Beauford (Tube) Wilkerson, age 87, of Manter, Kansas, died Sunday, September 24, 2023, at Stanton County Long Term Care Unit in Johnson. He was born on August 16, 1936, in his grandma Von Hemel’s basement in Manter, Kansas, the son of Charles “Chuck” Clifford and Nellie Leona (Von Hemel) Wilkerson.

Tube attended Lone Star School grades 1-4, Manter Grade School grades 5-8, and graduated from Manter High School in 1955. Beauford married Pauline May Graham on October 5, 1957, in Ulysses. They farmed and ranched for many years near Manter. He served on the Manter City Council from 1981 – 2009 and was a member of the Manter United Methodist Church. Tube loved his family and enjoyed following and attending their activities.

Survivors include his wife, Pauline of Manter; children, Tony Wilkerson and wife, Cheryl of Johnson, Leona Smyth and husband, Stan of Ulysses, Kurtis Wilkerson and husband, Terry Watson of Kansas City, Missouri, and Nancy Scott and husband, Clay of Ulysses; sister, Bonnie Manning and husband Bill of Garden City, Kansas; sisters-in-law, Shirley “Donice” Wilkerson, Betty Wilkerson and Linda Wilkerson all of Johnson; brother-in-law, Kenneth Graham of Manter; grandchildren, Erin Wilkerson, Stacey Wilkerson, Kelin Smyth, Kyle Smyth and wife Violet, Kayla Smyth, Ty Scott, Braden Scott, and Andrew Scott; great-grandchildren, Reagan Gray, Jace Smyth, Kyler Smyth, Kasich Smyth, and Lyla Smyth.

Beauford is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Eva “Babe” Klingenberg; brothers, Alvin “Bud” Wilkerson, Bill Wilkerson, and Charles Robert “Bob” Wilkerson.

Funeral service will be Friday, September 29, 2023, at 10:30 AM at Manter United Methodist Church with Pastor Jacques Kambol officiating. Interment will follow at the Stanton County Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, September 28, 2023, from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Johnson. Memorial contributions may be given to the Manter United Methodist Church in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 715, Johnson, KS 67855. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.