CHEYENNE COUNTY, KANSAS OBITUARIES AMACK, KEITH FLOYD Keith Floyd Amack died Dec. 23, 2000. He was born May 7, 1928, in Collinsville, OK, to Floyd and Ruth Amack, and moved with his parents to St. Francis when two years old. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, and three brothers, Duane, Bernard and Wendell. He is survived by his wife, Shirley (Warner) Amack, and three sons: Gary (Vickie) of Denver, Jim of Colorado Springs and Marvin (Karen) of Phoenix, two brothers, Alvin of St. Francis and Larry of Denver; a sister, Doris of Craine, Mo., nine grandchildren and 13 grandchildren. Burial Dec. 28 at Lawn Ridge Cemetery. (St. Francis Herald, Jan. 1, 2000 (abstract) CHAZEL, SENA MARIE HARPER Sena Marie Harper Chazel died Jan. 13, 200d, in Montgomery, Ala. She was born Oct. 10, 1960 in st. Francis to Hugh and Irene (Schrader) Harper. She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Florence Harper, grandfathers, Claude Harper, George Schrader and Glenn Lawson, grandparents, Noah and Lena vandile. Survived by husband, Alan Chazel of Montgomery, daughters Sarena (Tarman) Nichols of McCook, Neb., and Natasha Tarman of Tribune; her parents, Hugh and Fran Harper of Custer, S. D. and Irene and Chuck Hardin of Paris, Tex.; a brother Glenard Harper of Elfers, Fla.; sisters, Lois Thomason of Honey Grove, Tex., Iva Krien of St. Francis and Flora Brown of Paris, Tex. (St. Francis Herald, January 30, 2003) HILL, LELAND NEAL Leland Neal Hill died Dec. 25, 2002. He was born April 16, 1927 in Cheyenne County to Merl Melvin and Stella Lourine (Todd) Hill. He married Betty Eileen Gotchall Dec. 20, 1952 in Raton, N.M. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Laddie and Jerry, daughter Kathi Lou and a nephew, Scott HIll. Survived by his wife, daughter Lauri Kay Townsend, son, Kurt, three grandchildren, seven brothers, Ted, Ron, Bill, Ed, Dale, Larry and Craig, two sisters, Dolores Hall and Sandra swann. Burial in St. Francis. (St. Francis Herald, January 2, 2003 (abstract) PENN, SHERON LORINE Sheron Lorine Penn died Dec. 29, 2002. She was born Nov. 26, 1947 in St. Francis. She married Danny Penn on Oct. 16, 1965. She was preceded in death by her father, Roy and a son, David. Survivors include her husband; daughters, Dawn Penn and Tina Penn Schmid, her mother, Mildred Edwards all of St. Francis; a sister, Shirley Ridens of Salina, ten grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Burial in St. Francis Cemetery. (St. Francis Herald, January 9, 2003) SEYLAR, ANITA MAE ANITA MAE SEYLAR, 90, a retired English, Latin and journalism teacher, died Feb. 13, 1997, at a local care facility. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Shrine of Remembrance Funeral Home, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd. Entombment will be in the Shrine of Remembrance Gate of Heaven Mausoleum. (Fountain, Colorado) Mrs. Seylar was born April 7, 1906, in Saint Frances, Kan, to William Sheridan and Sarah Adaline (Crabtree) Booth, who are deceased. She was married to Merle L. Seylar, who died in 1966. She is survived by a son, George “Rusty” Seylar of Fountain. She was preceded in death by a brother, Edwin Booth. Mrs. Seylar received a bachelor’s degree from Peru College in Nebraska and a, master’s degree in English from the University of Iowa. She enjoyed playing bridge and was a member of Fountain Bridge Club. She was a member of Fountain United Methodist Church and enjoyed attending Unity Church. She had lived in the area since 1956, previously living in Denver and Seattle. (Alice (Crabtree) Gregory Clippings, submitted by Sherri Gregory) CRABTREE, FRANK Wednesday, November 17, 1982, The Benkelman Post, p. 9 Mr. Crabtree’s Long Life Filled with Faith & Love Frank Crabtree was born July 29, 1882, and died on Friday, November 5, 1982, at the age of 100 years. He was born near Weeping water, Nebraska, and moved to Haigler, Nebraska on an immigrant train in the year 1890. He came from a family of 11 brothers and sisters, all of whom lived around the Haigler area. In September of 1912, he was united in marriage to Bessie Mae Bartlett who preceded him in death in 1973 at the age of 87. Frank finished school in 1897 and taught school around this area for several years. After