Machledt - Harry C. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Harry C. MACHLEDT, funeral director for 38 years died at 11 a.m. Friday morning. Mr. Machledt was born Dec 24, 1891, in Montezuma, the son of John and Ella Little Machledt. He was graduated from Montezuma HS and Cincinnati School of Embalming. For several years he was associated in the undertaking business with Hugh Montgomery who now operates an establishment at Rockville. In 1915 Mr. Machledt purchased the undertaking business from Frank Kritz. For several years the embalming was done in the furniture store which has been operated since as a sideline. Bill Oglesby of Chicago formerly of Waveland drove the first horsedrawn hearse for Mr. Machledt. Mr. Machledt served three generations of people with as high as nine funerals in a family. One of the first funerals he conducted in this community was that of Mrs. Hubert Loudermill's father, Benjamin Bilbo, who was fatally burned when his home burned May 6, 1915 on the site of the present Avery Fuller home. In 1940 the house built by Tyre Hanna was purchased from Clarence Overstreet for a funeral home and the opening was held in October of that year. Mr. Machledt has been in poor health for several years and has been assisted by a son, William. He died as he had always wished in his sleep from an apoplectic stroke. June 25, 1913, he was married to Hazel Hendrix at Tangier. He was a member of the Waveland Masonic Lodge and order of Eastern Star. Those surviving are his widow, two sons, Dr. John H. Machledt of Greenwood and William F. Machledt of Waveland; his father, John Machledt, a brother, Fred Machledt of Montezuma and two grandsons. The funeral services were held Monday morning at the funeral home with Rev. Herbert Hugo of Chicago and Mr. James O'Neal officiating. Mrs. Lowell Spencer furnished the music. Pall bearers were: Delbert White of Kingman; Wayne Galey.