Mahlon Kingsley

David Mahlon Kingsley died Monday, September 30, 2013 at Hays Medical Center. He was 101.

Mahlon was born July 7, 1912 to D.C. and Mary (Johnson) Kingsley at their home south of Ellis, Kansas. He attended country school and then upper grades in Ellis. After his father passed in 1928, he laid out of high school a year to help manage the family farm. He went on to graduate with the class of 1932. He married Addie B. Skelton on July 20, 1949 in Hays, Kansas.

A lifelong farmer and stockman he lived out his life attending to the land originally homesteaded by his grandfather Carlos Kingsley in 1878. Having seen the effects of the dustbowl, he is credited with being a leader in soil and water conservation efforts including building one of the first set of terraces in Ellis, County, restoration of erodible ground back to grass, and the construction of water conservation ponds throughout his pastures. He introduced Galloway and then Angus cattle into their farming operation in the 1930s and was known for his commercial cow herd. Mahlon was active as a member of the Congregational Church and later the United Methodist Church, both of Ellis. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Order of Eastern Star. His other community commitments included The Soil Conservation Service, USD388 school board, Ellis County Rural Fire Board, Ellis High School FFA, Ellis County 4-H, Ellis County 4-H Fair and the Ellis Junior Free Fair. Many men from Ellis and surrounding towns will remember him fondest for the opportunity to work and learn on his farm and the meals they shared at his wife Addie B.s table.

He was preceded in death by his wife Addie B. an infant brother and brothers Marlyn (Grace), Darwin (Cecil) and Orville.

He is survived by his three sons, Douglas and wife Debbie, Branson, MO, Roger Ellis, KS and Jody Patten, Ellis, KS, Timothy and wife, Lilly of Hays, KS five grandchildren, Joshua and wife Misty of Milwaukee, WI, Bradley and wife Rebekah of Prairie Village, KS, Rachel Loving and husband, Shane of Hays, KS Erica Hedge and husband Andrew of Overland Park, KS, Austin Fickel of Branson, MO and four great-grandchildren, Alexander and Isaac Loving of Hays, KS, William Kingsley of Prairie Village, KS, Vivian Kingsley of Milwaukee, WI and a cousin, Lily Georgene Johnson of Hays.

Services will be Friday, October 5, 2013 at the United Methodist Church in Ellis, Kansas at 10 am with interment following at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Ellis.

Viewing will be Thursday 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Keithley Funeral Chapel in Ellis, Kansas and Friday 9 AM until service time at the church.

Memorials are suggested to the Ellis United Methodist Church in his name.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to Keithley@ruraltel.net











Service Information









Visitation Thursday

October 3, 2013

4:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Keithley Funeral Chapel

400 E. 17th Street

Ellis, Kansas 67637









Funeral Service Friday

October 4, 2013

10:00 AM

Ellis United Methodist Church

1201 Washington

Ellis, Kansas 67637