Obituaries
submitted by: Julia Johnson - julia.johnson63@gmail.com

 [Kemery, Katherine Dorothea Hillers]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    October 8, 1964    p. 4

Mrs. Roy Kemery Rites Sept. 28

Funeral services for Mrs. Roy (Katherine) Hillers Kemery of Lenox were held Sept. 28 at the Bender Funeral Home in Lenox.  Mrs. Kemery died at her home in Lenox Sept. 26 at the age of 58 years, eight days, after a two-month illness.  Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Lenox.

Katherine Dorothea Hillers, daughter of Karl [Herman] and Anna [Margaret Heitmann] Hillers, was born at Blockton, Iowa, on September 18, 1906, where she spent her youth.

On May 16, 1925, she was united in marriage to Roy Kemery at Grant City, Mo.

To this union was born five children:  Norma James of Lenox, Shirley Dodson of Kansas City, Connie Mains of Sharpsburg, Rosemary Kemery of Kansas City and Daniel Kemery of the U. S. Army.

The first 17 years of their married life they made their home at Athelstan, Iowa, moving to Lenox in 1942.

She was preceded in death by her parents Karl [Herman] and Anna [Margaret Heitmann] Hillers, one brother Christe Hillers, 2 grandchildren, Clara Katherine and Keith Raymond James.

Survivors are Roy Kemery of Lenox, Keith and Norma James of Lenox, Shirley and Homer Dodson, Mary K. John, and Margaret Ann of Kansas City, Mo., Gene and Connie Mains and Scotty of Sharpsburg, Daniel Kemery of the U. S. Army, Rosemary Kemery of Kansas City; one brother, George Hillers of Blockton; one sister, Mary Jennings, of West Branch, Iowa; also a host of other relatives and friends.

She was a loving and wonderful mother who will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

[Hillers, Anna Margaret Heitmann]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    July 31, 1958    p. 5

Mrs. Anna Hillers Of Blockton Dies

Funeral services for Mrs. Anna Hillers were held at the Methodist church in Blockton, Monday afternoon, July 28, Rev. Clarence Moore of Clarinda officiating.  Burial in Rose Hill Cemetery at Blockton.

Anna Margaret Heitmann was born in Bremen, Germany, December 31, 1876, and died July 26, 1958, at the age of 81 years, five months, 26 days.  Her early years were spent in Germany, coming to America with an older brother in 1900 and [they] started farming south of Blockton in 1902.

She was married to Karl Herman Hillers in 1904.  To them were born four children: George Hillers of Blockton, Katie Kemery [Katherine Dorothea] of Lenox, Mary Jennings of West Branch, Iowa, Christe Hillers of Blockton.

Most of her life was spent on the farm, where she provided a Christian home and community life along with higher education for her children.  During World War II she moved into Blockton, where she lived until she received an injury in February 1957.

She leaves to mourn her passing her two sons and two daughters, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.  She united with the Lutheran church when a small girl in Germany.

[Moore, Willis Knox]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    July 31, 1958    p. 5

Willis K. Moore Dies In Oklahoma

Willis K. [nox] Moore, 90, retired attorney and former resident of Bedford, died recently at his home in Ponca City, Oklahoma.  Last rites were at Ponca City.  Members of Ponca Masonic Lodge were in charge of the rites at the graveside in the I. O. O. F. cemetery.

Moore, son of Samuel [John Edward] and [Adaline] Victoria Moore, was born July 20, 1868, in Knoxville, Ill., and spent his childhood near Bedford.  He attended the Bedford schools and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, serving as president of his graduating class.

Before going to Ponca City 58 years ago, he practiced law in Chicago, and also in Bedford and Mount Ayr, Iowa.  He and Mrs. Moore, the former Miss Bess Alcorn, who died in 1952, were married in Bedford Dec. 25, 1900.

