A tragic accident Thursday afternoon took the life of Lawrence P. Stear, 53, popular farmer of this community. The accident occurred at the farm home of Mr. Stear when a grain elevator suddenly collapsed crushing him.

He and his son, Roger, were re-piling ear corn and were in the process of lifting the corn into a crib. The elevator tended to slip off the top of the crib and while they attempted to keep the machine from slipping it suddenly collapsed. Two supports struck Mr. Stear with tremendous force severly crushing his head. The county coroner said that death was instantaneous.

No one could give an explanation as to why the elevator so suddenly collapsed without any warning. Roger, who was also working on the elevator at the time of the accident was shaken-up but fortunately was not injured seriously.

Lawrence had farmed in this community all his life. He was a native of Cozad and resided on a farm 5 miles north of town.

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at 3:00 o’clock from the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Cozad with the Reverend Donald C. Miller officiating.

Ray Smith was the vocal soloist accompanied by Mrs. William Station at the organ. Casket bearers were Harlan Iliff, Herb Ballmer, Art Ballmer, Archie Smith, Harlan Welch and Art Keiswetter. Interment was in the Cozad Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Frances; two sons, Roger and Ronald, both of Cozad; two daughters, Mrs. Richard Bowen, of Tucson, Arizona and Mrs. Ivan Paulsen of Lincoln; two brothers, Merle of North Platte and Glen of California; two sisters, Mrs. Fred Troxel and Mrs. Rosa Thomas both of Cozad, four grandchildren, numerous other relatives and a wide circle of friends.

Lawrence Preston Stear, youngest son of Mary and Wilmer Stear, was born at Cozad, Nebraska on April 24, 1904 and departed this life on January 30, 1958 at the age of 53 years, 9 months and six days.

He grew to young manhood on a farm south of Cozad and then moved to the northside where he has since resided.

On March 31, 1929, he was united in marriage to Frances V. Kerr. Four children blessed this union, Ronald, Roger, Sharon and Shirley.

Lawrence joined the Evangelical United Brethren Church as a boy and has been a very faithful Christian to the end. He was a devoted husband and father. He contributed greatly of his time and talents and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Frances; two sons, Ronald and Roger, both of Cozad; two daughters, Sharon Bowen of Tucson, Arizona, and Shirley Paulsen, of Lincoln, Nebraska; four grandchildren, Jayne, Cathy and Shane Stear and Matthew Bowen; two sisters, Elsie Troxel of Cozad, Rosa Thomas, of Los Angeles, California; two brothers, Merle of Holbrook, Nebraska and Glenn of El Segundo, California and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother in 1951 and by his father in 1957.

The Cozad Local 62(51):1 Tuesday, February 4, 1958