Pawnee County, Oklahoma, Obituary: FESS ERVIN "SHORTY" WALLER Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joann Brazee Osage County News Service (OCNS) http://ocns.freeyellow.com/ Email: ocns@hotmail.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FESS ERVIN "SHORTY" WALLER OCNS - April 16, 2002 - Fess Ervin "Shorty" Waller was born June 4, 1915 in Roff, Oklahoma, one of twelve children of John Calvin and Cora Waller. During his childhood, Fess moved frequently with his family as they worked as share croppers. Shorty attended school, completing the eighth grade at Checotah, Oklahoma. Upon completion of his schooling, Fess started a career in farming in which he continued until the onset of World War II. Shorty was married to Helen Francis Hamm in Checotah on June 14, 1936 and during the war the couple made their home in Tulsa where he worked as a welder for McDonnell- Douglas. When the war ended in 1946, the couple moved to Talala, Oklahoma, where they reared their three children, Fess Ervin, Jr., Sue and Bobbie. Fess owned and operated a dairy farm in Talala for nearly twelve years at which time he established a right of way clearing business, Waller's Saw Service. Shorty relocated his family and business to Cleveland, Oklahoma, in 1969. His company contracted right of way clearing services for the Indian Electric in Cleveland for many years. Additionally, Fess repaired and sharpened chain saws as part of his services. He retired in 1980, however he continued to provide knowledge to other family members who continued in the contracting business. Shorty was a longtime and faithful member of the First Assembly of God Church in Cleveland where he served as Sunday School Teacher and Deacon. Although his life was filled with much happiness, his family seemed to be his pride and joy. He enjoyed his relationship with his brothers and sisters, but was especially proud of his grandchildren. He loved taking them on trips and spending as much time as possible with them. Additionally, Fess liked traveling to Beaver Lake where he would fish for trout. He was fond of gospel music and spent countless hours going to gospel singing throughout the area. Through his career, Fess developed an intensive knowledge of horticulture especially in the area of trees, plants and shrubs. Shorty passed away Friday, April 12, 2002, at the Tulsa Regional Medical Center at the age of eighty-six years, ten months and eight days. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Jess Ervin Waller, Jr., five brothers, Dennis, Carl, Cordle and two infant brothers and three sisters, Bertha, Helen and an infant sister, Dovie. He is survived by his wife, Helen; two daughters and their husbands, Sue and Jerry Smith of Cleveland, and Bobbie and James Haile of Edmond, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Rob Harper and Dusty Harper both of Talala, Sandy Harper and Terri Day both of Cleveland, Stacy Haile of Kansas City, Kansas, Andrea Richardson of Edmond; nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Johnny Waller of Oregon; two sisters, Grace Frazier of Checotah, Oklahoma and Irene Browning of Winslow, Arkansas. Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 16, at the First Assembly of God Church in Cleveland with Pastor Dan Edens officiating. Committal service was held later at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Nowata, Oklahoma. Serving as pallbearers were Dusty Harper, Rob Harper, Stacy Haile, Jeff Richardson, Travis Harper and Kelby Edens. Honorary pallbearers were Toby Day, Tucker Day, Brandon Harper and Zachary Richardson. Visit an online obituary and guest book for Mr. Waller at Chapman-Black Funeral Home.