Frank A. Burchett

Frank A. Burchett

Frank A. Burchett, age 92, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, at his home. He was born June 21, 1932, in Richards, Mo., the son of Cecil A. Burchett and Julia A. Lowry Burchett.

Frank graduated from Richards High School and was salutatorian of his class. Following high school, Frank went to work at Wall Street Body Shop in Fort Scott. In addition, Frank also farmed and raised dairy and beef cattle. Frank eventually converted his dairy barn into a body shop and later moved his shop to 54 Highway on the east side of Fort Scott.

Frank was a member of the First Christian Church where he served as a deacon and on the building committee. Frank married Mary Boggess Trowbridge on Feb. 14, 1989. Frank was not afraid of hard work and enjoyed keeping busy. After selling his auto body shop, Frank and Mary remodeled several homes that they either resold or used as rental properties. They also owned and operated Frank & Mary’s Sales, an antique store/flea market located on Tenth Street just east of the railroad tracks. Frank also kept busy with his small engine repair shop. Favorite times were spent surrounded by the large family where Frank often served up his famous homemade ice cream.

Frank will be lovingly missed by his wife, Mary of the home; his six daughters, Vicki Kerley (Robert) of Ozark, Mo., Sherry Kellogg (Roger) of Springfield, Mo., Regina McAllister (Cam) of Fort Scott, Donna Banwart (Jim) also of Fort Scott, Tonia West (Mike) of Norman, Okla., and Trina Whitson (Kirk) of Clarksville, Tenn.; his step-children, Todd Trowbridge (Susan) of Pittsburg, Kan., and Shelly Dakil of Broken Arrow, Okla. Also surviving are 16 grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, 28t great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren. Frank was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Alice Palmer.

A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 17 at the Cheney Witt Chapel. A private burial will be in the Memory Gardens Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude’s Hospital and may be left in the care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.