Do you have obituary clippings in your files? I’m fortunate to have several, but unfortunately, I often lack enough details to create a proper source citation.
Today’s Friday Find is a perfect example. Unlike most clippings in my collection, which came from either of my grandmothers, this one is a photocopy I obtained in the early days of my research. Back then, I kept a running log of my discoveries and assigned them numbers. However, that log does not include the name or date of the newspaper for this particular clipping.
At the top of my obituary clipping for Philip Mentzer, it states that it came from the “Enter News, Yates Centr, Kansas.” Based on this, I’m concluding that it was published in the Yates Center News of Yates Center, Kansas. I most likely accessed it via microfilm at the Kansas State Historical Society. Unfortunately, this is one of the Kansas newspapers whose 1950s issues have not yet been digitized.
Below is a transcription of the obituary, as generated by ChatGPT.
Philip Mentzer
Philip Embry Mentzer, son of George and Emaline Mentzer, was born February 22, 1877 near Yates Center, Kans. He lived his entire life in Woodson County except for periods in his later years when he lived with his sons. He was married to Annie May Schoepflin on October 25, 1905. To this marriage four children were born: Howard of Canon City, Colo., Loren of St. Cloud, Minn., Ivan of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Edna Grace who passed away during infancy in 1911.
Mr. Mentzer was converted to the Christian way at an early age and remained faithful throughout his life. At the time of his death he was a member of the United Brethren Evangelical church in Yates Center. He was formerly a member of the Turkey Creek Evangelical church near the old home.
He passed from this earthly life July 16, 1952 at the Neosho
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Memorial Hospital in Chanute, Kans. He had become almost completely paralyzed during his recent illnesses.
Besides his sons he leaves to mourn: Two daughters-in-law, Mrs. Howard Mentzer and Mrs. Loren Mentzer; three grandchildren, Carol Lee, daughter of Howard and Edna Mentzer, Rita Kay and Ronnie Bob, daughter and son of Loren and Ella Beth Mentzer; one sister and three brothers, Mrs. John Williams, Henry Mentzer and Ernest Mentzer, all of Yates Center, and Charlie Mentzer of Neosho Falls, Kans.
His parents, his wife, one sister, and two brothers preceded him in death. His wife passed away in 1942.
Funeral services in his memory were held Saturday, July 19, 1952, at 2 p.m. from the United Brethren Evangelical church in Yates Center, with Rev. E. F.
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Boehringer officiating, assisted by Rev. H. T. Wright. A mixed quartet from the Turkey Creek Evangelical church, composed of Charles Mulsow, Hilda Light, Lorraine Beine and Richard Mulsow, with Mrs. Earl Louderbaugh, accompanist, sang “When They Ring Those Golden Bells,” “Beautiful Garden of Eden” and “Safe in the Arms of Jesus.”
Along with the obituary, I copied an article identifying those ‘out of town’ relatives who attended the funeral.
ATTEND MENTZER RITES
Out of town relatives attending funeral services for Philip E. Mentzer were: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rose and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Schoepflin, Chanute; Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Briles, Mrs. Gladys Green, Emporia; Mr. and Mrs. Herbert, Mrs. Edward Strawder, LeRoy; Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Mentzer, Neosho Falls, Mr. and Mrs. J. Edward Mentzer, Miss Juanita Mentzer, Coffeyville, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Williams and family, Miss Leatha Williams, Kansas City.
Conclusion
This obituary for Philip Mentzer is a valuable piece of family history, but its incomplete citation serves as a reminder of how crucial it is to record source details at the time of discovery. While I can reasonably deduce that it came from the Yates Center News, the lack of a definitive publication date leaves a gap in my documentation.
This experience underscores the challenges of historical research—especially when relying on materials gathered early in the journey. It also highlights the importance of digitizing and preserving local newspapers, which remain an invaluable resource for genealogists.
Despite these limitations, the obituary itself provides meaningful insight into Philip Mentzer’s life, faith, and family connections. I’m grateful to have it in my collection, and sharing it here ensures that his story is not forgotten.
If you have obituary clippings in your files, take a moment to revisit them. Do they have full citations? If not, now is a great time to fill in any missing details. And if you’ve come across Yates Center News archives from the early 1950s, I’d love to hear from you!
This post was written with assistance from ChatGPT, an AI tool that helps refine and organize my research findings.
