James Lester Ayers

July 25, 1956-July 26, 2011

WASHINGTON, Kansas -- James Lester Ayers, 55, died Tuesday (July 26, 2011) at Centennial Homestead in Washington, Kansas.

He was born July 25, 1956, in Washington to Lester and Shirley (Johnson) Ayers. He graduated from Washington High School in 1974, and attended photography school in Wichita, Kansas.

He worked pipeline construction with WRD Pipeline in Iowa. In 1978, he joined Burlington Northern Railroad and held numerous tele-communication positions including lineman, cable splicer and electronic technician. He worked in McCook, Nebraska, for a number of years.

After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the railroad accommodated him by assigning him to do computer work with a field engineer, assembling a data base on microwave antennas. In 1996, he moved back to Washington and continued his work in data base entry.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Leigh DeVol; stepmother, Bernice Ayers; and niece, Donna June Ayers.

Survivors include his mother, Shirley Walter and husband, Charles of Washington; father, Lester Ayers of Washington; son, Nathan Ayers and wife, Sarah of Castle Rock, Washington; daughter, Jessica Ayers of Tennessee; brother, David Ayers and wife, Becky of Tonganoxie, Kansas; sister, Shirley Frager and husband, Gerry of Morrowville, Kansas; stepbrothers, Chuck Walter and wife, Michelle of Washington and Jim Esslinger and wife, Alice of Marysville, Kansas; stepsisters, Tammy Kuehn of Washington and JoAnn Rose and husband, Dewayne of Mahaska, Kansas; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services are Saturday, 10 a.m., at Ward Funeral Home in Washington. Funeral 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30 at the Ward Funeral Home in Washington.

family will recieve friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday July 29 at the funeral home. Burial is in Washington City Cemetery.

Family will receive friends Friday, 5-7 p.m., at the funeral home.