Butler County KS Archives Obituaries.....Bright, Miles W. (Mike) May 1964 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Peggy Luce pegsue59@cox.net March 15, 2007, 4:39 pm The El Dorado Times, May 15, 1964 The El Dorado Times May 15, 1964 DEATH COMES TO MILES W. BRIGHT; SERVICES SUNDAY Miles W. (Mike) Bright, 57, well-known El Dorado business man and outdoor enthusiast, died Wednesday at 9:15 p.m. at Allen Memorial Hospital. Although he had been ill for two weeks and had undergone surgery on May 9, his death was unexpected and comes with shocking sadness to a multitude of friends and fraternal and business associates. He was owner and operator with his wife, Leta, of Bright's Laundry and Cleaners, 110 West Third. The residence is at 612 West Locust. In business as in personal relationships, the pleasant personality and friendly and kindly nature of Mike Bright were constant attributes and he will be greatly missed. He was widely known as an outdoorsman and was particularly devoted to hunting and fishing. Along with his fellow man, he held animals in high regard, appreciated good hunting dogs, and cherished, Chikie, the fox-terrier pictured with him. He was born near Winfield Feb. 16,1 907, came to El Dorado from that town in 1913, and since has been a resident here. He was married to Leta Skeer at Blackwell, Okla., April 27, 1929. In his youth, he had joined the First Christian Church at Winfield. He was a veteran of World War II having served with the Army Engineers in North Africa and Italy. His affiliations here included the Loyal Order of Moose, Fred Priestly Post 1174, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Capt. Edgar Dale Post 81 of the American Legion A brother, Elmer Bright preceded him in death in 1906. Surviving are his wife, of the home, four sisters, Mrs. Charles Hadley, Winfield, Mrs. L. F. Starkey, Rock, Mrs. C. W. Barr, 727 West Locust and Mrs. Ruby Young, 117-1/2 North Gordy. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Dietz-Pittman Colonial Chapel by the Rev. Ivan H. Hansen, pastor of the First Christian Church. Interment will be made in the Mount Vernon cemetery, near Winfield. The El Dorado Times May 18, 1964 FINAL RITES HELD FOR MILES BRIGHT Final rites for Miles W. (Mike) Bright, 57, who died Thursday, were conducted Sunday afternoon at Dietz-Pittman Colonial Chapel by the Rev. Ivan H. Hansen pastor of the First Christian Church. Miss Mary Belle Doty, organist, played a prelude and postlude medley featuring Shall we Gather at the River? and Abide with Me. Vocal music consisted of two Ernie Ford recordings, When They Ring the Golden Bells, and Sweet Hour of Prayer. Members of the El Dorado Veterans of Foreign Wars served as casket bearers. They were Wilbur Laubhan, Marvin Srader, Art Lawhon, Howard Worley, William L. Edwards, and T. A. Young. Interment was made in Mount Vernon cemetery northwest of Winfield, with the Rev. Robert Kennedy, pastor of the Winfield First Christian Church as the officiant. Flag folding ceremonies were conducted at the graveside by Mr. Laubhan and Mr. Srader. Employees of Bright's Laundry and Cleaning, their families and members of the Prairie Quill Club attended the services in a group. The El Dorado Times May 21, 1964 OWNER OF BRIGHT'S LAUNDRY & CLEANERS PASSES MAY 13 Final rites were held Sunday afternoon at the Dietz-Pittman Colonial Chapel for Miles V. (Mike) Bright, of El Dorado who with his wife owned and operated Bright's Laundry and Cleaners and operated the services to Leon patrons. Mr. Bright had undergone surgery May 9 and his death was unexpected. He died May 13, 1964 at the age of 57 years. He was born near Winfield on Feb. 16, 1907 and came to El Dorado in 1913, where he has since been a resident. He was married to Leta Skeer at Blackwell, Okla., April 27, 1929. He was a great outdoorsman, particularly fond of fishing and hunting. Besides his wife, he is survived by four sisters, Mrs. Charles Hadley, Winfield, Mrs. L. Starkey, Rock, Mrs. C. W. Barr, and Mrs. Ruby Young both of El Dorado. Rev. Ivan Hansen pastor of the First Christian church of El Dorado, conducted the services with burial made in the Mound Vernon cemetery near Winfield. The El Dorado Times May 21, 1966 Miles W. (Mike) Bright (C.L.O.) William Cullen Bryant wrote in his magnificent Thanatopsis: To him who, in the love of Nature, holds communion with her visible forms, she speaks a various language: Miles W. (Mike) Bright was a man who loved and understood nature. He held communion with her visible forms through all the years of his life. He loved the great outdoors and spent untold hours fishing, hunting, and tramping through field and wood. Mike Bright was a man's man. His friendship was strong and true. He enjoyed his friends, but never used them to further his own purposes. He loved animals and people, and treated those with whom he associated as individuals with rights to their own beliefs and opinions. Mike Bright believed each of us lives out our allotted span of life. This was borne into his heart and soul many years ago when during World War II he was crossing the Atlantic on his way to the battlefields of Europe. One night, lying on a ship's deck, he looked up into the star-filled night and asked of the wind: What am I doing here? Why am I doing this leaving my country, my home, my wife, going into God knows what? The answer came back to him, not from the wind, but from a source greater than any wind. Each man lives out his pattern of life. Mike faced the truth that there is a Being greater than he or any human on earth who directs our destines. From that hour he walked on knowing not what his pattern might be, yet understanding he was safe until the moment when the weaving should be complete. He'd left behind a lovely young wife whom he adored. Yet he accepted with calm confidence the order of his fate. Mike Bright was taken in death with the suddenness of a breath. He would not have wished it otherwise for he was an impatient man one who finished what he set out to do with a minimum of effort and time. He was a man of strong convictions and determination and could be outspoken if the occasion demanded. He never belittled a man's or a woman's efforts. Therein he showed tolerance and compassion for others, even in their many weaknesses. Mike will be missed by all those who knew and loved him. In his tender youth, William Cullen Bryant realized the truth of life's passage for he went on to say: The gay will laugh when thou art gone, the solemn brood of care plod on, and each one as before shall cease his favorite phantom; yet all these shall leave their mirth and their employment, and shall come and make their bed with thee. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ksfiles/ File size: 7.2 Kb