Wayne Ernest Fisher

Wayne Ernest Fisher, who wrote this remembrance of his life, passed away Friday, September 20, 2013 at the age of 95. He was born to Lillie and Frank Fisher on a farm near Ludell, Kansas on July 28, 1918. In 1925 the family moved from the farm three miles south of Ludell into town to live in the old Smith Hotel which belonged to Lillie. He attended grade school in Ludell for six years and in 7-8th grade he walked to a one room school south of Ludell. In March 1931 a blizzard came up suddenly and trapped the school children and the teacher in the school for three days. Frank and Lillie had no idea if Wayne had made it to school or not that day. After three days, word was sent to Frank and Lillie that Wayne was safe at a neighbor’s house with the teacher. Wayne graduated from 8th grade in 1932 and went on to attend Atwood High School. After graduating from high school in 1936, Wayne worked odd jobs on the farm until the fall of 1939 when he left for Fort Hays Kansas State College in Hays, Kansas. He had $100.00 in his pocket and a job as a dishwasher when he got there. He later worked in the carpentry shop on campus. During his senior year at Hays and afterward, he taught pre-flight military students math, physics and civil air regulations. After graduation from Fort Hays Kansas State College in 1943, he continued to teach at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, and New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was eventually drafted into the Army and was assigned to the Manhattan Engineering District at Los Alamos, New Mexico, during the construction of the atomic bomb. He was discharged from the service in 1946 but remained with the atomic energy program until he retired in 1978. While in Hays, Wayne met Helene Wurm in 1940 when she came to Hays for school. Helene married Wayne May 28, 1944, at her family farm in Oberlin, Kansas. She preceded him in death December 24, 2008. Wayne is survived by his three children; Ruth (husband Eldon Epley), Eugene (wife Elaine) and Roger (wife Debbi). In addition to his children he is survived by five grandchildren: Sandi (husband Joe Cordova), Lynnette, Erika (husband Steven Thiele), Erich, and Alex (wife Katie), and eleven great-grandchildren: Issac, Lawrence, Joshua, Lorelei, Lexi, Beau, Hannah-Grace, Paige, Wyatt, Caleb, and Elaine. Wayne and Helene traveled to all 50 states and 25 foreign countries during their 64 years of married life. He was a member of White Shrine of Jerusalem, Hiram Lodge #13 AFAM, Santa Fe Valley Scottish Rite, and San Marcial Chapter #34 Order of the Eastern Star. He was elected Worthy Grand Patron in 1981. He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church in Albuquerque since 1944. Friends may visit FRENCH - Wyoming on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 from 5:00 to7:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 314 Lead Ave. SW, Albuquerque, NM. Wayne will be laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Grand Secretary of The Order of The Eastern Star, P.O. Box 1300 Deming, NM 88031. FRENCH – Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400

Wayne Ernest Fisher

July 28, 1918 - September 20, 2013