He was born on Christmas Day on a farm southwest of Breckenridge, Missouri to Frank and Dora Axon and was the youngest of 8 children. Frank, Leland, Edna, Melva, Robert, Eli, Ethel. Three nephews survive – Randall, David and Monty.
He attended Turkey Creek and Catabawa Schools, one room schoolhouses, until moving to Kansas City in 1940. He graduated from Ruhl Hartman High school in 1942. There he was on the student council, yearbook staff, played baseball and basketball. He was united in marriage to Kathryn Lee Royer on July 1943, who preceded him in death February 2018. They would have been married 75 years in July 2018.
They had three children Kathy Axon Timbrook of Lee's Summit, Missouri; Steven Axon (Ginny) of Denver, Colorado; Douglas Axon of Durango, Colorado. He was the proud grandfather to 7 grandchildren: Bryan Timbrook, Overland Park, Kansas; Kara Timbrook, Lake Lotawana, Missouri;
Mike (Maureen) Axon New Canaan, Connecticut; Christa Anne (Matt) Tally Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Jennifer (Mark) Lange Colorado Springs, Colorado; Chris Axon Kansas City, Missouri; Matt (Danielle) Axon Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And the very proud great-grandfather to 14 (ages 3-25)
Alix, Claudia, Zach, Jacob, Samantha, Alexis, Matt, Ryan, Sam, Isabella, Aaron, John, Kyleigh and Chloe.
Harold was in the US Army, where he served in the 106th Infantry Division, 422nd. He was in the Battle of the Bulge at the point of attack. He was discharged in October 1945. He attended Rockhurst College on the GI bill and received his CPA certificate in July 1950 and started his own accounting firm. His sons took over Axon and Co in 1985 when he retired.
The Lake of the Ozarks was an important part of their lives. In 1952 they bought a lot at Lazy Acres, and lived in an Army tent on weekends while building an outhouse and cabin. In 1973 they moved further down the lake and built their retirement home. In 1985 Harold and Kathryn sold their south Kansas City home and moved to the Lake full time. He loved being outdoors and spent many days building rock retaining walls. He especially loved the Fall when he could spend the month of October blowing and burning leaves in the gully. He water-skied until his 60th birthday. He loved grands/greats sitting on his lap driving the pontoon around the lake. He enjoyed many hobbies including genealogy, crossword puzzles, woodworking (his specialty was making wood bowls on a lathe and bird houses), he was an avid reader of history, read two newspapers every morning on his laptop and loved ‘discussing’ politics! He was a loyal Kansas City Chiefs fan and had season tickets for many years. He loved watching the Royals and college basketball
He and Kathryn traveled extensively in their motor home, including all 50 states, all the Canadian providences, the Arctic Circle and Ocean, and Mexico. They loved Europe and had many favorite places to visit.
They hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon twice and rode the mules to the bottom twice. They were snowbirds from 1985 –2015 spending winters at the SilverRidge RV Resort in Mesa, Arizona. They hiked the Superstition Mountains, rode bikes, took Spanish lessons, took several classes, joined clubs, explored Arizona, and made many many wonderful friends over 30 years
Harold was a past member of Colonial Presbyterian Church, and member of the Ozark Chapel Methodist Church in Laurie, Missouri. He had been attending Lee’s Summit Presbyterian Church this past year.
You and Mom taught us how to live life well, together again...
We love you, Sweet Dreams...
Services: Monday January 14, 2019; Visitation 12:00pm to 1:00pm; Funeral Service 1:00pm - 2:00pm; Committal Service with Full Military Honors 2:00pm at Mount Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home and Cemetery, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64141
In lieu of flowers please make donations in Harold’s name to the Kansas City Hospice program or the charity of your choice.
