Kermit "Vern" Vernon Starkey

Kermit Vernon (Vern) Starkey, age 85, of rural Cottonwood Falls, KS, died peacefully Wednesday, February 27, 2025, at his daughter's home, Paula (Starkey) Boese and Marc in Burrton, Ks.

The son of Kermit and Virginia (Cahoone) Starkey, was born October 22, 1939,  at the Stubenhofer mid-wife house in Strong City, Ks.  He graduated from Chase County Community High School in 1957. 

He was a member of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Cottonwood Falls.  He joined his dad in their farming and ranching full time after high school and they worked together for many years. One of Vern's joys was his love for the land and cattle operation. When asked what he liked to do as a hobby his simple answer was always, work. Vern was also an avid rider of motorcycles and ATVs. The faster they moved across the pasture or down the road, the more he enjoyed the ride.  He often saw no rocks or hills in his way when chasing after a steer while riding his favorite horse.  During the summers, he worked around the clock, baling hay, farming, and then getting up early to move cattle out of the Flint Hills pastures.   He loved cowboying with neighbors and building houses around Cottonwood Falls and the Strong City area with his father.  His smartest choice and greatest love was his marriage of 63 years to his high school sweetheart, Hattie Rosa Stephenson. They were married on January 13, 1962, at the Congregational Church in Emporia. Throughout their life together they were inseparable. They are the parents of two daughters, Deanna Sue and Paula Ann.  His girls worked with him throughout the years with the farm and cattle operation. He was always greatly entertained by attending his daughters' and grandchildren's activities and took much pride in their 4H and sporting events.

He is survived by his wife, Hattie Rosa, of the home; two daughters,  Deanna Sollner (Thomas) of Cottonwood Falls and Paula Boese (Marc) of Burrton; four grandchildren, Wyatt Boese, Macy Boese, Brody Boese, and Jacob Sollner.  Also surviving are brothers-in-law, William “Bill” Stubenhofer and Paul Stephenson (Pegi); many cousins’ 11 nieces and nephews; and his godson, Lance Ringler.  

He was preceded in death by his father, Kermit; mother, Virginia Cooper; stepfather, Leslie Cooper; brother, Dale Starkey; and sister, Linda Stubenhofer. 

There will be no formal family visitation.  A graveside memorial service will be held on 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Prairie Grove Cemetery, Cottonwood Falls, Ks. The Rev. Phyllis L. Stutzman, Emporia Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Michael Player, First Christian Church of Burrton, Kansas will officiate. 

Memorial contributions to the Good Shephard Hospice and/or The First Presbyterian Church of Cottonwood Falls may be sent to Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home, PO Box 220, Cottonwood Falls, Kansas 66845.  Condolences may be left www. brown-bennett-alexander.com

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