Lyndon Joel “LJ” Cosgriff-Flax, 22, of Kansas, passed away on Sunday, April 28, 2024 while carrying out his duties at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Virginia.
He was born August 4, 2001, in Hays, Kansas to Corey Flax and Stephanie Cosgriff. He was baptized into the Catholic faith at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hays. He called many cities in Kansas home in his youth, with his deepest roots in Hays and Lawrence
Throughout his formative years, LJ enjoyed a considerable amount of time in Lawrence with his mother and brothers. He spent his primary school years in St. George where he explored the woods around his home by playing, searching for mushrooms, and shooting his Daisy BB gun and Marlin 22 rifle. He loved reading books and singing in the school choir. After school he could often be found atop his wooden playset reading. Later in his grade school years he began playing the clarinet. He attended mass and religious education classes at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Wamego, where he received the sacraments of Eucharist and reconciliation. After St. George, he relocated to Russell where his interests began to center around sports. He competed in football, basketball, wrestling, and track while continuing to play in the band and hone his musical skills. He attended mass at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church where he also attended religious education and was active in the youth ministry. His secondary school years were spent in Goddard where he attended and graduated from Eisenhower High School. He continued to engage in sports, excelling in football, wrestling, and track. He attended mass at Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit where he received the sacrament of confirmation. During his time at Eisenhower High School, he was able to take elective classes in law enforcement where his interest in criminal justice and law enforcement was sparked. He was a bright student and his academic efforts earned him the Presidential Award of Distinction at Fort Hays State University and his wrestling skills earned him an athletic scholarship. He attended school there for two years before joining the United States Navy where he held the title of Master-at-Arms and rank of petty officer third class. While in the Navy, he began a relationship with Lily Washburn. They met in A-school in San Antonio, Texas for duty training in 2021. Their love for each other began to take root and blossom when they were stationed in close proximity, LJ stationed at Yorktown, Virginia and Lily at Norfolk, Virginia.
LJ was a kind, loyal, hard-working, humble person with a love of the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. Many memories of hunting doves, waterfowl, deer, and turkey as well as gigging frogs and fishing were made with his father, brothers, uncles, cousins, and friends. LJ was especially fond of turkey hunting, and he spent many spring days doing so with his father. He also loved video gaming and shared that passion with his brothers Keelan and Riley. The three enjoyed many traveling adventures with their mother and loved exploring Mass Street in Lawrence with her where they discovered several local restaurants they frequented together.
LJ had a deep sense of loyalty towards his family. He loved and cared deeply for them. He was kind and compassionate, with a gift for bringing levity to situations with his unique sense of humor. LJ will be remembered for many things, but what people will remember most was that he had a huge heart and sought out opportunities to help others.
He is survived by his mother, Stephanie Cosgriff, brothers, Riley Paradise and Keelan Monye, his father and stepmother, Corey and Lynn Flax, brother, Samuel Flax, sister, Margaret Flax, his grandmother, Sandy Guthrie, his grandmother, Judy Flax, his grandfather, Stephen Cosgriff, and his step-grandparents John and Linda Wink.
LJ was preceded in death by his grandfather Eugene Flax.
He will be loved and tremendously missed by his family and all who were blessed to have known him.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Hays, Kansas with Fr. Richard Daise officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 8:00 on Monday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Tuesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A vigil service and rosary will be at 6:30 pm on Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition https://www.catholicprisonministries.org/donation and condolences and memories of LJ may be left for his family at www.haysmemorial.com