Elton Ray Chadwick, 91, of Centralia KS died April 27, 2022 at Oakley Place in Seneca.

Ray was born June 26, 1930 at his parent’s rural home southeast of Vermillion KS. He was the second child of Alvin and Amy (Clear) Chadwick. He attended rural one room schools, Windy Ridge School through 8th grade, then Concord School following the family move to a farmstead in southwest Nemaha County. He graduated in 1948 from Centralia High School, where he was a member of the football team.

He worked at Ed Marlings in Topeka, and then farmed and raised livestock with his father and his brother, Wayne, for several years.  He was proud to have served in the United States Army from February 1952 – December 1953 with the Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean War, where he received the rank of Corporal.

On January 7, 1961 he married the love of his life, Mary Patricia McNally, at St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Onaga KS.   After their marriage Ray and Mary Pat purchased the home farm from his parents.  Ray would say he never got far from home. Ray and Mary Pat raised cattle, hogs & row crops. Ray was a good steward of the land. His love of the land never faded often talking about crops and machinery. Ray and Mary Pat traveled to Pella, Iowa and brought back one of the first big round Vermeer balers to the area.  He enjoyed driving the countryside.  Ray and Mary Pat spent many wonderful hours dancing and playing cards.

After he saw the need for a good water source in the area he was instrumental in forming Pottawatomie County Rural Water District #3.  He was the inspector during construction and later was the operator and manager.

Ray served on the parish council at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Coal Creek. He later belonged to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Lillis and was currently a member of Annunciation Catholic Church, Frankfort.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, siblings,  Ernest, Wayne, Louise and infant sister, Edith.

He is survived by his children, Susan (Charles) Baker of Wellsville, Greg (Leslie) Chadwick of Emporia, Tim (Karen) Chadwick of Vermillion, Jean Warner of Milford, Patricia (Clint) Heideman of St Marys, Steve Chadwick of Springfield MO and seventeen grandchildren, Amanda Baker and Sarah Baker, Blake Chadwick, Darian Chadwick, Amber Ellis, Zack Chadwick, Jennifer Chadwick, Caleb Chadwick, Jennifer Hayden, Travis Warner, Traci Howard, Talor Warner, Jax Warner, Garrett Thowe, Casen Thowe, Avry Thowe and Ellis Chadwick and seven great grandchildren, Briggs, Carson and Cohen Chadwick, Collin Hayden, and Aiden, Evan and Keegan Warner .  Other survivors include sisters-in-law, Kathleen Werner, Topeka, and Colleen Moran, Salina, and brother-in-law, Roger McNally, Havensville.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 2nd at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Onaga.  Burial with military honors will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery at Coal Creek.  Ray will lie in state from noon until 3:00 p.m. Sunday at the Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Onaga.  A Rosary will be prayed at 4:00 p.m. Sunday at the church, followed by visitation until 6:00 p.m.  Memorials are suggested to the Coal Creek Cemetery or Nemaha County Home Health and Hospice, and may be sent in care of the funeral home.  PO Box 312, Onaga, KS  66521.  On-line condolences may be made at chapeloaksfuneralhome.com