Ray Dean Dancer, 60, of Rose Hill, Kansas, formerly of Oakley, Hill City and Hoxie, Kansas passed away on Monday, October 15, 2018 at the Kansas Medical Center in Andover, Kansas. He was born in Hoxie, Kansas to Raymond Edward and Mary Evelyn (Hansen) Dancer. Ray Dean attended Hoxie Grade and High School until he transferred to the Beamgard Learning Center in Atwood, Kansas graduating with a Certificate of Education.
Ray Dean became the first person to be served by Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK) in Oakley, Kansas. Ray Dean became a very active member of the Oakley community and was able to live independently with the support of DSNWK. While in Oakley, he had five different jobs, cleaning at Gridley Apartments, 1st Travel Inn, shredding at the DSNWK office in Oakley, cleaning at the DSNWK office in Colby. Ray Dean also delivered the County Advocate. In 2008, he moved to Hill City living independently with support from DSNWK. Here he made new friends and had a reacquaintance of old friends. Ray Dean was a hard and very willing worker. He participated on many work crews and in-house janitorial jobs. He thought of the Kobler Center as his true home. He attended the United Methodist Church wherever he lived. He had the opportunity to attend a Christian Camp which he really enjoyed.
Ray Dean enjoyed being out in the communities where he lived spending time with other individuals served by DSNWK and community members. He had a three-wheeled bike which allowed him the freedom of getting around the community and doing things he enjoyed. Ray Dean loved new adventures and trying new things whenever possible. He liked to bowl, play billiards and go swimming. If one could not find Ray Dean, it was almost a guarantee he would be at the basketball court. He was a true “Basketball Junkie”. Ray Dean’s sister Rose Mary was a very important person in his life. He loved her dearly. Ray Dean was always willing to buy things for Rose Mary and enjoyed taking her out to eat. He was kind and gentle with her.
In May of 2017, Ray Dean experienced a health crisis and was no longer able to live independently in his home in Hill City. He moved to Hays to be closer to the medical help he needed. More recently, he moved to Rose Hill, Kansas where he resided at the time of his death.
Ray Dean is survived by his sister, Rose Mary Dancer of Russell, Kansas, his Uncles Ralph Hansen of, Colby, Kansas, Dwain Hansen of Haxton, Colorado, Kenneth Hansen of Holyoke, Colorado, Donald Hansen of Lamar Nebraska; his aunt, Caroine (Hansen) Guiry of Denver, Colorado, and many other relatives and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Mary Evelyn Dancer; uncles, Roscoe Hansen and infant uncle, Ronald Hansen; and his Grandparents Ernest and Eunice Hansen who lived in Otis, Colorado where Ray Dean spent a lot time during his youth and early adulthood, and his Dancer Grandparents.
A funeral service is planned for Thursday, October 18, 2018, 2:00 P.M. at the Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home in Hoxie. Pastor Jake Shadel will preside. Interment will follow in the Hoxie City Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the Funeral Home, Thursday August 18, 2018. Memorials are suggested to the Ray Dean Dancer Memorial Fund or the Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK) and may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. Online condolences may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com
Ray Dean Dancer was a gentle spirt with a heart filled with kindness and a happy spirit. He was hard working and enjoyed his life. Do not grieve for him but rather think of him as the person with a happy and gentle spirit who has gone home to be with his Lord and Savior and is smiling down on you.