Comanche County History, Vol. II
Larry "Dee" and Phyllis Scherich
Much has changed, much has remained the same since our entry in the 1980 edition. Dee & I still live on and manage the Merrill Ranch, where Dee grew up, 27 miles SE of Coldwater � from 1976 to the present. Chris & Debbie Lawless, Brenna, Bethany, & Bryce, and David Willard, a nephew to Phyllis, are employed by the Ranch and live nearby at the headquarters area.
Our boys, Kevin, Doug and Steve, have all finished college, married, and have families of their own.
Dee�s parents have both passed away, leaving us with many fond memories. Mildred died in 1985 after a year-long battle with a brain tumor. Virgil died in 1995 from a sudden heart failure. He was fortunate to live a full, healthy life to the last.
From 1995-2003 we hosted an annual Benefit Trail Ride for the Comanche County Medical Foundation on the ranch averaging over 200 riders each year. We remain on the Board and are active in the Foundation.
Phyllis� hobbies include playing bridge, researching history on the Comanche Pool � especially as it relates to Evansville, researching the construction of US 160 from Medicine Lodge to Coldwater, family geneology, quilting, gardening, and computer projects on her IMac. She has done substitute teaching in the local schools and periodically grades papers for Measurement Inc in Coldwater, as well as assisting where needed in the ranch operation.
Dee�s hobbies and his work on the ranch are much the same. He is reluctant to retire as he feels there is nothing he would rather do than what he is doing every day on the ranch.
We both enjoy our five grandchildren, our extended families, friends, locating and identifying the wildflowers, and traveling. We have taken opportunities to explore Puerto Vallarta and Cancun in Mexico, the eastern side of Australia, Alaska, Germany and surrounding countries, and many locations in the United States. When we travel we like to make connections with someone who lives in the area to have them show us their area as they see it � not as tourists do.
One example of this is when we visited Alaska we made contact with Paul Flowers, now living in Wasila. When he lived in Coldwater, we both attended the Christian Church and he hunted deer on our ranch several years. He was a great guide and showed us the area where he lives. We�ve never visited an area we didn�t appreciate, but we are always satisfied to return to our home in Comanche County.
Submitted by Phyllis Scherich
Also see:
Contributions by Dee and Phyllis Scherich to this web site:
* History: Roster of the Names of All the Old Cowboys I Knew.
* History: Jessie EVANS of Evansville, Comanche County, Kansas
* History & photos: Evansville, Kansas & the Merrill Ranch
* Photos: Billie HILL, The Comanche Pool's Bronc Buster
* Photos & history: Highway 160
* Photos & history: William & Martha (Landrum) STEWART
* Photos: WILDFLOWERS, Comanche County, Kansas
* Photos & History: Come Home to Coldwater Quilters Club
* Photos & History: Coldwater Quilt - 2003
* 1934 Map of Highway 160.
* 1936 Phillips Petroleum Map of Kansas, detail of southwestern Kansas area.
* 1936 Phillips Petroleum Map of Kansas, detail of Comanche County area.
* Photos & history: Dr. Gerard K. Rumsey and Rumsey, Kansas
* Photos: Comanche Pool Area Bird & Nature Tour Invitation - May 21, 2005
* History: Measurement Incorporated
* History: Merrill Ranch
Thanks to Phyllis Scherich for contributing the above historical article to this web site!
This website is being created by Jerry Ferrin with the able assistance of many Contributors. Your comments, suggestions and contributions of historical information and photographs to this site are welcome. Please sign the Guest Book. This page was created 10 May 2008.