Last Friday morning Mr. Ely Saunders was helping his daughter Ruth with some simple duties about the house when he was suddenly stricken with a heart attack from which he soon passed away. The funeral service was held from the Christian Church Sunday afternoon with the pastor, Mr. Charles Dohn, in charge,. Interment was in the Highland Cemetery. The following appraisal of the character and work of this fine citizen was prepared for the paper by his children. Ely Durham Saunders was born Jan. 10, 1876 in Campbellsville, KY. He became a member of the Highland Christian Church in 1900. On April 3, 1901, he was married to Annie A. Armstrong of Highland. To them were born three children: Anna Laura Smith, deceased, Thomas D.(Durham) Saunders, Lebanon, MO., Ruth Saunders Torok. The grandchildren are two: Laura Jayne Smith and Thomas D. Saunders II. He has three living sister: Ann Garner, Anderson, MO., Rose Chandler, Neosha, MO., and Pearl Walton, Ashland, Neb. He passed away November 27, 1942 at his home in Highland. If ever a man could finf joy in the simple wonders of living and read from the lessons of life, learning truths richer by far than any earthly store, I believe our father was that man. From the time he was born in a little log cabin near Campbellsville, KY in 1876 until he was taken from his work last Friday, Father had a zest for living that was a challenge. We three children thought our father was the hardest working man alive because he came home at night from work to actual physical labor to spend the evening planning and designing the work for the following day. I also remember we firmly believed there was nothing he couldn't do. Why, once he conducted a funeral service for agroup of Indians on the reservation near White Cloud and won their friendship so that Chief White Cloud counted him among the small group of clsee frinds thta he had. Another time Father had the earliest crop of tomatoes ever raised in Highland which appeared weeks before anyone else's because of the watchful growing and tender care he had given them. He could paint a picture or he could tame a horse. Father could do many things. By professions Father was a carpenter, having learned the trade as a young man by working with Uncle Bruce Chandler. He came from KY when he was about 20 years old, and from the day he came he loved every part of the town he for some forty odd years called home. He came from KY to be with his family, but before many years passed away. He married Mother and they established a home of their own. Early in our lives, we children realized we were born into an unusual home. Our parents were more than advisors to us. We shared a companionship in spiritual and everyday life which was more than a guidance. Father presided at the Lord's table on Sunday morning while we children sat with mother. During the week, though we have seen him so tired from work he could hardly get up from the supper table, his eyes alwayd lighted if we asked him for a story and song or help with a bit of histoy or geography. For Father loved everything connection with the progression of mankind. That was why he was so vitally concerned with the restiration of our old Mission here. The letters, papers, diaries and lore of a people who made what we have here today possible was sacred and thrilling to him. He would ponder hours over a faint scrawl of Father Irvin, or work days on a reproduction of a picture he had found to be in some way pertaining to our local history. Now, Father has become part of that history. He has added to it his life just as surely as earlier day fathers did. His friends say they are sorry he couldn't have lived to see it completed--but could he have? Will any of us do that We are building history, and that has no completion. Father in his three score of years contributed a large part--a good part--a Christian part. We are thankful to God for having had such a father.

Dec. 1942 Highland Vidette