John Morris Schuster, 60, of Cushing, Okla., died Aug. 25, 2007 at the Veteran's Hospital.
Services were held at the Ft. Gibbson National Cemetery. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in El Dorado.
John was born Oct. 15, 1946 in Blackwater, Mo., the son of Dutch and Betty Schuster. He attended school in Missouri. He also attended Butler County Community College. During the Vietnam War, he served his country in the United States Army. He was a truckdriver. He was a member of the United Methodist Church. He loved to camp and fish and be with his family.
Surviving family include: one son, Chance Schuster of Cushing; three daughters, Cody Schuster of Cushing, Julie Simmons of Augusta and Misti Hamilton of El Dorado; and one brother, Bill Schuester of Blackwater.
A memorial has been established with Trinity United Methodist Church. Kirby-Morris Funeral is assisting the family with their arrangements. (El Dorado Times, September 7, 2007)
Howard Wilbur Shook died peacefully at Grand Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center on August 7, 2007.
Howard was born March 10, 1923 in El Dorado, KS to Daniel S. and Rachel A. (Newman) Shook. He spent his childhood in El Dorado where he graduated from El Dorado High School and attended El Dorado Junior College prior to being called to service.
He joined the United States Coast Guard on January 24, 1943 to serve his country in World War II. Prior to his honorable discharge on May 20, 1946, he fought in the European-African-Middle Eastern-American and Asiatic Pacific Campaigns. Howard served as a seaman First Class where he earned a Good Conduct Medal for his service.
Howard married Treva Marlene (Obenchain) Shook on August 12, 1952 in Bentonville, AR. He is survived by his wife, Treva and three children, Dr. Daniel Shook (Sondra) of Columbus, OH, Barry Shook (Lynn) of Louisville, CO and Julie Strand (Stewart) of Orlando FL, grandchildren; Brendan and Sky Shook, Brianne Shook, Rachelle and Sheridan Strang. His sister, Charlotte Walker resides in Denver, CO
Preceding Howard in death were his parents and sisters, Zola Stewart, Lucille Pachell, Dorothy Southers, Wauneta Scriver and Ester Sevier.
Two loves in Howard's life were serving his country in the U. S. Coast Guard and his faithful pets. To honor his passions, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made in honor of Howard Shook to: Pets for Vets, c/o VA Medical Center at 2121 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501. Arrangements are under the care of Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.(El Dorado Times, Sept. 4, 2007)
George Edward Short. 79, of El Dorado, died Monday, July 31, 1995. Services are 11 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Episcopal Church. Burial will be in Belle Vista Cemetery.
He was born Dec. 20, 1915, in Concordia, the son of Harry H. and Georgia S. Short. On Sept. 28, 1941, he and Caroline Ewing were married in El Dorado. He was a doctor of veterinary medicine. He was a research veterinarian with Eaton Labs in Norwich, N.Y. and for 15 years was director of Animal Products Research for G.D. Searle Co. and was also involved with Friends of the El Dorado Library.
His memberships included Trinity Episcopal Church, American Legion Post No. 81, A.V.M.A., KSU Alumni Assoc., Rotary, Salvation Army Advisory Board, and KG&E Advisory Board.
He attended the KSU School of Veterinary Medicine in 1943 and served for 3 1/2 years with the Veterinary Corps during WWII.
Survivors include: wife, Caroline; daughters, Marsha Dekker of Holland, Mich., Pamela Whamond of Parkridge, Ill.; Susan Sebben of Deerfield, Ill.; brother, Harry Short of Littleton, Colo.; sister, Doris Sloan of Garden City; eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.
Memorials are to Bradford Memorial Library and the Salvation Army. Kirby-Morris Funeral Home has the arrangements. (The El Dorado Times, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 1995. Submitted by Diana Herrman)
Charles F. Smith, 93, former El Dorado high school principal, died Wednesday in Tacoma, Wash.
Memorial services were conducted today in Christ Church Tacoma. Mr. Smith had made his home with a daughter, Mrs. J. Paul Ragsdale, in Tacoma, for the past 10 years.
Mr. Smith was born Aug. 17, 1872 in Johnson County, Kansas.
