Person Page 115

Vernon Loyal Meech was born on 5 December 1922 in Orton Township, Wadena, Minnesota.^1,2 He died on 5 January 2006, at age 83, in Afton, Washington, Minnesota.² He was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Stillwater, Washington, Minnesota.²³

Vernon Loyal Meech was a Dairy Farmer.³ Vernon L. Meech died at his home in Afton surrounded by family and loved ones at 10 p.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2006. Vernon had only been diagnosed in October with lung cancer which had infiltrated his adrenal glands. The pain and suffering Vernon endured over those few months was severe and death for him did not come too soon.

Vernon was born on December 5, 1922, the son and 8th child of ten of Frank and Grace (Wintermute) Meech in Orton Township, Wadena County, Minnesota. After returning from service with the U.S. Navy during WW II where he served on the USS Storme in the Battle of the Midway, he married Catherine Agnes Gaul on October 5, 1946 at St. Fredericks Catholic Church in Verndale, Mn. To this union were born five children.

Vernon grew up farming and this was his life's passion.
He lost his father on his fourteenth birthday and was forced to work outside the family, staying with others for room and board plus a meager three dollars a week.
Vernon worked in the Civil Conservation Corp as a logger.
Shortly after his marriage, Vernon and Catherine moved with his brother and wife to Oregon looking for work in the lumber industry. His widowed mother asked him to come back to Minnesota and help on the family farm

Upon his return to Minnesota in 1947 Vernon began diary farming while Catherine taught in the rural schools.
After loosing his diary herd to the Bangs in 1951, Vernon moved with his wife and two children to Tanner's Lake, Minnesota. There the family out grew the small house and they moved to the East Side of Saint Paul in 1958.

In 1963, Vernon decided his family needed to be on the farm and so a small 80 acre farm in Stillwater, MN was purchased. That farm was his pride and joy although he continued to work at Paper Calmenson Steel as a welder until he retired in 1985.

Vernon was very active in the lives of his family and children. He served as Cub Scout Master, helped with paper routes and rode horseback with them in the Valley Hi Riders Club. Often the family went camping, fishing, ballroom dancing, snowmobiling, or played volleyball and horseshoe together. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Vernon is survived by his wife of 59 years; two sons
Loyal (Glenda) Meech and Glenn Meech; Three daughters
Kathleen Meech, Jacqueline Meech, and Michelle Meech;
one brother Harold Meech of Inver Grove Heights, MN; and two sisters, Cloy Bowers of Brainerd, MN and Myra Charmley of Anchorage Alaska.

Vernon is also survived by ten grandchildren and 8 great
grandchildren.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents; brothers
Wendell, Clinton, and Ivan; sisters, Vera Nielsen, Crystal Eierman, and Joy Pederson.

Clinton Frank Meech was born on 16 May 1921 in Orton, Wadena, Minnesota.^1,2 He and Doris Bernice Elifrits were married on 27 June 1942. He died on 12 November 2002, at age 81, in Staples, Todd, Minnesota.^3,2 He was buried in Wadena Cemetery, Wadena, Wadena, Minnesota.²

Clinton Frank Meech was a Railroad Switchman in Burlington Northern Railroad.⁴ Clinton F. Meech, 81, Staples, died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002 at the Greater Staples Care Center.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002 at the Church of Christ in Staples with the Reverend Barry Klein officiating. Burial will be at the Wadena Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements were with the Bielema Family Funeral Home of Verndale.

Clinton was born May 16, 1921 to Frank and Grace (Wintermute) Meech in Wadena. Clinton married Doris Elifrits June 27, 1942. Clinton worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad as a switchman in Staples until retiring in 1981. He enjoyed hobby farming until his eye sight failed, then he enjoyed visiting, talking abut his days on the railroad and visiting with family.

