Basil R. Covey

Basil R. Covey, 95 of Topeka, died Sunday, January 9, 2011.

He was born July 1, 1915 at Fowler, KS, the son of James H. and Sadie (Sanders) Covey.

He was married to Mabel Cutter-Britton in Lawrence, KS on July 30, 1934. She survives. Other survivors include a son, Max B. Covey; a daughter, Donna (Don) Turner; and a granddaughter, Julie Turner, all of Topeka. He was preceded in death by a sister and a brother.

He graduated from Springfield Colorado High School and earned AB, MA and Specialist Degree in Education from Kansas University.

He was a teacher and administrator in Kansas Schools 42 years before he retired. He served in Vinland, Huron, Nortonville, Holton, Augusta, and retired from Topeka High School in 1980. He was chairman in county and district meetings and was elected in 1963 as vice-president in the Topeka Area Teachers State Convention. He published a book, SCHOOL'S OUT! that was distributed in Kansas.

Since his retirement he served as volunteer chairman of the Kansas Retried Teachers Association legislative committee and lobbyist for legislation.

He was a member of the Lions Club and was charter president at Nortonville. He was a member of Countryside United Methodist Church. He was a life member of National Education. He was a member of TARTA, KRTA, and AARP.

He started a column, "Along The Way" and articles were published in several newspapers in Kansas.

He was inducted in the Kansas Teacher's Hall of Fame in 2002.

Funeral ceremonies will be 1 p.m., Friday, January 14, 2011 at the Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave., Topeka. Interment will follow at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery, Topeka. Mr. Covey will lie in state after 3 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Countryside United Methodist Church, 3221 SW Burlingame Rd., Topeka, KS 66611 or to Grace Hospice, 3715 SW 29th St, Suite 100, Topeka, KS 66614.