ERIE — Hurschel Buscher, 71, of rural Erie died at 9:04 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, at his home. He had been in failing health.

He was born on July 2, 1941, at Chanute to Henry and Wilma (Erbe) Buscher. He grew up near Stark where he attended country schools and graduated from Grant Rural Township High School in 1959. He served in the United States Army for three years in Army security and served in Vietnam for 11 months. He was also stationed in Japan.

He graduated Chanute Junior College and Emporia State Teachers College, where he received a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in school psychology. He also did graduate work at the University of Missouri in school administration. He worked at Salina and Grandview, Mo., and several other districts as a school psychologist. He then attended Washburn University where he received a juris doctorate degree in 1989. He returned to the Erie area where he practiced as an attorney at law in Erie until 2012.

He married Kerry Ketchel in 1967. They later divorced. He married Mary Ann Wheeler on May 26, 1985, at Erie. She survives of the home.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, carpentry, vintage cars, reading, westerns, bowling and, most of all, his grandchildren. He was extremely generous, had a strong sense of fairness and devoted himself to helping other people. He was most proud of his children’s accomplishments.

In addition to his wife, Hurschel is survived by his son, Jeffrey Buscher of Asheville, N.C.; his daughters, Alison Pinkston of Broadlands, Va., Clarice Maseberg of Wichita and Blythe Buscher Allen of Erie; three grandchildren, Jackson Buscher, Andrew Pinkston and Robert Allen; seven brothers, Henry Neil Buscher of LaGrange, Texas, Ernest Buscher of Calhoun, Ill., George Buscher of Fairbanks, Alaska, Richard Buscher of Beaumont, Texas, Charles Buscher of Warren, Texas, Roy Buscher of Stratford, Mo., and William Buscher of Springfield, Mo.; three sisters, Martha Taylor of New Strawn, Wanda Ludwig of Shandy Point, Okla., and Sally Johnson of Springfield, Mo.; and a brother-in-law, Robert "Bob" Sayre.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Anna Sayre.

A memorial visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie. Friends may call after 9 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Erie City Library or Southern Care Hospice and these may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 113 N. Main St., P.O. Box 182, Erie, KS 66733.

Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.