William Mason Linscott, 87, Mission Hills, KS, passed away peacefully at Bishop Spencer Place, Kansas City, on August 15, 2013.  He was born on June 14, 1926 in Kansas City, MO, the first son of Mayol Hartsel and Susan Mason Linscott.

Bill served in the U.S. Navy late in World War II and continued to serve in the Naval Reserves for twenty years.  Following active duty, he earned a degree in architectural engineering from the University of Kansas, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity and Scarab Architectural Fraternity.  He worked as an architect and co-founded the firm of Linscott, Kiene and Haylett.  The blueprints of many local civic, business, religious, and educational structures bear the firm’s logo.

Bill served as President of the Kansas City Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.  He was a member of the University Club, served on the board of directors of Homestead Country Club and enjoyed the camaraderie of the Vanguard Club and his Phi Psi lunch group.  Bill was a member of the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and served as the President of the Architectural Review Board for the City of Mission Hills, Kansas.  He was a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, where he served on the vestry.

Bill was blessed with two wonderful marriages.  Bill and his first wife, Mary Elizabeth Weathers, enjoyed thirty-four years together and reared a family of five.  After Mary’s death in 1984, Bill met and married Bernadine Durkfelt.  Together, they joyfully navigated the past twenty-eight years.

In addition to his family, Bill leaves his spirit of discovery and adventure.  Bill and the family shared countless hikes,ski and snowshoe treks, and jeep trips, in his beloved Colorado.  Bill also travelled extensively and loved the water.  He enjoyed fly fishing, scuba diving, canoeing and was an accomplished sailor. Bill also experienced surfing,snowboarding, parasailing, hang-gliding, hot–air ballooning, and ultra-light aircraft. A memorable milestone was reached when Bill earned his pilot’s license at age 60.  Often found with an open book, Bill shared a remarkable passion for history.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Ned; wife, Mary; step-daughter, Karla and her children, Lane and Hope.

Bill will be missed by his wife, Bernadine; daughters Leslie Hes-Knowles (Art), Durham, NC, Martha Oliver (Randolph), Prairie Village, KS, Sarah Tann, Overland Park, KS; sons, Mason Hartsel (Karen), Eden Prairie, MN, and William Harris (Kathleen); step-son Alan Cleek (Carol), Olathe, KS; step-son-in-law Jason (Meg), Providence, RI; 17 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and 2 nieces. Grandchildren:Amelia, Honza (Mary Beth), Mary Ashley (Austin), Abigail, Annie, John (Kendra), Christopher, Elizabeth (Aaron), Laurie, Nelson, Billy, Kenneth, Courtney; step-grandchildren Drew, Hannah, Will, and Jake; great-grandchildren Elise, Benjamin, Sydney, and Madeline; and nieces Betsy and Nancy.

The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the loving staff and caregivers at Bishop Spencer Place.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, August 30th, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church at 6401 Wornall Terrace, Kansas City, MO.  There will be a reception, at the church, following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be sent in memory of William Mason Linscott to the Cancer Research Fund in  care of KU Endowment Association 3901 Rainbow Blvd.  Mailstop 3012 Kansas City, Kansas. 66160

Assistance by Funeral Advocates, LLC.


Published in Kansas City Star on August 25, 2013

 

– See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?n=WILLIAM-LINSCOTT&pid=166591183#fbLoggedOut

 

2
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x