Harold "Curly" Eller

Harold F. “Curly” Eller was born in Lenox, Iowa on January 28, 1926. He was one of four children of James Airy and Eunice Mae (Kee) Eller.

Curly attended school in Lenox. He joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving aboard the minesweeper U.S.S. Spectacle. Curly was stationed overseas in both Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Following the service, Curly worked as a truck driver for Hillyard, Crouch Brothers, Red Ball, and ABF.

He married Virginia Lee Nauman in 1947 and they became parents of three daughters, Becky, Katheryn and Carmen.

The Eller family moved to Mound City in 1968 and opened the Squaw Creek Inn and Mound City Supper Club. He later worked as a custodian at Mound City School. Curly worked at the Holt County Sheriff's Office for a few years. Curly went on to serve two terms as City Councilman for Mound City, and also opened Eller's Cafe in Mound City. Curly was later elected as a Holt County Commissioner, and held that position for 12 years.

Curly passed away on Friday, August 9, 2019 at the Tiffany Heights Care Center in Mound City.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Virginia; their daughter, Katheryn Lehmer and her husband Jacob “Chip” Lehmer; sisters, Lula M. Spoonemore and Helen V. Smith; and brother, James Melvin Eller.

Survivors include his daughters, Carmen (Dan) Showalter, Mound City, Missouri, and Becky Baker, Smithville, Missouri; six grandchildren, Christopher and Adam (Debbie) Lehmer, David and Lisa Baker, Joni (Kevin) Owens, and Stacie Showalter; great grandchildren, Spencer, Tyler, and Alexander Hatten, Duane, Wyatt, and Samuel Baker, Mason and Jacob Lehmer, Brooklyn Scroggins, Braedyn Roupe, Kristi (Justin) Kerns, and Alex Owens; and great-great grandchildren, Shawn and Ava Hatten, Christopher Hatten, Abigail Kerns, and Jackson Lehmer.

Curly enjoyed reading, and watching Western movies.

Curly served on the Red Cross and Sheltered Workshop boards. He was a 32 ^nd degree of the Scottish Rite member and a 50-year Third Degree Master Mason of a Blue Lodge, a member of Shriners International, a VFW life member, and a member of the Paul P. Shutts American Legion, Post #121.

Graveside inurnment with military rites: Monday, August 12, 2019, 10:00 am. Memorials: Mound City United Methodist Church.