teaching school, he bought the homestead of his sister, Mary, and farmed for the rest of his life until he retired in his late 80s. For the past two years, he has been a permanent resident of the Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. For three years prior, he spent winters in the Hester Home and summers in his home in Haigler. Frank and Mae Crabtree had five children, one of whom died as an infant. Survivors include Alice Gregory of Lamar, Colorado; Ethel Rath of Haigler; Lloyd Crabtree of Haigler; and Floy Fisher of Laird, Colorado. Also surviving are eight grand-children and 20 great-grandchildren. Frank was a quiet, loving and soft-spoken man with a good sense of humor. He joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1923 and has been very close to God for many years. The Bible was his very favorite book and he read it faithfully every day up until the time he died. When he was 87 years of age, skin cancer caused the surgical removal of his right eye, but that did not stop him from reading his bible even though the vision in his left eye was very poor. One comment he made when he lost his eye was, “Oh, well, I see too much with two eyes anyway.” Frank was never a wealthy man as far as monetary value is concerned, but he was one of the wealthiest men on earth concerning peace of mind and family. He was deeply respected and loved by all who knew him be-cause he always lived by what he believed. No cross words were ever spoken from his mouth. His love was deep for all mankind and nature. One of his favorite hobbies was growing a huge field of water-melon and cantaloupe. If you happened to drive by his place in the summertime, you would see him in his melon patch hoeing weeds in above-100 degree weather. People drove from miles around to purchase the melons. He always grew enough for everyone. He loved wildlife enough, so that he never set an animal trap in his melon patch. Instead, he made sure he grew enough melons for the coyotes, coons and skunks to have plenty to eat. Sometimes the neighborhood children would raid his melon patch. What they didn’t know was that many times he would be sitting in the dark watching them and laughing about it. He loved to share the melons with everyone. Frank was always a health-conscious person. He believed it was healthier to abstain from eating meat and was a vegetarian for many years. He always made sure he got plenty of physical exercise. Other than the skin cancer at the age of 87, he had never been sick. He suffered a mild heart problem at the age of 99 and never took medication at all until that time. At the Hester Home, he was still able to care for himself until 1 ½ weeks before his death. On August 1, 1982, Frank’s family held an open house honoring his 100th birthday. He had visitors on that day from as far away as California and New York. His mind was still alert and he enjoyed and appreciated all of the attention he received. The local newspapers inter-viewed him on his birthday. When asked about his secret for longevity, he responded, “I had a good beginning and just took care of myself.” His advice to others who wish to live a long life was “stay away from wickedness and evil, take good are of yourself and believe in the Lord.” The most important thing he discussed for many years was the second coming of Jesus. He expressed numerous times how wonderful it would be to be in heaven with the one he loved most – Jesus Christ. Written with love and admiration by Eunice Richard Granddaughter of Frank Crabtree Services were held Tuesday, November 9, 1982, at 10:30 a.m. at Jones Funeral Chapel in Benkelman with pastor Gordon Herra officiating. Music was furnished by Eunice Richard, Melvin Fisher, Linda Fisher, Garry Fisher and Leone Beeson. Selections were “Waiting and watching” and a selected duet. Bearers were Brent Richard, Garry Fisher, Dwight Brewer, Melvin Fisher, Norman Beeson, Tad Harden and Dan Schorzman. Interment was in the St. Francis Cemetery, St. Francis, Kansas, with arrangements by Jones Funeral Home of Benkelman. (Alice (Crabtree) Gregory Clippings, submitted by Sherri Gregory) CRABTREE, LYNN LITTLE ONE TAKEN Lynn Crabtree, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Crabtree passed away at their home