A former city attorney and justice of the peace, Moore was associated with the Marland Oil CompanyÕs legal department from 1916 until 1929 when he resumed his active practice.  He suffered an injury in 1956 and for the past 2 ½ years had been bedfast.

For many years Moore was prominent in Kay County (Okla.) Democratic circles.  He also was an active member of the Masonic Lodge and was a past Worshipful Master.

He is survived by a son, Knox Moore of Ponca City; a daughter, Mrs. Glen Nelson of Tulsa; two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Thomas and Mrs. Linnie Perryton of Norwalk, Calif.; three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.     

                  [MOORE, WILLIS KNOX]
Ponca City News (Ponca City, Oklahoma), Friday, July 18, 1958
Retired Attorney, Willis K. Moore, Is Taken by Death
Willis K. Moore, a resident of Ponca City the past 58 years, died at his home, 118 South Osage, early today after an illness of 2 ½ years.
He was born July 20, 1868, at Harpers Ferry, Ill., and would have been 90 years old Sunday.
Moore was a retired attorney and was at one time head of the legal department of the Marland Oil Company. Later he had a private practice in Ponca City.
Surviving are one son, Knox Moore, 118 South Osage; a daughter, Mrs. Gwen Nelson of Tulsa; two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Thomas and Mrs. Linnie Perryton of Norwalk, Calif. and four grandchildren. Mrs. Moore preceded him in death on May 16, 1952.
Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced by E. M. Trout and Sons Funeral Home.
        

[Moore, Samuel Wells]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday    December 11, 1924

Samuel Wells Moore

Samuel Wells Moore was born on the 20th day of December 1858 at Knoxville, Illinois and passed away on the 16th day of November 1924, at the age of 65 years, 10 months and 26 days.

He was the son of John Edward and Adaline Victoria Moore.  At the age of 15 years he moved with his parents from Illinois to Bedford, Iowa, where he resided until after his marriage to [Lois] Celenda [Celinda] Payton in the year 1893.   In 1907 he moved to Conway Springs, Kansas where he resided until he came to Valley Junction [Iowa] in 1909.  There was born to Mr. and Mrs. Moore two children, Gale and Grace, who survive him.  Gale married Fred Chiles and resides in Ft. Des Moines.  Grace married Roscoe Herman and resides in Valley Junction [Iowa].

Mr. Moore was a member of a family of eight children, four boys and four girls, six of whom survive him.  Mrs. Clara Fink resides at Sheridan, Wyoming, Scott Moore at Sheridan, Wyoming, Elmer Moore at Reed Point, Montana, Mrs. Minnie Thomas at Norfolk, California, Mrs. Linnie Hoover at Nampa, Idaho, and Willis K. [nox] Moore at Ponca City, Oklahoma.

Mr. Moore during his married life was a home loving man, devoting his life to his family.  He was a kind and loving husband and a tender and unselfish father.  In the community he was esteemed and respected by all who knew him.  To his friends he was always kind and generous.  His advice and council was always good and sound and eagerly sought and freely given.  In his business relations he was honest, just and upright, never seeking to take advantage of others for his own gain or benefit.  He was a good man.

[The same obituary was published in the Bedford Times-Republican, December 4, 1924.]

[Moore, Lois Celinda Payton]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    April 22, 1943    p. 8

Mrs. Celinda Moore Dies In Des Moines

Mrs. [Lois] Celinda [Payton] Moore, 85, died at her home near Des Moines on Thursday, April 15, after an illness of ten months with cancer.  The funeral services were held at Norwalk Monday and burial made there.

Mrs. Moore was a resident of the Bedford community for many years, having resided on the farm south of town now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Butts, where she and her husband [Samuel Wells Moore] began housekeeping when they were married.  She was a sister of the late Mrs. Sarah Butts of Bedford.

