Surnames: Kegley, Olson, lodge, Short, Godell, Smith

----Source: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 6 August 1931

Kegley, Rev. Vernon C. (5 Sept. 1894 - 31 July 1931)

Rev. Vern C. Kegley pastor of the M. E. Church at Loyal died at his home in the village on Friday July 31. He has not been in vigorous health for some time; an attack of inflammation rheumatism had impaired the strength of his heart which gave him considerable trouble and reduced his strength. He spent a few weeks in the hospital, but returned home, not seeming to make any permanent gain.

Vernon C. Kegley was born at Hillsboro, Sept. 5, 1894. He was naturally a student, and after finishing his preparatory work he attended Defiance College at Defiance, Ohio where he graduated. Later he did further work in Theology in Minneapolis and entered the ministry. He was assigned to the pastorate of the Methodist church at Loyal last year, coming from Knapp, Wis., where he was pastor for several years. He was a man of rare spiritual qualities, and been sympathies which ??tted him well for his work in the ministry. He has the faculty too of meeting men and women of all classes on a friendship base, which won him the esteem of many outside of his own congregation. His death just in the prime of life, seems like a great loss to his home and family, to his community and to the entire Church.

Mr. Kegley was married March 5, 1924 to miss Helen Smith of Soldiers Grove, Wis., who with their little son Allen, two years old survives him. He leaves also his father, Albert Kegley, who formerly lived at Shortville and now at Virginia. His mother died in 1917. He leaves two brothers and three sisters: Amos of East Troy, Wis., Ray of Viniqua; Laura, Mrs. Louis Olson of Hillsboro; Ina, Mrs. Wm. Lodge of Kendall; Edith, Mrs. Ralph Short of Shortville. The body lay in state in the M. E. Church in Loyal from Sunday noon until Monday afternoon attended by guard of the Masonic Lodge of which he was a member. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows.

The funeral was held Monday afternoon, Rev. Dr. E. C. Goodell of Eau Claire, District Superintendent of the M. E. Church officiating.