near here last Tuesday. He was born at St. Francis, November 22, 1930, and died April 12, 1931 at the age of 16 months and 20 days. Lynn had never been very strong and from the beginning his life had been doubtful. He suffered one attack of pneumonia and had overcome this but was left in a weakened condition. But when a cold developed into pneumonia a second time his constitution was too weak to withstand this and all aid was powerless to keep the remaining spark of life. Funeral services were held from the Christian church in St. Francis yesterday forenoon and were conducted by Elder Gaede. Interment was in the St. Francis cemetery. CARD OF THANKS We want to express our thanks to the kind neighbors and friends for their thoughtfulness and assistance during the illness and after the death of our little son. We want to especially thank the singers and those who brought the beautiful floral offerings. We will always remember your kindness. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Crabtree and family. ~The St. Francis Herald, St. Francis, Kansas, April 17, 1931 (Alice (Crabtree) Gregory Clippings, submitted by Sherri Gregory) CRABTREE, LLOYD EMORY Lloyd Emory Crabtree was born October 7, 1919 in Cheyenne County, Kansas to Frank and Mae (Bartlett) Crabtree. He had three Sisters, Alice Gregory, Ethel Rath, Floy Fisher. Inducted # 37150910 into the Army for World War II at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, March 13 1942. Lloyd took his basic training at Jefferson Barracks in Missouri then went to Craig Field near Selma, Alabama April 20 through August 2. He was trained in Sheet Metal work for airplane repair duty. He was moved to Harding Field near Batan Rouge, LA, assigned to a Motor Pool then sailed from New Jersey Harbor (Fort Dix) in the GREATEST ARMADA IN HISTORY – 850 ships. Lloyd was in a Luxury Liner, The Santa Paula. This ship was ready to discard but was used by the U.S. for troop movement for at least one more trip. It had a Movie theater in the central part-the only ship in the fleet to have one- only one movie, though. His position in the armada was back left. Ships to the right and ahead as far as he could see. They landed on the coast of Africa. Soldiers on the Santa Paula did not land with the others, sailing around waiting for orders to land about two weeks. This was a service group with equipment ordered to stay in place until needed. They finally landed at Casablanca and slept the first night in a grain elevator near the docks. Other bases he served at were: BERRICHID AIR BASE, FRENCH MORACCO, BORDOUX AIR BASE, ALGERIA, LA KROUB AIR BASE NEAR CONSTANTINE; CAPPODICHANO AIR BASE NEAR NAPLES; SANTA MARIA AIR BASE; GROSETTA AIR BASE BATTLE AT Mont Cassini: Lloyd writes in his Diary: I took a trip up close to the front last week…after photo supplies….were close enough to hear the artillery. There are about 500 planes leaving from this field every day for the front.” One of Lloyd’s jobs was to haul bombs. Trucks were loaded manually. They hired Arabs or sometimes Italians to load then. The trucks were driven to where they were to be unloaded, started up with a jerk and the bombs fell out on the ground. (They have to fall from a certain height and the propeller turn a certain number of times to detonate them.) Lloyd was discharged while on furlough in May 1945 during which VE Day was celebrated in America.. He began employment as a mechanic for Vic Stasser in Haigler, NE. Later he opened his own mechanics shop which he operated until poor health forced him to stop. He died June 12, 1999 and was buried in the Haigler Cemetery. He never married. (Alice (Crabtree) Gregory Clippings, submitted by Sherri Gregory) CRABTREE, MINNIE B. MINNIE B. CRABTREE Minnie Belle Harvey, daughter of David S. and Minerva Alice Harvey, was born June 17, 1886 in Monroe township, Kosciousco County, Warsaw, Indiana. She passed from this life early on the morning of February 6, 1956. Her mother died in 1887, while she was an infant. Her father was remarried to Ella Arnold and the family moved to Cheyenne county Kansas, in 1890. Her childhood was spent in pioneer existence here on the great high plains of the United States. Her education was secured in the public schools of Cheyenne