Frederick "Ted" Shellabarger Loomis

April 27, 1957 - July 10, 2019

Frederick S. “Ted” Loomis, 62, passed away Wednesday, July 10, 2019, after a two year battle with cancer. He was born April 27, 1957 in Kansas City, MO to Howard Krey Sr. and Florence (Porter) Loomis. On June 13, 1992 he married Linda Marie (Kelcher) Loomis in Dallas, Texas. Ted moved as a child with his family to Pratt in 1963, coming from Independence, Kansas. He attended and graduated from Pratt High School in 1975 and Baker University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science. He graduated from the ABA National Trust School at Northwestern University in 1987. He became a Certified Trust Financial Advisor in 1989. He began working at The Peoples Bank in 1979, primarily working in the Trust Department for many years. He eventually became Chairman of the bank. He was also President and Treasurer of The Peoples Bankshares, Ltd., the parent company of the bank. In addition, he oversaw the development and ongoing management of the employee retirement plans of The Peoples Bank. He is survived by his wife, Linda; two sons, Joseph Loomis and spouse, Cara, of Lawrence and Matthew Loomis and fiance’, Vanessa Stelter, of Manhattan; parents, Howard Sr. and Florence Loomis of Pratt; three brothers, Arthur Loomis and spouse, Patricia, of Niskayuna, New York; Howard Loomis Jr. and spouse, Karen, of Los Gatos, California, and J. Porter Loomis and spouse, Anne, of Pratt; Father and mother in-law, Laurence Kelcher and spouse, Patricia, of Dallas, Texas; brother and sister-in-law, Brian Kelcher and spouse, Angela, of Dallas, Texas; seven nieces and two nephews: Julia Loomis, Genevieve Loomis, Katherine Loomis Work and spouse, Henry, Margaret Loomis Hellmuth and spouse, Spencer, Victoria Loomis Thompson and spouse, Ryan, Adele Loomis, David Loomis, Caroline Kelcher and James Kelcher; and three great nephews, Craig Work, Philip Work and Wesley Hellmuth. He was a member of the Pratt Presbyterian Church. A lifelong member of the Boy Scouts of America, he was an Eagle Scout, earned his God and Country award, and as an adult was awarded the Silver Beaver, became a Woodbadge Counselor, and was a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow. He was a longtime member and supporter of Ducks Unlimited and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He was a past President of the Pratt Jaycees and past President of Pratt Rotary Club. He created The Peoples Heartland Foundation which recently acquired and refurbished the Home on the Range Cabin in Smith County, Kansas. It is the original cabin where Brewster Higley wrote the words to the state song of Kansas, “Home on the Range”. Ted also founded the SMFB Foundation which owns Cheyenne Scoutlands near Great Bend, a campground used by Boy Scout units for many years. He and his brother Porter developed the concept for and oversaw the construction of the Blythe Fitness Center in Pratt. He was a recent chairman of the Pratt County Zoning Commission. Ted always prioritized youth mentoring and gave his time to help Scouting youth earn their awards and badges. He loved hunting elk, deer, pheasant and waterfowl. He enjoyed vacationing in southern Colorado and on the east shore of Lake Michigan with his family. He was dearly loved by family and many friends. Cremation has taken place. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 9, 2019 at First United Methodist Church, Pratt. Memorials may be made to Pratt Presbyterian Church, Peoples Heartland Foundation or SMFB Foundation.