[Alcorn, John Scott]

Times-Republican

Thursday    March 15, 1923

Scott Alcorn Joins Silent Ranks

Former Bedford Citizen Dies At His Home in Ponca, Ok., On Monday Afternoon After Illness of About A Year

Word was received in this city Monday evening by relatives and friends that [John] Scott Alcorn, aged 67 years, a former well known Bedford citizen, but for the past 12 years a resident of Ponca [City], Okla., had died at his home in that city about 4:30 p. m. Monday after a protracted illness of about a year.  About six months ago, so it is reported, Mr. Alcorn underwent an operation at a Kansas City hospital for stomach troubles, and from this operation he never fully recovered, passing away as above stated, surrounded by his wife and two children, who survive him.  Funeral services were held from the family home in that city on Wednesday, Mar. 14th, and interment made in the cemetery at that place.

But few people who have lived here for 20 years or more can fail to remember jolly, jovial, genial Scott Alcorn.  He was of a sunny disposition and made friends from the start with all with whom he came in contact.  Scott Alcorn first came to Bedford some 45 years ago, being engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and while here was the state manager of the Hawkeye Insurance Co., one of the best known insurance companies operating in the state at that time.  In the year 1902 Mr. Alcorn was brought out for the office of Mayor of Bedford, but on March 31st of that year, a few days before the election, he withdrew from the race, his business at that time taking up all his time.  In 1879 he was married here to Miss Sarah [Alice] Singleton of this place, and a sister of Clay Singleton of this city.  To this union were born two children, John and Bessie, both of whom are now married and live in Oklahoma.

About 12 years ago Mr. Alcorn moved to Oklahoma and striking it lucky in the oil fields amassed a neat fortune, and retired from active business about two years ago.  When the news of his death was spread about the city, it cast a pall of gloom over the town, for all that knew Scott Alcorn thought that he had many years yet to travel, but to be cut down in the very prime of life at 67 years of age was a total surprise to all.

Scott Alcorn will be missed by many about him, for on his frequent pilgrimages to this city, he always had a cheering word for everybody, and was known as one of the most even-tempered men in any locality.  He counted his friends by the score here where he was well known, and in his adopted state of Oklahoma was favorably mentioned as a candidate for congress from his district, but about the time the campaign came on was taken ill and then refused to permit his name to be used.

In the passing of Scott Alcorn, many here in Bedford lose a staunch friend, and at his home, he leaves a loving wife and two children to mourn his untimely taking off.  The sympathy of kind friends here is extended to the bereaved ones.

[Alcorn, John Scott]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday     March 22, 1923    [p. 1]

MORE CONCERNING DEATH OF FORMER BEDFORD MAN

Scott Alcorn’s Obituary; Many Tributes Paid Deceased.

Since announcing the sad news of the death of Scott Alcorn in our issue of last week, copies of Oklahoma papers have come to our hands and below we print excerpts from them giving more of the details of the funeral, the tributes paid him by friends and his obituary.

It happened that on the day of the funeral of Mr. Alcorn, a quarterly meeting of the directors of the Marland Oil Company was being held in Arkansas City, Oklahoma. Immediately following the meeting a special train was chartered and the run from Arkansas City to Ponca City made in 30 minutes that the Marland officials might reach there in time to attend funeral services of Scott Alcorn, father of John Alcorn, vice-president and director of the Marland firm.

A procession one-half mile long was silent evidence of respect and friendship of fellow-citizens for Scott Alcorn, who died Monday afternoon, at his funeral held at the Methodist church Wednesday afternoon, March 14th.

Beautiful wreaths of roses and sprays of spring flowers and Easter lilies covered the pulpit, the altar, the organ loft rails and made of the platform a bower of blossoms. A quartet sang "Onward Christian Soldiers," "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" and "Abide With Me."

Rev. C. N. Hewitt took his text from the Biblical verse "If a man dies he shall live again."

Burial was made in the mausoleum of the I. O. O. F. cemetery where a crypt is in the possession of the Alcorn family.

Scott Alcorn—A Tribute.