Clinton is survived by seven sons, Roger (Phyllis) Meech of Apple Valley; Richard Meech of Arizona, Timothy (Brenda) Meech of Pillager; Scott (Sharon) Meech, Joel (Corrine) Meech, Rodney (Linda) Fischer, and Jeffrey Meech all of Staples: four daughters Laura Beach of Motley; Sharon (Cyril) Beach of Elk River; Susan (Lyle) Smith of Aberdeen So. Dak. and Colleen (Michael) Meyer of Long Prairie; 33 grandchildren; 39 great grandchildren; three brothers, Vernon Meech of Afton, Harold Meech of Inver Grove Heights and Ivan Meech of Minneapolis; two sisters, Cloy Bowers of Brainerd and Myra Charmley of Alaska.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Doris in 1984; two sons, Terry and Jody; one granddaughter; one brother Wendell; three sisters, Crystal Eierman, Vera Nielsen, and Joy Pederson.

Pallbearers were Kevin Meech, Doug Beach, Jason Beach, Josh Meech, Scott Meech Jr. and James Lenk.

Joy Marcia Meech was born on 8 November 1919 in Orton Township, Wadena, Minnesota.^1,2 She and Carl Melvin Pederson were married on 18 May 1940 in Oylen, Minnesota.³ She died on 13 March 2001, at age 81, in Moorhead, Clay, Minnesota.^4,2 She was buried in West Lyons Cemetery, Wadena County, Minnesota.²

Joy Pederson was born on November 8, 1919 near Nimrod in Wadena County, MN, to Frank and Grace (Wintermute) Meech. She grew up in the area and attended country school. On May 18, 1940 she married Carl Pederson in Oylen, MN. Together they lived and worked there until moving to Staples, MN in 1959. Following Carl's death in 1965
she worked in several factories in Staples, St. Paul and Outing before moving to Moorhead in 1980.

Joy is survived by her son Curtiss (Sandy) Pederson of Outing; a daughter Joanne (Albert) Knapper of Moorhead; 4 grandchildren, Melodi (Randy) Gackle of Fargo, ND, Becki (Perry) Jacobson of Moorhead, Brad (Tami) Knapper of Moorhead, and Tim (Jenny) Carlson of Outing; 9 great grandchildren, Trista and Jamie Olson, Lee and Chris Gackle, Diandra and Dalton Knapper, Britney Jacobson, and Chris and Nick Carlson. She is also survived by her 4 brothers, Clinton Meech of Staples, Vernon Meech of Afton, MN; Harold Meech of Inver Grove Heights, MN and Ivan Meech of Minneapolis; and 3 sisters; Vera Nielsen of Beach ND; Cloy Bowers of Brainerd, MN; and Myra Charmley of Alaska; several nieces and nephews as well as many grand nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Carl; a brother Wendell; and a sister Crystal.

Vedna Myra Meech was born on 2 November 1917 in Minnesota.^1,2 She and Roy Boyer Charmley were married on 23 November 1935. She died on 3 December 2012, at age 95, in Anchorage, Anchorage Borough, Alaska.² She was buried in Angelus Memorial Park, Anchorage, Anchorage Borough, Alaska.²

Vedna Myra Meech was a Civil Service Employee.³ Myra was born Vedna Myra but had her named changed to Myra after arriving in Alaska and entering the workforce.

Myra Vedna Charmley, 95, passed away from this life on December 3, 2012 at Alaska Providence Medical Center in Anchorage. Myra was born on November 2nd, 1917 in Wadena, Minnesota. She became a resident of Alaska when her husband brought the family up the Alcan in 1946. She followed her husband to the bush of Alaska, homesteading in the 50's and 60's. Myra got her G.E.D. at the age of 60, finishing in the top 20 percent of her class. She worked for over 30 years as a Civil Service employee at the Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base.

Myra's family says of her "Mother was the glue that held our family together. Everyone took their problems, hopes and dreams to her, she was there for you. Her strong spirit guided her through all the lows and highs of life. She never gave up, even when things were at their worst. She was our rock, our anchor, and our matriarch".

