Elmer E. Searcy

Elmer E. Searcy was born on November 28, 1924, in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, and departed this life on Wednesday, January 20, 2016, in Batesville, Arkansas, at the age of 91. Elmer, the fourth of thirteen children and the first boy, grew up on various farms around Prague where his family picked cotton and raised peanuts. Despite hours of hard labor, his father always took his family to the Holiness Church - rain, sleet, or snow. Hence, the stage was set for Elmer’s two greatest interests outside of his family, farming and church. At age 14, Elmer met RosaLea Duncan and said it was love at first sight. It took a little longer for her, but on November 18, 1944, they were married in Shawnee. Six months later, he almost lost his right arm in a hammer mill accident and had no insurance. Unable to farm, they moved to Shawnee and worked at Harps Produce and Cannery. Five operations, a paid-in-full bill, and four years later, they moved in with Grannie when Rosie’s step dad died and resumed farming. The next year, their only child, Cheri Lynn, was born. Except for a stint at Allied Roofing in Stroud, Elmer spent the rest of his public works in aircraft. Before and after Allied, he worked at Johnco Aircraft in Shawnee, which underwent several name changes. In 1966, he was hired by Douglas Aircraft (now Boeing) in Tulsa, where he worked until his retirement in 1986. Elmer would rush home from his “real” job to his preferred pastime, running cattle, mowing hay, and tinkering with his bailer. In 1955, he and Rosie began picking up pecans on the Young Plantation. Later, they became overseers of the property. Elmer’s parents’ move to California in 1957 proved pivotal to the Searcy household. In 1958, they took their first vacation and became enthusiastic travelers. In addition to traveling every route imaginable to California, they went East several times, mapped out a northeastern fall foliage trip, and flew to Hawaii. On a European tour in 1983, they visited England, Holland, France, Germany and Switzerland. In 1994, they went to Israel. In 1988, Elmer sold the farm and moved to Prague where he and Rosie always provided stiff competition for the Best Decorated House at Christmastime. In the early 2000’s, they moved to Shawnee. Back in 1961, Elmer had bought some property in Cherokee Village, AR. Forty-seven years later, when Cheri and John moved there, Elmer and Rosie went with them. Elmer and Rosie worked hard but they took time to enjoy the fruits of their labor. In addition to traveling, Elmer bought a new car every few years. He never became so busy that he neglected church. He was a faithful member, deacon, and Sunday school superintendent of the First Holiness Church in Prague for over forty years. He was a member of Midway Pentecostal Church in Thayer, MO. Preceding him in death were his father, Vernon “Vernie” Marion Searcy; mother, Anna Mercedes (Lynch); mother-in-law, Iona “Grannie” Moore; two brothers, Arthur Searcy and Melvin Searcy; and four sisters, Hazel Dibler, Stella Quinn, Veda Mae Dodson, and Yvonne Searcy. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, RosaLea; his daughter and son-in law, Cheri and John Quattrochi, all of Cherokee Village, AR; two brothers, Edward Searcy and his wife, Reba, of Del City and Herman Searcy and his wife, Carol, of McLoud; four sisters, Bernice Quinn and Darlene Boyd of Farmersville, CA, Anna Bell Allen of Visalia, CA, and Willie Jo Johnson of Sapulpa; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews; and a host of friends. The Searcy family will receive friends on Sunday, January 24, 2016, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Parks Brothers Funeral Home in Prague. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 25, 2016, at 2:00 PM, at Parks Brothers Funeral Chapel in Prague with Rev. Anthony Woods and Rev. Dale Wallace officiating. Interment will follow at Kellerby Cemetery in Sparks.