Jay Drew Atkin

Jay Drew Atkin, 64, of Burlington, Kansas, died Monday, June 22, 2026 at Ascension Via Christi Medical Center-St. Francis Campus in Wichita, Kansas following an accident.

He was born on May 20, 1962 in Alva, Oklahoma to Mary Louise Sissons (Stillwater, OK) and Jay Melvin Atkin (Shidler, OK). He was very proud of his Cherokee and Osage heritage, often referring to himself by his Cherokee name “Dlagwa.” Jay was a decendant of George Thomas Blair of the Cherokees who traveled the “Trail of Tears.” On October 4, 2000 he performed a Cultural Exchange of connecting the Oklahoma Tribe and the North Carolina Tribe by transporting a large boulder from Oklahoma to North Carolina as a symbol of reconnecting the Cherokee Tribes.

He was raised in Yates Center, Kansas and graduated from Yates Center High School in 1980. He then after many life experiences ended up graduating from Pittsburg State University.

After graduation he moved to Kansas City, MO where he worked with troubled teens at Providence Hospital. After the closure of the hospital, he moved with his family to Burlington, KS where he then worked as an EMT in Topeka area. It was there he received the honor of the “Star of Life” for Kansas for saving a man’s life while on duty. He then went to Washington, DC as a representative of Kansas for the “National Star of Life.”

After getting injured working as an EMT (doing what Jay did best, going above and beyond even at his own risk), he became a caregiver in Burlington. He then decided to pursue his passion for working on cars, traveling to Topeka to work for Firestone and then later working as lead automotive technician for Wal Mart in Emporia, KS. After some time there, he pursed the opportunity to work for Tyson until they closed and then worked to receive his CDL license so that he would work on Refrigerated Trucks at Redline in Emporia, KS.

His passion, along with cars, family and friends, was educating people on the Constitution, which led him to writing many speeches for various elected officials. He also loved to study astronomy, which might be the reason why his head was always in the clouds. He truly was a jack of all trades. There was nothing that he wouldn’t try to do or seem to know.

Jay was a friendly, generous soul who was quick to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. He never met a stranger that he didn’t like. He was also a proud and fierce protector of his family and friends. He was the rock that kept his family steady and strong.

Jay is survived by his mother Mary Louise Atkin of Yates Center.; his wife Tammy Marie Fanning of Burlington; his “little” sister Angela Kristen Atkin (Steve a three children) of Tamarac, FL; his son Alexander Drew Atkin of Overland Park, KS; his daughter Xaviara (Rachel) Amber Atkin Murto (Christopher); his new grandson Theodore Murto of Phoenix, AZ; his ex-wife Susan McKenzie (mother of Xaviara and Drew) of Phoenix, AZ; and his step-mother Sandi Atkin of Yates Center, KS.

Jay is preceded in death by his father Jay Melvin Atkin and his infant son Drew Michael Atkin.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Jay’s giving to others even carried on after death. He was an organ donor and was able to “give life” to others in need.

Jay was a force that will not soon be forgotten. His impact on people’s lives was immense, and he will be greatly missed.

Donadagohv-Cherokee translates as “til we meet again.”

Jay's care has been entrusted with Affordable Cremations Plus, Wichita, KS.