The stealthy footfalls of the dark winged messenger have been heard upon the threshold of the home of Scott Alcorn, and taken from that home a matchless husband, a kind and indulgent father, and from the city of Ponca City one of its good citizens.

Scott Alcorn died at his home in Ponca City, Okla., on March 12, 1923, at the age of 67 years. Until the past four or five years he lived a strenuous life, realizing that life was a battlefield; but whether in the forefront or the quiet bivouac, he met conditions in a fair open field and won or lost with the conscientious convictions of right as he knew the right.

I have known Scott Alcorn 45 years and I never knew of a mean motive in his makeup; he did right because it was right, not through fear of punishment or hope of reward, but from a high sense of honor.

But now he is dead and he died as he lived; he met the pitiless, unrelenting harbinger with his usual fortitude and said to those about him: "I believe I am going to leave you" and the wish that prompted the expression, "No, no!" came from the hearts and lips of those who loved him and whom he loved and he said, "good bye." He smiled and bade the world adieu and passed into the unknown and the unknowable eternity.

Scott Alcorn was brave because he took a stand for right and made a fight to maintain his position; he died without a flinch, without a murmur.

It does not require much bravery to live, but it takes heroism to die without a murmur.

It seems to us that he must have caught his inspiration from the grand old bard who said: 'So live, that when the summons comes to join that innumerable caravan, where each must take his chamber in the silent halls of death, Thou go not like the quarry slaves, scourged to his dungeon, but soothed and sustained by that unfaltering trust, like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams."

D. LAFE HuBBER,

Fairfax, Okla.

[Alcorn, John Scott]

Bedford Free Press

Thursday     March 22, 1923    [p. 1]

Obituary—John Scott Alcorn

John Scott Alcorn was born June 13, 1856, at Drury's Landing, Ill. He grew to manhood in Washington county, Iowa, living there continuously except for a two years trip to Smith county, Kans., with his uncle. He married Sarah Alice Singleton of Johnston county, Iowa, in 1879, and they removed to Clark county, Kansas in 1885, living there for four years when they returned to Bedford, Iowa, where they resided until 1911, moving to Ponca City in the spring of that year, which has been their home since.

Mr. Alcorn was in good health all his life until about six months ago when the first symptoms of heart aneurism developed which resulted finally in his death on the afternoon of March 12. He would have been 67 years old on June 13 of this year. He leaves a wife, daughter and son, all of Ponca City, and a sister living in Fairfax. There was a son, Karl, who will be the first to welcome him on the other shore, Karl having died when 15 years old in Bedford, Iowa, 1902.

[Alcorn, Sarah Alice Singleton]

 Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    December 2, 1943    p. 8

Mrs. Scott Alcorn Dies

Mrs. [John] Scott Alcorn [Sarah Alice Singleton], a former resident of Bedford, died at a hospital in Ponca City, Oklahoma last week, following an operation for appendicitis.  She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Willis Moore [Bessie] of Ponca City.

[ALCORN, SARAH ALICE SINGLETON]
Ponca City News (Ponca City, Oklahoma), Friday, November 12, 1943
Pioneer Resident, Mrs. Alcorn, Dies; Sunday Rites Set
Funeral services for Mrs. Sarah Alice Alcorn, 83, pioneer resident of Ponca City, will be held at 2:30 p. m., Sunday, at the First Methodist church. The Rev. Phil Deschner, pastor, will conduct the services.
Mrs. Alcorn died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. K. Moore, northeast of Ponca City, early Thursday. She had been seriously ill six weeks and in failing health a year.
Born March 12, 1860, in Iowa City, Iowa, she had been a resident of the Ponca City area 30 years. Her husband, the late Scott Alcorn, died in 1926. Mrs. Alcorn was active in work of the Methodist church.
Her only survivors are Mrs. Moore, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Two sons, John Alcorn and Carl Alcorn, preceded her in death.
Burial will be in the Ponca City mausoleum under the direction of the E. M. Trout & Sons funeral home.