Myra is survived by her daughters Beverly Shinsel and Luella Armstrong and her son Frank; her grandchildren Micki Resari, Tim Shinsel, Tom Shinsel, Todd Shinsel, Melissa Hurt, April Charmley, Adam Charmley, and her 12 great granchildren and her two great-great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Roy; her daughter Mardell Ober; grandson Richard Hacker, and her nine siblings.

A service will be held at Witzleben Legacy Funeral Home 1707 S. Bragaw Street on December 7th, 2012 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. A family burial at Angelus Memorial Cemetery at a future date.

Cloy Marguerette Meech was born on 3 April 1916 in Wadena County, Minnesota.^1,2 She and Roy Milton Bowers were married on 21 November 1938. She died on 28 May 2006, at age 90, in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.² She was buried in Montrose Cemetery, Verndale, Wadena, Minnesota.²

Cloy Bowers, age 90, of Brainerd entered into rest Sunday morning with her loving family surrounding her. Cloy was born on April 3, 1916 in Wadena County, the daughter of Frank and Grace (Wintermute) Meech. After her schooling she worked as a mother's helper for may area families. On November 21, 1937 she was united in marriage to Roy Bowers, to this union 4 children were born. (editor's note: only two biological and 2 grandchildren which were adopted) After their marriage she worked for Montgomery Ward in St. Paul. They moved to the Iron Range for a time and finally settled on a farm near Staples. In 1977 she went to work for the United District Hospital and Nursing Home in Staples until retiring. In 1987 she moved to Brainerd. She loved to garden and would start her plants inside long before the weather was warm enough to be placed in the garden. She was a member of Heartland Alliance Chruch.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Grace, her husband, Roy in 1989; a daughter Esther; and siblings Wendell, Ivan, Clinton and Vernon Meech, Vera Nielsen, Crystal Eierman, and Joy Pederson.

Cloy is mourned in passing by her children, Wanda Peters of Brainerd, Leroy (Coleen) Bowers of Kenai, Alaska and Henry (Deb) Bowers of North Platte NE; grandchildren Donna (Jerry) Belter, Timothy Peters, Darreld Bowers, Jessi (Chris) Pavlik, Robin (Re) Bowers and Randi Klinkner; great grandchildren Trisha (Cole) Phelps, Blake Klinkner, Braydon Whiteside, and Sara, Erica and Amber Belter.

Cloy's family wish to say thank you to the staff of Samaritan House for all the loving care of Grandma and also thank you to Heartland Hospice for making her last days much easier for her and her family.

Crystal Muriel Meech was born on 16 February 1914 in Orton Township, Wadena, Minnesota.² She and George Edward Eierman were married on 18 October 1933. She died on 25 June 2000, at age 86, in Everett, Snohomish, Washington.³ She was buried in Deep Creek Cemetery, Townsend, Broadwater, Montana.³

Crystal M. (Meech) Eierman, 86, of Everett, Wash. died June 25, 2000. She was born Feb 16, 1914 in Wadena County,
Minn. to Frank and Grace (Wintermute) Meech. She married George E. Eierman Oct. 18, 1933.

She is survived by sisters Vera Nielsen, Cloy Bowers, Mrya Charmley and Joy Pederson; brothers Clinton, Vernon and wife Catherine, Harold and wife Mona, Ivan and wife Doris; two sisters-in-law, Marjorie Hansen and Joyce Loween; daughter Armetta and husband Leslie Baker; son Carwyn, 10 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Crystal was preceded in death by husband George, both of her parents, brother Wendell and great-grandson Matthew.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 3 at Deep Creek Cemetery near Townsend. Pastor Vick Richer will officiate the service. Connors Funreal Home arranged the service.

Wendell Melvin Meech was born on 19 February 1912 in Orton Township, Wadena, Minnesota.^1,2 He and Lillian Amanda Gjertson were married on 14 December 1941. He died on 19 November 1989, at age 77, in Fort Gibson, Muskogee, Oklahoma.² He was buried in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hibbing, St. Louis, Minnesota.²

Wendell sufferd from Alzheimers.

