Loyd Whitson

Funeral services for Loyd Whitson, 73 of Lawrence will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.  Interment with military honors will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.  He died Thursday, August 15, 2013 at his home.

Loyd was born May 1, 1940 in Cabool, MO the son of Velmer and Eula (Riley) Whitson.

Loyd was an over the road truck driver for 40 years.  He received the safety award for his skilled driving.  He retired from BOC Transport in 2003. He was Past President of  the Men’s Auxillary of VFW Post 852 of Lawrence.  He always was there to lend his mechanical skills to anyone in need.

His passions were fast cars, guns, hunting, fishing, karaoke at the old VFW (138 Alabama) and singing with his fellow veterans at area nursing homes, as well as flirting with the girls.

Loyd is survived by his spouse, Judy Gragg, the love of his life, aka”The Boss” of the home, as well as their blended family; daughters, Tina Stice (Danny) of Lawrence, Pam Henderson (John) of Lawrence, Bobbie Shreve (Jim) of Lawrence and Darla Bailey (Glenn) of Basehor; sons, Dennis and Norman Whitson of Germany and  Jimmy Spencer of Grower Beach, CA; sister, Roma Widsom (Terry) of Eudora and sister in law Darla Whitson of Lawrence;  grandchildren, Michelle Read (James) , Jennifer Benschoter (Marco) , Krystal Kerr , Brandy Kerr , Jamie Henderson (Trent) , Tiffany Scott (Nick) , and Lindsey Shreve all of Lawrence, AJ Bailey of Kansas City, MO, Larry Stewart (Katie) of Liberty, MO, Nicole Whitson of Topeka and Chelsea Snyder of Shawnee; 11 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Kenneth, Bob and Larry Whitson, and his sister, Sue Howell.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM on Monday at the mortuary.

Memorials have been suggested to Douglas County Hospice in his memory.