John L. Meriwether, 88, of Columbus, Kansas, and Prairie Village, Kansas, died Friday, April 26, 2024 at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri. John had received treatment from the University of Kansas Medical Center for the past year for pancreatic cancer, and was proud to have been a participant in a clinical trial, hopeful that his participation might help future cancer patients. 

John was born in the family home just west of the Columbus, Kansas, Kansas Post Office, on a Sunday; September 8, 1935, to Sam and Jenny Meriwether. He was their second child; his sister Martha Lea Meriwether Doty was 12 years his senior. Losing his mother as a young child, John was raised by his father, beloved sister and a host of family who viewed life joyfully. John was a lifelong resident of Kansas, spending the majority of his adult life in Columbus, where he was a local businessman and community and church volunteer. 

John graduated from Cherokee County Rural High School with the class of 1953, and had wonderful memories of his classmates and their antics and activities from those years. He helped organize and attended class reunions and valued his lifelong friendships with high school classmates. He continued his education at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma where he graduated with a degree in geology. John spent time at Phillips Science Camp in Monte Vista, Colorado where he met his future wife, Margaret Neilson, of Enid, Oklahoma. While in college, John was a member of the National Guard, and fondly remembered his days as a National Guardsman.

John and Margaret were married in Enid, Oklahoma on April 12, 1958, recently sharing their 66th wedding anniversary. Margaret survives of the home. The couple have three children, Elizabeth Simpson, of Lawrence, Kansas; Laura Meriwether Kirk (Don) of Columbus, Kansas; and Neil Meriwether, (Gillian Schmidt) of Prairie Village, Kansas. Grand children include Sam Simpson (Rachel) of Leawood, Kansas; Jenny Simpson (Will Whipple) of Lawrence, Kansas; Joe Simpson (fiancée Taylor Sieperda) of Prairie Village, Kansas; Nate Kirk (Kayla) of Columbus, Kansas; Luke Kirk, of Columbus, Kansas; Mack Kirk of Lawrence, Kansas; and Anika Brim, Skye Meriwether, and James Meriwether, all of Prairie Village, Kansas. Great grandchildren include Rory and George Simpson, Henry Whipple, Tatum Kirk and Tyler Kirk. Also surviving John are his nieces Sara Miller (Dan) of Fort Myers, Florida; Julie Lemons (Perry) of Assaria, Kansas; Cindy Prestage (Nat) of Oxford, Mississippi; and nephew Mark Doty (Jody Bokermann) of Olathe, Kansas. Additionally, John is survived by sister-in-law Jane Corder, of Oxford, Mississippi and great nieces and nephews, great great nieces and nephews and several cousins. 

John was preceded in death by his parents, sister Martha, and brother-in- law Jules Doty, and son-in-law Dari Simpson. 

John worked for Skelly Oil Company, and the State of Kansas Corporation Commission for several years, while he and Margaret lived in El Dorado, Kansas, and Wichita, Kansas. They relocated to Columbus in 1966, where together they would assume ownership of Walberts and Timberlake Hardware and Furniture Company. Working with Sam Meriwether for several years, John and Margaret began to update the historic building, but retained the unique aspects of the old hardware store including the original wood flooring and the floor to ceiling shelving accessed by a sliding wooden ladder system.  They operated Walberts Ace Hardware for the next forty years, and when they closed the business, it had been operating continuously for 132 years. 

During these years John was an active member of the First Christian Church, and later attended the Presbyterian Church, serving the congregations in many different positions. Perhaps his favorite role was singing in the First Christian Church choir. His love of music was a constant throughout his life, and was started in the church. John sang with the Keenagers in Riverton, Kansas, and Barbershoppers groups in Joplin, Missouri, and had wonderful memories and friendships made through these groups. He loved all kinds of music and passed that passion on to his family. 

As a community volunteer, John was active in many of his children’s activities. He served as a 4-H project leader, president of the Columbus Little League Association, a volunteer at the Cherokee County Fair barns and rodeo grounds, grill cook at the old Girl Scout House, and assisted with the local cub scouts Pinewood Derby for many years. A particular interest for John was bicycling, which soon became a family activity. He and Margaret were 4-H bicycle club leaders and taught more than one local child how to ride a bike and the safety rules of the road. He was able to complete Bike Across Kansas with son Neil in 2001, and continued biking or walking for exercise or to work for many years. John and Margaret, dressed as circus clowns, rode an old-fashioned bicycle built for two with a grandchild strapped on, in Columbus Day parades. He supported local school and youth sports teams and loved nothing more than watching his grandchildren participate in any kind of sporting event or musical program.

After retirement, John was often seen reading in the Columbus Public Library. As a testament to his love of books and the Columbus library, his family has established a memorial there in his name. Donations may be mailed to the library at 205 N. Kansas Avenue, Columbus, Ks., 66725 or dropped off there, where there is a small photo display in John’s memory. 

John’s wishes were to be cremated. A private family celebration is planned, minus the one who most enjoyed the family parties. Poppy was always looking forward; to the next party, the next grandchild, concert, ball game, book, hobby project, adventure. The family hopes that you will remember him in this way, and be always looking ahead.