Arris M. Johnson, 101, Hays, went to his heavenly home on, December 25, 2022, after suffering from Dementia.
He was born November 28, 1921, in Norton, Kansas, the son of Carl and Lydia (Jorn) Johnson. He grew up on a farm near Kanona, Kansas, attending elementary school there. He attended Decatur County High School and after graduation, Arris chose to attend Fort Hays Kansas State College, excelling in the instrumental music area as he prepared to become a music instructor. However, before the end of his final semester and receiving his degree, Arris was called by the draft into the military.
After intense military training in the U.S. Army, Arris became a member of the 69th Infantry, which was then trained to be prepared to be sent to England. The “Battle of the Bulge” was on and the 69th division became a part of this. When the fighting ceased and after much preparation, the 69th division returned to the U.S. Arris was retired from the military, and he returned to Fort Hays to complete his degree in the music department. During this time, he met Virginia VanGundy and they were married the following January, a marriage that would span 76 years. Arris had been hired as the instrumental music teacher so he and Virginia started their life together at that time. Two children joined their family; Mark Steven and Pamela Jo.
In 1973, Arris received his Ph.D. degree from Kansas State University, and his dissertation was chosen as a model for the Kansas State Education Department. Two other awards from Fort Hays State University, the Pilot Award and Distinguished Service Award, were very special.
In 1985, Arris became the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Kansas. He was honored in 1986 by being the Chairman of the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons of North America. Arris was elected to the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature where he served the allowable six years, two years of which he served as the Speaker of the House. Following those six years he moved directly into the Kansas AARP State Legislature Committee where he served for 12 years, part of that time as president.
Photography was a lifelong hobby for Arris as he worked with black and white and color in which he did all the work in developing and printing. He also was very active in working in his church as he was choir director, Sunday School superintendent and served on many committees. Singing in the Barbershop choruses and a men’s quartette was a joy for him. He belonged to the Lions Club and was a charter member of the Lions Clubs in Oberlin and Downs. He received two very nice plaques from the Hays Lions Club for his 75 years of membership in the International Lions Club.
Survivors include his wife Virginia of Hays, daughter: Pam McGowne of Hays, and two grandchildren: Jeffrey Mark McGowne of Texas and Christopher McGowne and wife Sarah of Hays.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his son Mark in 1964.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at First United Methodist Church in Hays. Burial with military honors will be at 2:00 pm in Oberlin Cemetery in Oberlin. Visitation will be form 9:00 am until service time on Thursday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Fort Hays Singers at Fort Hays State University or to Shriners Hospitals for Children. Services are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and condolences and memories of Arris may be shared with his family at www.haysmemorial.com