Simon Hawley Root

Simon Hawley Root, 87, of Lyons, Kansas, passed away March 29, 2024, at Hospital District #1 of Rice County, Lyons. He was born July 28, 1936, in Ellsworth, Kansas, the son of Edwin and Nell (Keck) Root. Simon has resided in Lyons since 1962, formerly of Radium, Kansas. He graduated from Radium High School with the class of 1954. Simon was employed at Northern Natural Gas and Enron in Bushton, Kansas for over 25 years, before he retired in 1992. He enjoyed many summer vacations traveling to Kansas City to watch Royals baseball games. Simon was also an avid KC Chiefs and Kansas State Wildcats fan. He was a Kansas State season football ticket holder for many years and loved cheering for the Wildcats. Simon also enjoyed gardening and loved being outside doing yard work. On January 15, 1955, Simon was united in marriage with Barbara Murray in Larned, Kansas. They were married for 67 years, before Barbara’s passing on April 18, 2022. Simon is survived by his two sons, Kim Root and wife Barbara of Bandon, OR and Kyle Root and wife Karen of Lyons, KS; two daughters, Kris Laymon and husband Sam of Sterling, KS and Kyra Newkirk of Overland Park, KS; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Bonnie and Clinton Russell of Belpre, KS; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews. Simon is also survived by his amazing caregivers at the Rice County District Hospital in Lyons, where he resided for the past 2 ½ years. He is preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; parents; sister, Ada Beck; two brothers, Edwin Root and Wesley Root; and a grandson, Travis Root. Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the First Christian Church, Lyons, with Pastor Nickia Larsen officiating. Burial will follow at the Lyons Municipal Cemetery, Lyons. Visitation will be from 2:00 until 7:00 P.M., Friday, April 12, 2024, at Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons, with family present from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Memorials may be made to the Rice Community Healthcare Foundation (for the Swing Bed Unit) in memory of Simon Root, in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.

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