County. She was united in marriage with Hurley Peter Crabtree on April 16, 1910 at St. Francis, Kansas. To this union were born: Harvey William, Albert Lewis, Kenneth Hurly, Almeda Alice and Betty Jane. Her lifetime has been spent in this community as it has developed into a progressive agricultural center. The transition from pioneer to modern times has taken place during her lifetime. She was preceded in death by her mother and stepmother, her husband, Hurley P. Crabtree, who died on May 2, 1945. Surviving are her father, David S. Harvey, St. Francis, her children, Harvey W. of Robbins, Calif.; Albert L. St. Francis; Kenneth H. St. Francis; Mrs. Almeda A. Langdon, South Gate, Calif.; and Mrs. Betty J. Halley, Scottsbluff, Nebr.; her brothers, Arnold Harvey and John L. Harvey of St. Francis, and her sisters Mrs. Mae Goodell of St. Frances, and Mrs. Fairy Holliman of Beaver Creek, Oregon. Besides there are eleven grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends. On March 24, 1940, Mrs. Crabtree answered the call of Christ, whom she accepted as her Savior. She was baptized in the Christian church at St. Francis and was faithful until her passing, peacefully on the morning of February 5, 1956. Services were held from the Christian church in St. Francis, Thursday, February 9, at 2 o’clock with the Rev. A. E. Webb officiating. Interment was in the St. Francis Cemetery. ~The St. Francis Herald, February ??, 1956 (Alice (Crabtree) Gregory Clippings, submitted by Sherri Gregory) CRABTREE, SEREPTA Obituary of Serepta Crabtree Serepta Crabtree, who formerly lived in Minden, passed away in Lincoln, on February 2 at the age 87 years, 1 month 17 days. Miss Crabtree came from Ohio in the early days, one of a family of eleven children. She received her high school education at Ashland, and obtained her degree from Peru State Normal. She taught in Lincoln and Beatrice for 16 years, then taught in the Denver, Colorado schools for 26 years, retiring at the age of 62 years. She made her home in Douglas, Nebr., later moving to Minden, where she lived until, failing health placed her in the hospital. She was a member of the First Christian church in Denver. Funeral services were held Sunday in the Christian church in Douglas. She leaves to mourn her passing, her two sisters and two brothers, Able Crabtree, of Minden, Mrs. Elizabeth Pate, former resident of Minden, now of Haigler, Mrs. Cora O’Brien, North Platte, and Frank Crabtree, Haigler. She was an aunt of Mrs. Harold Jones. Clipping from Minden, Nebraska newspaper, date unknown Family File Note: Birthdate: December 15, 1868, Portsmouth, Scioto, Ohio; death: February 2, 1956, Minden, Nebraska; Burial: Douglas, Nebraska. Family File Note: Able Crabtree lived at Douglas, Nebraska at the time of Serepta's death. Family File Note: Mrs. Harold Jones was Able and Becky Crabtree’s daughter Sarah Maude Crabtree (Maude) SEREPTA CRABTREE BURIED AT DOUGLAS, NEB. Mrs. Elizabeth Pate and Frank Crabtree returned to Haigler Nebr., Monday evening after attending the funeral of their sister Miss Serepta Crabtree at Douglas, Nebr. Serepta will be remembered by all the old timers of the hackberry neighborhood as she taught the Rattlesnake Gulch School in the very early nineties. She was the daughter of Peter and Sarah Crabtree and was born near Portsmouth, Ohio in 1868. Miss Crabtree graduated from high school at Ashland, Nebr., when her oldest brother, J. W. Crabtree, was superintendent of the schools there. She also finished college at Peru, Nebr., when her brother was president of that college. Forty-two years of her life were spent teaching school, thirty-two years of which were in the same room in the Denver schools. Few people have had more friends and fewer enemies, and few have exerted a greater influence for good than has Serepta Crabtree. Of a family of six boys and five girls only two boys and two girls remain. They are Abel of Douglas, Frank and Mrs. Elizabeth Pate of Haigler and Mrs. Cora O’Brien of North Platte, Nebraska. ~The Haigler News. (Alice (Crabtree) Gregory Clippings, submitted by Sherri Gregory) MYERS, HESTER IRENE (EBERHART) Hester Irene (Eberhart) Myers March24, 1912- July16, 2005 Hester Irene Eberhart was born March24, 1912, on the