IN MEMORIAM
Casper Earl Mace Edythe Evelyn Mace
July 21, 1909 - December 9, 1983 Novomber 7, 1918 - March 18, 2007
Casper Earl Mace was born on July 21, 1909 in Lewis County, Missouri, the third* child of Walter and Lily May Mace. (*Mary Louise died in infancy) Earl's childhood was scarred by tragedy. In 1916, Walter became ill and passed away on July 25th. Two years later, his mother Lily and younger sister Pansy both became ill with the flu.
Lily passed away on December 17, 1918. Two days later, on December 19th, Pansy died at the age of three. The two were buried together in the same coffin.
Earl and his older brother Alfred Edwin spent their remaining childhood years doing odd jobs and sleeping at times in barns of various aunts and uncles. Unsure of his exact birthdate, Earl enlisted in the US Navy in January of 1927 at the age of 17 1/2. By the time the Navy aquired his birth records, Earl had turned 18.
In the early 1930's, Earl met a young woman named Ruth Ophelia Wallace. The two married and they had a daughter, Ophelia Ruth, born in September of 1935. Finally, Earl had a family. Regretfully, his happiness was short lived when he and Ruth divorced. He was granted custody of their daughter but the Navy called him back to active duty. Having no one, Earl turned to his former in-laws for help, entrusting Ophelia's care to them. However, once he was at sea, they turned Ophelia over to Ruth. Ruth's new husband, Wm. Gordon McCracken filed for adoption. Ophelia, now named Kathleen, disappeared.
During his tour of duty, Earl met young mother, Edythe, working as a taxi cab driver in Coos Bay, Oregon. The two began dating and married. Earl doted on Edythe's daugther Carol but he never forgot his own. He held out hope that one day he would find her and they would be a family again.
In 1956, Kathleen now married found him. For the next twenty years they enjoyed a relationship, taking trips to the beach, camping, and holidays together. Sadly, in December of 1977, Kathleen passed away.
In 1983, Earl became sick with prostate cancer. Edythe did research on Indian remedies and made what she called horrible green milkshakes for him to drink. He drank them and never complained. When he returned to the doctor for a check up, they found no trace of the cancer. However, his aorta failed and on December 9th he passed away.
Lily passed away on December 17, 1918. Two days later, on December 19th, Pansy died at the age of three. The two were buried together in the same coffin.
Earl and his older brother Alfred Edwin spent their remaining childhood years doing odd jobs and sleeping at times in barns of various aunts and uncles. Unsure of his exact birthdate, Earl enlisted in the US Navy in January of 1927 at the age of 17 1/2. By the time the Navy aquired his birth records, Earl had turned 18.
In the early 1930's, Earl met a young woman named Ruth Ophelia Wallace. The two married and they had a daughter, Ophelia Ruth, born in September of 1935. Finally, Earl had a family. Regretfully, his happiness was short lived when he and Ruth divorced. He was granted custody of their daughter but the Navy called him back to active duty. Having no one, Earl turned to his former in-laws for help, entrusting Ophelia's care to them. However, once he was at sea, they turned Ophelia over to Ruth. Ruth's new husband, Wm. Gordon McCracken filed for adoption. Ophelia, now named Kathleen, disappeared.
During his tour of duty, Earl met young mother, Edythe, working as a taxi cab driver in Coos Bay, Oregon. The two began dating and married. Earl doted on Edythe's daugther Carol but he never forgot his own. He held out hope that one day he would find her and they would be a family again.
In 1956, Kathleen now married found him. For the next twenty years they enjoyed a relationship, taking trips to the beach, camping, and holidays together. Sadly, in December of 1977, Kathleen passed away.
In 1983, Earl became sick with prostate cancer. Edythe did research on Indian remedies and made what she called horrible green milkshakes for him to drink. He drank them and never complained. When he returned to the doctor for a check up, they found no trace of the cancer. However, his aorta failed and on December 9th he passed away.