[ALCORN, SARAH ALICE SINGLETON]
Ponca City News (Ponca City, Oklahoma), Sunday, November 14, 1943
Mrs. Alcorn Services To Be Conducted Today
Funeral services for Mrs. Sarah Alice Alcorn, 83, northeast of Ponca City, will be held at 2:30 p. m. Sunday at the First Methodist church. The Rev. Phil Deschner, pastor, will conduct the services.
Casket bearers will be Joe R. Vance, T. J. Cuzalina, Earl Eaton, W. A. Hubler, John Scott Alcorn and Willis Knox Moore, jr.
Burial will be in the Ponca City mausoleum under the direction of the E. M. Trout & Sons funeral home.
Mrs. Alcorn, longtime resident of the community, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W. K. Moore, northeast of Ponca City, Thursday.

[Alcorn, Karl S.]

Times-Republican

Thursday    May 15, 1902    p. 7

All that was earthly of Carl [Karl S.] Alcorn was taken to Lexington Cemetery this afternoon for interment.  Rev. E. N. Ware, by request of deceased, conducted the services at the residence.

[Hillers, Georgia Serepta Yarger Tamerius]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    October 3, 1968    p. 3

Mrs. Geo. Hillers Rites Sept. 25

Funeral services for Mrs. George (Georgia) Hillers of Blockton, held September 25 at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home in Bedford, were conducted by Rev. George W. Swan and Rev. Bobby Pinkerton.  Mrs. Hillers died September 22 at Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr.  Interment was at Rose Hill Cemetery, Blockton.

Georgia Sarapeta [Serepta] Hillers, oldest daughter of Mary [Adaline Tackett] and Frank [Ashton] Yarger, was born December 3, 1921 at Rosendale, Mo., where she spent her childhood and attained her education.

She united with the Rosendale Baptist church in 1936 and was a faithful member until she moved her membership to the Blockton Baptist Chapel.

On February 18, 1954 at Aberdeen, Miss., she was united in marriage to George F. Hillers.  After a time spent in Tampa, Fla., they have made their home in Blockton.

She was preceded in death by her father, Frank, on March 6, 1940.

She is survived by her husband, George of Blockton; mother, Mary Yarger of Rosendale, Mo.; sister, Jonelle Wilson of Whitesville, Mo.; half-brother, Roy Kemery of Lenox; many other relatives and a host of friends.

[Kemery, Roy]

Bedford Times-Press

October 25, 1962    p. 5

Roy Kemery Rites Oct. 22

Services for Roy Kemery, 69, were held Oct. 22 at the State Street Shum-Novinger Funeral Home with Rev. Colvin Caughey officiating.  Burial was in Forest Grove cemetery.  Mr. Kemery died at his home near Bedford, Fri., Oct. 19.

Included in the service was the following obituary:

Roy Kemery, son of [Elias] Andrew and Ermina [Hays] Kemery, was born in Taylor County, Iowa on June 21, 1893.  On Feb. 15, 1920 he was married to Hattie Risser and to this union three children were born, all of whom died in infancy.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, who died in 1945.

He is survived by his brother Karl Kemery of Bedford and a nephew, Charles Kemery of Omaha, and a cousin John Kemery of Villisca.

Mr. Kemery was a veteran of World War I.

[Newkirk, Clara Taylor]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    June 25, 1942    p. 8

Mrs. Lee Newkirk dies In Oklahoma

Word has been received in Bedford of the death of Mrs. Lee Newkirk [Clara Taylor] at her home in Enid, Oklahoma on May 5.  Mrs. Newkirk was born and reared in Taylor County, being a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Taylor, pioneer residents of this community.

She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Nellie Johnston of Enid, Okla.; three sons, Court, Fern and Troy Newkirk, all of Enid; two sisters, Mrs. Eva Craig of Kansas City, Mo., and Mrs. Sid Bradley of Bedford; and one brother, Bert Taylor of Lenox.