family farm northwest of St. Francis, Kan. She died on Friday, July 16, 2005, in St. Francis at the age of 93. Hester was the fifth child born to Philip Meyers and Ernestine (Feikert) Eberharton the same family farm in which Hester lived the majority of her life. On Oct. 5, 1935, she was united in marriage to Delbert (Deb) R. Myers in Colby. This marriage was blessed by two sons, Rodney Delbert and Roger Paul. In 1942, Deb and Hess moved to the family farm and continued to farm until Deb’s death in 1997. They celebrated 61 years of love and labor. Hess was a true farmer’s wife and worked side by side with Deb in their love for the farm and the land. Until the day Hess died she always had a twinkle in her eyes whenever she spoke of her husband Deb. Their love was one of which all hope for in a marriage of such longevity. Hess was a member of the United Methodist Church and also of the Women’s Society of Christian Service until her health began to fail. Hess was a strong German woman in both her faith and the love of her family. She lived for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were the most important thing in her life and she cherished every moment with them. Hess was the last survivor of nine children. Those preceding her in death were her husband, Delbert (Deb) Myers; her parents, Philip and Ernestine Eberhart; siblings, Bertha, Ruben, Olga, Rudy, Ted, Alice, Robert and Mildred. Those that mourn her passing are Rodney, St. Francis, Roger and Jody of Harrisonville, Mo.; grandchildren Alisa (Steve) Henkens of Wausaw, Wis,, Jeff Myers of Omaha, Neb., Lori (Lynn) Stover, Colby; Kevin (Paige) Myers of Cleveland, Mo.; great-grandchildren, Halsey, Calen and Nicholas Henkens, Tucker, Landon and Shane and Ethan Stover and Cassidy Myers, relatives and friends. Funeral services were held on July 20 at the United Methodist church, St. Francis with Reverend Morita Truman officiating. Casket bearers were grandsons and great-grandsons: Jeff Myers, Kevin Myers, Ethan Stover, Tucker Stover, Shane Stover, Landon Stover. Interment was in the St Francis Cemetery. Arrangements by Knodel Funeral Home, St Francis. A part of me will feel empty when you leave this place in my life. A place where I laughed with you. A place where I cried with you. A place where It shared my special thoughts with you, and you with me. But the emptiness will not seem so large for the memories I will fill it with. Thanks for all the great memories Gram. We love you! Ich liebe dich Family File Note: Clipping found in Alice Gregory’s files. Irene was a friend in High School. (Alice (Crabtree) Gregory Clippings, submitted by Sherri Gregory) PATE, GEORGE STANDARD, AXTELL, KS. A Tribute In the passing of our friend and neighbor, the late Geo. Pate, his wife suffered the loss of a kind and loving husband, the community an exemplary citizen, the neighbors a highly esteemed mans’ sterling worth and the writer a friend and pal difficult to replace. In the few short years our acquaintance with George ripened into friendship and mutual esteem. His ever pleasant accommodating manner, his kindly way and cheery greeting was something to look forward to as each day dawned; he surely spread sunshine while he lived. His pretty home, the former Sidwell property on Popular Street, consisting of a full half block, was a model of neatness with its young orchard, large garden and poultry yards. Tho a very busy man at his home, he always had time to assist wherever needed and his service gave the best of satisfaction. It was his delight to be the first to present the writer’s family, living next door, with the first of his early garden products, thus adding to the comfort and joy of having such a fine neighbor and generous friend. George is gone, never to return and we shall miss him and mourn his passing. But the memory of this good man shall live and blossom until time is no more. May these few words, altho inadequate to express our loss, may soften the pain his departure caused his loved ones and in a small way strengthen them to carry on until the final reunion above. --The Editor and Family Family File Note: George Pate was married to Elizabeth Crabtree, dau. Of Peter and Sarah (Williams) Crabtree. (Alice (Crabtree) Gregory Clippings, submitted