HEGLER, Edmund - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Guthrie, Okla, Jan 4- Funeral services for the late EM Hegler were conducted from the family residence, 702 E. Springer Avenue, Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock, Rev. AB Nicholas rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, assisted by Rev. John Granger of McAlester, former rector of the El Reno Episcopal Church of which the deceased was a member, officiated. The services were opened by Rector Granger reading Bryant’s Thanatopsis, a favorite poem of the deceased which was followed by the usual Episcopal service.  Rev. Nicholas preached an impressive funeral sermon and Rev. Granger gave the history of the deceased’s life. The Episcopal Church choir, composed of Mrs. JJ Boles, Mrs. JH Cotteral, Charles H. Woods and Carl Havighorst, assisted by Miss Boles at the piano during the services sang the deceased’s favorite hymns, Lead Kingly Light, Nearer My God to Thee and Abide With Me.  Many beautiful floral designs and wreathes were banked about the bier. A massive floral design in the form of a pillow, composed of carnations, Easter lilies of the alley and white roses bearing the Elks emblem, BPOE was presented by Lodge No 427 of El Reno, of which the deceased was a member. The local Elks also testified to their esteem for their departed brother with a large wreath of flowers. The active pall bearers chosen from among Mr. Hegler’s former associates at El Reno were: Ed Rhodes, MD Libby, Fremont Smith, FE Rickey, EC Young and John Gerrer. The honorary pall bearers were Shirley Champ of El Reno, Judge Frank Dale, Judge AH Huston, Fred Fisher, JJ O’Rourke and H Burford. Interment was made at Summit View cemetery.  The out-of-town people present at the service in addition to the pallbearers from El Reno, included Mesdames Albert Gerrer, FE Rickey, CE Young and MD Libbey; Rev. John Granger of McAlester, Burns Hegler of Oklahoma City. Father Robert Gregory Gerrer of Shawnee, and Albert Gerrer of El Reno both immediate friends of the deceased arrived Thursday to extend condolence to the bereaved family but were unable to attend the funeral services.  Edmund Milford was born Sept 15, 1869 at Attica, Indiana where his early life was spent graduating from Wabash College.  He came to Oklahoma with his parents in 1892, settling at Oklahoma City but early in 1893 located in El Reno as a deputy district clerk in Judge Tarsney’s district. He was also appointed deputy under Judge Irwin and later made Judge Irwin’s secretary which position he held until the advent of statehood. Mr. Hegler removed to Guthrie in May 1909 and was instrumental in establishing the Guthrie desk and furniture plant in this city. He was the first president of the company and at the time of his secretary.