Osawatomie Graphic, July 2, 2003:

Edwin Arthur Vest, Jr., 80, Cimarron, KS, a former Osawatomie resident, died Saturday, June 21, 2003 in Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus, in Wichita.

He was born May 20, 1923, in Kansas City, MO, a son of Edwin Arthur Vest, Sr. and Faye Easter Flint Vest. He was a 1941 graduate of Osawatomie High School.

He lived in Dodge City, KS, before moving to Cimarron in 1979. Mr. Vest was a journeyman maintenance supervisor for Centel Power Co. for 36 years before retiring June 1, 1985.

Mr. Vest was a U.S. Army veteran and served in Europe and France during World War II. He held the rank of staff sergeant. His memberships included the First Christian Church in Cimarron; The Genealogical Society in West Plains and Paintsville, KY; the Family History Center in Harlingen, TX, and the Kansas Genealogical Society.

On Dec. 11, 1965, he and Genevieve Johnson were married in Cimarron. She died Nov. 17, 1997.

Those preceding him in death included a sister, Mary Jane Beades of Kansas City, MO. Survivors include two sons, Donald J. Vest of Geat Bend, KS, and David E. Vest of Cimarron; four stepsons, Crawford Russell of Baton Rouge, LA, James Russell of Saucier, MS, Richard Russell of Dodge City and Garald Russell of Nickerson, KS; two daughters, Beverly Rolfes of Bushton, KS and Mary Louise, Bakersfield, CA; a brother, Marion Vest of Osawatomie; a sister, Merle Jean Smith of Osawatomie; 22 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

Services were June 24 in the church. Burial was in Cimarron Cemetery with military rites by Howard Gotschall Post No. 1714 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Dodge City.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Prairie in care of the Burkhart-Ziegler Gray County Chapel in Cimarron.