Joseph Ross Clary, age 81, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at his home.  He was born June 22, 1940, on the family farm east of Garland, Kansas, the son of Noah Frederick Clary and Lois Vivian Thurman Clary.  Joe received his early education at a rural school near Garland.  He went on to graduate from the Ft. Scott High School with the Class of 1958.  He then graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in agricultural education.

Joe married Betty Palmer on August 19, 1967, at the First Baptist Church in Ft. Scott.

He served with the Kansas Army National Guard from 1963 to 1969.

From his early childhood, Joe developed a love for agriculture.

After graduating from K-State, he chose to return to farming rather than pursue a teaching position.  He ran a diversified farming operation until 1983.  At this time, because of the depressed farming economy, he accepted a position with the USD #234 school system where he continued to work for thirty-five years.

He was a member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Garland.

Survivors include his wife, Betty, of the home; two sons, Tim Clary (Jocie) of Sedalia, Missouri and Adam Clary (Elisa) of Ft. Scott; four grandchildren, Mariah Wiles (Aaron), and Marissa, Matthew and Kaiden Clary and two great-granddaughters, Adaline and Natalie.  Also surviving are a brother, Kenneth Clary (Shawnee) of Ft. Scott and three sisters, Marilyn Webster (Marion) of Bronaugh, Missouri, Martha Barwick (Eric) of Nevada, Missouri and Linda Crain (Bob) of Chicago, Illinois and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Lois Clary, a brother, Gerald Clary and a sister, Wanda June Clary.

Pastor Rick Womack will conduct a memorial service at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, June 28^th at the First Baptist Church in Ft. Scott.

Burial will follow in the Clarksburg Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Monday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Mt. Zion Baptist Church or Avalon Hospice 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.