Thomas J. "T.J." Bush

Thomas J. "T.J." Bush, 66, of Parsons, passed away at 7:18 a.m., Sunday, November 16, 2014 at the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He was born March 23, 1948 at Salina, Kansas to Thomas Jasper Bush and Opalee (Mason) Bush. As a young boy, he moved with his family to Parsons where he grew up and attended schools at South Mound Grade School and the Labette County High School. Following high school, he entered the United States Navy and served from 1965 to 1967 on active duty and for the US Naval Reserve until 1971. In 1968, he began working for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad and later the Union Pacific Railroad as a conductor for over 40 years until retiring at 60 years of age. He was united in marriage to Catherine L. Lucas on December 1, 1975 at Parsons. She survives of the home. T.J. enjoyed taking care of his yard and playing games on the computer and playing Sudoku. He was a life member of the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion Post No. 0064 at Pittsburg, Kansas. He was also a 32 year member of the Parsons Elks Lodge No. 527 and the United Transportation Union Alumni Association No. 0527 and the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees at Parsons. Survivors: Wife: Catherine L. "Cathy" Bush – of the home Three Sons: Richard Reasoner and his fiancé Robin Granger – Thayer, KS Rex Reasoner and his wife Marta – San Diego, CA Roy Reasoner and his wife, Jennifer – Hutchinson, KS One Daughter: Denise Bush – Parsons, KS Sixteen Grandchildren Five Great-grandchildren One Brother: Steve Bush – Parsons, KS Two Sisters: Linda Beasley – Parsons, KS Diane Palmer and her husband, Bob – Parsons, KS In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sons, Raymond Reasoner who died in 1997 and Thomas Bush who died in October of 2010; one daughter, Lesta Sutherby who died in July of 2010. Following cremation a private family service will be held at a later date. The Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons is in charge of arrangements. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Parsons VFW or to the Parsons Elks Lodge. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Thomas J. "T.J." Bush, please visit our flower store.