The funeral services were held at the Heninger Funeral Home in Enid, conducted by Rev. J. N. Sours, pastor of the Central Christian Church in that city, of which she had been a member for many years.  Burial was at Enid.

[Ewart, Mary, Mrs.]

Taylor Country Republican

Saturday    February 2, 1878    p. 3

----Mrs. Mary Ewart, residing near Mormontown, died on Thursday afternoon at 2 oÕclock, aged about forty years.

[Croy, Walter]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday     April 27, 1950    [p. 1]

Walter Croy Died At Hospital Monday

Walter Croy, 68, who had been ill for several months, was taken to the Municipal Hospital, Clarinda, Monday morning and passed away just before midnight the same day, April 17.

The funeral services were held at the Shum Funeral Home Thursday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Ben W. Sinderson.  Burial was at Red Oak.

Walter Croy, son of Lemphus Croy and Lucinda Northout Croy, was born near Coburg, Iowa, October 9, 1882, being aged 67 years, 6 months, 8 days at the time of his death.  He lived at Coburg until young manhood.

He was married to Mabel Copeland, October 23, 1903.  To them one child, Gertrude Scott, was born.

He spent a number of years homesteading in Montana.  In 1915, he was married to Lillian Peacock, who preceded him in death in 1939.

For many years he was street and water commissioner, also city marshal, at Essex, Iowa.  In November 1942, he went to Omaha to work in a defense plant.  He was married to Ethel Shehan June 1, 1943.

He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife, Ethel; two daughters, Gertrude Scott of Red Oak and Opal Santana of Seattle, Washington; two sisters, Mrs. Martha McBride of Shenandoah and Mrs. Bertha Burgquist of Sterling, Colorado; two brothers, Jesse Croy of Essex and Sam Croy of Fort Collins, Colorado; one granddaughter, Betty McWhirter of Red Oak.  Two sisters and four brothers preceded him in death.

[Croy, Ethel Blanche Martin Shehan Stafford]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    May 16, 1968    [p. 1]

Mrs. Ethel Croy Rites Today

Funeral services for Mrs. Ethel Croy of Bedford will be held today (Thurs.) at 2 p. m. at the east Shum-Novinger Funeral Home.  Mrs. Croy died May 14 at Clarinda Municipal Hospital.

[Croy, Ethel Blanche Martin Shehan Stafford]

Bedford Times-Press

Thursday    May 23, 1968    p. 2

Final Rites Held May 16 For Mrs. Ethel Croy

Funeral services for Mrs. Ethel Croy, 73, of Bedford were held May 16 at Shum-Novinger Funeral Home here, conducted by Carl Cummings.  Mrs. Croy died May 14 at Clarinda Municipal Hospital.  Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Bedford.

Ethel Blanche Martin, daughter of Jacob [Waller] and Mary Ann Bradley [Miller] Martin, was born October 19, 1894 at Lexington, Lafayette County, Missouri.  She moved with her parents to Bedford in her early youth and attended Bedford High School and was active in the various community activities.

On March 21, 1916 she was baptized and united with the Christian Church in Bedford under the ministry of Rev. C. H. Mattes.

She was united in marriage to Earnest John Shehan on May 23, 1914 at the home of the brideÕs parents.  To them were born two daughters and two sons.

Mr. Shehan was a railroad depot agent and they lived at Hopkins, Mo., McPherson, Iowa, Nodaway, Iowa, Corning, Iowa and Bedford.  Mr. ShehanÕs health failed and the family shared the responsibilities together.  He passed away in 1940.

On June 1, 1943 she was united in marriage to Walter Croy and they returned to make Bedford their home in 1946 where she has continued to reside.  Mr. Croy passed away in 1950.

Also preceding her in death were her parents, an infant daughter, Mary Geraldine, a son, Ernest John, who served his country as a radio gunner in World War II and who was killed in action over German occupied France prior to the battle of the Bulge.  He is buried in a Government Cemetery in France; a sister, Mrs. Geraldine Hill, two brothers, Robert and Marion [Bradley] Martin; two grandchildren who died in infancy.

