According to Oregon State Hospital records Luther Frederick Tarwater’s cremated remains were never taken after death and are still available at the Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by any relative. HOWEVER he shares a headstone with his ex-wife Lela in Lot D/1/11 at Mount Laki Cemetery, Lost River, in Klamath County, Oregon. On 7/24/1960 the lot was purchased by Lela. Cemetery records say his cremains were interred “March 30, 1962” which predates his death (4/17/1962). The stone is correctly engraved with his name and his birth & death years. He has a Find-A-Grave memorial (#24052739) with a photo of that headstone. NEVERTHELESS staff at OSH believe they still have his cremains. Perhaps his headstone at Mount Laki Cemetery was simply placed there to honor him rather than to actually mark the location of his ashes (canister #4619). Or perhaps (as has happened before) someone else’s ashes were sent to the cemetery for burial. Or perhaps the headstone really does mark the burial spot of Luther’s ashes.
Luther was born in Orrick in Ray County, Missouri on 9/4/1883. His mother, Emma Ray, was born in Missouri about 1858. His father, Frederick Willis Tarwater, was born about 1854 in Missouri. They were married on 1/14/1877 in Ray County, Missouri. They had 5 children, but only 2 survived childhood. Their serving children were Luther and his older brother Ernest Daniel Tarwater who was born in 1881 in Missouri.
At the time of the 1900 census, Luther was 16, living with his parents and brother in Orrick where he was a farm laborer. He was not attending school, but could read and write. As an adult Luther was tall and slender with red hair and blue eyes. On 10/16/1904 in Ray County when he was 21 he married 16 year old Lela Creason. She was born in Missouri in 1888. They had at least 3 children: Grace Burnice (born in Missouri in 1906), Cyrus Willis (born in Oklahoma in 1913) and Luther Dirius (born in Kansas in 1921).
During the 1910 census Luther, Lela and Grace were living in Orrick and Luther was farming. Then they began to move and Luther changed occupations often. By 1913 they were living in Oklahoma. In 1915 they were farming in Wilson County, Kansas. When the World War I draft registration was collected in 1918, Luther, Lela, and their children were living in Horton, Brown County, Kansas. He was a machine operator for the railroad and Lela was privately taking in jobs as a dressmaker. By the time of the census of 1920, Luther and his family had moved to Caney, Montgomery County, Kansas. There he was an automobile mechanic with his own business. About 1922 Luther’s 16 year old daughter Grace married Troy Cornett a farm laborer. It appears they never had children. The 1925 & 1930 censuses list Luther, his wife and sons in Neodesha, Wilson County, Kansas where Luther was a laborer in a brick plant. By 1935 they had moved to Eureka, Greenwood, Kansas where Luther and Lela were living during the 1940 census. Luther was a rock crusher. By 1942 Luther and his family were living in Klamath Falls in southern Oregon and he was working on an irrigation project.
Luther had a history of larceny in 1927. At some point while in Seattle he was convicted of exposing himself to children. Then again in 1941 in Klamath Falls he was convicted of exposing himself. In September 1951 Luther was arrested and pled guilty to molesting a 6 year old girl in his car. He was sentenced to 5 years in the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, Oregon and served 38 months. Lela divorced him in February 1952. In 1961 he was arrested again for exposing himself to another 6 year old girl. He was sentenced to 5 more years in the state penitentiary. He began that sentence in April 1961 at the age of 77. A year later he died there of heart failure on 4/17/1962. His body was transported to the Oregon State Hospital where he was cremated and where his ashes are reportedly still being held.
Luther was predeceased by his father in 1909, his brother Ernest in 1923 and his mother in 1930. Luther’s daughter Grace also died before him. Grace first married Troy Cornett. They moved to Klamath Falls and later divorced. She married Joe Patrick McClane who died in February 1960. Five months later Grace drowned when the car she was driving went into a lake and submerged.
