Jean Hayes Sharkey

Jean Hayes Sharkey, age 93, passed away Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at Greeley County Long-Term Care Center in Tribune.  He was born in Kremlin, Oklahoma on December 29, 1928 to Ora William and Ruby Edith Sharkey. He grew up on a farm NW of Enid, OK. The family raised watermelons and a few other crops. Jean attended and graduated Hillsdale School in 1947. He then went on to attend Stillwater A & M in Stillwater, Oklahoma and studied metallurgy.

In 1951, he enlisted in the Air Force and was assigned to Tinker AF Base as an Air Traffic Controller in Enid, OK. He met his wife Marion Asper, through friends. They were married on January 31, 1953 in Anthony, KS. Jean worked at Boeing Aircraft, Haliburton Oil, and other companies before finding his way back to farming.

He farmed land in Scott County, Wichita County, and Sheridan Lake, Colorado and finally settling in Weskan in 1979 to farm on the Wallace/Greeley County line. He farmed this area for close to 40 years before selling out to retire. Retirement must not have suited him because he then bought an 18-wheeler and drove over the road for W-Bar 7. After full retirement and the death of his wife, Marion he enjoyed drinking coffee and gabbing with the men-folk and watching old westerns.

He was a member of the Weskan Baptist/Bible Church, Masonic Blue Lodge in Anthony, Kansas.

Jean is survived by his children, Shawn (Wade) Jeffery, Victoria, KS; Lynn (Larry) Kasten, Sharon Springs, KS; Mike (Colleen) Sharkey, Otis, KS; Chris Sharkey, Overland Park, KS. Grandchildren: Jamie Cline (Jason), Hutchinson, KS; Stacie Kasten, Sharon Springs, KS; Cody Kasten, Omaha, NE; Joseph Sharkey, York, NE; Brett Sharkey (Shayla), Ft. Gibson OK; Nicole Cullison (Michael), Ellis, KS; Todd Sharkey (Chantel), Otis, KS; Taylor Sharkey, Otis, KS; Brady Jeffery (Veronica), Scott City, KS; Meghann Jeffery, Washington, KS. Great-grandchildren: Chase Cline, McCoy Sharkey, Cody & Conner Cullison, Josie and Parker Sharkey, Kanyn Sharkey, Carson and Bowen Jeffery). Sister, Barbara Kirby (Jim) Perkins, Oklahoma.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Marion (2008); son, Mark (2002); parents, Ora (1966) and Ruby (1981); sisters, Joan Kroll (2007) and Billie Rickard (2022); son-in-law, Wade Jeffery (2021). 

Memorials may be designated to the Weskan Community Building (checks payable to Weskan Township) and may be left at the services or sent in care of Bateman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 278, Goodland, KS 67735. Online condolences and information: www.batemanfuneral.com

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