NICKERSON - Jack W. Magoffin was born to Clifford and Cecil Magoffin on December 24, 1917 and died at the age of 92 on April 26, 2010 at the Manor Care Nursing home in Bethesda, Maryland, near the Washington D.C. home he had been sharing with his daughter, Carole.

He had been receiving hospice services since early March, suffering with a deep bone infection. Jack was born in the family farmhouse six miles between Sterling and Nickerson. He graduated from Nickerson High School in 1937. After graduation he worked on the oil well rigs in Illinois and Missouri. He met his wife, Dorothy DeSpain, at a Kansas skating rink. They married in 1940 and soon settled on the family farm. They also ran Soleil Kennels (1948-1978) for 30 years, raising the majestic Great Pyrenees dogs originally imported from the Pyrenees Mountains in France - Dorothy's dream, given her own French roots. Jack then became a noted Great Pyrenees and AKC Working Group dog judge. They farmed and bred champion Great Pyrenees until Dorothy's death of cancer in 1974. In late 1974, Jack married Helen Moorman of Wichita, Kansas, but originally from Nickerson. Jack and Helen continued farming for a year and did some custom combining before moving into Nickerson and eventually retiring. The farmhouse where he was born and raised burned to the ground in the winter of 1975.

Throughout his life Jack was a well-known custom combiner - cutting wheat and corn throughout the central plains. Jack was also a champion horseshoe player, winning Kansas and Arizona championships. His beautiful tenor voice, guitar and harmonica playing, along with his yodeling, were hallmarks of his many self-taught talents. He was a devoted member of the Salem Community Church of the Brethren, where he worshipped throughout his life and where he entertained often, playing his guitar or harmonica and singing his unique renditions of religious songs for church services and social activities.

He is survived by a younger sister, Doris Foster of Hutchinson, Kansas. His older sister, Lois Miller, of Hutchinson, Kansas died in 2004. Three children survive him from his marriage to Dorothy Virginia DeSpain (married 34 years), who passed in 1974: Carole Jean Magoffin of Washington, D.C., Judith Ann Magoffin Hart of Pampa, Texas and Charles David Magoffin of Asheville, N.C. Beloved surviving grandchildren from this marriage are Katrina Ann Hart, Keith Thomas Hart, Judah Benjamin Hart, Kendra Jena Hart Perez, Joy Kay Hart Larson, and Caleb Hart, all of Pampa, Texas; as well as Chad David Magoffin of Toronto, Canada, Bryan Magoffin of Newberry Park, Calif. and Matthew Scott Magoffin who lives in Wellington, New Zealand.

He is also survived by three children from his marriage to Helen Moorman (married 27 years) who died in 2001: Ramona Johnson of Seattle, Washington, Vicki Buck of Silver Lake, Washington and Kim Rae Clark of Castle Rock, Washington. One son, Terry Estabrook, is deceased. Beloved grandchildren surviving this union are Chad Buck of Olympia, Washington, Scott Buck of Silver Lake, Washington, Haley Clark of Seattle, Washington, Autumn Clark Swihart of Grand Junction, Colo., Jesse Estabrook and Troy Estabrook of Hutchinson, Ks. He is also survived by his deceased wife Helen's sister, Mickey Klatt, of Hutchinson.

Other surviving relatives include his nephew Jim Miller of Denton, Texas, his niece Lynn Walters of Moore, Okla.; both are children of his late sister, Lois and Jake Miller. Jake Miller lives in Moore, Okla. near his daughter, Lynn. Surviving on his wife Dorothy's side is the wife of her deceased half-brother, Charles DeSpain, Marilyn DeSpain of Louisville, Ky. Marilyn's surviving children are Jack's nieces and nephews: Helen DeSpain Keaton of Springfield, Ill., Priscilla DeSpain Hill of Anchorage, Ky., Kelly DeSpain Williams of Cincinnati, Ohio and David DeSpain, Myrtle Beach, N.C. (son Phelps DeSpain deceased).

Jack is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren and he leaves many friends and colleagues across the country - friends he made through his life travels: in Kansas, cutting wheat in the Midwest corridor; colleagues from his years breeding, raising and judging Great Pyrenees dogs in the US and England; wintering in Mesa, Arizona and while in his last home with his daughter, Carole, in Washington D.C.

Memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. There will be a tribute and potluck supper at the Salem Community Church of the Brethren, Nickerson, Ks, to celebrate Jack's life. The service will include a pictorial tribute of his life, recognition of this unique generation of farmers from this small but special rural Kansas farm community. The tribute will include recording of Jack's memorable singing and playing, time to share memories and a potluck supper (bringing a covered dish is optional, not required). Kansas family and friends, as well as those from all over the US, Canada and New Zealand will be attending.

Salem Community Church of the Brethren is located at 5603 North Salem Road, Nickerson, Ks 67561-9180 (620) 422-3466. See www.salemcommunitychurch.net for directions.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Salem Community Church of the Brethren.

Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave a message for his family.