PRETTY PRAIRIE - J.R. O'Leary, 69, died December 12, 2009, at Promise Regional Medical Center. He was born Dec. 14, 1939, in Kingman to Harold V. and Rosalia Smith O'Leary. He was raised in Pretty Prairie and graduated from Pretty Prairie High School in 1957.

On June 5, 1960, he married Joyce A. Schrag at the First Mennonite Church in Pretty Prairie. He graduated from Fort Hays State University in 1961, where he played college basketball, which was his favorite sport. He was a member of the Fort Hays Alumni Association and a lifetime NEA member.

He taught American Government and History at Smith Center High School for 31 years, and also coached basketball, football and track. He enjoyed taking his students to Washington, D.C., and New York City. He loved to see their accomplishments when they finished school. He also taught in Kiowa, Hudson and Burdett. After his retirement in 2000, J.R. and Joyce moved to Pretty Prairie, where he was a substitute teacher. J.R. served on the Prairie Sunset Home Board and the Lone Star Cemetery Board. He was also a member of the Pretty Prairie United Methodist Church.

Survivors include: wife, Joyce O'Leary, son, Mikel Von O'Leary, both of the home; mother, Rosalia O'Leary, Pretty Prairie; two sisters, Billie Nedeau and husband Bill, Osage City, and Peggy Tacha and husband Roger, Oakley; and six nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father and a nephew, Jeff Oliver.

Funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009, at Pretty Prairie United Methodist Church, with Pastor Marilyn Christmore officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Burial will be in Lone Star Cemetery. Memorials may be made to J.R. O'Leary Scholarship Fund for a Pretty Prairie High School student, in care of the mortuary. Visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave condolences for the family.