Rufus Earle

© Cheyenne Star

21 Sep 2006

Submitted by: Wanda Purcell

Rufus Earle was born on November 28, 1917, in Durham, Oklahoma, to Robert G. and Lou Era Seale Earle.

He was raised on a farm at Durham and was home schooled.

He traveled to Kansas on January 24, 1939, to stay with his brother and find work. After three months and no luck, except one-half day of chopping wood for a neighbor he saw an ad in the paper that read "Wanted capable farm hand. No Smoking, Board and Room, $20.00 per month, Albert Culverwell, Craig, Colorado." Rufus lost no time in coming to Craig, and was immediately hired to work on the Culverwell homestead. He worked there unil December 15, when he returned to Oklahoma and married Ruby Mae Warren on December 24, 1939.

They returned to Craig on May 12, 1946, and Earle worked for the Culverwell's until April 1955, when they rented a house east of Craig, which they have resided in since, and he began farming.

Rufus worked for six years for various people on farms before opening his own welding business, The Craig Welding Service.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, square dancing, bowling and playing cards.

He was a member of the National Rifle Association, the Craig Odd Fellow Lodge since 1953 and served in all of its chairs.

He was a longtime member of the Moffat County Sheriff's Posse since 1974 and was a member of the Craig Police Reserve at one time.

He helped with local activities such as football and basketball games, dances and horse races.

Rufus died on Friday, August 25, 2006, at the Memorial Hospital in Craig following a brief illness.

He is survived by his daughters, Dotsie Airene Kent of Grand Junction; Patricia Whiteself of Craig; Edna Lou (Robbie) Robinson of Craig; and Carrie Faye Hanes of Cushing, Oklahoma; sons, Thomas {Nona} Earle of Craig; and Foye Lee {Sheila} Earle of Elk City, Oklahoma; fourteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

His parents, Robert and Lou Era Earle; brothers, Wilton, Seale, Darwin, Clyde, Bill, Cloyde and his twin brother Rupert; his half sister, Dotsie; and his daughter, Hazel Mae Taylor, preceded him in death.

A funeral was held on Tuesday, August 29, 2006, at Grant Mortuary in Craig, with Gene Parrott officiating.

Wanda Brown, accompanied on the organ by Anne Carr, sang, "On the Wings of a Snow White Dove," "Amazing Grace" and "When the Roll is Called up Yonder."

Pallbearers were Norman Culverwell, Dennis Parrott, Charles White and Bill Rice. Honorary pallbearers were Bob Mollison, Bob DeRenard, Hugh Self and Kenneth Buckman.

Rufus was buried at Craig Cemetery next to his wife, Ruby.

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