Ervel Cleaver

Services for Ervel F. Cleaver, 89, Lawrence, were Sept. 14, 2009, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary. Interment followed at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Kansas City, Kan.
Mr. Cleaver died Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, at his home.
He was born April 29, 1920, in Findley, Ill., the son of Mike S. and Cora George Cleaver.
Mr. Cleaver was a retired car inspector for the Union Pacific Railroad. He retired after 30 years in 1980. He had also worked for the Rock Island Railroad and the Santa Fe Railroad. Following his retirement, he had worked as the secretary for the Scottish Rite Bodies of Lawrence.
He was a 50-year member and past master of Henri No. 190 AF & AM Lodge, in Tonganoxie. He was a 33rd degree member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Lawrence and a KYCH of the Lawrence York Rite Bodies. He was grand advisor of order of True Kindred State of Kansas and past advisor of Miriam No. 10 OTK in Kansas City. He was also a member of Retta No. 8 OTK in Ottawa. He was past watchman of Shepherds of Fidelity Shrine, White Shrine of Jerusalem of Lawrence, past worthy patron of Rinda Chapter 82, Order of Eastern Star in Tonganoxie, member of Council No. 1, Ancient Toltec Right in Topeka, past sovereign of St. Justin Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine in Kansas City, and a member of Royal Order of Scotland, also member of the Philethes society.
He was a veteran of WWII, serving in France and Germany.
He married Grace Gillespie on Aug. 31, 1940, in Kansas City, Kan. She survives of the home.
Other survivors include two sons, William “Bill” and his wife, Melinda, of Mannford, Okla., Fred, Lawrence; one sister, Georgia Howe, Alamogordo, N.M.; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Online condolences may be sent to warrenmcelwain.com, subject: Cleaver.