Left to cherish memories are her daughter, Maymie Argella Lewis, and her husband F. [rench] H. (Tobby) of Red Oak, Iowa; a son, Robert M. [artin] Shehan and his wife, Ethel of Bedford; nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren; two brothers, William C. [arlos] Martin of Bedford and Walter Jacob Martin of Wickenburg, Arizona, one sister, Mrs. Luella [Rachael] Dunn of Bedford; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mrs. Shehan was a loving mother, kind friend and neighbor.  She will be missed by her family and friends.

[Shehan, Earnest John, 1947-2002]

Bedford Times-Press

Wednesday    April 3, 2002    p. 5

Earnest John Shehan

Funeral services for John Shehan, age 54, of Lenox, who died Sunday, March 24, 2002, were held Thursday, March 28, 2002, at 11:00 a. m., at the Lenox Christian Church.   Interment was held in the North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox.  Military rites were accorded by the Lenox American Legion Post No. 250.  Memorials can be given in JohnÕs name.  Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox.

Earnest John Shehan was born July 20, 1947 in Maryville, Missouri, the son of Robert M. [artin] Shehan and Ethel [Mae] Newkirk Hanshaw.  John grew up in the Bedford area, graduating in 1965.  He entered the United States Air Force in August of 1965.  On May 20, 1967 he was united in marriage to Barbara [Lee] Lillie at the Christian Church in Lenox, Iowa.  The couple moved to the Philippines where John was stationed.  In 1969 they moved to Glenwood for a short time.  They returned to Lenox from 1969 to 1974, moving to Albany, Missouri to live until 1981.  The family moved to Austin, Texas, returning to Lenox in 1986 where they opened and operated the Lenox Cafˇ until 1993 when JohnÕs health forced him to retire.  After retirement he spent most of his time raising his horses.  JohnÕs wife Barb passed away in September of 2001.  He later met Dee Ann Thompson and they were married March 19, 2002, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

John loved to play cards, especially 500, Three Card Poker and Black Jack.  He enjoyed golfing and playing snooker.  JohnÕs greatest passion was to be outside with his horses.  He thoroughly enjoyed being around people and especially his family.  He had a great sense of humor and he liked to make people laugh.  Always ready with a joke or a story to share, John always looked forward to time spent teasing the kids.

John was a member of the Albany Baptist Church.  He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, the Lenox Saddle Club, the Albany, Missouri Saddle Club and the Lenox American Legion Post No. 250.

Left to cherish JohnÕs memory are his mother, Ethel Hanshaw and husband, Cliff of Bedford, his wife, Dee Ann of Oskaloosa; four children, Stephanie Marckmann and husband, Jim, Lenox and their children, Zach, Michael, Garret and A. [ubury] J. [oseph]; Derrick Shehan of Shenandoah and his daughter, Essie; Quentin Shehan and wife Ericka of Great Lakes, Illinois; Benito Gonzales and wife, Grizelda of Mississippi; two brothers, Steve Shehan and wife, Helen of Tunnel Hill, Georgia; and David Shehan and wife, Vickie of Laurel, Mississippi; two sisters, Patricia [Kay] Shehan and husband, John Ryan of Conroe, Texas; and Joyce [Elaine] Bartles and husband Jeff of Bedford; a stepbrother, Jim Hanshaw and wife, Pat of Bedford; a stepsister, Kay Ware and husband, Len of Florida; three stepsons, Chris Turner and wife, Amy of Cedar Falls, Iowa; Nathan Groom of Ames; and Matthew Groom of Oskaloosa; best friends, Monte Wehrkamp, Glen Fluke and Mike Lilly.

Preceding John in death were his wife, Barbara; his father Robert; a son, Scott [Aaron] at birth; and two sisters, Janice [Lee] and Susan [Jane].