Some interesting news from Brother Joe:

This obituary was sent to Pete and Janet, after phone discussion with Pete. Thought it might be of interest to other family members as well, especially Bernie's family. (Bernie attended SHOCKLEY school, at least the first grade,) also our Aunt Mary FELIN (Our Dad's brother Louis's wife) was a teacher there, but not Bernie's? Our cousin Fannie (Uncle Louis and Aunt Mary's daughter) was a student of her Mom's. In all probability, Basil (see obituary) was one of aunt Mary's students and a student and classmate of Fannie's?

Note in particular the spelling of SHOCKLEY. We usually mistakenly (?) spell it Shockey. Prior to the big ice storm, which fell a giant oak tree onto the school causing severe damage, there was a marker at the school location spelling it SHOCKLEY. I think Sue blogged a picture of the damaged school building.

Note also His (Basel's) ancestors homesteaded a farm in Webster County. Our Turnbo farm's south forty bordered Elbert Andrew's farm. Our south forty acres was to the east. Bill Andreatta's farm was to the east of our forty acres and their kids walked across our south forty and Elbert Andrews farm to attend SHOCKLEY school.

Elbert Andrews operated a portable steam powered saw mill. One time Pete and I were playing in the Lacey spring branch where the steam engine sucked up water for the boiler. Pete and I were mixing a lot of saw dust with the water which unknowingly was a NO-NO. We were discovered and it never happened again.

Bro uncle Joe


Here is the obituary Joe mentions:

Obituaries

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Basel Ray Andrews

Published:
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 8:26 AM CDT
Basel Ray Andrews was born in the rural Marshfield area on Dec. 26, 1925. He passed away May 22, 2009, in Springfield. He was the youngest of five children born to Elbert Jacob Andrews and Ida Rozella (Hampton) Andrews.

His ancestors homesteaded a farm in Webster County, and he grew up in the Marshfield area. Basel attended the one-room Shockley School, as well as Northview and Marshfield Schools. As a boy, he enjoyed skating on the frozen James River, and throughout his life looked forward to Marshfield’s Independence Day celebration and Homecoming. He also loved the Sunday gathering of his family for dinner, gospel music and the baseball games that followed. Later in life, he enjoyed hunting and fishing trips, and spending time with family and friends. Basel lived his entire life in Missouri, with the exception of a few years spent in San Diego, Calif., constructing the military airport during World War II. He was the owner or co-owner of several casket manufacturing companies throughout the area, including Marshfield Casket Co., Mac-O-Mo Casket Co. and Conway Casket Co.; allowing him to be the anonymous benefactor of many area families.


He met his wife, Paulette, in March 1978. They were engaged the following month and were married June 3, 1978, by the Rev. Dwayne Reed. They remained a devoted couple until his passing.

Basel will be best remembered for his gentile (sic) spirit, soft spoken manner, and his slow to anger philosophy.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Hurston, Hariod and Elston; his sister, Thelma; and a wife, Betty (Graves) Dameron.

Basel is survived by his wife of 31 years, Paulette; daughter and her husband, Rita and Ken Vestal, of Branson; son and his wife, Randy and Jan Dameron, of Woodworth, La.; son and his wife, Ernie and Jessica Voris, of St. Louis; daughter and husband, Sherry and Tom McIllwain, of Springfield; son and his wife, Greg and Lynette Andrews, of Elkland; grandchildren, Ben and Tracy Vestal, Ethan and Rhianna Andrews, Elizabeth, Brittany and Hunter Voris, and Andrew McIllwain; one great-grandchild, Hayden Vestal.; several brothers and sisters-in-law; his mother-in-law; many nieces, nephews and cousins.