Perley Dewaine Geiger, 83, of Uniontown died Wednesday, July 6, 2011, at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg following a cancer illness.
He was born Dec. 8, 1927, on the family farm near Uniontown to Schley and Ruth Wells Geiger. He graduated from Uniontown High School in 1945.
On Feb.16, 1947, he married Beverly May Lowe in Fort Scott. The couple farmed the family farm. The most important thing in his life were his children and grandchildren. During the years when his children were growing up, Dewaine was an active leader with the Uniontown 4-H club. He was an active community member, always lending a hand to make a church float for the Old Settler’s Labor Day celebration. He was a member of the Uniontown United Methodist Church.
Dewaine became a Mason in 1949. He served Excelsior Lodge No. 115 in almost all offices, but most importantly as Worshipful Master in 1953, 1963 and 1983. In 1971, he served the Grand Lodge (State) as District Deputy Grand Master. At the time of his death, he was a member of Marmaton Lodge No. 245 in Moran. Dewaine, a member for 62 years, was initiated into Mary A. Helper Chapter No. 434, Uniontown. He served that chapter as Worthy Patron 10 times. He was selected as Grand Sentinel for the Grand Chapter of Kansas in 1991 and went on to serve as Worthy Grand Patron from 1993 to 1994. He served as Grand Trustee for five years and served on several Grand Chapter committees. He and his wife traveled extensively during this time attending meetings and enjoying fellowship with many of their friends in the Eastern Star organization. At the time of his death, he was a member of Olive chapter No. 13 in Fort Scott.
He was on the board of Consolidated Rural Water District No. 2, Fort Scott, at the time of his death. He served on the board of directors of the Kansas Masonic Home, Wichita, from 1999 to 2008. He also held a membership in Fort Scott Scottish Rite.
Survivors include his wife of the home; four children, Patricia K. Ramsey and her husband, Kenneth, Joplin, Mo., Robert D. and his wife, Louise, Tulsa, Okla., Rebecca E. Brown and her husband, Joe, Augusta, and Jeffrey L. and his wife,Beth Ann, Pittsburg; 10 grandchildren, Arron Ramsey and his wife, Lori, Ryan Ramsey and his wife, Becky, Brandi Geiger, Justin Geiger and his wife, Kelly, Thaine Geiger and his wife, Heather, Nathan Brown and his wife, Jessica, Kevin Brown and his fiancee, Megan, and Catherine, Lauren and Kristen Geiger; and 10 great-grandchildren, Connor Ramsey, Kendall Ramsey, McKena Lewis, Chance Lewis, Logan Geiger, Amber Pickering, Josh Pickering, Caleb Geiger, Cody Geiger and Natalee Brown; a brother, Richard Dale, Harrisonville, Mo.; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his first grandchild, Christopher Ramsey.
The Rev. Joel Dunn will conduct services at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Uniontown United Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Uniontown Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in Cheney Witt Chapel in Fort Scott. At the beginning of the visitation, Masonic Rites will be recited at 6 p.m. followed by Eastern Star services.
Memorials to Uniontown United Methodist Church or Kansas Masonic Foundation may be left at or sent to the funeral chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701.
Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Perley Geiger
