Yuma County, Colorado
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Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:
J.H and Inez Kearns, Wray
Wray residents John Tyo Kearns on the left, and Richard Kenneth Kearns around 1924.
Grade 3 Arithmetic Work-Book used by Bobby (Robert Howard) Kearns in his class at Wray. He died during that school year, and the book is complete only up to page 24.
May 5, 1927 "iMr. J. H. Kearns, who was elected mayor of the town of Wray for the coming year at the April election was sworn into office at the town board meeting Tuesday evening of this week. H. A. Cox, Edgar Loyd and M. M. Jensen, the trustees elected were also sworn in. J. E. Starnes, Myron Fisk and Barr Grovfes are the holdover (nuembem of the board. H. A. Cox was elected mayor pro tem and the following: commStties were appointed for the coming year: Finance—Barr Groves and Edgar Loyd. Light—M. M. Jensen and M. M. Fisk. Street and Alley— iH. A. Cox and J. E. Starnes. Miss Mattie Defigh was elected town clerk with a salary of $lOO per month. Miss DeFigh entered upon her duties on Wednesday of this week. F. M. Hayes was seleeed as treasurer for the town and M. M. Bulkeley was chosen as town attorney. Wm. Buhler was appointed superintendent of all departments at a salary of $176 per month. James Shaw was made marshall at a salary of $lOO. Wm. Bensen waa again selected as street man with • salary of $l4O for him (self and team. The selection of an official paper and depository was left until a later meeting."
April 4, 1946 "J. H Kearns left Sunday evening for Urban a, Illinois, where he was called by the death of a sister. Miss Margaret Kearns, who died that morning. He boarded the Zephyr at McCook where he was taken by his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. BiU Muller. During Mir. Kearns' absence, the local selective service office will be in charge of Charles F. Haines of Brush who was sent to Wray by the Denver office. Mr. Haines has been secretary of selective service board at Fort Morgan for the past five years."
October 5, 1950 "J. H. Kearns Dies Of Heart Attack Saturday Morning
Community Honors Memory of Former Mayor and Civic Leader at Rites Held Monday Afternoon.
Jack Kearns died Saturday morning while at his desk at the Heindel Motor company. Others at the garage said that he answered a telephone call, summoned one of the employees to the phone, then slumped in his chair. Death was attributed to a heart attack. The Presbyterian church was filled Monday afternoon by longtime friends and business associates who came to pay homage to the memory of a man who had made a lasting and outstanding contribution to the civic development of the town he had chosen as his home. The service was conducted by Rev. Moore G. Bell, and was followed by a Masonic burial service at Grandview cemetery. John Hancock Kearns, son of Martin and Caroline Kearns, was born at Sidney, 111., on August 30, 1880. After finishing grammar and high school at Philo, 111., he attended college at Dixon College in Dixon, 111. He taught school in Philo, and then moved to Colorado in 1903 and worked with his brother, A. M. Kearns, in operating the Model Business School in Denver. One of his first business ventures was working for the contractors who built the sugar factory at Eaton. Subsequently, he and his brother acquired the land that is now the town site of Hudson, and entered a general store! business. This interest led them into planning an irrigation project at Keenesburg, which included | the building of the first large dam in the area. * On June 26, 1911, he and Inez Mary Tyo were married and made their home in Denver, where he ; was manager of the Lakeside j Amusement Park. In 1913 he entered the early day automobile business by joining! the Ford Motor Company organ- j ization in Denver. He liked the new industry and in May, 1918, came to Wray to become the operating partner of the Ford dealership. Mr. Kearns’ ability, personality and diplomacy soon made him a leader in local business, civic and social circles. He made a legion of friends by his cordiality and genuine friendliness and these, both young and old, turned to him for advice and companionship. In 1926 he was elected mayor of Wray and he was one
of the most successful town officials that Wray has ever had.
In more recent years,
Mr. Kearns has served his community as secretary of the draft board during the World
War II and later as a member of the board, and several years as town clerk.
