David Marion "Skeet" Koger
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 8 - April 16, 1953
SKEET KOGER BURIED IN EAGLE TUESDAY.
Funeral services for Skeet KOGER were held in the Eagle Methodist Church Apr. 14 by Rev. Delbert PAULSON, and burial under the direction of Bowman's Funeral Chapel was in the Eagle cemetery. Funeral music was furnished by Bob TREZISE, piano and Mrs. Delbert PAULSON and Mrs. Glen CHAMBERS, vocalists.
Long time friends served as pall bearers and honorary pallbearers: Harry LEWIS, Walter LEIBER, Allen CLARK, George CARLOW, Omar HOWLAND, and Melvin EATON,pallbearers; Bert WOLVERTON, W. M. WILSON, Hans LARSEN, Jack BINDLEY, Ed LONG and Alec MACDONELL, honorary.
David Marion KOGER was born Nov. 4, 1876 in Rainsboro, Ohio, to Lydia Scott and John. H. KOGER. He received his schooling there and graduated from high school.
Shortly after graduation, he came west, stopping first in Illinois, then to Colorado. He arrived in Eagle County in 1899 and was first employed in the now nonexistent Hockett Sawmill on Hardscrabble south of Eagle.
Within the few years following Skeet worked around Eagle vicinity, joining the Sherman Brothers Red Mountain Ranch east of Eagle in the early 1900s, becoming a permanent member of the family.When the ranch was sold in the early 1920s, skeet moved to town with Mr. and Mrs. Jesse SHERMAN to make his home working as a skilled carpenter in the valley.
Skeet took an interest in town and county politics and affairs, and served for 25 years as a deputy sheriff. During the flu epidemic of 1918 he was a tireless worker taking care of the sick, and putting in long hours at the small and over burdened hospital that existed in Eagle at that time.
He served for a time as janitor of the Eagle school and endeared himself to the young people of the community as a fast friend.
Skeet never married, but there are those living in the community who will remember him as more than a dear friend.
Following the death of Mrs. SHERMAN, 20 years ago,Skeet remained on with Mr. SHERMAN, the two setting up "bachelor's quarters" until late last December when flu struck and Skeet was taken to Community Hospital in Glenwood the first day of the New Year. A short time later, Jesse fell victim to the epidemic and was taken to the hospital to share the same room with his friend of half a century. Mr. SHERMAN preceded his friend in death, passing away Jan.31.
Skeet remained a patient in he hospital, and on April 4 an emergency operating became necessary, and he died April 9.
His immediate survivors are three sisters: Libbie and Jettie KOGER of Ohio and Gillie KOGER of Oakland, Calif., and a number of nieces and nephews, among whom is Paul RUSSELL of Ft. Benton, Mont., who with Mrs. RUSSELL was the only relatives able to attend the funeral.
