Lillie (Dawson) and Will Warner

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For several years, a Dawson reunion was held in the Warner home on Memorial Day when many of the relatives came to Ford to participate in the activities and decorate the graves of loved ones at the cemetery in Ford.

At her funeral, the eulogy was given by her nephew, Rev. Clyde Dawson, and the music, a vocal trio, consisted of two nieces, Berniece (Dawson) Lemmons and Dorothy (Dawson) Close, along with a high school friend of theirs, Roberta (Pearsall) Shrauner, who also was a friend of Lillie. They were accompanied at the pianist by a granddaughter, Marilee Williams. Other family members were also casket bearers.

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50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF FORD, FORD CO., KANSAS 1887-1937
Transcribed and contributed by Barb Boese on 29 July 1998

Extracts copied from a booklet in commeration of the 50th Anniversary of
the City of Ford, Ford County, Kansas 1887-1937

Warner Produce
Operated by Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Warner. Mr. Warner was born in Switzerland Co., Ind. and Mrs. Warner in Newton Co. Mo. Mr. Warner with his parents moved to a farm near St. John [Ks.] when he was a small child and where he lived until moving to Ford. Mrs. Warner's parents, Mr. and Mrs. I.M. Dawson moved to a farm near St. John 38 years ago, later moving to a farm near Ford. Mr. and Mrs. Warner met in Stafford County, but were married at the Dawson homestead north of town.
They made their home in Stafford Co., until 1925, when they moved their family to Ford. They have been in the Produce business 11 years. Mr.Warner engages in carpentering and insurance on the side. The Warner slogan is "Honest Service". Mrs. Warner was recently elected Police Judge on the all women's ticket. The celebration of Fords anniversary happens to fall on Mr. Warner's Birthday.
This abstract is located in the Kansas DAR Library in Dodge City, Ks.

Willie Patterson Warner was born in Patriot, Indiana in 1881. When a child he came to Kansas with his family. They settled in the St. John area. There he grew to manhood.

While there he met Lillie Dawson. They were married in Ford, Kansas on March 15, 1905. Following their marriage they lived on farms near St. John, Larned and Rozel before moving to Ford, Ford Co., KS in August of 1924.

Will spent many years at the Ford creamery where he bought and sold milk products from the farmers in the area. His large scales were always present to weigh the produce as it came to him--and to weigh the children who thought the scales were a novelty, with the heavy weights that had to be moved to get their proper weight. They were so much BIGGER than those at the doctor's office just up the street.

At the time of his death, he was survived by two brothers: E. J. Warner of Larned and Howard Warner of Great Bend, KS. Three sisters also survived: Emma Warner of Winslow, Arkansas, Mrs. Arthur Burnett of Bennett, CO and Mrs. Harry B. Bemis, Arcadia, CA.

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Remembrances of Will Warner by a younger generation

His cream station where he had a "large" scale for weighing cream cans
...his eating lunch at the station
...his cigar
...the smell of the fresh cream
...the image of the short, hard worker, quick to tell another what/how to get the job done
...the "big" chair where he relaxed