Harold Lorimer

Harold L. Lorimer, 97, passed away Saturday, December 3, 2011. He was born May 14, 1914 on the family farm 6 miles southeast of Olathe, KS where his grandparents raised seven sons. He is the oldest of four children born to George S. and Bessie (Douglas) Lorimer and survived the other siblings, Dale, Paul and Lois. The family moved to the nearby village of Morse, KS when Harold was four years old and to Hickman Mills when he was nine years old. He started in a small one-room school with a dozen others and continued in a one-room school in Hickman Mills. He was valedictorian of the class when he graduated from Ruskin High School. He was awarded a scholarship to Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO. Because of his mother’s long time illness and financial considerations, he had to decline. She passed away two years later in 1934.
Most of his life was spent in sales work, which required him to live in Iowa, Illinois, and North Carolina. Since 1956 he has resided in Independence, MO. After 25 years as factory sales representative for Magic Chef, Inc., a division of Maytag, he retired in 1979. He was a volunteer at the Independence Regional Health Center and Meals on Wheels for 28 years, also with Centerpoint Medical Center and local charities. He was a member emeritus of the Salvation Army Advisory Board. He was a deacon, elder, and Sunday school teacher at the First Presbyterian Church of Independence, MO.
Harold was married September 18, 1937 to Marguerite Brough for 56 ½ years until she passed away. They were the proud parents of their only child, William (Bill). Harold married Oneida Beeman a long-time friend (40 years) of both Marguerite and Harold, on August 21, 1997
He is survived by his wife Oneida; son Bill and his wife Patsy; granddaughter Sallie; great grandchildren, Emilie and husband Lucas, Grant and wife Jenny, Phoebe and husband Elliot, Mollie Frances Hope, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Private burial will be at Floral Hills Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 8, 2011 at the First Presbyterian Church; 100 N. Pleasant, Independence, MO. Visitation will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the church memorial fund or to the Independence Chapter of the Salvation Army.