Luther was survived by his ex-wife and two sons. Lela died on 2/5/1968. About 6 months later Luther’s grandson Raymond Tarwater (Cyrus’ son) died in July 1968 when the homemade helicopter he was piloting went out of control near Klamath Falls shortly after take-off. Raymond had a daughter in 1957, but separated from her mother when the daughter was very young. It is not known what became of her. She was not acknowledged in in grandmother’s obituary. Luther’s son Luther died in Lewis County, Washington on 7/12/1985. Luther’s son Cyrus died in Klamath County on 6/13/1991.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/osh/Pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a short documentary film by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Luther was born in Orrick in Ray County, Missouri on 9/4/1883. His mother, Emma Ray, was born in Missouri about 1858. His father, Frederick Willis Tarwater, was born about 1854 in Missouri. They were married on 1/14/1877 in Ray County, Missouri. They had 5 children, but only 2 survived childhood. Their serving children were Luther and his older brother Ernest Daniel Tarwater who was born in 1881 in Missouri.
At the time of the 1900 census, Luther was 16, living with his parents and brother in Orrick where he was a farm laborer. He was not attending school, but could read and write. As an adult Luther was tall and slender with red hair and blue eyes. On 10/16/1904 in Ray County when he was 21 he married 16 year old Lela Creason. She was born in Missouri in 1888. They had at least 3 children: Grace Burnice (born in Missouri in 1906), Cyrus Willis (born in Oklahoma in 1913) and Luther Dirius (born in Kansas in 1921).
During the 1910 census Luther, Lela and Grace were living in Orrick and Luther was farming. Then they began to move and Luther changed occupations often. By 1913 they were living in Oklahoma. In 1915 they were farming in Wilson County, Kansas. When the World War I draft registration was collected in 1918, Luther, Lela, and their children were living in Horton, Brown County, Kansas. He was a machine operator for the railroad and Lela was privately taking in jobs as a dressmaker. By the time of the census of 1920, Luther and his family had moved to Caney, Montgomery County, Kansas. There he was an automobile mechanic with his own business. About 1922 Luther’s 16 year old daughter Grace married Troy Cornett a farm laborer. It appears they never had children. The 1925 & 1930 censuses list Luther, his wife and sons in Neodesha, Wilson County, Kansas where Luther was a laborer in a brick plant. By 1935 they had moved to Eureka, Greenwood, Kansas where Luther and Lela were living during the 1940 census. Luther was a rock crusher. By 1942 Luther and his family were living in Klamath Falls in southern Oregon and he was working on an irrigation project.
Luther had a history of larceny in 1927. At some point while in Seattle he was convicted of exposing himself to children. Then again in 1941 in Klamath Falls he was convicted of exposing himself. In September 1951 Luther was arrested and pled guilty to molesting a 6 year old girl in his car. He was sentenced to 5 years in the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, Oregon and served 38 months. Lela divorced him in February 1952. In 1961 he was arrested again for exposing himself to another 6 year old girl. He was sentenced to 5 more years in the state penitentiary. He began that sentence in April 1961 at the age of 77. A year later he died there of heart failure on 4/17/1962. His body was transported to the Oregon State Hospital where he was cremated and where his ashes are reportedly still being held.
Luther was predeceased by his father in 1909, his brother Ernest in 1923 and his mother in 1930. Luther’s daughter Grace also died before him. Grace first married Troy Cornett. They moved to Klamath Falls and later divorced. She married Joe Patrick McClane who died in February 1960. Five months later Grace drowned when the car she was driving went into a lake and submerged.