Surviving in addition to Mrs. Ragsdale are a son, Hershal Smith, Cascob, Conn.; three brothers, Harry W. Smith, Wichita, J. Arthur Smith, Augusta, and John Smith, Twin Falls, Idaho, and a sister, Mrs. J. H. Copley, Newton. There are two grandchildren and four great grandchildren. (El Dorado Times, Friday, March 25, 1966)
Interment with graveside military rites was conducted at Walnut Valley Memorial Park this afternoon for R. L. (Dick) Smith, 40, Emporia, a former El Doradoan killed in a traffic accident in Chase county Wednesday.
Among the survivors is a sister, Mrs. Margie Swigart, Towanda, Route 1. Her name was inadvertently omitted from a list published earlier. (El Dorado Times, Friday, March 25, 1966)
Dorothy Mae Smitherman, 85, of El Dorado, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2005, at Vintage Place in El Dorado. Memorial services will be held at a later date.
She was born May 30, 1919, at Augusta, the daughter of Thomas B. and Ida Belle Aldrich Thompson. She was a LPN and had worked in Kinsley and also in Augusta. She was a former member of the Eastern Star and had lived in El Dorado since May of 2002, moving from Augusta.
Survivors include: son, Leon C. Smitherman Jr. and his wife Jeanie of El Dorado; grandson, Leon C. Smitherman III and his wife Julie of Wichita; great-grandson, James Parker Smitherman of Wichita; brother, James W. Thompson of Wichita; sister, Elsie Lehr of Augusta; and a sister-in-law, Karolynn Smitherman of Wichita.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Evelyn Thompson and Margaret Neeley; and a brother, Arthur Thompson.
Carlson Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. (The El Dorado Times, Monday, Jan. 24, 2005. Submitted by Diana Herrman)
Steve A. Storm, 43, of Newton, died Friday, Aug. 31, 2007 at Wesley Medical Center as a result of a roofing accident in Newton.
The celebration of his life will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the First Christian Church. Burial will follow the services in the Towanda Cemetery.
Steve was born Jan. 17, 1964 in El Dorado, the son of Ollen H. "Stormy" and Ozella (Bean) Storm. He grew up in El Dorado and graduated from El Dorado High School with the class of 1982. He worked as a roofing foreman for Sunflower, Wray and Manhaney Roofing companies. He was a lover of NASCAR racing.
Surviving family include: his mother, Ozella of El Dorado; brothers, Larry and his wife Susan Storm, Roger and wife Kathy Storm, Rocky Storm all of El Dorado, and John and Susan Storm of Monroeville, N.J.; sisters, Jane and husband Don Worthington of Rush Springs, Okla., Betty Beneke of Salina and Deanna and husband Lloyd Turner, Jr. of El Dorado; 20 great-nieces and nephews; and seven great-great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father in 1999 and a sister, Gale Storm.
A memorial has been established in Steve's name with Bradford Memorial Library. Contributions may be sent to Kirby-Morris Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to www.kirbymorrisfuneralhome.com (El Dorado Times, Sept. 4, 2007)
Wilkesbarre, Pa., Aug. 7 - The dead body of Daniel Sweeney, a watchman in the employ of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western company at their bliss colliery in Hanover township, was found in a field in Hanover township Wednesday morning. Sweeney quit work at midnight and was followed by a score of men. The men were making threats and Sweeney was afraid of them. He took refuge in a saloon and waited there for some time. After he thought the crowd that followed him had disappeared, he left for his home. This was the last seen of him alive. The supposition is that the men who followed him from the mine were lying in wait for him and when he approached the spot where they were hiding the assaulted him with pick handles and beat his brains out. The murdered man told the superintendent of the mine that some of the strikers had told him that if he did not quit work he would be sorry. Sweeney said he needed employment as his family was in want. (Walnut Valley Times, August 8, 1902)
BLOOMINGTON MAN DIES AT WINFIELD
Orville E. Smoot, 55, who had lived in Bloomington township for many years, died at a Winfield hospital yesterday following a brief illness. His address was Route 3, Leon.
Mr. Smoot, an oil field gauger who had not missed a day of work in 33 years, was born at Washington, Ind., on Dec. 15, 1894. He was married to Della May Gragory in El Dorado on July 10, 1921, and she survives.
