Wendell Everett Mumby
W. E. Mumby, attorney here 47 years, dies
Wendell Everett Mumby, 69, attorney in Harrison for 47 years and widely known in northwest Nebraska, died at Swedish Medical Center in Denver Friday afternoon of a brain tumor. He had been taken there June 13 and underwent surgery a week before his death.
Memorial United Methodist Church of Harrison was crowded beyond capacity for the funeral service held on Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock. He had been an active member of that church during his long residency here. His body was entombed at Lincoln Memorial Park Mausoleum in Lincoln, Neb. Wednesday morning at 10, plans for which he had made years before. The service at Harrison was performed by the Rev. Larry Tieszen, pastor of the church, and the service at Lincoln was performed by a former pastor here, the Rev. Victor Ireland of Cozad.
Music for the service was provided by Mrs. C. Robert Todd, organist, and Miss Ann Coffee, vocal soloist. Escorts were Kenneth Taylor, Robert York, James From, Ted King, Joe Nunn, and Frank Cherry. Honorary escorts were, E. E. Whiteaker, T. M. Powell, Chas. N. Umphenour, Arthur From, Pete Nunn, Earl Hatch, Dick Herren, and from Lusk, Frank Podolak, James Smith, Everett Kilmer, Gerald Bardo, and from Lance Creek Clem Mosier.
Mr. Mumby had been attorney for the Niobrara Electric Association since June 1951 and had made many acquaintances in Niobrara County of Wyoming. He was county attorney at Harrison for 40 years, the longest served by any county attorney in the state. At the time of his death he was associated with John H. Skavdahl in the practice of law.
Born in Swanton
Mr. Mumby was born March 16, 1906 in Swanton, Neb. Most of his youth was spent in Sterling, Neb., where he graduated from high school. He attended the University of Nebraska College of Law from which he graduated June 2, 1928.
On June 3, 1928, he was married to Edna Ruth Dorsch in Sterling, and they moved immediately to Harrison where he became associated with the late Albert L. Schnurr in the practice of law. He was a member of the 16th Judicial Bar Association and the Nebraska State Bar Association of which he served on the Executive Council for several years. He was also a member of the American Bar Association.
He was always deeply involved with promotion and betterment of the Sioux County community, member all through his professional life of the Men's Community Club. For nine years he was a member of the board of West Nebraska General Hospital at Scottsbluff during the period that plans were laid for the new structure.
Always vitally interested in the history and heritage of the area, he was a student of western history and had an extensive library of books and maps. As an admirer of Abraham Lincoln, he had collected a fine library of books about him. Among friends he was known for his love of roses and ability to grow them.
Since 1967 he had undergone surgery five times for a hip ailment, and because of this problem had spent some winter months in Arizona and Texas for the past seven years.
In addition to his widow, Edna, he is survived by two sons, Keith G. Mumby of Grand Junction, Colo., and Charles E, Mumby of Harrison; a sister, Mrs. Elmer (Berniece) Spring of Bennet, Neb., and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.
Memorials may be made to the Memorial United Methodist Church, the Ambulance Fund or West Nebraska General Hospital.