Perry Wall, former mayor of Wilmore and one of Comanche county's leading citizens and landowners, died in the Hardtner Hospital Friday, April 27, at 3:00 p.m. following a month's illness. Death was attributed to a heart ailment.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon, April 29, at 2:30 p.m. in the Wilmore Baptist church and were in charge of Rev. Ernest Lawrence, the pastor, who brought an earnest and comforting message on the subject," The Most Inevitable Word." He was assisted in the service by Rev. Wayne Riggs, pastor of the Wilmore Methodist Christian church, who read the text from John 14:13. the church was filled to overflowing by the many friends of the deceased.

Walter Smith sang "I Won't Have to Cross Jordan Alone" and a mixed quartet composed of Mr. Smith, Rod Baker, Mrs. F. H. Moberley and Mrs. Ernest Lawrence sang "Good Night and Good Morning." They were accompanied on the piano by Mrs. Frances Ridge.

The active pallbearers were Don York, Junior York, Richard York, John York, Russell York and Harvey Mauk and the honorary pallbearers were L. E. Baker, T. C. Pepperd, Sam Lawrence, Arthur Barber, C. O. Masterson, Jess Wedel, Lloyd Alder, Oscar Barber, F. H. Moberley and Lester Trummel. Interment was in the Wilmore cemetery.

Obituary

Perry Wall, a long time resident of Comanche county, passed away in the Hardtner Hospital, on April 27, 1956, after a month's illness. He was born near Richmond, Mo., on March 29, 1877, and was 79 years and 29 days of age at the time of his death.

As a young man of 21 years, he came from Missouri to the Cherokee Strip and took a claim, proving it up later on. Coming to Comanche county on horseback in April, 1898, he assumed the duties of ranch life for the Burnette family, who lived in the New Eden neighborhood, and he remained there 20 years.

Being industrious and ambitious, and going through trying years of good and bad crops, he became a prominent farmer and stockman.

On February 27, 1916, he was united in marriage with Daisy York, and they moved into their new home in Wilmore that he had recently built. To this union were born two daughters, Mary Melvina, who died in infancy, and Evelyn, now Mrs. Gene Dorsey.

Mr. Wall then owned and managed the Wilmore Hardware Company for a number of years and he regretted when he was unable physically to continue with the business, for he often said that every man should be busy doing a full and honest day's work.

Perry was known for his generosity to worthy causes and for the betterment of church and church related institutions. He was also one of his town and community's most ardent boosters, first, last and all the time, and served as Wilmore's Mayor.

Throughout most of his life he was a devoted and faithful member of the Wilmore Baptist church and he believed in being regular in attendance at Sunday school and church services. His pastors often came to him for advice in business matters and he gave it freely.

He also especially interested in the less fortunate and underprivileged people and enjoyed helping those whom he thought worthy of his trust. While in business he acquired a large circle of friends who he valued highly, and in later years enjoyed them in retrospect. He practiced thrift and integrity, and expected the same in others.

He leaves his wife, Daisy; daughter, Evelyn Dorsey, and grandson, Perry Wayne, of Wilmore; two sisters, Mary Linney, Platte City, Mo., and Ella Letholt, of Hardin, Mo.; two brothers, Charlie and Earl Wall of Polo, Mo., and a host of other relatives and friends.

Mr. Wall had a warmth of heart and an understanding of other people's problems, coupled with a kindness and sense of humor which drew him close to all his friends and loved ones. He was a devoted husband and father, an upright citizen in every respect and a man whose word personified personal integrity in its highest sense. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

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Gravestone of Perry & Daisy Wall
Lot #115, Powell Township Cemetery, Wilmore, Comanche County, Kansas.
Photo by John Edward (Ed) Schrock.

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Also see:

John Walter York, father of Daisy (York) Wall.

Melvina Figg (Dooley) York, mother of Daisy (York) Wall.

T/5 Keith Crawford, U.S. Army, first husband of Evelyn Wall; killed in action December 23, 1944, in Belgium, likely during the German break through from the western edge of Germany.

Wilmore Opera House, 1915. A collection of advertisements for 1915 shows at Fisher's Opera House in Wilmore.

The 1924 Pocket Directory of Wilmore, Kansas, courtesy of Janet Schrock Hubbard.

Tornados in the Wilmore, Kansas area
A story about the tornado which hit Wilmore on May 20th, 1949, written by Wendel Ferrin and illustrated with photos by John Edward Schrock.

Red Cross Fund Oversubscribed, The Wilmore News, 28 June 1917.

Thomas R. Hinkle, a hired hand of Perry Wall's, committed suicide in April 1915.

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Note by Jerry Ferrin: Gene and Evelyn (Wall) Dorsey were both killed in a single-car accident on Highway 666 in southern Arizona in the last half of October, 1991. As I recall, they lived in Salina, Kansas, at the time.

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Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news 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 last updated 24 February 2006.