Esley E. Elkins, Jr., was born May 23, 1918, in Neodesha, the only child of Esley Ernest Elkins, Sr., and Helen Monroe. He passed away suddenly at a family reunion in Arkansas City, Kansas on September 4, 1966, after holding a church service for the relatives. He had adopted a nine-year-old daughter, Catherine, five days before. He had no memory of his father, Esley Ernest Elkins, Sr., who died in 1923 in Littleton, Colorado. When his mother remarried Roy Johnson Patchin, he was often called Junior Patchin.
He worked mainly as a gasoline transport driver for many years. During WW II he failed the military physical so he continued to drive transports and he also repaired warplanes in Coffeyville, Kansas. After driving for White Gas Company delivering fuel, he began working at Little Bear Oil Company for Charley (Sod) Morris. After 18 years he was their attendant at Second & Main, their accountant, deliverer of gasoline to nine Little Bear filling stations in southeast Kansas, and real estate salesman for their Morris Realty.
He was past President of the Neodesha Chamber of Commerce.
In 1959 Bert Ally, next door to the Little Bear Oil filling station, convinced him to sell Ford's for him. He became one of the Kansas City District's top salesman many times with his winning personality and numerous loyal customers.
In the mid-60's he teamed up with his friend Leon Watson to form Elkins Motors, Inc. After being approached by Chrysler Corporation, Watson-Elkins Dodge was launched in 1965 in Neodesha on the southwest intersection of 8th Street, one business west.
Junior loved selling cars, being with friends and family, flying model airplanes, driving or riding anything with a motor, but especially his boat filled with young skiers, mostly from his Nazarene Church, and vacationing in Colorado, He always enjoyed a good laugh. A Christian, he taught Sunday School at the Neodesha Nazarene Church. He drove the Sunday School bus for them when the church was on Osage Street.
He met and married Christina Bird in 1939. They later divorced.
In 1942 he met Ocie Lee Ellen Usher of Sedan, Kansas, and married her January 9, 1943, in Nowata, Oklahoma.
He is survived by his wife Ocie, sons Jerry and wife Patsy of Newport, R.I.; son Kerry, son Esley III (Nick) & son Ricky of the home; and daughter Cathy also survives at home at 145 Mill Street.
He worked mainly as a gasoline transport driver for many years. During WW II he failed the military physical so he continued to drive transports and he also repaired warplanes in Coffeyville, Kansas. After driving for White Gas Company delivering fuel, he began working at Little Bear Oil Company for Charley (Sod) Morris. After 18 years he was their attendant at Second & Main, their accountant, deliverer of gasoline to nine Little Bear filling stations in southeast Kansas, and real estate salesman for their Morris Realty.
He was past President of the Neodesha Chamber of Commerce.
In 1959 Bert Ally, next door to the Little Bear Oil filling station, convinced him to sell Ford's for him. He became one of the Kansas City District's top salesman many times with his winning personality and numerous loyal customers.
In the mid-60's he teamed up with his friend Leon Watson to form Elkins Motors, Inc. After being approached by Chrysler Corporation, Watson-Elkins Dodge was launched in 1965 in Neodesha on the southwest intersection of 8th Street, one business west.
Junior loved selling cars, being with friends and family, flying model airplanes, driving or riding anything with a motor, but especially his boat filled with young skiers, mostly from his Nazarene Church, and vacationing in Colorado, He always enjoyed a good laugh. A Christian, he taught Sunday School at the Neodesha Nazarene Church. He drove the Sunday School bus for them when the church was on Osage Street.
He met and married Christina Bird in 1939. They later divorced.
In 1942 he met Ocie Lee Ellen Usher of Sedan, Kansas, and married her January 9, 1943, in Nowata, Oklahoma.
He is survived by his wife Ocie, sons Jerry and wife Patsy of Newport, R.I.; son Kerry, son Esley III (Nick) & son Ricky of the home; and daughter Cathy also survives at home at 145 Mill Street.
