Joseph Robert Meeks

1943 - 2015

Joseph Robert Meeks, 72, died Thursday, February 26, 2015 in his Fort Scott, KS home surrounded by loved ones.
He was born in Kansas City, Missouri on March 20, 1943 to John Byron Meeks (Jack) of Hutchison, KS and Jane Louise (Lyons) Meeks of Fort Scott, KS.
After graduating from Fulton HS in 1962, Joe served our country in the U.S. Navy until 1966. As a Navy Corpsman he was stationed in South Vietnam, Okinawa, Japan, Camp Pendleton and Northfolk, VA. Joe later graduated from Pittsburg State University in 1972 with a B.S.A in Education and M.S.A in Administration. Joe was honored to serve others as a teacher at Girard H.S. from 1972-81, and at Heartland Hospital of Nevada and Social Rehabilitation Services of Bourbon County. In his spare time, he explored his passions as a Master Gardner and archaeologist specializing in Native American artifacts. He was a member of the Kansas Anthropological Association, American Association of Navy Hospital Corpsmen, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks, Episcopal Church of Fort Scott, KS and the Historical Preservation Association of Bourbon County. He volunteered for the American Red Cross and the Fort Scott National Historic Site reenactment where he served in the First Regiment, Company C, United States Dragoons.
He was proceeded in death by son William Ray Edwards, and infant grandson Connor Byron Meeks. He is survived by brother John Bryon Meeks and sister-in-law Nancy Meeks of Prairie Village, KS. In addition former spouse of 31 years Dr. Laura Marie (Johnson) Meeks of Steubenville, OH; son Justin Byron Meeks and grandson Avery Byron Turner-Meeks of Fort Scott; son Luther Jordon Meeks, daughter-in-law Laurena (Hiera) Meeks, grandchildren Archer James and Ainsley Marie Meeks of Shawnee, KS. He is also survived by grandchildren Joshua and Maria Edwards parents of great-grandchildren William, Christopher and Joshua Edwards of Fulton, KS as well as Adam, Seth, and Cole Joseph sons of William Edwards.
A celebration of life in honor of Joe will be held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church 123 South National, Fort Scott, KS on Friday, March 6, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott where military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars. A reception will follow at Liberty Theater 117 South Main St, Fort Scott, KS. Memorials are suggested to the Meeks Family Scholarship Fund at Fort Scott Community College and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online tribute wall at cheneywitt.com.