Ernest Emmett Fullerton

Well Known Resident of Jireh Dead at Age 69

Death came suddenly Monday morning of this week to one of Niobrara county's well known citizens, Ernest E. Fullerton, who passed away at the Lusk hospital at 5:55 a.m., Monday, February 10th, 1941 just 48 hours after he had first been stricken with a sudden heart attack.

Mr. Fullerton apparently had been in the best of health, having never complained of such ailment to his family or friends, and it was a great shock to everyone when he was suddenly struck down. He had been making his home with his son, Ivan and family, and as was his usual custom arose early last Saturday morning to help with the chores about the ranch. Without a warning of any kind he slumped to the floor with a severe attack of paralysis where he was found a few minutes later by his daughter-in-law. He was helped up and onto a chair and after a few minute's rest insisted that he was all right and that he should go help with the work. In spite of the woman's pleas he started to go out to the yard and Mrs. Fullerton went to call her husband who came to see about his father immediately. The elder Fullerton evidently started for the yard to help with the chores, felt he was weakening and started to return to the house, reaching the kitchen door when he again slumped to the floor. A doctor was called immediately and after emergency treatment he was brought to the Lusk hospital Saturday morning.

Mr. Fullerton and his family had come to Wyoming in 1914, taking up a homestead near Jireh where he lived until he made his home with his son. He was ever active in the welfare of his home and community and when the Jireh Christian College was organized he was made a member of the board of trustees and held that position until the college was abandoned some years later.

Although he had spent his entire life as a farmer and common laborer he was well read and was a capable speaker and writer who delighted in debating the topics of the day with his own homey philosophy and constructive criticism, of which many of the readers of this paper will recall in past years.

Mr. Fullerton was a kind father and a good true friend of hundreds, his friendships being numbered only by his acquaintances. A frequent visitor in Lusk, it was only last week he was seen about the streets in his usual jovial mood and his sudden illness and death cast a shadow of sorrow and regret over the entire community.

OBITUARY

Ernest Emmett Fullerton, son of Henderson and Martha Fullerton, was born at Oskaloosa, Iowa, January 9, 1872, and passed from this life at Lusk, Wyoming, February 10, 1941, aged 69 years, one month and one day.

While a small lad he moved with his parents from Oskaloosa to Tingley, Iowa in the southwestern part of that state, from whence they moved in 1884 to Atkinson, Nebraska, where he grew to young manhood and spent many years of his life.

Early in his youth he became a member of the United Presbyterian church, and on March 13, 1901 he was united in marriage to Miss Lilly Maud Gray. To this union were born eight children, six of whom survive to mourn his departure. His wife preceded him in death about eleven years ago. The children are: Lyle, Beryl, Mrs. Hazel Carpenter, Ivan, Mrs. Edith Bone and Mrs. Reba Summers. Two children preceded their father in death, Donald, who was fatally injured in a runaway accident at the age of 14, and Earnest Dale, who passed away in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Fullerton and family moved to Niobrara County, Wyoming April 4, 1914 and took up a homestead three miles northeast of Jireh where they lived for many years. After moving to Wyoming his membership in the church was changed from the Presbyterian at Atkinson, Nebraska, to the Christian Church of Jireh, in which church he served in many capacities as well as serving as a a member of the board of trustees for the Jireh Christian College and Church school when that institution was active. Following the abandonment of the Jireh College Mr. Fullerton became a member of the Presbyterian Church in Keeline, after he moved to the Presbyterian Church in Casper and from there he brought his membership to the Baptist Church of Lusk, where he was serving as a deacon at the time of his death. Throughout his life Ernest Fullerton followed the teachings of Christ as best he could interpret them and his reward was the friendship of legions, always a kind act and deed for those less fortunate, ever rich in the knowledge of Christ and his teachings.

Besides the above children Mr. Fullerton is survived by a sister, Mrs. Mabel Tennant of Pacific Grove, Calif., two brothers, Wallace Fullerton of Penney Farm, Florida, and James B. Fullerton, of Atkinson , Nebr., eight grandchildren, nieces and nephews and hundreds of friends throughout the east central section of this state.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, February 12, at 2:00 o'clock at the Peet Mortuary Chapel with Rev. P.H. Evans in charge of the services. Interment was made in the Jireh cemetery beside the remains of his wife who had preceded him to the land beyond.

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