Hayden St. John

Hayden B. St. John, 75, Topeka, Kansas, passed away Thursday, March 17, 2016, at Midland Hospice House.

Mr. St. John founded Lawyers Title of Topeka, Inc. in 1975, together with his father, Harry H. St. John, Jr. and Robert T. Craig, III. At the time of his death, he was Chairman of the Board and his sons, Christopher St. John and David St. John, serve presently as President and Executive Vice President respectively.

Mr. St. John was born December 19, 1940, in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Harry H. St. John, Jr. and Helen J. (Bowman) St. John. A lifelong Topekan, he graduated from Topeka High School in 1958, served three years in the United States Air Force as a Lieutenant which was followed up by his law school education from Washburn University School of Law. He received his juris doctorate from Washburn University School of Law in 1970.

Mr. St. John has been a member and past chairman of the Title Standards Committee of the Kansas Bar Association and past president of the Kansas Land Title Association. He served on the board of directors for the Better Business Bureau of Northeast Kansas and on the Board of Directors of the St. Francis Health Foundation. He joined the Washburn University Foundation Board of Trustees in 2004 and has served on the Audit Committee since he joined. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Washburn Alumni Association. He was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus of the year for 2001 of the Alpha Delta Fraternity and was its president while in school. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from Washburn University on April 22, 2006, and was also awarded a Distinguished Service Award in August 2012 from the Kansas Land Title Association.

Mr. St. John married Susan Stratton on June 19, 1964 in Topeka. She survives. Other survivors include sons, Christopher St. John (Trudy), David St. John (Catherine); sister, Susie St. John-Edds (Greg); and grandchildren, Bailey, Noah and Anah St. John, all of Topeka; niece, Lisa Whitney; and nephew, Jim Stansbury. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Sharrie Stansbury. He enjoyed golf, vacations and cruises with family and friends, Washburn University football and basketball, and trips to Estes Park, Colorado.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, at Topeka Bible Church, 1101 SW Mulvane. Burial will follow at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, March 21, 2016, at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to Midland Care or Topeka Rescue Mission.

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