William "Billy" Austin Sherk

W. A. Sherk Dies of Auto Crash Injuries

Thon Book No. 4

William A. Sherk is dead, the victim of a car accident near Shoshoni, Wyo., last Thursday, Nov. 4, in which Mrs. William F. Strey of Thermopolis also lost her life. Mr. Sherk died Saturday morning about 1:00 o'clock.

Mr. Sherk in company with Mr. and Mrs. Strey of Thermopolis and George Brooks of Lusk had been to Cody to attend a convention of the Church of God, and returning were going to Rawlins to hold religious services in the State Penitentiary, when the accident occurred which cost two lives, and the other two occupants of the car remain in serious condition.

Friends and neighbors knew Mr. Sherk as one never too busy to help his fellowman. He was a devout Christian and in everyday life practiced his religion. He took care of his mother, Mrs. Hannah McCord Sherk, until her death at the age of 88 years.

Besides following his regular trade as an electrician, Mr. Sherk served as pastor of the Church of God here for six years. In earlier years he had been active in both Baptist and Missionary Alliance churches.

In a will, of which J. P. Watson is executor, Mr. Sherk left almost all of his estate, estimated at about $20,000.00, to missions and to churches. To a cousin, Iva M. Weber of Grand Rapids, Mich, he bequeathed $250. Of the remainder, one third is designated for the Christian and Missionary Alliance, New York; one sixth to New Tribes Mission, Chico, Calif.; one-sixth to First Hebrew Christian Synagogue, Los Angeles; and one-third to Foreign Mission Fund of the Church of God, Cleveland, Tenn.

There are no immediate relatives, as Mr. Sherk had never married and he had no brothers or sisters, and his mother was the last of the family.

He was 66 years of age, the son of Franklin and Hannah Sherk, and was born in Michigan. His father died in 1895 and in 1912 he moved to Wyoming with his mother and homesteaded on land south of Node. Then in 1935 they moved to Lusk and bought a home at the corner of Fifth and Oak streets.

Mr. Sherk received chest and other injuries in the accident, to which he succumbed on Saturday, Nov. 6, at the Memorial Hospital in Thermopolis. The remains were brought to Lusk where services were conducted from the Peet Chapel on Monday afternoon, at 2:00 o'clock.

The services were held jointly by Rev. H. T. Clark, pastor of the First Baptist Church, and Rev. O. F. Shroyer, pastor of the Church of God. A quartet composed of Mrs. C. E. Marvin, Mrs. Anita Culver, Mrs. Edna DeCastro and Miss Bessie Lumsden, sang "All The Way My Saviour Leads Me," "Going Down The Valley," and "My Saviour First of All." Mrs. J. P. Watson was the accompanist.

The casket bearers were Sam Coen, A. E. Guilbaut, Stanley Johnson, M. A. Fosher, Cy Bonner and J. P. Watson.

Interment was made in the Lusk Cemetery and the deceased was laid to rest beside his mother.

Feeling that he was not going to live, Mr. Sherk asked that J. P. Watson and Rev. O. F. Shroyer be called to Thermopolis Friday, and they arrived there in time to talk with him and set his mind at rest regarding business matters.

Thon Books
A QUIET, HUMBLE LITTLE MAN WILL BE MISSED

And what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. - Micah 6:8

When life was crushed from the body of Billy Sherk in an auto accident last week many in Lusk sensed a deeper loss than they had any idea they would.

This quiet little man, who had lived among us for many years as an electrician and at times as pastor of the Church of God, was intimately known by very few. Yet his deeds of kindness and mercy are now recounted by many.

Devout wherever he was, often humming or singing a hymn, he occasionally caught the jibes of fellow workmen, and yet there was an underlying respect for his intenseness at either his work or religion. Until the end not long ago his aged mother was kindly cared for by his bachelor hands. Others, too, learned to know his love of service.

His will gave his frugal savings to churches and missions that had shared his living support.

Lusk has been enriched by this inconspicuous man who walked so humbly with his God.

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