Claude E. Green

Claude Edward Green, age 83, of rural Lamar, passed away Friday, May 11, 2012, at Barton County Memorial Hospital.      Claude was born July 18, 1928 to Claude and Elma (Patton) Green in Arcadia Ks. He was the fifth child born to the Greens with two older brothers David and Lester and two older Sisters Nita and Twila.  A younger sister Barbara joined the family two years after Claude or Junior as he family called him.      He lived in Pittsburg, KS until he was eight years old. He talked of taking care of Tom Mix’s horses in exchange for tickets to the show. He was also a crack shot with this slingshot; a skill many streetlights in Pittsburg could attest to.  When he was eight he moved with his family to land located in Barton County Missouri. He attended Bakers Grove School and became friends with the McCaslin brothers, the Long Brothers, the McCleod brothers and many more. These friends would be life long friends that he would share many memories with.      Claude believed in hard work. At the age of 13 he would go to western Kansas where he would work on farms during harvest time. When he wasn’t working on farms in Western Kansas, he was working with his brother Les and father on the family farm.  At the age of 18 he enlisted in the Army and for the next 18 months spent his time as PFC Green. He spent the majority of that time in Japan, where he was assigned to graveyard duty and because of his mechanical skills became a driver.  After his stent in the army was over he returned to Missouri to the family farm and started driving trucks. He worked for several companies in the Pittsburg, KS, Joplin MO area. He also spent time working in Western Kansas on as a farm hand. It was while he was home recovering from an appendectomy that he met the love of his life, Dollie Higgins. His sister Nita convinced him to go to the Pie Supper being held at the local school.  Claude attended the Supper and lost the coin flip with his buddies to see who was going to purchase the teachers dinner. While he lost the bet and had to buy the teachers dinner, he ended up with the teacher. After a four year courtship, he married Dollie Higgins on May 27, 1952 in Bentonville, Arkansas.      The two set up house in Dodge City, KS where Claude went to work driving for Faddlers. They spent the summer in Dodge City before moving to Wichita where he went to work driving trucks for Flemming Foods for 25 years and retired in 1977.  Upon his retirement he moved the family back to his family farm where they lived until 1984.  In 1984, the sold the farm and moved back to Kansas. In 1985 he went to work for the Valley Center School System where he retired in 1993. After retiring, Claude and Dollie moved back to the Bakers Grove community of Barton County.  Claude was a member of the Teamsters Union  and the Lamar Community of Christ Church.  Claude's life was a mirror of his philosophy:  Work hard; be kind; and love your family.      Claude was a hardworking man, that loved his wife and children, he loved his extended family and friends and was loved by those who knew him. He was a man with a strong work ethic that he passed to his children.  He was a quiet man that didn’t talk a lot, but when he said something it had a point and a message. He loved the Lord and lived his life accordingly. He was always willing to lend a hand when a neighbor called and needed help. There were many times he would work 60-70 hour week to provide for his family. He wanted to make sure that they never needed anything, and that they never knew what it was like to be hungry or poor. He had been both as a child and these memories helped to form his work ethic.  He liked to fish, drive his tractor, work with his hands, cut wood and buy pretty things for his lovely wife.      Survivors include his wife of nearly 60 years, Dollie, of the home; a son Don Green of Wichita, Kansas; two daughters and sons-in-law, Deborra & Greg Harper of  Howard, Kansas and Connie & Jim Root of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; a sister, Barbara & her husband Jack Davis of Sheldon; two grandchildren, Greg Davis, Coffeeville, Kansas and Charlie & wife Amber Davis, Paragould, Arkansas; a large extended family and many friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Lester and David Green; and two sisters, Lunieta Comstock and Twila Cass.      Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 15th at Daniel Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Bakers Grove Cemetery with flag presentation by V.F.W. Post 3691.      Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Jude Children's Hospital or American Heart Association, in care of Daniel Funeral Home.