Charles F. Horner

A memorial service for Charles (Charlie) Franklin Horner, 85, Chapman, KS, will be held at 10am Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Johnson & Mass-Hinitt Funeral Home in Junction City, followed by 3pm graveside services and interment at Green Valley Cemetery in rural Sedgwick County. The family will greet friends and family from 4-6pm on Thursday, October 30, at the funeral home. Charlie died peacefully at home on Friday, October 24.

Charlie was born April 13, 1940 to Edward C. and Cora Myrtle (Day) Horner in Junction City. He was the youngest of five, and the only child born at a hospital. At approximately 4 years old, the family moved to rural Solomon. Charlie attended Solomon public schools, graduating from high school in 1959.

The Horner family, including children, worked for the Lawrence Clemence family in the Sand Springs area. Around age 10, Charlie was operating his first bulldozer for the Clemence farming operation.

After graduation, Charlie made a career out of working with heavy equipment, first with a construction company and then at rock quarries. Never formally trained, he possessed a natural, innate ability for heavy equipment operation and maintenance. He had a special affinity for bulldozers and was respected as an expert by co-workers and employers alike.

During his career, Charlie was employed by four different quarry companies, with Anderson & Oxandale and Walker Stone as his favorites. A highlight of his career was when George (Judd) Oxandale bought a new Caterpillar D8 bulldozer and told Charlie “treat it like your own, because I know you will.” His work ethic included performing his own mechanic work, ensuring the dozer tracks were cleaned every evening, and staying on top of regular maintenance.

Charlie enjoyed his career and was a wealth of knowledge about rock, rock formations and quarry operation. He could identify rock ledges and types of rock on sight. He also had a pure natural ability to look at quarried land and know how to reclaim it, including sloping and proper drainage for water runoff. Reclamation work was one of his specialties.

For Charlie’s family, a memorable experience was the 1993 flood, when water went over the spillway at Milford Reservoir. Charlie was called to the spillway with his D8 bulldozer to place riprap stone along the spillway sides to prevent further erosion and collapse. He simply did his job while news crews, reservoir officials and others watched; he was never one to seek publicity, notoriety or attention.

Charlie was united in marriage to Laveta Ann Brunn on November 2, 1962, in Emporia. Two children were born to the union: John Michael and Janet Leann. In the early years, the couple moved from town to town following quarry jobs across northeast and north central Kansas. In 1966, they settled in Chapman, and he began a long career with Walker Stone. Charlie retired from active work in 2014.

Charlie was always a fan of nature and enjoyed discussing bird and wildlife sightings. His knowledge of weather and natural signs rivaled the Farmer’s Almanac, and many times his predictions were correct. He instilled in his children an appreciation for natural wonders. Other interests included steam locomotives and trains, reading, and afternoon drives in the country. He and Laveta enjoyed many vacations together during their retirement years.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings: Ruth (Horner) Galloway, George, Eva (Horner) Reese, and Ben. Charlie is survived by his wife Laveta, of their home; son John (Pam) of Furley; and daughter Janet (Michael Eravi), of Lawrence, and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials are encouraged to: Chapman Senior Center, PO Box 306, Chapman, Ks 67431; Abilene & Smokey Valley Railroad, PO Box 744, Abilene, KS 67410; or the Dickinson County Heritage Center, 412 S Campbell St, Abilene, KS 67410.