November 23, 2024

Hobart Wesley Quimby

Hobart Wesley Quimby was born July 28, 1924 at Mexhoma, Oklahoma. He was the second son of Harley and Myrtle Iva Perkins Quimby. Hobart had three brothers, Leo Alvin, Jimmie Alton, and Dennie Lee, and one sister Iva Mae. He passed away at the Stevens County Hospital on November 30, 2016, which was his wife’s birthday, at the age of 92. He had been a resident at Pioneer Manor for almost five years. The family moved to Stevens County, Kansas when he was three years old, where he spent the majority of his life. He attended school through the fifth grade. Times were very 
hard going through the Great Depression and the Dirty Thirties and everyone pitched in to work so the family could survive.
When the 1940’s arrived and World War II began, Hobart was called to serve his country on November 24, 1943. He was a Foreman Warehouseman and served at Fort Lewis Washington; Camp Shanks, New Jersey; Glascow, Scotland; Maiden Newton, England; France and Germany. He was in battles of Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. He received the World War II Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, EAME Theatre Ribbon, and three Bronze Service Stars. 
He was honorably discharged on March 5, 1946. Two of Hobart’s brothers, Leo and Jimmie, also served in action in World War II, but became casualties of the war. Leo was laid to rest on April 27, 1945, at USAF Cemetery, Manila No. 2, Luzon, Phillipine Islands. Jimmie died of wounds on November 20, 1945, in Marburg, Germany.
After being discharged, Hobart returned home to Hugoton and after a short time he decided he wanted to go to California. That was a short lived trip and he soon decided California was not for him. It is rumored he even shoveled coal on a train so he could return home, where he spent the remainder of his life. He began working for local farmer, Marion Mitts, and driving D John Deere tractors. Marion also had a farm in Holly, Colorado and Hob, as he was often called, would drive the tractors back and forth 100 miles away to help farm that land as well. Later he began helping Earl Peachey farm north of Hugoton.
On August 17, 1952, Hobart married the love of his life Edith Mae Patrick Hooker in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Edith had two daughters, Verna Kay Hooker and Donna June Hooker, so Hobart then had two amazing step-daughters. They soon had two children of their own, Vickie Lee and Jimmy Wesley. After marrying Edith, they began farming on the homestead that Edith had and rented more farmland and added cattle. Times remained tough in a lot of years due to severe droughts of the 1950’s.
Mr. Quimby worked very hard providing for his family and always made sure there was food on the table, clothing and a roof over their heads. He became a self taught mechanic and worked on all his equipment as much as he could without help. They also kept pigs, chickens and a few milk cows that also provided food in the lean years. The extra milk and eggs were sold to also help provide. He had a love for horses from his early boyhood years till the day he died. It was very rarely you would visit with him he did not mention horses. One of his favorites was a buckskin horse named Buck 
he always talked about. 
Hobart always enjoyed playing cards, usually 13 point pitch, with family friends and neighbors for many years. Most of the winter was spent on Saturday night with covered dish dinners and joining each other at various households for an evening of friendship and card playing. He enjoyed his 
close friendships with several neighbors. They always worked together helping each other work cattle, put up feed for livestock, build fence, and even help each other farm when needed. He also enjoyed rodeos, horse races, or about anything that involved horses. Hobart also enjoyed raising cattle with their small cow-calf operation and always said as long as he had a cow he knew they would not starve.
Mr. Quimby was always known for his humor and wit. During his stay at Pioneer Manor and his struggle in and out at the hospital the past three years, he was a favorite of all the staff for his teasing and joking with them. He always had great care, wherever he was, and was thankful for everything they did for him.
He was proceeded in death by his parents, Harley and Myrtle Quimby, and his brothers, Leo, Jimmie, and Dennie, as well as his sister, Iva Mae. His wife, Edith, after 52 years of marriage, and a host of other friends and relatives. He had a deep love for all his family and always enjoyed news 
about the successes of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Hobart’s hope was always that they would all get good educations and become more successful than himself.
Survivors include his two step-daughters, Verna Kay McQueen and her husband, Glen of Hugoton, and Donna June Hooker of Hutchinson, Kansas; one daughter, Vickie Lee Quimby of Laverne, Oklahoma; and his son, Jimmy Wesley Quimby and his wife, Sherry, of Guymon, Oklahoma. He is also survived by three granddaughters, Debra Diane McQueen of Kansas City, Missouri, Gay Lynn Carlson and husband, Dan, of Falun, Kansas, and Lacey Anne Clark and her husband, Bobby, of 
Amarillo, Texas. Hobart is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Nikki Annette Larson and her husband Tim of Falun, Ks., Caitlin Jill Carlson and Alyssa Beth Carlson of Falun, Ks., and Rainie Anne Clark, Bobby Reise Clark, and Ryleigh Mae Clark of Amarillo and one great-great-granddaughter, 
Rylee Marie Larson of Falun, Ks. He is also survived by a host of other friends and relatives.
Funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Monday, December 5, 2016 at the First Christian Church in Hugoton, Kansas. Interment will follow at the Hugoton Cemetery in Hugoton, Kansas with military graveside rites conducted by the Kansas Military Funeral Honor Guard and the American Legion 8th District Honor Guard. Friends may call Sunday, December 4, 2016 from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM, with family present, at Garnand Funeral Home in Hugoton. Memorial contributions may be given to Pheasant Heaven Charities or charity of your choice in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 423 S Main, Hugoton, KS 67951.