Luther was survived by his ex-wife and two sons. Lela died on 2/5/1968. About 6 months later Luther’s grandson Raymond Tarwater (Cyrus’ son) died in July 1968 when the homemade helicopter he was piloting went out of control near Klamath Falls shortly after take-off. Raymond had a daughter in 1957, but separated from her mother when the daughter was very young. It is not known what became of her. She was not acknowledged in in grandmother’s obituary. Luther’s son Luther died in Lewis County, Washington on 7/12/1985. Luther’s son Cyrus died in Klamath County on 6/13/1991.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/osh/Pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a short documentary film by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
According to Oregon State Hospital records Luther Frederick Tarwater’s cremated remains were never taken after death and are still available at the Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by any relative. HOWEVER he shares a headstone with his ex-wife Lela in Lot D/1/11 at Mount Laki Cemetery, Lost River, in Klamath County, Oregon. On 7/24/1960 the lot was purchased by Lela. Cemetery records say his cremains were interred “March 30, 1962” which predates his death (4/17/1962). The stone is correctly engraved with his name and his birth & death years. He has a Find-A-Grave memorial (#24052739) with a photo of that headstone. NEVERTHELESS staff at OSH believe they still have his cremains. Perhaps his headstone at Mount Laki Cemetery was simply placed there to honor him rather than to actually mark the location of his ashes (canister #4619). Or perhaps (as has happened before) someone else’s ashes were sent to the cemetery for burial. Or perhaps the headstone really does mark the burial spot of Luther’s ashes.
Luther was born in Orrick in Ray County, Missouri on 9/4/1883. His mother, Emma Ray, was born in Missouri about 1858. His father, Frederick Willis Tarwater, was born about 1854 in Missouri. They were married on 1/14/1877 in Ray County, Missouri. They had 5 children, but only 2 survived childhood. Their serving children were Luther and his older brother Ernest Daniel Tarwater who was born in 1881 in Missouri.
At the time of the 1900 census, Luther was 16, living with his parents and brother in Orrick where he was a farm laborer. He was not attending school, but could read and write. As an adult Luther was tall and slender with red hair and blue eyes. On 10/16/1904 in Ray County when he was 21 he married 16 year old Lela Creason. She was born in Missouri in 1888. They had at least 3 children: Grace Burnice (born in Missouri in 1906), Cyrus Willis (born in Oklahoma in 1913) and Luther Dirius (born in Kansas in 1921).
During the 1910 census Luther, Lela and Grace were living in Orrick and Luther was farming. Then they began to move and Luther changed occupations often. By 1913 they were living in Oklahoma. In 1915 they were farming in Wilson County, Kansas. When the World War I draft registration was collected in 1918, Luther, Lela, and their children were living in Horton, Brown County, Kansas. He was a machine operator for the railroad and Lela was privately taking in jobs as a dressmaker. By the time of the census of 1920, Luther and his family had moved to Caney, Montgomery County, Kansas. There he was an automobile mechanic with his own business. About 1922 Luther’s 16 year old daughter Grace married Troy Cornett a farm laborer. It appears they never had children. The 1925 & 1930 censuses list Luther, his wife and sons in Neodesha, Wilson County, Kansas where Luther was a laborer in a brick plant. By 1935 they had moved to Eureka, Greenwood, Kansas where Luther and Lela were living during the 1940 census. Luther was a rock crusher. By 1942 Luther and his family were living in Klamath Falls in southern Oregon and he was working on an irrigation project.
Luther had a history of larceny in 1927. At some point while in Seattle he was convicted of exposing himself to children. Then again in 1941 in Klamath Falls he was convicted of exposing himself. In September 1951 Luther was arrested and pled guilty to molesting a 6 year old girl in his car. He was sentenced to 5 years in the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, Oregon and served 38 months. Lela divorced him in February 1952. In 1961 he was arrested again for exposing himself to another 6 year old girl. He was sentenced to 5 more years in the state penitentiary. He began that sentence in April 1961 at the age of 77. A year later he died there of heart failure on 4/17/1962. His body was transported to the Oregon State Hospital where he was cremated and where his ashes are reportedly still being held.
Luther was predeceased by his father in 1909, his brother Ernest in 1923 and his mother in 1930. Luther’s daughter Grace also died before him. Grace first married Troy Cornett. They moved to Klamath Falls and later divorced. She married Joe Patrick McClane who died in February 1960. Five months later Grace drowned when the car she was driving went into a lake and submerged.
