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- Wilford Clarence Ausbrook was the youngest of three children born to Clyde Earl Ausbrook and Agnes Emily ("Brookie") Schooley. He attended local schools in Noble, Illinois and was a "star athlete" at Noble High School where he excelled in basketball and track. He attended McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois for one year but was unable to continue pursuit of his bachelor's degree because of the economic hardships created by the "Great Depression". Struggling to find work he and a close friend from Noble, IL. were summoned by the friend's uncle to come to Hannah, North Dakota to work on a wheat harvesting crew. Shortly after arriving in Hannah, Wilford met LaMoine A. King who was home for summer vacation from her freshman year at the University of North Dakota. It wasn't long until they decided to be married and they did so in a civil ceremony in Langdon, North Dakota on 14 September 1935. After a brief honeymoon the couple relocated to Peoria, Illinois where Wilford entered into employment with the R.G. LeTourneau Company, a manufacturer of large earth moving machines. He studied metallurgy and welding and became an accomplished welder for LeTourneau and its several successor companies. He remained with them for another 38 years when he chose to retire. Upon retirement he and LaMoine relocated to Arizona, first living in Apache Junction, followed by a brief time in Mesa, and then finally settling in Cottonwood. An avid fisherman who frequently fished in Manitoba, Ontario, Wisconsin and Illinois, he loved to tell his fish stories including the 49 pound lake trout he caught at Flin Flon, Canada. A die hard Bradley University basketball fan and a devotee of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, "Ausie" rarely missed any of their outtings by either being in attendance or glued to his radio or television set. He loved the Friday night fights and was very adept at scoring the fighters, usually in agreement with the ringside judges. We still miss his enthusiasm and zest for "his" sports teams. A 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner (Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine), he was associated with the Mohammed Lodge of Peoria, Illinois. Upon his death in Cottonwood, AZ. his family distributed some of his cremains on Mount Humphrey, near Flagstaff, AZ. with the balance being scattered upon his parents' graves at the Clay City Cemetery in Clay City, Illinois. (Biography by his son-in-law John E. Bartos)
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WILFORD C. "Ausie" AUSBROOK
Wilford C. "Ausie" Ausbrook, 86, formerly of Noble, IL., died November 22, 1997, at St. Luke's Hospital, in Phoenix, AZ.
He was born in Noble, September 22, 1911. Mr. Ausbrook married LaMoine A. King, September 14, 1935 in Langdon, N.D.
Mr. Ausbrook was employed in the earth moving manufacturing business, as a welder and supervisor in Peoria, IL., until retiring in 1973 to Arizona. He resided in Cottonwood since 1981. Previously, he lived in Apache Junction and Mesa.
A life-long Mason, he was an active member of the Masonic Consistory in Peoria. He was a member and Elder of the Verde Valley Evangelical Free Church.
Survivors include his wife, LaMoine, three daughters Eugenia King, Tucson, Karen Bartos, Colorado Springs, CO., Mary Peterson, Livermore, California; five grandchildren, and one great-grandson. He was preceded in death by one granddaughter Lindsey Nelson, one brother, Dr. Eugene K. Ausbrook; and one sister, Camilla E. (Ausbrook) Peavyhouse.
Source: "Local Obituaries" The County Commoner (Noble, Illinois), date unknown.
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1911 - 1997 (86 years)
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