Vera Mae Meech was born on 26 September 1910 in Orton Township, Wadena, Minnesota.¹ She and Leo Alexander Nielsen were married on 26 March 1929 in Wadena County, Minnesota.² She died on 4 September 2001, at age 90, in Dickinson, Stark, North Dakota.^3,1 She was buried in Beach Lutheran Cemetery, Beach, Golden Valley, North Dakota.¹

Vera Mae (Meech) Nielsen was born September 26, 1910 the eldest child of Frank Matthew and Grace Armette (Wintermute) Meech near Nimrod, Minnesota. She passed away
on Tuesday, September 26, 2001 in Dickinson, North Dakota.

Vera married Leo Alexander Nielsen in Wadena on March 26, 1929. Vera and Leo then moved to Tyler, Minnesoa. A year later the couple moved to Mosher, North Dakota and were employed on the Peter Golliet ranch. After renting various farms, they purchased the present Nielsen farm on September 11, 1938. Here they farmed until the death of her husband on March 9, 1993.

Vera's favorite hobbies were gardening, crafts, needle work and most important caring for her family. Vera will be remembered as a kind and thoughtful mother and grandmother, a good neighbor who was always ready with a helping hand and a ready cup of coffee.

Vera is survived by one daughter Leona Mae Nielsen of Park Rapids, Minnesota; two sons Lenus Nielsen and wife Janice of Sheridan, Wyoming and LaVerne Nielsen of Circle, Montana.; two sisters Cloy Bowers of Brianerd, Minnesota and Vedna Charmley of Anchorage, Alaska; four brothers Clinton Meech of Staples, Minnesota, Vernon Meech of Stillwater, Minnesota, Harold Meech of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, and Ivan Meech of Minneapolis, Minnesota; five grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and a host of nephews and nieces and friends.

Vera is preceded in death by her parents, husband Leo, two sisters Crystal Eierman and Joy Pederson, and one brother Wendell Meech. (bio by: Loyal Meech.)

Frank Mathew Meech was born on 27 March 1882 in Logan, Phillips, Kansas. He and Grace Armette Wintermute were married on 18 August 1909. He died on 5 December 1936, at age 54, in Sebeka, Wadena, Minnesota.¹ He was buried in Wadena Cemetery, Wadena, Wadena, Minnesota.²

Carol Mae Wintermute was born on 18 March 1929. She died on 18 March 1929, at age 0.

Oliver B. Ganung was born on 20 March 1838 in New York.¹ He and Sarah Anna Wintermute were married on 5 April 1893. He died on 23 July 1926, at age 88.

Oliver B. Ganung was a Farmer.¹ Marriage to Sarah Wintamute was Oliver Ganung's second marriage.

Verne Skillman was born on 9 March 1881 in New Jersey.^1,2 He and Clara L. (?) were married about 1911.³ He died on 2 November 1958, at age 77, in Monterey, California.¹

Verne Skillman was a Metalurgist-Brass.³

William Ralph Skillman was born on 13 August 1853 in New Jersey.¹ He and Magdalena Wintermute were married on 27 March 1880.² He died on 6 January 1931, at age 77.

William Ralph Skillman was a Jeweler.²

Pauline Rose was born on 23 December 1911 in New Jersey.¹ She died on 8 May 1993, at age 81, in Fort Myers, Lee, Florida.

Virginia Rose was born on 20 March 1908 in Newton, Sussex, New Jersey.^2,1,3 She and Earl J.R. Becker were married on 15 February 1930. She died in July 1985, at age 77, in Wayne, Passaic, New Jersey.^2,3 She was buried in Newton Cemetery, Newton, Sussex, New Jersey.³

David Warbasse Rose was born on 3 December 1881 in New Jersey.¹ He and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Snook Wintermute were divorced. He and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Snook Wintermute were married on 4 October 1903. He died on 11 September 1959, at age 77.

