Pat Ranson

Pat Moon Ranson of Independence, KS, passed peacefully Friday, November 04, 2011, at her home. She was 74. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at the First Presbyterian Church in Independence, KS, under the direction of Penwell-Gabel Webb & Rodrick Chapel, Independence. The Rev. John Wilson will officiate. A private interment will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery at Independence. The casket has been closed and friends may call at the funeral home to register on Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. until 8 p.m. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. The daughter of Lewis and Eula (Powell) Moon, she was born Jan. 1, 1937, in Columbine, WY. She later moved with her family to Independence, KS, where she graduated as Valedictorian with the class of 1954. Mrs. Ranson attended Independence Junior College before transferring to the University of Kansas. She graduated with honors and a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1957. She was member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority at KU. She was united in marriage to Bob Storey in August of 1958. They were later divorced. She married Jack Ranson on May 14, 1982, in Evergreen, CO. The couple made their home for many years in Wichita where they were active in the community. He preceded her in death on May 21, 2008. She returned to Independence in 2010 where she made her home. Mrs. Ranson led a very active life. She taught French and English at Shawnee Heights High School in Topeka. She later worked as a trainer of mental health volunteers for the Crisis Center, was an administrative assistant to Kansas Governor Robert F. Bennett, the president of The Travel Company; the vice president of Ranson & Company, Inc, Investment Bankers, a state senator representing District 25 from 1993-2000, and was the owner of Utility Consultants, Inc. of Wichita. She was the former chairman of the Leadership 2000 Board of Trustees, the Wichita Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Wichita/Sedgwick Co. Airport Authority. She was the former vice president of governmental relations for the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce. She also served on the WI/SE Partnership for Growth, the Kansas Travel and Tourism Commission, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka, the YWCA, the Wichita Technical College Advisory Board, the Wichita Childrens Home Board of Directors and the Kansas Client Protection Fund Commission. Pat was very active in state politics serving as a precinct committeewoman on the Republican State Committee and Executive Committee, a campaign coordinator for Gov. Robert F. Bennett in 1974, a delegate to a National Republican Convention, a Caucus States Assistant for Presidential Primary for John Connelly in 1980, a Campaign Coordinator for the Governors Campaign for Larry Jones in 1986; a Chair of the Kansas Senatorial Campaign Committee in 2000 and the State Chairman for Carla Stovalls governors campaign. While serving in the Kansas State Senate, Pat served as Assistant Majority Leader/Whip; was chair of the Utilities Committee; chair of the Joint Committee on Economic Development; vice chair of the Commerce Committee; a member of the Ways and Means Committee; a member of Post Audit Committee; the vice chair of Kansas Council on Privatization a member of Local Government, Elections, and Assessment and Taxation Committees and the Governors Task Force on Tax Equity. She was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church. She was an avid golfer, belonging to the Independence Country Club, the Rolling Hills Country Club in Wichita, and the Wichita Country Club. She is survived by one son, Brad Storey of Wichita, KS; one daughter, Jennifer Reumund and her husband Mark of Perry, KS; One sister, Kay Kayser and her husband Scott of Aurora, CO; one sister-in-law, Glenda Moon of Tulsa, OK; five grandchildren, Max, Victoria, Poppy, Daffodil and Marigold; one great-grandson, Avery. In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Bill Moon. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wichita Childrens Home, 810 Holyoke, Wichita, KS 67208, or the Kansas Cancer Center of Independence, KS, and may be left at the funeral home. To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.penwellgabelindependence.com. Pat M. Ranson