by Sherri Gregory) BOOTH, WILLIAM EDWIN William Edwin Booth, 79, 13348 36th Place, died here Friday. He was born April 2, 1908 in Frances, Kan. He held a B.S. degree from Peru State College in Nebraska, masters degree in botany from the University of Oklahoma and a Ph.D. in botanical science from the University of Kansas. He had been a professor of botany for 37 years and retired in 1972 as professor emeritus from Montana State University. Booth was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church in Yuma and in Bozeman, Mont. He was a past state president of Montana PTA and member of the Phi Kappa Phi honorary education society. He and his wife came to Yuma after retirement and built their home in the Foothills. He conducted desert tours and gave lectures on desert flora to winter visitors. He is survived by his wife Catherine; sons Dr. David Booth of Spring Valley, N.Y., and Richard of Spokane, Wash.; sister Anita Seylar of Fountain, Colo., and six grandchildren. A memorial service will be held 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Gerard Kuiper officiating. Burial will be in the Wellton Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to [end of clipping] (The Yuma Daily Sun) (Alice (Crabtree) Gregory Clippings, submitted by Sherri Gregory) STAFFORD, LEWIS (LUTE) MINOT Lute Stafford Moved Here in a Covered Wagon Lewis (Lute) Minot Stafford was born June 17, 1890, near Huntsville, Arkansas, to Jobe Stafford and Sarah (Lewis) Stafford, and departed this life on December 11, 1983, at St. Anthony North Hospital in Northglenn, Colorado, at the age of 93. Lute was the youngest of five children. He had three older brothers and one sister. At the age of about nine, the family moved by covered wagon from Arkansas to near Haigler, Nebraska, and here he attended school. About 1910, Jobe and Sarah took claim on a homestead south of Parks and Lute took claim on a homestead across the Kansas &Nebraska state line two miles west of his parents. Thereafter he met and married Georgiana Bartlett in 1913. On this homestead, they raised their four children. Later, the farm was sold and Lute and Georgia moved to Parks where he ran the grain elevator. They then bought and ran the store in Parks. For a few years, they spent the winters in California. Georgiana passed away December 16, 1965, and after this Lute sold the home in Parks and moved to a home in Haigler. He married a schoolmate of 65 years before, Clara Jenkins, and they lived together only ten months before her death. Preceding him in death were his parents, his two wives, one granddaughter, one grandson, brothers, Bill, Joe and Lock; his only sister, Eva, and one son-in-law. He leaves to mourn his passing two daughters, Esther Roberts and husband, Howard, of Placervllle, California, and Margaret Hightower of Commerce City, Colorado; two sons, Larry and wife, Clara, of Northglenn, Colorado, and R.K. “Bud” of El Dorado Springs, Missouri; a sister- in-law, Pearl Caldwell of Goodland, Kansas; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends. Funeral services were held Friday, December 16, 1983, at 1:30 p.m. at Jones Funeral Chapel in Benkelman with the Rev. Robert Sander officiating. Organist Elaine Blank accompanied Kelly Hayward with the selections “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Nearer My God To Thee.” Bearers were Robert Hardwick, John Ham, Tom Roundtree, Max Cline, Dudley Blank and Hal Tecker. Interment was in the St. Francis Cemetery at St. Francis, Kansas. Arrangements were by Jones Funeral Home of Benkelman. ~The Benkelman Post, December 21, 1983 LEWIS M. STAFFORD Born: June 17, 1890 Huntsville, Arkansas Died: December 11, 1983 St. Anthony North Hospital Northglenn, Colorado Services: Friday, December 16, 1983 1:30 P.M. Jones Funeral Chapel Benkelman, Nebraska Clergy: Rev. Robert Sander Organist: Elaine Blank Soloist: Kelly Hayward Selections: “The Old Rugged Cross” “Nearer My God To Thee” Bearers: Robert Hardwick, John Ham Tom Roundtree, Max Clime Dudley Bank, Hal Tecker Interment: St. Francis Cemetery St. Francis, Kansas Funeral Conducted by JONES FUNERAL HOME, INC. Benkelman, Nebraska ~Memory Card given at funeral (Alice (Crabtree) Gregory Clippings, submitted by Sherri Gregory)