W. Harry Christy 1893 - 1986

CHRISTY CONNER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/21/2014 at 21:02:29

Sioux City Journal
30 June 1986

W. Harry Christy, founder of funeral homes, dies at 93

W. Harry Christy, founder of the W. Harry Christy Funeral homes in Sioux City, died Monday at his home in Pico Rivera, Calif. He was 93.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. today in Morrow Pico Rivera Funeral Home. The Rev. Roger Koen will officiate. The body will be cremated.

Mr. Christy was born April 1, 1893, in Sioux City and attended Sioux City schools. He worked for the Gunn Funeral Home at an early age and was a street corner newsboy for The Sioux City Journal. He graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago in 1911.

Mr. Christy then served as a funeral director for funeral homes at Akron and Alton, Iowa and at Tekamah, Neb. In 1921, he returned to Sioux City and founded the W. Harry Christy Funeral Home in Morningside. Around 1940, he established the W. Harry Christy Funeral Home at 711 Myrtle St.

Mr. Christy was a member of state and national funeral directors associations. He was awarded the W.W. Chambers Memorial Award in 1956 by the Advertising Funeral Directors of America.

He married Laura Conner June 10, 1946, in Sioux Falls, S.D. The couple made their home in Sioux City until moving to California upon his retirement in 1961.

Mr. Christy was a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Morningside Lodge and Sioux City Consistory. He also was a member of the Lions Club, Morningside Commercial Club and High 12. He was very active in civic affairs and was on the committee that established the first swimming pool, Lewis Pool, in Morningside.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Robert (Nancy) MacReynolds of Sioux City and Mrs. Robert (Chris) Schaller of Solvang, Calif.; seven grandchildren and 12, great-grandchildren.