Obituary of Earl Eugene Loyd

Earl Eugene “Gene” Loyd Earl Eugene “Gene” Loyd, age 78, passed away Monday, February 16, 2015 at the Pleasant Valley Manor in Sedan. Gene was born on February 10, 1937 to John Thomas Loyd and Mildred Nina (Pumpelly) Loyd, west of Sedan, Kansas. He attended Fowler School until eighth grade before graduating from Peru High School in 1954. After high school he received his associate’s degree from Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas, he then graduated from the University of Tulsa with his bachelor’s degree in 1958. On June 19, 1959 he married Darla Sue McDowell in Chautauqua, Kansas. They made their home in rural Sedan before moving into the town of Sedan in 1971. In August of 1958, Gene started working as a teller at the First National Bank in Sedan. Gene moved up the ranks in the bank overthe years, including Executive Vice President of the First National Bank in the late 1970’s until becoming President in 1988 serving until his retirement in 2003. He continued his involvement in the bank as a board member until December 31, 2013, culminating a journey of over 55 years of service to the people of Sedan, and the surrounding communities through the First National Bank of Sedan. Gene was a member of the Chautauqua Southern Baptist Church for over 60 years and served in many capacities within the church, including being a Deacon in the church for over 40 years; he was a long time member of the Sedan Chamber of Commerce, Sedan Pride Committee, former member of the USD #286 Board of Education, Sedan Jaycees, served his country as a member of the Kansas National Guard for many years and was President of the “Bull Shooters Association” that met regularly at the local coffee shops. Gene was an excellent people person and God used these people skills to touch many people’s lives throughout the years by visiting people in the area hospitals, visiting people in their homes and any other place that a person needed some encouragement. If you knew Gene, he always had a story to tell you and almost always a person walked away with a smile on their face. He enjoyed his family immensely and over the years went on many family hikes across Chautauqua County, especially when he was younger taking his boys and grandson on some “death defying climbs” against Darla’s better judgment. He had a passion for reading his Bible and sharing those special verses that touched him with the people God brought in his path. This love for the Bible verses put to music came out for over 40 years as the song leader at the church. He was always singing the hymns from memory, even while riding the lawn mower around the house. Over the years the Loyd family had many sporting events and he always wanted to be there to cheer his sons and grandson’s teams on. It was amazing to all of us how his love for cats grew towards the end of his life, because that was not always his feeling for cats, especially when the cat was laying on his car after just washing it! These cats became an incredible comfort and friend to him in his later years. Gene is survived by his wife of almost fifty six years, Darla Sue Loyd of the home in Sedan, Kansas; three sons, D. Scot Loyd and wife Jenny of Galva, Kansas, Bradley Eugene Loyd of Sedan, Kansas and Seth Alan Loyd and wife Hyelee of Ames, Iowa; one grandson, Ethan Loyd of Galva, Kansas; Gene was preceded in death by one brother John Herbie Loyd on August 16, 1999 and also his parents. Family and friends may call on Sunday, February 22, 2015 from 12:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Chautauqua Baptist Church in Chautauqua, Kansas. The family will be receiving friends from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Church Services will be held on Monday, February 23, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at the Chautauqua Baptist Church in Chautauqua, Kansas with Brother Kevin Fogerty and Brother Earl Tresner officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery in Sedan. The family has suggested memorials to the Chautauqua Baptist Church and remembrances may be left in care of the David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 209 N. Douglas, Sedan, Kansas 67361.