Notes
Note N467
Index
Vonnie Nelson Scherer died in 1919 as a result of complications in childbirth (Mary Ellen).
The following obituary was written by her husband, Robert M. Scherer. The handwritten original is in the possession of R. L. Arnold:
"Vonnie Ethel Nelson was born at Indianapolis November 20, 1888 and departed this life March 19, 1919, aged 30 years, 3 months and 29 days. She attended the public schools of Indianapolis and Shortridge High School for a time. Early in her teens she united with the Hillside Christian Church and remained a faithful member of that church until changing her residence to University Heights where she united with the Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church in 1912. She has been an active member of this church since that time, taking pafrt in all the departments of the church work.
October 24, 1914, she was united in marriage with Robert M. Scherer. Three children were born of this marriage - - Elizabeth Nell, 3 1/2 years of age; Edward Everett who died in oinfancy, and Mary Ellen, the week-old baby.
Vonnie has been a faithful wife and a tender, loving mother. Her greatest desire in life appeared to be to care for her home and loved ones, not forgetting all of her friends and neighbors.
Besides her husband and daughters, she leaves her father, three sisters, four brothers and sixteen nieces and nephews.
Although her life has been so short it has been one of loving service and she will be sadly missed by her many friends. She was never given to building air castles but was satisfied to be busy with the daily, practical cares of life, never given to complaining but always cheerful.
She seemed to feel that she would never survive her last illness but in spite of such feeling she put forth a heroic effort to conquer. She repeatedly talked with her husband during her last few days, about dying, and made the expression that she was not afraid to die, but was praying that she might live to care for her children and home."
Notes
Note N468
Index
Met Elizabeth while both worked at E. J. Baker Co. in Indianapolis, Indiana. Bill served in US Army in Europe, 2-20-43 to 10-25-45. Legend is that he was at Battle of the Bulge.
He had been in same nursing home as Elizabeth when he became ill and was moved to Medina(OH) Hospital, then to the VA Hospital at Brecksville, OH. He was moved from there to the VA Hospital on Wade Park in Cleveland, where he died on July 7, 1994. Cause of death was broncho-pneumonia due to hypertensive heart disease.
Notes
Note N469
Index
Les Borror was a very good student in high school. He was interested in chemistry especially, and was offered a scholarship to college, but was unable to accept because of the need to help at home. His Prediction in the High School Yearbook was that he was "going to straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa." (Lena Borror)
He worked in construction all his life, starting as a carpenter and ending his career as construction superintendent. In later years he supervised construction or remodeling of a variety of commercial buildings, including those on the campus of Indiana State College in Terre Haute, IN.
He was a devoted bass fisherman. In the 1950's, he entered contests and caught enough big bass to win a boat and motor which he used until he retired in the 1970's. He would often spend a week in Crystal Falls, MI, with his brother Layton and his sister, Ruby Jenkins. His idea of a good day was to be on the lake at sunrise and cast topwater plugs for bass until about 11:00. Then he would switch to a cane pole and fish with worms for bluegills until late afternoon. He would then change back to topwater plugs for bass until dark. His favorite plug was a 5/8 oz. Arbogast Hula Popper, black with red throat. He used a Pfleuger Supreme bait casting reel and 15 lb. test nylon monofilament line.
He loved to fish topwater baits and would rarely fish anything else. One evening on a lake near Crystal Falls in about 1960, the sun was just setting and we were fishing surface plugs. Suddenly, large fish began to hit our baits. They sounded like logs splashing the surface of the water. They also cut our lines and took our plugs. It was a spooky scene in the half-dark. I believe they were northern pike which were hitting surface plugs. This was not a common occurrence. This went on for about 15 minutes and we didn't boat a single fish.
On another occasion, I went fishing with him and another fellow to a strip mine in southwestern Indiana. We got the boat in the water and two of us were loading the gear into the boat. While we were busy, Les walked over to the edge of the water, cast one time, and caught a 6 lb. 7 oz. largemouth bass
We didn't catch any more bass that day. we took the bass in and got it weighed, and I took a picture of it beside my son Curtis, who was about 1 yr. old. The bass was as long as he was tall.
Les Borror had an uncanny ability to know what people were thinking. On many occasions he would verbally finish the thought of the person he was with. One instance was in Crystal Falls, MI, in 1960, when I was with him and we were getting ready to go fishing. We were all set to go and were driving to the lake when we made a quick stop at a little bait store. He went inside and I was thinking to myself, "What in the world are stopping here for?" He walked out of the store and walked up to the car and said, "Because they have the best redworms for bluegills." He got in and drove off without another word. There were many other instances of his knowing what people were thinking. I think this was why he was sometimes unhappy. (R. L. Arnold)