John  Riley Meharry II, 81, of Leawood, Kansas passed away peacefully at his home  on January 9, 2025.   John was born on July 15, 1943, in Ottawa, Kansas to Ralph E. and Ilo D. (Basel) Meharry.  After graduating from high school in 1961John enlisted in the US Navy, serving 3 years including time in the Pacific as an artilleryman aboard the USS Little Rock, where he got to see the world.  He was honorably discharged in late 1964, 4 hours before men were involuntarily re-enlisted for the Vietnam War.  John went on to complete his under-graduate degree from Rockhurst College and then received a Juris Doctorate from The University of Missouri.  After law school John entered private practice, specializing in labor related defense for many insurance companies until his retirement in 2010.    

As a father, he was the voice of reason and was protective of his sons. He was a guide of our morality and was a straight shooter when he thought we were doing something wrong. He was fiercely loyal, having gone to the same barber for many many years, and standing by friends of the family when they were going through rough times. He was a loving man that was dedicated to his family, for better and for worse.

John leaves behind his wife of 43 years Carol (Schweiger) Meharry, sons John Ryan Meharry, Los Angeles, CA (fiancé Yasmin Kassim) and Thomas Patrick Meharry of Leawood, KS, his brother Les Meharry (Mary) of Mission, Kansas, 10 nieces and nephews, and many cousins and dear friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents.  Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January  17, 2025 at the Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia St, Lenexa, Kansas.