Ralph Earles (June 21, 1942 – September 3, 2025) died of complications of prostate cancer at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Roma, his sisters Judith McKeig and Vivah Jane Earles, and his niece Lisa Michelle Clipsham. He is survived by his daughters Chelsea, Jill, and Erika, granddaughter JessieBird, niece Renee Hiebert, and his sisters Pat Houchin, Shirley Shephard, Denise Baker, and Sue Boewe, and by dear friends who were brothers and family to him. A celebration of his life will be held Sunday September 14 at Sullivan Square, 710 High Street, Baldwin, Kansas. Donations can be made to the Coal Creek Library (through the Douglas County Community Foundation at 900 Massachusetts Suite 406, Lawrence, KS 66044 dccfoundation.org) or the Baldwin Community Emergency Fund (care of Baldwin State Bank, PO box 46, Baldwin, KS 66006).
On June 21, 1942 Jessie Byrd (Williams) Earles gave birth to her fifth child in a farm house in Custer County, Oklahoma. The doctor went fishing while they waited for the baby. She and her husband, Dennis Flynn Earles were delighted with their first boy, Ralph Marvin Earles.
Ralph and his six sisters worked hard on the farm, doing chores before walking miles to school. He had fond memories of moving their beds outside in the summer time and sleeping under the stars. He remembered when they got electricity on the farm. Though they were poor, they always had fresh food from their farm and garden and clean, often homemade, clothes on their backs.
At age 14 Ralph moved from the crowded farm house to nearby Corn, Oklahoma where he attended Corn Bible Academy. He worked at the school, a grocery store, and a bowling alley to earn his way. He enjoyed preaching at the small country churches. He said that sometimes his family would give their last dollar to the traveling preacher to make sure he could make it to the next congregation.
Ralph met the love of his life when his sister Jane invited Roma Jean Hiebert to share dinner with their family. When he moved to Hillsboro, Kansas to attend Tabor College, Ralph was the first in his family to go to college. He played Prosporo in The Tempest, among other roles, and excelled in his studies, as did Roma. They both credited a favorite philosophy professor for broadening their minds to respect and consider perspectives outside of their Christian upbringing. This was the beginning of Dad’s interest in secular humanism, believing in the power of human reason, critical thinking, and ethics rather than religion. He often said that nature was his god and love was his religion, truths that guided his actions every day.
Ralph and Roma married in 1962, after graduation. While they were both pacifists, Ralph served in the national guard, hoping to avoid the Vietnam War. He was heartbroken when half his regiment was drafted. His heart was with everyone who tried to avoid and end the violence, and all of the people affected by the war and he joined protests against the war and for civil rights.
They moved to Lawrence, Kansas to attend graduate school at the University of Kansas, where Ralph earned a masters degree in English in 1971. This is where their first daughters, Chelsea Rae and Jill Denae were born. They enjoyed life on Massachusetts Street, with cousins Lisa and Renee, and Uncle Ron and Aunt Rosalie just down the street.
When Ralph and Roma moved the family to a farm house outside of Baldwin, they saw Rosalie, Lisa, and Renee most weekends regardless of the added distance. Their last daughter, Erika Jean was born a few years later. They cultivated a large garden and had chickens, ducks, goats, and cattle on the farm.
Ralph taught English at McFerson High School and was fired for encouraging students to read books by D.H. Lawrence and other authors. During grad school Ralph had managed apartments for KU Endowment, where he made dear friends. Next he and Roma began teaching at what is now Haskell Indian Nations University, where they became lifelong friends and family with students, faculty and staff members. He began buying and renting out old houses in Lawrence soon after, and made a career of trying to provide cheap housing to people in a respectful manner. Many friendships were made in this pursuit also. He strived to conduct his business honestly, and was friendly to all he met.
Mom and Dad were like parents to more than just their biological children. Our house was always open to all of our friends and our lives were richer for it. They were delighted when Lisa and Caleb settled in Baldwin and they deeply loved her children, Avery and Arlo. They loved Renee and Scott’s children Bechler and Juniper, from afar. Both of them were overjoyed when Chelsea gave birth to JessieBird. She lit up their world. They loved going to the ocean together in North Carolina and seeing each other whenever she had breaks from school. They enjoyed grandparenting these kids and those of their dear friends. It is impossible to name all of the people who they considered family and cared for deeply.
Ralph was trusting of everyone. He knew no danger. He escaped death many times, through motorcycle crashes, gravity defying hayrides, adventurous brush hogging, and riding unbroken mules. His granddaughter Jess suggested that we should get him a shirt that says “It’ll be fine,” on the front and “It’s not the mule’s fault, honey,” on the back.
Another great joy of his life was being in nature, especially with friends. He made connections through naturist hiking groups who went on trips around the world. He especially enjoyed a rafting trip down the Grand Canyon and a trip to Munich, Germany where they hiked through the Alps. He loved travel in general, and enjoyed trips with Roma and friends to Jamaica and Mexico.
Dad believed strongly in the rights of all people, working against racism and standing up for the LGBTQ people in our family and in general. He cared deeply for people and was outraged that our government contributes to the death and suffering of the Palestinian people and targets immigrants and LGBTQ people. He was disturbed to see the scientific and educational institutions that he held dear, like Haskell, PBS and NPR, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and others being destroyed. He believed that all people deserve health care and a decent living, and thought it was morally wrong to cut services to those in need. He was heartened to join a weekly protest at the stoplight in Baldwin on Saturday mornings at 9:30. Even when prostate cancer was slowing him down, it was important to him to protest growing authoritarianism and attacks on democracy, to be in community, to hold his sign and do what he could to make things better. He was a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, the South Douglas County Democrats, the ACLU, and a supporter of 90.1 KKFI Kansas City Community Radio station, where he listened to Democracy Now! religiously. He also volunteered with friends on the board of the historic Coal Creek Library in Vinland.
Years ago he saved the land at the end of his road known as the Goat Ranch, from being developed. It is now preserved in a Land Trust, so that it will remain a natural habitat no matter who owns it. He knew every creek and mossbed and was deeply connected to this land. He loved walking, swimming, and having cookouts with loved ones there. His ashes will be spread on the Goat Ranch where Roma’s were spread three years ago.
Dad had a vast love for his dear ones and for all people. Through his upbringing and throughout his life he grew and spread the joy of connecting and taking care of each other, and the need to build that into our communities and our world. He believed that all people should be safe and free to be who they are and to live well. He wanted us to carry on his tradition of working for freedom and justice for all people including those who have always lived on this land he loved, those who were forced to come here, and those who immigrated here like our family did. Over the last week many people have commented on Dad’s positive outlook on life: always grateful, always upbeat. He did not enjoy having no energy, yet he maintained his positive outlook to the very end. May we all emulate his enjoyment of life, savor time outside with loved ones, and jump in some water if possible in his honor.
