Eldon Homer Fleury,75, passed away on December 9, 2016 in Seneca, Kansas.

He was born on June 27, 1941 in Concordia KS to Homer Eldon and Dorothy (Fazel) Fleury. He was raised in Jamestown where he graduated from high school in 1959. After high school he attended Fort Hayes State University where he served as president of the student government association and obtained a B.A. in political science and teaching certification in 1964. Eldon moved to Seneca in 1965, taking a teaching position at the Kelly Grade School where he also coached football and basketball, as well as serving for a time as principal.

He met Paula Jean Boeding in Seneca and the two were married on July 13, 1968. The couple had two children, Amy and Mark. He spent 13 years teaching in Kelly before earning his masters degree in special education from Kansas State University and transferring to Nemaha Valley High School, where he taught special education and American History until 2001. He also served as student council sponsor, a coach, and score/timekeeper at Nemaha Valley athletic events.

Eldon joined the Army reserves after college and remained a member of the American Legion for 50 plus years. Eldon enjoyed fishing, reading, going for walks, and he rediscovered a love for golfing in his retirement. He was an amateur radio operator (N0VXS) and a long-time member of the Seneca Lions Club and Seneca Masonic Lodge. Eldon also served on the Seneca Free Library Board and the Seneca Tourism Board. Diagnosed with brain cancer in 2002, Eldon underwent many treatments and surgeries, surviving well beyond medical prognoses. In 2012 he became a resident at Crestview Nursing and Residential Living.

Eldon is survived by his wife Paula, his two children, Mark and Amy, and her husband Derek Blakeley, and a sister, Barbara. He was preceded in death by his parents and his grandson Graham Layton Blakeley.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 12. A rosary will be held on Sunday, December 11 at 2:00 and a visitation will be from 6:00-7:30 at Lauer Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Seneca Public Library, St. Bede’s Building Fund, or Baileyville Benefit.