David Allen Ayers, age 76, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at the Mercy Hospital Emergency Room in Joplin, Missouri. He was born June 7, 1948, in Mound City, Kansas, the son of Chester Ayers and Reba Henderson Ayers. David graduated from the Blue Mound High School.
Following high school, he worked for a time on offshore oil rigs in the Louisianna Gulf Coast and he also worked for the Tyson poultry processing plant in Iola, Kansas. David married Nancy Beerbower on June 9, 1974, at Blue Mound. Together they had two children, Kristy and David “Bart” Ayers. This marriage ended in divorce, and David was later united in marriage to Linda Dunfield in 1989. For a time, he farmed in the Blue Mound area, and he also worked at Klein Tool in Moran, Kansas. While working for Klein, David took several trips to Japan to help with training and maintenance issues. David later took a position with the Jayhawk Linn School District where he worked as a custodian and maintenance man. He retired from the school system after several years of service.
David loved being outdoors where he enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as taking trips on his motorcycle. He especially loved bow hunting and was a member of the Kansas Bow Hunters Association, where he often helped with youth camps and training events.
He was known for his friendly personality and generous spirit. He was able to couple these qualities with his love for hunting by being active with Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, an organization which helps provide wild game to those in need. In addition to hunting deer, David also enjoyed hunting for “treasure.” He loved going to flea markets and garage sales as well as helping his son, Bart, with his scrap metal business. David was a member of the First Baptist Church in Mound City, Kansas.
Survivors include his wife, Linda, of the home; three children, Kristy Ayers-Saunders of St. Clair, Montana, David “Bart” Ayers (Crystal) of Ft. Scott and David “D.W.” Wilson also of Ft. Scott; four grandchildren, Sabree Schnichels (Mark) of Moran, Kansas, Dawsen Dodge and J. T. Dodge, both of North Carolina and Kellen Geneva (Luke) of Olathe, Kansas and six great-grandchildren, Kamdyn, Kylee, Kruze and Khenzo Schnichels and Jacob and Lily Geneva. Also surviving are two brothers, Robert Ayers of Eldorado Springs, Missouri and Roger Ayers of Uniontown, Kansas.
David was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Cherry Lee Ayers and Mary Ann Agard, a grandson, Jesse Dodge and two great-grandchildren, Kaidyn and Kaize Schnichels.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, March 12th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Curry Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 Tuesday evening at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Memorials are suggested to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH) and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.