Charles Livingston Aylward, Jr.

Chuck was born on March 8, 1926 in Kansas City, Kansas. He attended St. Elizabeth’s grade school and Rockhurst high school. Chuck joined the Navy on March 1, 1944, just days before his 18th birthday. While in the Navy he attended the University of Kansas, graduating with a degree in aeronautical engineering. During that time he managed to play basketball under Coach Phog Allen; he always made sure everyone knew that fact. He remained in the Naval Reserve for several years after his honorable discharge in June of 1946.

At the age of twenty-one, Chuck started Aylward Products Company out of the trunk of his car. He appeared at job sites at the start of the day offering to supply whatever materials were needed for the job at hand. The success of Aylward Products stemmed, in large part, to the attention and respect Chuck gave to everyone he met. Eventually, Aylward Products supplied construction materials throughout Kansas, Missouri and Colorado. His brothers Dick and Bob joined him in the venture which sustained them and their employees all their working years.

Chuck was a lifelong Missouri Democrat. Along with his cousin Eddie, he formed Democracy Inc., organized to promote and help elect candidates they deemed worthy of support. To Democracy, Inc. those worthy of support were the candidates that would fight for the poor and endeavor to aid those in need of assistance. Of course, his children were excused from school every election day and were expected to work a polling station supporting the causes and candidates Democracy Inc. endorsed.

An avid horse racing fan, Chuck was devastated when the Woodland’s closed but had high hopes for its reopening in 2016. To ease the pain of this loss, he would make weekly excursions to the 21 table, video poker machines and Cleopatra slot machine at Hollywood Casino. Chuck showed his passion for the Royals and the Chiefs through colorful language, supportive commentary and very high decibel vocal encouragement during every game. He hung on for the World Series win but couldn’t quite make it to the Super Bowl (which he assured us we would win).

Hunting, fishing and farming were Chuck’s life’s blood. No muskrats, snapping turtles or wild turkeys were safe on his farm, Clear Lake Acres, where he and Rosemary lived in Lone Jack, Missouri from 1975 until 2009, when they reluctantly moved back “to town”.

Chuck was always devoted to his Catholic faith with a special reverence for the Virgin Mary. Daily mass was a large part of his life. He would often meet his sister Jean for noon Mass. Following Mass he would meet brother Bob, other buddies, and however many of his children he could talk into skipping work to grab a sandwich at Bogies.

He was preceded in death by his beloved and dearly missed wife of 61 years, Rosemary Anita Aylward; her parents Jim and Adeline Hughes; his parents Charles and Dorothy Noel Aylward; his sisters Kathleen Aylward Mitchell and Mary Ann Aylward Henn, and his brother Richard Aylward and his brother in law Bob Modrcin.

His surviving family includes; his sister Jean Dunn and her husband Bill; his brother Bob Aylward and his wife Brenda; his sister in law Gwen Aylward; his sister in law Kathleen Modrcin; his brother in law Bob Hughes and his wife Bernie and his brother in law Jerry Hughes and his wife Pat.

Chuck is also survived by his seven children and their spouses who all live in the Kansas City area, Patti Aylward-Kalb and Mark Kalb; Debbie and Joe Ismert; Peggy and Doug Hasty; Marci Aylward and John Carroll; Jan Aylward Burrus and Jay Burrus; Jeana and Matt Ismert; Chuck and Kathleen Aylward as well as his 37 grandchildren and 36, and counting, great-grandchildren.

Lourdes Fisher, who cared for Rosemary and Chuck for the last eight years was also at the family’s side at the end and for that Chuck said, as he always said when something was good, “Amen, Amen, Amen”.

Visitation will be at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 8510 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Missouri. The Rosary will be prayed at 9:45 a.m. and the Mass of Resurrection will be held at 10:00 AM at the same location. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Kansas City Hospice House.

Condolences may be left online at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com. Arrangements, McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO, (816) 942-6180.