RCNews May 7
Grandpa Bob House and Ellen Kershner motored to Lyons on Tuesday, April 28 where they treated Melissa Thompson for lunch for her birthday.  After lunch Bob and Ellen drove to McPherson where they visited with Carol and Richard Brown and Gary.  Carol has retired from working at Wal-Mart after 20 years; Richard was home recovering from foot surgery.  We all had a fun time.  On the way home they stopped at the winery in Ellinwood.  Ask Grandpa House about his Sand Hill Plum wine!!!
 
Out of town people who attended services for Charles (Chuck) Hopper’s funeral were his daughter, Diana Wheat, Allen Mullens, Iulliana Wheat; his son Michael Hopper and friend Barbara Disney, Goodland; his sister Joyce Towns, David Mukeyee, Overland Park, Kansas.
 
Sandra Jacobs, Jean Schutte, Pris Jacobs, Shirley Higgins, Laura and Russ Linsey traveled to Salina on Sunday.
 
We received word that Merlin McGinnis, formerly of Brownell, died Friday May 1, 2009.  Graveside services will be held Thursday, May 7 at 11:00 a.m. at the Brownell Cemetery. 
 
Dwight Eisenhour, Cimmaron, was here Sunday visiting his mother, Icis Eisenhour in the LaCrosse Nursing Home.  He did some measurements on our memorial in the Park, the alumni hopes to have a new one built.
 
Mid-State league members Larned and Thomas More Prep have been added to the new-look Mid Central Activities Association (MCAA) for 2010-2011.  Ellinwood, Hoisington and tentatively Sterling will remain in the new-look MCAA.  Another 3A MCAA school, Wichita Collegiate, also has not decided on a firm commitment for 2010-2011.  Seven current MCAA schools – Halstead, Haven, Hesston, Hillsboro, Smoky Valley, Lyons and Nickerson – will leave the league to form a new conference.  Marion has been accepted at the 10th team in the Heart of America.  The MCAA league was formed in 1973.
 
We thank Pam Sargent, Utica, for her substituting for Judy Moran in the McCracken Post Office.  We are sure she will not miss the long drive almost every afternoon.
 
There was a nice article on the front page of Sunday’s Hays Daily News about Nate Meder and his brother Heath. Nate left his job at Phaze 2 to start his own business called Redeem Designs. The McCracken Rodeo and the McCracken Alumni bought their t-shirts at Phaze 2 and they were printed by Nate.
 
An all day English Hand Bell workshop was held in Salina on Saturday with Bill Zeller, Brenda Legleiter, Sharon Irvin and Arlene Gilbert attending.  Dale Swindler, a former student of McCracken and Barbara Goodwin, a former music teacher of McCracken are both directors of hand bells for their respective churches. 
 
Congratulations to LeRoy and Sandy Gilbert on their 45th wedding anniversary May 15.  We know they would appreciate your cards.  Their address is 620 S. 5th, Salina, KS  67401. 
 
 
Frank Parker, New Ulm, Texas, was in McCracken on Friday morning doing research on his Kueffer family.  He visited with Arline Rues as the Kueffers built her house.  In the McCracken History, Volume 1 it states that in December of 1907 Mr. G. Kueffer of Ransom purchased the Opera House from Doc Smith.  Later he was the manager of Merritt Creamery Co.  Mr. Kueffer was Mr. Parker's grandfather.  His mother was born in McCracken in 1912. 
 
Gayle Wayne and Cecilia Marvin of South Berwick, Maine, visited Laurene Marvin at LaCrosse for a week.  Laurene, Dell Burnham, Laramie, Wyoming, Taylor Marvin, LaCrosse and Susan Sharp, Chanute visited the Jail/Museum on Friday morning.  They brought the wedding dress and veil of Louise Marvin Burnham to donate to the museum.  Dell also became a member of the museum.  She is the daughter of Louise.
 
Helen Yost is a patient at Hays Medical Center.
 
The funeral of Grace Wheat Walker Thompson was a Celebration of Life.  One lady said, “Everyone loved her.”  That is because she loved everyone and showed that love every time she came in contact with others.  The music provided by the organ and the Bell Choir set the stage for the moving Bell Choir tribute by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.  The pictures of her 100th birthday celebration, the stone post rock and balloons showed the love of her large family.  Grace was the daughter of Thomas and Harriet Holmes Wheat. She was born April 25, 1909 and died April 28, 2009.  She married John Walker in June 1928.  He died January 29, 1966.  In July 1977 she married Ralph Thompson.  He died February 26, 1987.  Survivors include a son, Gerald Walker; two daughters, Patricia Derr and Juanita Caviness, 10 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren.  Grace was laid to rest beside her husband, John Walker, and with her Wheat family in the LaCrosse City Cemetery.  She was an example to all.
 