Mr. Smoot was a veteran of World War I. He was affiliated with the American Legion post at Augusta, the Douglass Masonic lodge, the Wichita Consistory and the Methodist church.
Survivors include the widow; a daughter, Mrs. Phil Smith, Cherokee, Okla.; a son, Bob G. Smoot, Atlanta; a brother, Russell Smoot, Mounds, Ill.; and a sister, Mrs. Ed Bloymeyer, Blythevile, Ark.
Funeral services will be held from the Dunsford Funeral Home at Augusta at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon. Rev. Jim Ward, Winfield, will officiate and interment will be made in the Augusta cemetery. (El Dorado Times ~ Friday ~ 24 Feb 1950)
D. E. SWAIN, FORMER RESIDENT, IS DEAD
News was received in El Dorado this morning of the death of David Edward Swain, of Wichita, yesterday. Mr. Swain died of heart disease in the porch swing at his home, 110 East Dewey Street. Mr. Swain found him dying. He had been in good health and this was his first heart attack, according to members of the family. After eating a hearty breakfast, he had mowed the lawn and sat down in the swing to rest. He was 72 years old.
Mr. Swain formerly lived in El Dorado. He came here in 1886 from Springfield, Ill. He was for many years engaged in the cigar business in a store located in the first block on West Central Avenue. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of El Dorado. He moved to Wichita in 1910.
Besides his widow and daughter, Mrs. J. B. Riddle, of Wichita, he is survived by a stepdaughter, Mrs. Louis Weisemeyer, of Springfield, Ill.; a sister, Mrs. James Petrie, and a brother, J. L. Swain, both of Toronto, Canada.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at the Downing Mortuary, 327-239 North Lawrence Street. Burial
will be in a Wichita cemetery.
(El Dorado Times ~ 2 June 1924)
STRATFORD, EDWARD D.
Following an illness cause by heart trouble, which developed more than a year ago and gradually became more serious,
Judge Edward D. Stratford, aged 73 years, one of the pioneer attorneys of Butler County, public office holder,
community booster and town builder, died at 7 o'clock this morning at St. Luke's Hospital.
Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon at the home of Mrs. C. W. Stratford, 509 South Denver
Street. Services will be in charge of the Masonic Blue Lodge, with the Knights Templar as escort. Rev. C. A. Kitch,
pastor of the Methodist Church will officiate and burial will be made in the Belle Vista Cemetery.
In deference to the life-long wish of Judge Stratford, the family requests that no flowers be sent.
Was Widely Known
Judge Stratford was widely known and beloved in this community and news of his death created general sadness. He
will be missed by children as well as grown folk for he was always interested in children and enjoyed talking with
them.
Judge Stratford held many public offices during his long residence in this county. He was a community builder,
always strongly in favor of any project that promised to be of benefit to the people in general and gave generously
of his money as well as time to worth-while enterprises. On several occasions he gave substantial financial gifts
to the Edgar Dale Post of the American Legion. He was intensely patriotic and it was a source of pride to him that
two of his sons enlisted and served overseas in the World War.
Judge Stratford believed that the home was the great protector of American rights. He loved his home and could
usually be found there at the close of his days work. He owned a number of residential and business properties
about town, many of which he maintained merely to make the town a better one in which to live.
There was no better read person in El Dorado, for Judge Stratford was always seeking new information. One El Dorado
attorney paid Judge Stratford a compliment this morning when he said the deceased was not a case lawyer, but one
who referred back to his training to practice at the bar in reaching a decision between right and wrong. According
to this same attorney, Judge Stratford was right in his opinion most of the time too.
Handled Hundreds Cases
In recent years, Judge Stratford also had been justice of the peace. He had been police judge of the city since
April 1, 1917. Only last week, he stated that he would present his resignation to the City Commission shortly asking
that it take effect on April 1, after he had rounded out full nine years in the office.
As police judge during the days of the oil boom here, Judge Stratford handled his work in a fearless and at the
same time, satisfactory manner. No favorites were shown by him. As justice of the peace for the past several years,
a big majority of the state criminal complaints that were filed by the county attorney's office, were started in
Justice Stafford's court. In addition to this heavy work, he also found time to preside over hundreds of civil
actions. His same honest opinion was always forthcoming in all of them and he prided himself on the conduct of
his court.