Luther was survived by his ex-wife and two sons. Lela died on 2/5/1968. About 6 months later Luther’s grandson Raymond Tarwater (Cyrus’ son) died in July 1968 when the homemade helicopter he was piloting went out of control near Klamath Falls shortly after take-off. Raymond had a daughter in 1957, but separated from her mother when the daughter was very young. It is not known what became of her. She was not acknowledged in in grandmother’s obituary. Luther’s son Luther died in Lewis County, Washington on 7/12/1985. Luther’s son Cyrus died in Klamath County on 6/13/1991.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/osh/Pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a short documentary film by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
Luther was born in Orrick in Ray County, Missouri on 9/4/1883. His mother, Emma Ray, was born in Missouri about 1858. His father, Frederick Willis Tarwater, was born about 1854 in Missouri. They were married on 1/14/1877 in Ray County, Missouri. They had 5 children, but only 2 survived childhood. Their serving children were Luther and his older brother Ernest Daniel Tarwater who was born in 1881 in Missouri.
At the time of the 1900 census, Luther was 16, living with his parents and brother in Orrick where he was a farm laborer. He was not attending school, but could read and write. As an adult Luther was tall and slender with red hair and blue eyes. On 10/16/1904 in Ray County when he was 21 he married 16 year old Lela Creason. She was born in Missouri in 1888. They had at least 3 children: Grace Burnice (born in Missouri in 1906), Cyrus Willis (born in Oklahoma in 1913) and Luther Dirius (born in Kansas in 1921).
During the 1910 census Luther, Lela and Grace were living in Orrick and Luther was farming. Then they began to move and Luther changed occupations often. By 1913 they were living in Oklahoma. In 1915 they were farming in Wilson County, Kansas. When the World War I draft registration was collected in 1918, Luther, Lela, and their children were living in Horton, Brown County, Kansas. He was a machine operator for the railroad and Lela was privately taking in jobs as a dressmaker. By the time of the census of 1920, Luther and his family had moved to Caney, Montgomery County, Kansas. There he was an automobile mechanic with his own business. About 1922 Luther’s 16 year old daughter Grace married Troy Cornett a farm laborer. It appears they never had children. The 1925 & 1930 censuses list Luther, his wife and sons in Neodesha, Wilson County, Kansas where Luther was a laborer in a brick plant. By 1935 they had moved to Eureka, Greenwood, Kansas where Luther and Lela were living during the 1940 census. Luther was a rock crusher. By 1942 Luther and his family were living in Klamath Falls in southern Oregon and he was working on an irrigation project.
Luther had a history of larceny in 1927. At some point while in Seattle he was convicted of exposing himself to children. Then again in 1941 in Klamath Falls he was convicted of exposing himself. In September 1951 Luther was arrested and pled guilty to molesting a 6 year old girl in his car. He was sentenced to 5 years in the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem, Oregon and served 38 months. Lela divorced him in February 1952. In 1961 he was arrested again for exposing himself to another 6 year old girl. He was sentenced to 5 more years in the state penitentiary. He began that sentence in April 1961 at the age of 77. A year later he died there of heart failure on 4/17/1962. His body was transported to the Oregon State Hospital where he was cremated and where his ashes are reportedly still being held.
Luther was predeceased by his father in 1909, his brother Ernest in 1923 and his mother in 1930. Luther’s daughter Grace also died before him. Grace first married Troy Cornett. They moved to Klamath Falls and later divorced. She married Joe Patrick McClane who died in February 1960. Five months later Grace drowned when the car she was driving went into a lake and submerged.
Luther was survived by his ex-wife and two sons. Lela died on 2/5/1968. About 6 months later Luther’s grandson Raymond Tarwater (Cyrus’ son) died in July 1968 when the homemade helicopter he was piloting went out of control near Klamath Falls shortly after take-off. Raymond had a daughter in 1957, but separated from her mother when the daughter was very young. It is not known what became of her. She was not acknowledged in in grandmother’s obituary. Luther’s son Luther died in Lewis County, Washington on 7/12/1985. Luther’s son Cyrus died in Klamath County on 6/13/1991.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/osh/Pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a short documentary film by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
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