November 1945

Clyde M. Cunningham, 54, well-known Keith township farmer, shot and killed himself at his home near Rinard Thursday afternoon. He had suffered from a disorder for some time.

According to testimony at an inquest held that afternoon by Coroner Walter A. “Doc” Young, a son, Harold C. Cunningham, and wife, called at his father’s home that morning and borrowed his car for a rip to Fairfield. He appeared to be well when they left. Returning about three thirty o’clock they found him lying on the floor of the garage, dead, with his shotgun by his side. One shell had been discharged. The charge struck him on the right side of the face.

On the desk in the house was a note he had written in which he stated that a war bond belonging to another son, Glen, who is in the Army, could not be found in the Flora Bank. He gave no reason for his action.

The son and his wife, Erma, testified to the above. Mrs. Grace Ferrill, a neighbor, told of being called to the Cunningham home that afternoon after the body had been found.

A verdict of death by self-inflicted gunshot wounds was returned by the jury composed of Hal Bradshaw, Estes Laughlin, Clovis E. Ferrill, Bernice Howe, Theodore M. Cunningham and Frank Cunningham.

Mr. Cunningham, a veteran of World War I, is survived by two sons, Glen, in Manila, and Carl, recently discharged from service; and one sister, Mrs. Flossie Michels, of near Rinard.

The body was moved to Flora where it was prepared for burial.