Elmer Everett Morilla

Elmer Everett Morilla

Elmer Everett Morilla, age 94, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., went home to be with our Lord, Tuesday, July 14, 2015. He was born Feb. 2, 1921, in Butler, Mo., the third of five children born to Everett Edward Morilla and Fannie Wix Morilla. He lost his father as a senior in high school. While his brothers went off to service Elmer was kept at home to help his mother with the farming. Elmer married Mable Charlene Franke on May 6, 1945, in Fort Scott. They celebrated 66 years of marriage prior to her death on Sept. 19, 2011. Elmer was a jack-of-all-trades, but his first love was farming. He also worked in construction and the laying of concrete. He helped build the Fort Scott Middle School gymnasium, the Fort Scott Inn, managed salvage yards and did welding and mechanic work. He could do most anything. Elmer was immersed in baptism as a child and was a member of the Community Christian Church.

Survivors include three daughters, Caron Turner of Kamiah, Idaho, Linda Bower and husband, Chet, of Fort Scott and Betty Guder and husband, Dale, of Lawrence, Kan., and one son, Edward Morilla of Fort Scott. Also surviving are five grandchildren and 12 3/4 great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Janet Arlene, his parents and four siblings.

Following cremation, a celebration of life service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 18 at the Community Christian Church. The family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. until service time at the church. A private burial will take place at a later date in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Community Christian Church or Fort Scott Guest Home Estates and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.