M. June Marler Hoyt

Note: this is meant to be a bit humorous, so have some fun with it!

Melda June (Marler) Hoyt, 91, finally gave up the ghost on Feb.17th, 2023, after years of hanging on. She had more than her fair share of health problems these last several years, but she still embraced life with everything she had. Those of us who were blessed to know her often wondered why she was so reluctant to leave us and go to heaven, where she most certainly is today.

She had a tough life, but she was strong. She had eight brothers and sisters and outlived them all. Her father passed away when she was a young teenager and the oldest child at home, and she had to step into caring for her younger brothers and sisters (two each), as her mom was overwhelmed with grief for two years. And when her mom finally came around, she wasn’t at all happy with her fate. In fact, the stress got so bad that June eventually ran away from home to the local YWCA in her junior year of high school. (Side note: her boyfriend at the time, who later became her husband, swore that he had nothing to do with her running away from home... he was just outside waiting in the car. 😀)

June, as she was known, because who the heck would name someone Melda, was born on March 28, 1931, in Wichita, KS, to Elijah and Laura Marler. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Lynn Anson Hoyt Jr., her eldest son Dr. James Lynn Hoyt, her mother and father, her brothers Ralph, Don, Paul, David, and Duane, and sisters Lois, Mary Burman, and Vera Furry, numerous sister’s and brother’s in- law, and Lord knows how many other kin-folk.

She is survived by one son and three daughters, Paul (Sherry) Hoyt, (Santa Clara, CA), Linda Strother (Houston TX), Diane (Dan) Bucy (Wichita KS), and Nancy (Randy) Spicher (Houston TX), 10 grandkids (Elizabeth Henderson, Michael Hoyt, Steve Hoyt, Curtis Hoyt, Kayce Chaisson, Kelly Hoot, Nathan Bucy, Sara Vonderfecht, Ryan Spicher, and Kate McAnally), sixteen great-grandkids (Michael, Meldrick, Markell, Myles, Malik, Mason, Brooklynne, Jacklynne, Kialey, Riley, Jaxson, Mikel, Hailey, Kennedy, Mabel, and Avery), sister-in-law Ruth Marler and brother-in-law Merle Furry, and six great-great-grandkids. Wow! We have no idea how many nieces and nephews are still with us, but two deserve a special mention: Lois Snodgrass (Wichita KS) was especially close to June and considered her to be her second mom, and Janella Smith has also been close to the family.

Anyway, as was normal for the times, June raised her five kids practically by herself because her husband was always working, and she also worked full-time in a variety of jobs starting when she was 32 to her retirement at age 70. Can you imagine raising five rambunctious, energetic, clever, often-getting-into-trouble kids while working full time? She had to be strong!

Wait, we have an update. The kids want everyone to know that they were adorable, well-behaved, never a problem at all, and that their mom was the cantankerous one. (We should probably fact check that.)

A celebration of life will be at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11800 W Hwy 54, Wichita KS, 67209, on Saturday, Feb. 25th at 10:00 AM. There will be visitation on Friday night preceding the celebration from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, and before the celebration from 9:00 to 10:00 AM.

Join us if you can! There will be singing and carrying on, to be sure, and of course, a fair amount of tears.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her honor are encouraged to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and Interim Healthcare, both of Wichita KS.

Rest in Peace mom! You deserve it.