SHEARS, VERLON "VERL" AND ELDA (MORRISON)

Written by Verl and Elda Shears

Entry F379 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Verl and Elda Shears

Verlon "Verl" Thomas, son of William A.
and Mary C. (Gambill) Shears was born June
13, 1909 at Vinita, Oklahoma. When he was
one year old, he came with his parents and
twin brother Vernon and older sister, Doro-
thy and grandmother Nellie Gambill on the
train to Seneca, Nebr. Verl's Uncle Mac
Gambill came on a train riding the immigrant
car, along with their belongings and their
livestock. The family's lived with Verl's Great
Uncle Verl Gambill and Great Aunt Mary
Gambill, who is brother and sister. They each
had homestead of their own, for several
months before his father took a homestead,
he built a sod house north and east.

Verl attended schools in Cherry So. Verl's
first job was picking corn for a neighbor Fay
James. At the age of 17 years, he went to work
for SandHill Land & Cattle Co., at Big Creek
Ranch. Lee Carr was foreman and Verl
always says he was the "Best Boss" and
taught him the best technics of ranching. Verl
worked on Ranches and did Ranching and
farming for himself.

On June 2, 1933, he was united in marriage
to Elda L. Morrison at Mullen, Nebr. by
Judge Clarence E. Peck. Elda is the Fifth
daughter of Peter and Dorsa (Knipe) Morri-
son, Born March 22, 1915 at Cherry Co. Elda
attended Grade School in Cherry Co. Dist.
160, and Mullen High School. They lived in
Cherry Co. Ranching and farming, also in
Grant Co., on the Reimers Ranch for 17 years,
when the ranch was sold. They bought and
operated Mullen Cafe in 1960. Later they
moved back to Grant Co., and was in ranching
business with their son-in-law, Larry Schu-
feldt for 17 years.

In Oct. 1982, they bought the Nan Hodges
property and two years later moved to Mullen
and retired. Verl and Elda have 3 children,
Doris E., Vernon V., and Bernard W.

Doris married Larry Schufeldt, they have
five children, Debbie, Bette, Bobbi, Law-
rence and Thomas. They bought the Schu-
feldt Ranch, which they own, also a farm near
Hershey, Nebr., where they live now.

Debbie married Thomas Finegan, have 3
girls, Andres, Sheila and Maureene. They live
in North Platte, Nebr.

Bette married John Kleidasty, they have
one daughter Mary Beth. Live in Miles City,
Montana.

Bobbi married Bill McKay. They live in
Hastings, Nebr. They have two boys Jerome
and John.

Lawrence married Jeannie Applegarth.
They have no children. Lawrence is a Chiro-
practor Doctor and Jeannie is a Laboratory
Technician. They live in North Platte, Nebr.

Thomas graduated from Hershey High
School, Hershey, Nebr. 1987.

Vernon married Shirley Cotant. He works
for Cherry Co. road Dept. They have three
children, Verlon, Vickie and Marvin Joe.
Vernon and Shirley live in Mullen, Nebr.
Verlon and Vickie live in North Platte.
Marvin works north of Mullen, Nebr.

Bernard married Janet McFarland. They
live in Holdrege, Nebr. Bernard drives for
Speedway trucking. Has for several years.
They have 3 children Sidney, Sharell, and
Bernard Jr.

Sidney married Donald Foust, live on a
farms north of Bloomington, Nebr. They
have 2 girls and 1 son. Gruen, Jessie and
Joshua.

Sharell married Steven Hilbrink, They live
in Hastings, Nebr. They have two sons,
Spencer and Scott.

Bernie Jr. Married Danits. Lives in Hol-
drege, Nebr. Have one daughter.