He had been bookkeeper for the Heindel Motor company for some time before his death.
He was a Presbyterian, and a member of the First Presbyterian church of Wray since 1927.
Surviving Mr. Kearns are his wife, Inez Kearns of Wray; a daughter, Betty Muller of Wray;
three sons, John and Richard of Denver and Lee of Los Angeles. There are also a brother,
Walter Kearns of Wray; two sisters, Mrs. Evan Grove and Mrs. Isaac Besore of Urbana, Ill.; eight grandchildren and less near relatives."
A photo of Richard Kenneth Kearns on the left, and John Tyo Kearns on the right.
Taken in Denver, Colorado in 1965.
Owner and Submitter
Dick Kearns
Usnzulz@aol.com
There were a lot of memories stirred among Wray residents when the news of the death of Richard K. (Dick) Kearns at the age of 49 in Williamsburg, Va., was received at Wray. Dick Kearns lived in Wray from the time he was two years old until after his graduation from Colorado University and he not only had many friends in this area, but his prowess as an athlete in his high school and college days was legendary among local people.
He had always been a Wrayite, and he renewed friendships here by visits throughout his life.
At the time of his death on June 15, which followed a long illness, he was assistant director of visitor accomodations and merchandising for Williamsburg Restoration, Inc., the business subsidiary of Colonial Williamsburg.
He had been a member of the staff since April 1, 1963. He died at his home,
the Benjamin Waller House, a restored Colonial residence.
Prior to going to Williamsburg he was manager of passenger service operations for
United Airlines in Washington, D. C., from 1955 to 1965, and ten years prior to that
had been with United in Denver. He was a member of Bruton Parish Episcopal Church
in Williamsburg from where the funeral services were held Friday, June 24, with
the Rev. Dr. Cotesworth P. Lewis officiating. Burial was in Cedar Grove Cemetery
in Williamsburg. Mr. Kearns was born in Denver coming to Wray with his parents, J. H. Kearns and Inez Kearns, two years later. During his high school days here he starred in football, basketball and track under Coach J. Ray French.
He played halfback in football and was the most spactacular broken field runner that this area had ever produced. He was a top basketball player, and a standout in track. In his senior year, Kearns scored 31 points in the league track meet and set five league records. He scored 28
points in the district meet and was second high man at the state meet with 14% points. At Colorado University, he played football with Whizzer White and set a record that still stands when he ran 105 yards for a touchdown in a game played in Denver. He won the Kansas Decathlon and was Colorado University’s first All America track man.
Mr. Kearns learned to fly prior to World War II as a member of the Civilian Air Patrol and served as a pilot and instructor in ground equipment with the Army Air Force. His wife, who survives him, is the former Dorothy May Northcutt of Denver. He is also survived by his two children, Richard Kenneth Jr. and Karen Tracy, of Williamsburg: his mother, Mrs. Inez Kearns of Wray: a brother, John Tyo Kearns, and a sister, Mrs. B. J. Muller, both of the Denver area.
Funeral services were held Thursday, March 27, 1969 for Mrs. Inez Mrs. J. H.) Kearns, retired Librarian of the Wray City Library, from the First Presbyterian Church in Wray with Rev. Everett Erickson officiating. Mrs. Kearns was born in Ft. Covington. N. Y.. August 1, 1894 to Daniel and Blanche Tyo. On June 26. 1912, she was married to John Hancock Kearns in Denver. The Kearns moved to Wray in 1918. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, a former member of the Order of Eastern Star and a member of the Tuesday Study club. She served as librarian for 20 years in Wray, until her retirement in July of 1968. Preceding her in death were four sons. John Tyo Kearns. Richard Kenneth Kearns. Robert Howard Kearns and Lee Martin Kearns and her husband, who passed away in 1950. She is survived by one daughter. Elizabeth Blanche Kearns Muller of Littleton: 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Interment was held in Grandview Cemetery.
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