Gerald "Dean" Sears, Jr., 48, of Chanute, Kansas, died Thursday, April 21, 2016, at his home. Dean was born August 2, 1967, in Chanute. He grew up in Erie and attended Erie schools. Dean worked for Tri-Valley Developmental Center and was currently assigned to maintenance at Commercial Bank in Chanute. He had been active in Special Olympics. Survivors include his parents, Sandra Hinkel and her husband, Lynn of Humboldt, Kansas; sister Missy Hinkel of Chanute and her daughter Megan Hartman and her children; and his brother, Leland Hinkel and his wife, Miranda and their children of Wichita. Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 27, 2016, at the Waugh-Yokum and Friskel Chapel in Iola. Inurnment will be in the Elsmore Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Tri-Valley Developmental Center and may be left with the funeral home. To leave a condolence online, go to www.iolafuneral.com.