Saturday evening the Hays Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Hays Singers, Concert Choir and Hays Community Choir performed Vivaldi’s Gloria conducted by Dr. Terry Crull and Benjamin Morris-Cline.  Judy Hugh, Hays, is a member of the Hays Community Choir.  The Hays Symphony Orchestra then performed the Piano Concerto No. 4 in G. Major by Beethoven with Dr. Irena Ravitskaya on the piano and Norman Gamboa, conducting at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.  Al Hugh, Shirley Higgins and Carolyn Thompson attended.
 
The Dream group of Liebenhaus participated in a conference at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Convent in Great Bend on Saturday afternoon.  The dream section was presented by Christine Wagner of Hays.
 
Msgr. Patrick J. Leahy, 94, died April 30, 2008 at the Catholic Care Center in Bel Aire.  He was born in Abbeyfeale, Ireland, October 6, 1914, the son of Patrick and Johanna Ward Leahy.   He was ordained June 19, 1938 at All Hallows College in Dublin.  He was elevated to the rank of monsignor on October 14, 1965.  He served St Mary’s Catholic Church in McCracken from 1980 to 1996.  This was his final parish.  He was devastated that he must retire and leave us. He then retired to the Priests’ Retirement Center in Wichita where he served those in the Care Center.  He also held a very early mass each day.  I suspect he is organizing heaven now!  Burial was in Ascension Cemetery in Wichita.
 
Larry Oborny was a friend who spent much of his time working on Rush County and family history.  He used a microfilm reader for his work and realized that it would be nice for me to have one.  There were two available so he bought one and I bought the other.  Most of the “old time history” that we print in this column comes from microfilm that has been read on the reader.  So, I give thanks to Larry every time I use it.   His funeral was held on Wednesday at Timken. 
 
Bryan Thompson and Ken Thompson, Salina, and Allan and Joyce Thompson, Plainville, Ben Thompson, Carolyn Thompson and Judy Hugh had a mini-Thompson reunion at the Rooster in LaCrosse on Friday afternoon.
 
McCracken History Notes
May 1899
 
In western Kansas the wind has blown twelve days on a stretch and it held a sheep up against the barn until it starved to death.
 
Oscar Elias took out a new bicycle Monday.
 
May 1909
Mayor Smith had several cows arrested Wednesday and put in lock up.  This is the first thing of this kind that has happened in a long time, but the major says it is going to be a regular occurrence from now on unless people take care of their animals.
 
Monday and Tuesday the wind was somewhat fierce and while the wheat suffered some of the farmers do not seem greatly cast down.
 
May 1919
Jacob Yawger died at the home of his son, Scott Yawger.  He was 75 years old.
 
Lander Davenport bought the Coleman farm northwest of town.
 
May 1939
There are twenty-three seniors in the MHS graduating class this year.  They are Zella Mae Doerr, Fay Elmore, Lavon Casey, Bernetta Marak, Helen Barnes, Charlotte Temple, Virginia Wahl, Lenore Ramsey, Dean Birdsong, Wesley Irvin, Marion Foster, Beverly Irvin, Adrian Doerr, Vincent Higgins, Claude Irvin, Patrick Higgins, Adam Conrad, Willard Mills, Leonard Sweeney, Basil Davenport, Drewie Robertson, Paul Grate and Faye North.
 
The average worker in Kansas earns $702 a year.  The National average is shown to be $890.
 
 
May 1959
The 1959 MHS graduates to be honored are Gerald Barnes, Melissa House, Janice Myers, Allen Showalter and Judith Whitis.  The eighth grade graduating class members are Marilyn Conrad, Wanda Faye Harp, Terry Herdman, Martin Higgins, Reggie Irvin, Mary Kay Marak, Betty Pfaff, Danny Rein, Mark Reinhardt, Grace Rogers and Mary Ann Zeller.
 
May 1979
Edythe Baldwin, Gladys Fear and Cora Derr received their 25 year awards from the Health and Home EHU unit.
 
Lane Sekavec received a trophy for outstanding member of the junior high band at Hoisington.