Lake Chesley Harris

Services for Lake Chesley Harris, 94, who died April 17, 1983 in Glendo, were held at the Forest Mound Chapel in Jay Em April 20 with Father James Wolfkiel officiating.

Lake Harris was born in Waupun, Wis. March 7, 1889, the son of Silas and Anna Etscheid Harris. He was reared and educated in Waupun and upon graduation from high school, attended the University of Wyoming in 1908 and 1909.

In 1913, he married Autumn Mayes of Lusk. After her death in 1918, he was married to Dena Kastein in 1924. Besides homesteading in the area, he was in 1914 commissioned Postmaster in Jay Em, a post he held until retirement at the age of 70.

In 1915, he was appointed U.S. Land Commissioner for the north end of Goshen County. He was founder of the Farmers State Bank in Jay Em, and in 1917 began publishing a newspaper, the Jay Em Signal-Fort Laramie News.

In 1935, he started the Jay Em Stone Company along with George Frederick and Albert Bartlett. Over the years he owned lumber yards in Fort Laramie and Lance Creek and Upton, and a hardware store in Jay Em.

Survivors include his daughter, Maysie McVay of Glendo; a daughter-in-law, Thelma Harris; grandchildren, Mary Lou Maynard of California, Marjorie Sanborn, Irene Johnson, Francis McVay, James McVay and Harold McVay, all of Glendo; Lane McVay of Douglas, Don McVay of Cheyenne, Hazel Mudgett of Utah, Dena Robinson of Missouri, Edith DeNoyer of Colorado, Autumn Anderson of Casper, Anita Green of Wheatland and Beth Stryker of Canada; 23 great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wives, an infant daughter, a son, James, and two brothers.

A memorial in his name has been established to the Forest Mound Chapel Cemetery.

Interment was in the Forest Mound Cemetery in Jay Em.

Schrader-Prell Funeral Home of Wheatland was in charge of arrangements.

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