Robert Richard Keesee was born in Webster County, Missouri, September 5, 1893; and Calla Lilly (Guyer) was born in Reno County, Kansas, February 28, 1896. Their wedding anniversary (July 21, 1918) was always a fun joke as they would tell us that they had two wedding dates and had never been divoriced. It seems that on the day they purchased their marriage license that the judge had died. His deputy issued the license anyway, thus the license was illegal. On August 20, 1918, they went to Greensburg and purchased another license and were married again.They farmed in southeast Comanche County until 1928 when they moved to town, and Bob worked at various jobs for a while. He then went to work at Farmers Elevator where he worked until he retired.
To this union were born seven children: Ruby Louise (Hyder), Ivan Richard (who died June 17, 1947), Melvin Robb, Carl Edward, Opel Irene (Hoffman), Verna Marie (Trabert) and Dorothy Mae (Kyser). All three boys served in the Navy. Carl served in the Seabees. Melvin served on the battleship Nevada, and Ivan was a U.S. Gunner Captain on merchant ships. Ivan died while in service.
Bob had three brothers, Ernest, Bill and Foster. Foster lived in Coldwater and was "Uncle Frosty" to us kids.
Calla had three sisters and two brothers: Mary, Mable (Harbaugh), Leta (Poer) and her twin, Leo (who died at age 2 years), and Charles. They were the children of Tom and Mollie Guyer.
Calla passed away September 6, 1964, and Bob is a resident of Pioneer Lodge at Coldwater.
By Ruby Hyder, page 478 of Comanche County History, written about 1980.
The Western Star, September 20, 1946.
IVAN KESSEE, BM1c BROUGHT BACK IN CAST.
Will Need To Undergo Two Serious Operations.Boatswain Mate First Class Ivan Keesee, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Keesee of Coldwater was brought back to the States in a cast about three weeks ago on a hospital ship and is in the Navy Hospital at Corona, Calif. His wife left Wichita last week to be with him. He took part in the first atomic bomb test in the Pacific but took sick five days before the second tests were made.
Ivan suffered a severe back injury during the war while captain of a gun crew in the Atlantic in the battle against the German submarines and he now has T. B. of the backbone, it is thought. He was a student at Kansas University before enlisting in the Navy in April,, 1942. He is a member of the regular Navy. He has many friends here who wish for him a speedy recovery. He expects to be operated on soon. It is thought that two operations will be necessary and that he will then have to remain in a hospital 18 months.
The Western Star , April 18, 1947. HAS SERIOUS BACK INJURY.
Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Keesee, arrived in Coldwater last Saturday and plan to be here about two months visiting with Ivan's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Keesee, and other relatives. Ivan, who has been in the Navy Hospital at Corona, Calif., for a number of months following several operations, is still in a cast due to a serious back injury.
He was recently given a discharge from the Navy with a 100% disability. The injury was sustained while he was a captain of a gun crew on duty in the Atlantic. Last Sunday Mr. and Mrs. Keesee visited at Trgonia, Kansas, with Mrs. Keesee's parents.
(These articles were transcribed and contributed for use on this site by Shirley Brier.)
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This page was last updated 31 Oct 2003.