Just a reminder that commemorative signs honoring Lyle Morris and Roy Ellis will be dedicated today at Chariton's twin lakes --- Morris and Ellis. The brief program begins at 1 p.m. near the docking area on the north shore of Lake Morris and then continues on the north shore of Lake Ellis.
The two lakes were built to provide Chariton with an adequate water supply, Ellis during 1912-1913 and Morris during 1941-42. They had no formal names until 1943, when a naming contest was held. Clara Rutherford suggested that they be named to honor the two young men who were Lucas County's first confirmed deaths during World War II --- Roy on June 11, 1942, and Lyle on Oct. 26, 1942. That was made official by a City Council resolution dated May 3, 1943.
The first version of the Lake Morris sign was placed by Lyle's nephew, Don Evans, during September of 2015, but damaged later by vandals. The sign to be dedicated today is a duplicate. The city commissioned the recently installed sign honoring Roy.
Both signs were designed by Patrick Ranfranz of Wisconsin, founder of the Missing Air Crew project. Evans and Ranfranz had worked together on commemorative projects on the Micronesian island of Yap, Don's home.
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