors include his brother, Gary Malson of Independence, Missouri; daughters, Cindy Watts of Wellsville, Sue Nilges and husband Greg of Overbrook, and Mary Baise and husband Russ of Wellsville; step-daughter, Debbie Nichols of Lawrence; nine grandchildren, Erica Herzog and husband Jake, Ryan Watts, Jessica Nichols-Shult and husband Eric, Korey Bowden and husband Dan, Jennifer Baise, Abby Robertson and husband Masen, Kristen Baise, Kaycee Baise, and Marla Keith; and seven great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Vivian Malson; step-mother, Betty Malson; and infant sister, Grace Pearl Malson. Jim was a longtime member of the Trinity United Methodist Church and a member of the Ottawa Masonic Lodge No. 18, A.F. & A.M. He enjoyed farming, fishing, hunting, traveling and spending time with his grandchildren. The family suggests memorial contributions to Trinity 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 Jim’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com