Strong Republican
Throughout his life, Judge Stratford had been closely identified with the Republican party. Shortly after being
admitted to the bar in 1878, Judge Stratford was elected judge of the probate court. At the close of his first
term he was elected a second time. In 1887 he was sent to the lower house of the Kansas Legislature from the north
district of the county and served two terms in this body.
Judge Stratford also served on the City Council for a number of years.
He was intensely interested in all educational matters and served for three years as one of the regents of the
Kansas State Agricultural College, at Manhattan and seven years as a member of the El Dorado Board of Education
and at all times stood ready to do his bit to make the schools of the county better.
In 1899, while living in Oregon, Judge Stratford was appointed a special agent of the United States Land Office.
He held the job four years during which time he performed service in Oregon, California, Oklahoma, Missouri and
Alaska. He spent more than a year in the latter country, having his headquarters at Sitka. During that time, he
became thoroughly acquainted with the geography and resources of the country and was interested in its developments
in recent years.
Judge Stratford's health began failing in the fall of 1924. He believed a change in climate for a short time might
benefit him, and went to New Orleans, LA., where he remained for two weeks. When he returned home, he appeared
to be feeling much better. A short time later, however, his health became impaired and for a number of weeks last
spring and summer his condition was serious.
Largely through his strong will power Judge Stratford later improved last fall and was apparently much stronger
than at any time within the previous year. About two weeks ago, Judge Stratford started to fail again. He would
not abandon his work at the City Hall and continued to carry on his activities until last Friday morning, when
he finally left the office for the last time and had since been confined to his bed. On Monday, he was removed
to the hospital.
Judge Stratford was born in Vevey, Switzerland County, Ind., on October 15, 1852. He was the son of John and Sarah
Stratford, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, respectively. In addition to Judge Stratford, his parents
had two other children, J. L. Stratford, a Methodist Minister, and J. C. Stratford, a photographer, both of whom
live at Creswell, Ore.
Judge Stratford attended the public schools in Indiana and later took a course at Howard College, Ind. After coming
to Kansas, he attended for a short time the State Teachers' College, at Emporia. Judge Stratford came to Butler
County in 1873 and after teaching school for a number of years, read law with Judge A. L. L. Hamilton here. In
1878 he was admitted to the bar.
In 1889 Judge Stratford and Probate Judge V. P. Mooney opened a law office. The partnership existed until Judge
Stratford removed to Oregon in the early nineties. For the first two or three years in the West, Judge Stratford
engaged in the newspaper and law business. Later, he took the United States Land Office. When he quit the employ
of the government, Judge Stratford returned to El Dorado in 1903.
Again Judge Stratford and Judge Mooney opened a law office. They continued to be associated together for 12 years.
At that time Judge Mooney was appointed by Gov. Arthur Capper to fill the unexpired term of Probate Judge caused
by the death of Judge McCluggage.
On February 27, 1883, Judge Stratford was married to Miss Jennie Long, who with five children, four sons and one
daughter, survive him. The sons are: Oscar Edward and Ray Allen, both of whom live in El Dorado; Clark of Kansas
City, Mo., and John of Wellington. Miss Jane Startford, the daughter is a student at the University of Kansas,
Lawrence. The eldest son, Charles died three years ago. (The El Dorado Times, January 22, 1926)
GEORGE EARL SCHNAKE, 16, of Augusta, Augusta High School sophomore, died Thursday. Services: 10 a.m. today,
Dunsford Funeral Home, 1 p.m. Monday, Pearce City (Mo.) Cemetery
Survivors: father, Earl of Augusta, mother, Elcia May Ferrell of Arkansas City; brother, Kenneth Allyn at home;
half brothers, Earl Wayne of Augusta, William Lloyd of Leavenworth, John Irvin Wade of Texas, William Perry Wade
of Germany, Victor Eugene Wade of Burden; half sisters, Elica Phillips of Augusta, Pamela Barkee of Aurora, Mo.,
Marie Langford of Neosho, Mo., Brenda Huffine of Joplin, Mo.; grandmother, Opal Schnake of Freistatt, Mo. Memorial
has been established with Augusta Saddle Club.
(March 15, 1986 ~ Wichita Eagle ~ Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
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