Nathan L. Bayless, 59, of Tecumseh, passed away on Sunday, July 8, 2007 at a Topeka hospital. He was born on June 14, 1948 in Topeka, the son of H. Monty and Etta Lee Johnson Bayless. He graduated from Shawnee Heights High School. He believed as a Jehovah’s Witness and was a conscientious objector, so served as a Corpsman in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was employed as a rural mail carrier for the Postal Service before retiring in 2003. He was the lead singer for the band Kodiak in the 1970’s. Nathan married Carolyn B. Rippetoe on May 27, 1970 in Topeka. She survives. Other survivors include his parents, Monty Bayless and his wife Sharon of Wakarusa, his mother, Etta Lee Johnson of Topeka, seven brothers, Johnathan and wife Janet, Michael, Jesse, Philip, Joel and Adam of Topeka and Hiram "Sonny" in Japan and four sisters, Martha and Mary of Topeka, Elizabeth Bottorf and husband Doug of Grand Junction and Rebecca Jagodzinski and husband Phillip of Denver and many nieces and nephews. Nathan was preceded in death by his brother Mark. Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Foster Cemetery. Nathan will lie in state after 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel where the family will receive friends from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the National Kidney Foundation of Kansas, 6405 Metcalf Ave., Suite 204, Overland Park, KS 66202 or Midland Hospice Care, 200 S.W. Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606.
Nathan L. Bayless, 59, of Tecumseh, passed away on Sunday, July 8, 2007 at a Topeka hospital. He was born on June 14, 1948 in Topeka, the son of H. Monty and Etta Lee Johnson Bayless. He graduated from Shawnee Heights High School. He believed as a Jehovah’s Witness and was a conscientious objector, so served as a Corpsman in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was employed as a rural mail carrier for the Postal Service before retiring in 2003. He was the lead singer for the band Kodiak in the 1970’s. Nathan married Carolyn B. Rippetoe on May 27, 1970 in Topeka. She survives. Other survivors include his parents, Monty Bayless and his wife Sharon of Wakarusa, his mother, Etta Lee Johnson of Topeka, seven brothers, Johnathan and wife Janet, Michael, Jesse, Philip, Joel and Adam of Topeka and Hiram "Sonny" in Japan and four sisters, Martha and Mary of Topeka, Elizabeth Bottorf and husband Doug of Grand Junction and Rebecca Jagodzinski and husband Phillip of Denver and many nieces and nephews. Nathan was preceded in death by his brother Mark. Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday at Foster Cemetery. Nathan will lie in state after 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Southeast Chapel where the family will receive friends from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the National Kidney Foundation of Kansas, 6405 Metcalf Ave., Suite 204, Overland Park, KS 66202 or Midland Hospice Care, 200 S.W. Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606.
