John F. Stites

John F. Stites, age 98 of Manhattan, died October 16, 2025, at the Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community in Manhattan.
John was born in Emporia, KS, on May 13, 1927, to O.R. (Jack) Stites and Peg Stites. John was the third child of four children born to O.R. and Peg. His father was a lawyer in Emporia, KS for many years and in 1938 the family moved to Bartlesville, OK when his father became Chief Legal Counsel for Cities Service Gas Co. He went to grade school in Emporia and graduated from Bartlesville High School in 1944.
John then served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as pharmacist mate third class. After service John entered Kansas University and graduated in 1950 with a degree in business. While at KU John was a member and officer of Beta Theta Pi social fraternity. John was also a four-year letterman in varsity track at KU. During the summers John worked at several jobs including working on oil and gas lines and one summer for the US Forest Service fighting forest fires in Idaho.
While at KU John met the love of his life, Lila Hyten of Wellington, KS, and they were married on June 28, 1950. Lila preceded John on Sept 22, 2016, after 66 years of marriage.
John went to work for William Volkers Wholesale Furniture Co. for four years and then went back to KU and entered law school. He came from a family of lawyers, as his father O.R. Stites and brother, Russell Stites, were both lawyers. After graduating from law school in 1956, John then came to Manhattan. He entered the practice of law with Richard D. Rogers as a partner, until Dick Rogers was appointed as a Federal US District Judge in Topeka. John practiced law in Manhattan for many years.
John always felt blessed with good partners in his practice including Richard D. Rogers, Donald H. Hill, the Honorable Meryl Wilson, Sam Brownback, Joe Knopp, and the Honorable Grant Bannister. John had the same legal secretary for over 60 years, Marilyn F. Johnson.
To this marriage of John and Lila were born three sons; John David Stites; Jerry R. Stites of Lawrence, KS and Tim H. Stites of St. Joesph, MO. His son John David Stites died in 1984. He was blessed with three grandchildren: David Stites, Zach R. Stites and Katie A. Stites. John enjoyed each member of his family and was proud of all of them.
John enjoyed playing golf, hunting, and gardening. For almost forty years he had a couple of garden plots at the city gardens. He and his family members had great pitch card games where then continued till his death. He engaged in many civic activities in Manhattan. He was elected and served as the Riley County Attorney for two terms and was elected and served on the City Commission of Manhattan. John served as Mayor of Manhattan. He was also elected and served three terms in the Kansas House of Representatives in Topeka.
John was a member and president of the Manhattan Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a past member and president of the Manhattan Lions Club. John also served as a president of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Riley Co. Bar Association; the Kansas Bar Association and the American Bar Association. John was appointed and served as the secretary of the Kanas Board of Disciplines for attorneys for 20 years. He was formerly a member of the First Christian Church of Manhattan, where he held several offices. He was currently a member of the First United Methodist Church of Manhattan.
John has served as the attorney for the KSU Foundation for 20 years and has served on the Board of Trustees for the KSU Foundation and was attorney for the City of Riley for many years. He was a member of the American Legion, Manhattan Country Club, the Alumni Association of both KSU and KU and the Ahearn Fund and served on the board of directors of the Kansas State Bank and served on the board of directors of Riley State Bank.
John was predeceased by his wife Lila Stites; his son David Stites; his parents O.R. Stites and Peg Stites; by his sister Jane Leo; brother Russell Stites and sister Doris Frost. He is survived by his sons Jerry R Stites and Tim Stites; his three grandchildren, David Stites, Tim H. Stites and Katie A. Stites. He is also survived by many nephews and nieces.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00a.m. Saturday October 25, 2025, at 10:00a.m. at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Chapel in Manhattan, with Rev. Kevin Larson officiating. Interment will be held at the Sunset Cemetery in Manhattan.
Instead of flowers it is suggested a contribution to Alzheimer's Research in the name of Lila Stites. Contributions may be sent in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Online condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home website at www.ymlfuneralhome.com