James Matthew Shay was born on 13 September 1917 in New Jersey.^1,2,3 He and Harriet Lauree Winchester were married on 12 June 1942. He died on 2 November 1987, at age 70, in Thorndale, Chester, Pennsylvania.^2,3 He was buried in Hopewell United Methodist Cemetery, Downingtown, Chester, Pennsylvania.^4,3

James Matthew Shay was a Mechanical Engineer.⁴

Ernestine Hazel Shay was born on 19 May 1916 in Belleville, Essex, New Jersey.¹ She and Elliott Bigelow Winget were married on 2 July 1938 in Dover, Morris, New Jersey. She died on 3 November 2012, at age 96, in Raleigh, Wake, North Carolina.¹ She was buried in Montlawn Memorial Park, Raleigh, Wake, North Carolina.¹

Ernestine Hazel Shay was a Secretary.² Ernestine "Ernie" Shay Winget
Raleigh
Ernestine "Ernie" Shay Winget, 96, of Raleigh, passed away Saturday, November 3, 2012. Born in Belleville, NJ on May 19, 1916, the daughter of Ernest A. and Helen Wintermute Shay, she is survived by her daughter, Judy W. Moreno of Raleigh; grandchildren, Todd Elliott Moreno of Wilmington and Kerri Lynn Kuppler and husband, Robert, of Bordentown, NJ; nieces and nephews, Sheryl Winget, Kathy Milewski and husband, Charles, Michael and Mark Milewski, all of PA; 3 great grandchildren; Alex Elliott Thomas, Abigail Nicole Kuppler and Ryan Charles Kuppler; grandson-in-law, Stephen Thomas; and brother-in-law, Donald Winget and wife, B.J.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Elliott "Whitey" Winget, on July 30, 1989 and granddaughter, Kim Nicole Thomas.
Before coming to NC in 1979, Ernie was employed by the Morris County Welfare Board in Morristown, NJ and then retired after 23 years from Moretrench American Corp in Rockaway, NJ. She was secretary at the Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church from 1981-1984. As a member of Cary Presbyterian Church, she was treasurer for WOC and a member of Ruth Circle. Ernie was a also a member of Triple F Group from the time of its inception in 1982 and served as secretary for 10 years. She served as Portrait Chairperson of the International Order of Wooden Money Collectors for 4 years and was a member of the Swift Creek Exchangettes.
The family will receive friends starting at 1:00p.m. Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at Cary Presbyterian Church followed by a funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Interment will be at Montlawn Memorial Park, 2911 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh.
Flowers are appreciated or contributions in memory of Ernie may be made to Cary Presbyterian Church, 614 Griffis St., Cary, NC 27511 or The Compassionate Friends Inc., Wake County Chapter, PO Box 6602, Raleigh, NC 27628.
Condolences may be sent through:.

James Arthur Shay was born on 10 December 1913 in New Jersey. He died on 17 December 1913, at age 0.

Helen S. Shay was born on 1 October 1911 in New Jersey. She died on 2 October 1911, at age 0.

Ethelwynne Elizabeth Shay was born on 13 August 1906 in New Jersey.^1,2 She and Charles Theodore Kuhn were married on 5 September 1928 in Newark, Essex, New Jersey. She died on 8 December 1968, at age 62, in Morriston, New Jersey.² She was buried in Frankford Plains Cemetery, Frankford, Sussex, New Jersey.²

Ethelwynne Elizabeth Shay was a Registered Nurse.³

Ernest Arthur Shay was born on 5 February 1882 in Branchville, Sussex, New Jersey.¹ He and Helen Russel (Nellie) Wintermute were married on 22 February 1904 in Sussex, New Jersey. He died on 17 March 1938, at age 56, in Dover, Morris, New Jersey, Dover General Hospital.¹ He was buried in First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Rockaway, Morris, New Jersey.²

Ernest Arthur Shay was a Newspaper Reporter in Newark Starledger/Newark Evening News.²