John Marvin Trail

John Marvin Trail was born to Betty (Clark) and Wayne Trail in Protection, Kansas on June 4, 1939. He attended elementary school in Basehor,Kansas and secondary school in Basehor. He then attended Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas.
John majored in secondary education and started his teaching career in Goff, Kansas. He also began assisting with Basketball, working with the coach there. He continued for 40 years in coaching sports and working with high school students.
While attending Ottawa University he worked at several jobs. One was working at Pratt's Dairy. The owner, Harry Pratt learned that John sang in the choir so invited him to attend a Barbershop singing meeting. John enjoyed this so much that he joined the group. That started his constant membership. From then on whatever town he was living in, he would find a Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Singing in America. He would find the nearest chapter and join. This continued for 44 years.
In 1967 John was teaching in Oskaloosa, Kansas and met Karen Wildman who was also a teacher. They were married August 2,1969 in Karen's parents' home. They moved to western Kansas and enjoyed teaching in several different communities. Later they moved closer to their parents in eastern Kansas. In Axtell, Kansas they retired and built a new home where they lived until John had a stroke. At that time, 2015, they moved to Meadowlark Hills in Manhattan. They continued living there until John's death on January 17, 2024.
Other survivors are one brother, Tom Trail in California, and one sister, Stella Taylor, in Gardner, KS, and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the Meadowlark Community Room on a date to be determined later. Inurnment will also be planned for a later date. He will be lovingly missed.