Visitation Services for David John Pellett, 70, Lawrence, will be from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Friday May 20 at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.
David passed away Monday, May 2, 2022, at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City.
He was born November 16, 1951, in Fort Scott, Kansas, the son of Harry and Mable (Poe) Pellett. He had fond memories of childhood years spent in Rainier, Oregon before moving back to Kansas to live with his aunt Louise. He went on to graduate as valedictorian from Fort Scott High School in 1969. He would eventually earn a degree in General Studies from the University of Kansas in 1980. David lived in Dodge City and learned to fly airplanes for a hobby, then met his wife in Wichita. He married Mary Pat Stech on April 15, 1989. They settled down in Lawrence, spending 33 blissful years of marriage together. David was always in a good mood. His smile captivated Mary Pat when they first met and continued to charm her, even if she had to remind him to smile for photographs.
David, who went by ‘Dave’ to friends and family, worked for the Kansas Department of Agriculture for 35 years before retiring in 2017. He spent his time in the company of friends and family, traveling, and riding bikes around Lawrence. He appreciated cold beer and live music. He was passionate about Jayhawk sports, Chiefs football, and Royals baseball and had a sweet golf stroke. A lover of astronomy and Roman history buff, he was the best Jeopardy! contestant to never appear on the show. Dave knew how to enjoy life. He was everybody’s friend.
He was a man of the outdoors who yearned to camp, backpack, and see the world. In his youth he traveled the globe, finding himself as a mail courier in the Empire State Building to help fund his traversal of Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. He appreciated being exposed to other cultures and maintained contact with friends in Norway and Japan.
His wife, Mary Pat, survives the home along with two sons, William and Nicholas. Other survivors include two brothers, Michael (Pearl) of Pocatello, ID, and Terry (Tary) of Muskegee, OK. Dave cherished the friendships of his in-laws, especially his father-in-law, Dr. J.M. Stech, and his late mother-in-law, Mary K Stech. Dave will affectionately be remembered by his nieces and nephews as ‘Uncle Ankle Grabber.’
Online condolences may be sent at www.rumsey-yost.com. In lieu of memorials, the family suggests donations be made to Saint Luke’s Hospice House or Lawrence Unchained Bicycle Co-op.
