About Us

Our Roots

The accounting firm dates to 1955 when Garnett Angel began working for H. L. Post Insurance Service typing policies, issuing certificates of insurance and helping prepare income tax returns for neighbors and insureds.  The business was then a home-based business in Mr. and Mrs. Post’s residence in the country West of Paradise.  In 1970, the agency was moved to Paradise into the offices formerly occupied by Rodgers-Hoisington Wholesale.

Gene Angel graduated from Kansas State University in December, 1970 with a degree in Business Administration and began work for the insurance firm as a licensed agent and income tax accountant in January, 1971.

In May, 1981, Gene took the opportunity to scale back his office career and assumed management of a large cattle ranch near Paradise that had been founded by his Great-Grandfather, D. R. Worley, in 1876.  At this time, Gene ceased reporting to the office on a daily basis and focused on his income tax specialty primarily January through April each year.

In 1994, Garnett Angel and her husband John Angel, as part of a staggered retirement plan, sold off the insurance business, retaining the accounting practice.  The name Angel Accounting was then established, with Gene Angel and Garnett Angel as practitioners.  Garnett Angel continued to prepare income tax returns for her clients through the Spring of 2010.  In May of that year she fully retired and moved to Olathe, Kansas.

In 2005, the accounting practice, again a home-based business in the residence on the ranch, had outgrown its current one-room office.  Gene’s step-son, Ryan Cook, was in college at Fort Hays State University at the time and planned to work for the firm after graduation.  Ryan had been helping in the office, preparing and assembling tax returns, providing payroll and bookkeeping services for several years during high school and through college.  The office was moved to its current location in Natoma in October, 2005 in order to provide space and accessibility for clients, in preparation of expansion as the firm would become a full-service, full-time operation.

In 2006, Angel Accounting, LLC was formed with Gene Angel and Ryan Cook as its organizers. We now employ a five-member staff, and provide a wide range of services to many clients in the area as well as at a distance.  With the ease of communication through email and the internet, we have been able to develop a niche for providing quality professional services at a low overhead due in part to our location in Small-town America.

Our Team

Gene R. Angel, EA
Managing Member

Gene has been practicing in the field of income tax and accounting services since January, 1971.  His expertise in income tax is valued by clients of our firm.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Kansas State University.

Gene is an IRS Enrolled Agent.  A tax professional who is enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service is able to offer a higher level of support for customers in dealing with tax related issues.  Gene maintains his tax expertise by attending classes and training offered through Kansas State University as well as building Continuing Professional Education credit hours via on-line and face-to-face courses.  Gene is also a rancher and farmer.  The picture shown above is of Angel Ranch.

Ryan M. Cook, CPA, EA
Managing Member

I have worked in the family income tax business for almost as long as I can remember!  I began preparing returns for friends and school teachers when I was in high school.  I also kept books and helped with payroll for a few local small businesses…a restaurant…a grocery store.  I knew this was something I could do from a young age, and I just focused on that.

I graduated from Natoma High School in 2002 and attended college at Fort Hays State University, all the while continuing to work and grow our accounting practice.  I graduated from FHSU in the Spring of 2006 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting.  My plan was to take the CPA examination right away, but I needed some additional hours to qualify, so I stayed in school another year to get what I needed.

We moved the growing practice to our current office in Natoma in the Fall of 2005 and things have been busy ever since.  Right away, I was blessed by a few local small businesses who put me to work and kept me right here!

In 2010, sensing regulatory climate changes for tax professionals, Gene and I studied and took the IRS Enrolled Agent examinations.  I had been so busy, and since we were primarily an income tax firm, the Enrolled Agent designation made good sense for us.

By 2016, it was finally time to study and take the CPA examination.  I had been working and suddenly 10 years had gone by and I still hadn’t accomplished this goal!  This proved quite the challenge, attempting to juggle work and study!  It was a huge learning experience as many of the study topics didn’t directly apply to our practice.  In January of 2018, I passed the fourth and final exam and earned my CPA certification.

My current areas of practice are income tax, small business accounting, municipal accounting, payroll, software consulting and business entity selection.  In the past, I enjoyed local politics, spending eleven years on the Board of Education here in Natoma, beginning immediately after graduating high school.  Now, I am able to serve in local politics from an accounting perspective, having several small governments as clients.

During my days off, I enjoy being outdoors, visiting and spending time with friends and family and traveling.  I am a member of the Natoma United Methodist Church and serve as its Treasurer.

Looking back, I am most thankful for my clients and all the people who have helped me along my way!

Heather M. Lyle, EA, CMFC, CRPC
Staff Accountant | Ameriprise Professional Alliance as Licensed Professional

Heather joined the firm in January, 2015. She brings knowledge from the Financial Services Industry, as she has been a licensed Securities and Life/Health Insurance Professional since 2005. She will continue this profession as a Professional Alliance with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. She received her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Finance in 2003 from Fort Hays State University and another Bachelor of Business Administration in Pubic Accounting in 2014 from Fort Hays State University. Heather is also enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. She continues to grow her expertise in the income tax and accounting service industry working alongside Gene and Ryan.  Heather lives with her husband, Tanner, in rural Russell County. They both grew up in the Paradise/Natoma area and feel blessed to have jobs that were able to keep them here. Tanner and Heather enjoy children, they have four of their own, James, Caylie, Andreya and Elizabeth, and are also foster parents.

Lori J. Ward, RTRP
Administrative Specialist | Payroll

Lori has been a part of our firm full-time since January, 2010.  Lori’s expertise is in the areas of bookkeeping and payroll.  In addition to heading up our payroll department, Lori provides administrative services to a number of area businesses by managing their accounts payable and accounts receivable on a day-to-day basis.  Lori is also key part of our tax preparation business.  She attained the Registered Tax Return Preparer designation when offered by the Internal Revenue Service.  She works closely with Ryan and Gene to assist them in meeting our customers’ needs.

Lynn M. Angel
Customer Service Specialist

Lynn has been involved with the business on some level for years and in January, 2013, she joined our staff on a full-time basis.  Lynn graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Education, which has been her primary career focus.  She left the school atmosphere to join Angel & Cook, LLC with her husband, Gene, son, Ryan, and sister, Lori.  Yes, we are a family business!