Esley E. Elkins, Jr., was born May 23, 1918, in Neodesha, the only child of Esley Ernest Elkins, Sr., and Helen Monroe. He passed away suddenly at a family reunion in Arkansas City, Kansas on September 4, 1966, after holding a church service for the relatives. He had adopted a nine-year-old daughter, Catherine, five days before. He had no memory of his father, Esley Ernest Elkins, Sr., who died in 1923 in Littleton, Colorado. When his mother remarried Roy Johnson Patchin, he was often called Junior Patchin.
He worked mainly as a gasoline transport driver for many years. During WW II he failed the military physical so he continued to drive transports and he also repaired warplanes in Coffeyville, Kansas. After driving for White Gas Company delivering fuel, he began working at Little Bear Oil Company for Charley (Sod) Morris. After 18 years he was their attendant at Second & Main, their accountant, deliverer of gasoline to nine Little Bear filling stations in southeast Kansas, and real estate salesman for their Morris Realty.
He was past President of the Neodesha Chamber of Commerce.
In 1959 Bert Ally, next door to the Little Bear Oil filling station, convinced him to sell Ford's for him. He became one of the Kansas City District's top salesman many times with his winning personality and numerous loyal customers.
In the mid-60's he teamed up with his friend Leon Watson to form Elkins Motors, Inc. After being approached by Chrysler Corporation, Watson-Elkins Dodge was launched in 1965 in Neodesha on the southwest intersection of 8th Street, one business west.
Junior loved selling cars, being with friends and family, flying model airplanes, driving or riding anything with a motor, but especially his boat filled with young skiers, mostly from his Nazarene Church, and vacationing in Colorado, He always enjoyed a good laugh. A Christian, he taught Sunday School at the Neodesha Nazarene Church. He drove the Sunday School bus for them when the church was on Osage Street.
He met and married Christina Bird in 1939. They later divorced.
In 1942 he met Ocie Lee Ellen Usher of Sedan, Kansas, and married her January 9, 1943, in Nowata, Oklahoma.
He is survived by his wife Ocie, sons Jerry and wife Patsy of Newport, R.I.; son Kerry, son Esley III (Nick) & son Ricky of the home; and daughter Cathy also survives at home at 145 Mill Street.
He worked mainly as a gasoline transport driver for many years. During WW II he failed the military physical so he continued to drive transports and he also repaired warplanes in Coffeyville, Kansas. After driving for White Gas Company delivering fuel, he began working at Little Bear Oil Company for Charley (Sod) Morris. After 18 years he was their attendant at Second & Main, their accountant, deliverer of gasoline to nine Little Bear filling stations in southeast Kansas, and real estate salesman for their Morris Realty.
He was past President of the Neodesha Chamber of Commerce.
In 1959 Bert Ally, next door to the Little Bear Oil filling station, convinced him to sell Ford's for him. He became one of the Kansas City District's top salesman many times with his winning personality and numerous loyal customers.
In the mid-60's he teamed up with his friend Leon Watson to form Elkins Motors, Inc. After being approached by Chrysler Corporation, Watson-Elkins Dodge was launched in 1965 in Neodesha on the southwest intersection of 8th Street, one business west.
Junior loved selling cars, being with friends and family, flying model airplanes, driving or riding anything with a motor, but especially his boat filled with young skiers, mostly from his Nazarene Church, and vacationing in Colorado, He always enjoyed a good laugh. A Christian, he taught Sunday School at the Neodesha Nazarene Church. He drove the Sunday School bus for them when the church was on Osage Street.
He met and married Christina Bird in 1939. They later divorced.
In 1942 he met Ocie Lee Ellen Usher of Sedan, Kansas, and married her January 9, 1943, in Nowata, Oklahoma.
He is survived by his wife Ocie, sons Jerry and wife Patsy of Newport, R.I.; son Kerry, son Esley III (Nick) & son Ricky of the home; and daughter Cathy also survives at home at 145 Mill Street.
