Thurman "T.A." A. Godfrey

T. A. Godfrey, Businessman for 51 Years, Dies

Thomas A. Godfrey, 83, a resident of Lusk since 1919, died Monday at DePaul Hospital in Cheyenne. Funeral services will be held from the Peet Chapel in Lusk this Thursday afternoon at 2:00. The Rev. Fred Bolinger of the First Baptist Church will officiate.

Mrs. A. F. DeCastro will be the organist. L. E Johnsonbaugh, Gerald Bardo, Mrs. Gerald Bardo and Mrs. Merle Hahn will sing "The Old Rugged Cross and "Beautiful Isle."

Casket bearers are Ab De Castro, Harry Lorenzen, Gene Bass, Harold Rogers, Leonard Milburn and Leslie ZumBrummen.

Honorary bearers are George Mill, Henry Wasserburger Sr., Roy ZumBrummen, Levern James, Ray Christian, C. E. Marvin, Art Liberty, Earl Peet, Ray DeGering, Dick Pfister, Russ Thompson, Bill Miller, Lyle Berry, Tom Miller, Francis Barrett and Otto Krekeler.

Burial will be in the Lusk Cemetery.

He was born December 29, 1886, at Brazil, Ind. to William and Mary Godfrey. As a young lad he moved with his family to Weatherford, Texas. He received his education in Brazil and Weatherford.

When a young man he came to Colorado Springs, Colo. and was employed at the Ford Garage and from there went to Torrington. In 1917 he moved to Sheridan, Wyo. where he managed the Ford Motor Company. He bought the Ford garage in Lusk, in 1919 from S. W. Boyd and Harry Rogers and was connected with garages at Hot Springs, S.D.; and Crawford, Neb. He ran Lusk Motors until 1952 when he sold to Bennett and Stuart Johnson of Rushville, Neb.

He married Florence Bard in 1919 at Alliance, Neb.

Mr. Godfrey operated the first gas station in Lusk which was located where the Diner now is. He operated the Conoco Gas Station and Bulk Plant for 30 years.

In April 1952 he observed 33 years of business life in Lusk. With the exception of M. P. Vollmer, Mr. Godfrey served Lusk longer than any other Lusk businessman.

He served as mayor of Lusk, on the County Fair Board, and as president of former District I School Board. In earlier years he was known as a great promoter of baseball and helped bring some outstanding teams to the community and helped promote many other special events. He has been active in various phases of community life.

The beautification of the Niobrara Fair grounds was of special concern to him, and he spent many hours while on the fair board tending the new plantings that are now established. He was mayor at the time the municipal light plant was constructed.

His parents and two brothers died previously.

Survivors include his widow, Florence of Lusk, one son Paul of Cheyenne and two sisters.

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