Ervel Cleaver

Funeral service for Ervel F. Cleaver, 89, Lawrence will be held 11 a.m. Monday, September 14, 2009 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary.  Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Kansas City, KS.  Mr. Cleaver died on September 11, 2009 at his home. 

He was born on April 29, 1920 in Findley, Illinois the son of Mike S. and Cora George Cleaver.

Mr. Cleaver was a retired car inspector for the Union Pacific Railroad.  He retired after 30 years in 1980.  He had also worked for the Rock Island Railroad and the Santa Fe Railroad.  Following his retirement, he had worked as the secretary for the Scottish Rite Bodies of Lawrence.

He was a 50 year member and Past Master of Henri # 190 AF & AM Lodge, in Tonganoxie.  He was a 33rd degree member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Lawrence and a KYCH of the Lawrence York Rite Bodies.  He was Grand Advisor of Order of True Kindred State of Kansas and Past Advisor of Miriam # 10 OTK in Kansas City.  He was also a member of Retta #8 OTK in Ottawa.  He was Past Watchman of Shepherds of Fidelity Shrine, White Shrine of Jerusalem of Lawrence, Past Worthy Patron of Rinda Chapter 82, Order of Eastern Star in Tonganoxie, Member of Council #1, Ancient Toltec Rite in Topeka, Past Sovereign on St. Justin Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine in Kansas City, and a member of Royal Order of Scotland, also member of the Philethes society.

He was a veteran of WWII serving in France and Germany. 

He married Grace Gillespie on August 31, 1940 in Kansas City, Kansas.  She survives of the home.

Survivors include two sons, William “Bill” and his wife, Melinda, of Mannford, Oklahoma; Fred, Lawrence; one sister, Georgia Howe, Alamogordo, New Mexico; 5 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren.

The family will greet friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday September 13, 2009 at the mortuary.

Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com   Subject: Cleaver