RCNews Dec 25
Word has been received of the death of Helen Scheideman Reitz.  She was a 1927 graduate of McCracken High School.
 
The McCracken Alumni has given a donation to the McCracken Community Club for Santa’s Christmas candy and the association has purchased a new refrigerator for the American Legion.   Thank you for your dues.
 
I have two angels in my neighbor hood, Jeridy Morgan and Susan Davis.  They each brought me bowls of soup when I needed it most. 
 
Jeremy and Tammy Gourd, little Tammy, Zane and Brooke were early Christmas guests of  Roger and Norma McNair this past weekend.
 
Merry Christmas to all our readers
 
Congratulations on the 50th birthdays of Sally Irvin and Bruce Davis.
 
Casey Brown will be home beginning on December 23 for a Christmas visit with his mother, Cecelia Gilbert and his sister, Sheila Brown, other relatives and many friends.  Stop by and see him while he is here.
 
Charmaine Wolfe had spine surgery at Wichita last week.  She is home and doing fine.
 
The St. Mary’s McCracken Faith Sharing group had their Christmas party at the home of Joann Micheli on Thursday.  Attending were Sr. Martina, Twila Higgins, Jeanette McCormick, Phyllis Conrad, Jean Schutte, Carolyn Thompson and Father Rene.  Father led the group in singing Christmas carols while he played the guitar.
 
Father Ben Martin, Marienthal, was a visitor of Jim Schafer last week. 
 
Copies of the Kansas Traveler Winter issue – January-March is at the Post Office.  An article tells of the pie that was voted the best in the nation.  It was Norma Grubb’s Coconut Cream Pie at the Sommerset Hall café in Dover.  Dover is on K-4 southwest of Topeka.  Her recipe is on page 5.
 
Guests of Carolyn Thompson on Monday were David Dennis, Rick Nuckolls, Dave Dennis, Brittany and Amanda of Wichita.
 
Obituaries in Volume 111 McCracken History Book for 2004 are Charles Witthuhn, Eunice Folds, Betty Janke, Eugene Wierman, Rev. Malcom Brown,  Lois Schwien, Arla Rose Duree, Donald H. Donecker, Kenneth Donecker, Mary Ann Moran, Leon Marvin, Elizabeth Conner, Alvena Carpenter, Paul Musselman, Margaret Leonhart Rupp, Jack W. Moses, Cecilia Sanders,  Esther Janke, Isabel Moran, Norma Sultzer Hay, Sharon Mendenhall, Marjorie Flax,  Floyd Thompson, Teresa Moran, Marty Reed, Fern Zimmerman, Joe Casey, Atha Kershner, James Schutte, Doris Steerman.
 
If you have Christmas news, please e-mail us at shirleyh@gbta.net or yawgerr@gbta.net.

McCracken History Notes
December 1888
Married December 23, 1888, at the residence of Capt. Edwards, Hampton, Mr. T. D. Kerr and Miss Mollie L. Edwards.  We will not particularize, but will merely say that the smiles, pleasantries, music roast turkey was simply immense.  The ex-judge enjoyed giving Mollie away because he knew she was going to be in safe hands.  It was to be a private affair, but the witnesses numbered nearly forty.  The splendid music was rendered by the bride and Mr. and Mrs. Brackney and others.
 
A farmer’s wife hanged herself on a tree in the garden.  He married another and curiously enough, she, after a few years hanged herself on the same tree.  He married again and the third wife did the same.  The farmer wrote sadly to a distant married friend to tell him of the mournful coincidence……in reply his friend wrote: “There is clearly great virtue in that tree, would you please send me a cutting?”
 
December 1898
Rabbit hunting seemed to be the order of the day after the storm.
 
George Ryan says there was nothing warm about his trip to Ness City Tuesday.  Suppose he did not have the right kind of company.
 
Tom Ford has built him an ice house and will put up one hundred twenty five tons of ice, with which he expects to supply the city next summer.
 
December 1908
The year 1908 is nearing the end and we will in some respects part company with it with regret.  It has been a very good year with us in many ways and we dislike to see it go from us.
 
December 1938
500 sacks of candy were passed out to kiddies by Santa last Saturday.
 
McCracken High school’s basketball team won a closely contested battle last Friday night winning from Brownell 25-28.  Box scores are:  Kueffer, R. Mills, V. Higgins, Birdsong, B. Irvin and W. Irvin.  Brownell:  P. Musselman, Lopp, Keil, Anderson, Green, R. Musselman and Stetler.
 
December 1948
The garage at the Lloyd Conner farm west of town was destroyed by fire Thursday afternoon.
 
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Moran a daughter, Rose Mary, on December 21.  The little girl weighed seven pounds two ounces at birth.  (Congratulations on your 60th).
 
December 1958
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Davis, a son, Bruce Robert on December 26, at LaCrosse
 
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Harley Irvin, a daughter Sally Rae, on December 28 at LaCrosse
 
Furlen Irvin, who is stationed at Sheppard Air Field, Wichita, Falls, Texas, is spending Christmas with his parents, Claude and Lillian Irvin.
 
Dear Santa:  We have tried to be good boys.  Galen, my brother, who is 7, would like a hydraulic dump truck and Bible; Don, my brother, who is 5 years old, would like a cattle truck. I am nine years old would like a cat-loader and a globe and bring something for Mother and Daddy.  Dennis Irvin.
 
Dear Santa:  I am two years old.  I would like to have a great big truck and a stick horse.  I have worn out three stick horses.  Kirk Wells.
 
Dear Santa:  I am 4 years old and for Christmas I would like a gun and holster set and a marine set.  I would also like to have more cars for my electric train.  Thank you.  Keith Michael Higgins.
 
December 1958
Chester A. Reynolds, former chairman of the board of the H. D. Lee Co. and founder of the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City died at Rochester Minnesota.   In the 1920’s he operated the Leader Store in McCracken.  He was married to the former Cora Hicks, daughter of Ben Hicks.
 
December 1968
George Meehan died, December 19 in Temple City, California.  His brother, Thomas lives here.
 
December 1978
Kim McCormick is the team captain of the Colby Community College Trojan Women’s basketball team.  She is the second leading rebounder and average 8.9 points per game.  She was also a member of the Trojan volleyball team that finished 2nd in Region Six.  She holds the school record in the 880, 800, mile and 1500 meters for the tract team.