Eulogy of Earl Luxmore

Eulogy of Earl Luxmore

Written by Phillip Wayne Corbin Jr.
January 26^th, 2003

Hello, my name is Phillip Corbin Junior and I am the 9th grandchild. I was asked to say a few words in honor of the memory of my Grandfather, Earl Luxmore. A man that we all knew and loved very dearly.

Earl was born to Joseph and Alma Luxmore on November 21, 1908 in Joy Illinois. He was the 4th son out of 6 children. When he was 16 years old his father passed away. Being the only son at home he had to quit school and take over the farming for his mother and younger sister. As a young adult, Earl became a Christian and was baptized at the Baptist Church in Alpha, Illinois. In the summer of 1932 while living in the New Windsor area, he met a charming young lady by the name of Mae Rosene. The two of them had there first date on July 4th, 1932 and continued to date every weekend until they were married on November 6th at First Baptist Church in Aledo, Illinois. Leslie and Helen Baldwin and Fred and Adria Bahringer were the witnesses of their ceremony. Earl and Mae became friends for life with the Baldwins and Bahringers.

After Earl and Mae were married, they drove to Pine City Minnesota for their honeymoon. Mae's grandparents lived there. Earl and Mae spent two weeks their and celebrated Thanksgiving with them. After returning home, Earl's mother, Alma Luxmore, remarried and Earl lost the opportunity to farm at home. So in January of 1933 Mae's grandparents offered them a job on their Dairy Farm. They packed their suite cases and headed to Minnesota. Their first daughter was born in Minnesota. Eventually they moved back to Illinois to a small house on the Oxford Trail between New Windsor and Rio. Here they worked on a farm and during this time they had two more daughters. They then moved to a farm at Keithsburg where their 4th daughter was born. The farming was good in Keithsburg, raising watermelons and muskmelons. In 1939, Earl met Reverend Marvin Kemp and his wife. Rev. Kemp was with the American Sunday School Union forming Sunday Schools and prayer meetings. Having prayer meetings on Wednesday nights and Sunday School on Sundays.

They would pick up the local children and bring them to their home for Bible Study. In that same year, Earl met up with Rev. Art Nelson and Rev. Stewart. Rev. Art was helping them set up Sunday School and shared with Earl about a Bible College in Chicago called Moody Bible Institute. After much prayer and consideration, Earl and Mae sold their farm and moved to Wheaton Illinois in 1944. Earl would work during the day and attend night school at Moody.

While living in Wheaton, Earl and Mae raised a few chickens and were constantly having problems with them getting out. Earl would frequently have to go out and catch them. Knowing this, his four daughters had decided to play an April Fools joke and tell him that the chickens were out again. Earl put on his coat and hat and headed for the door. But before he could get out of the house the girls told him "April Fools" and they all had a good time with that. In the spring of 1946 they bought a farm southeast of Knoxville Illinois and did custom bailing. While in Knoxville, they helped Mr. Nelson with a Sunday School in East Galesburg. They then joined the North Chambers Street Baptist Church. During that same year he was introduced to the Gideons. Earl just loved the Gideons and spent many days passing out New Testaments at hotels and schools. His passion was passing out bibles to the 5th graders. Earl was in charge of distributing Bibles to all the schools in Knox County and he loved it. I still have mine with me today! Earl continued to pass out New Testaments for more than 30 years.

Earl also spent many of his Sundays traveling to other churches, preaching and telling them about the Gideons. Earl, Mae and their 4 daughters would all go and the daughters would sing. In the spring of 1948 Earl moved his family to a small place on highway 150, just west of Knoxville. Here they did custom farm work and spent a lot of time taking meals to the hay fields to feed the workers. In 1955 they moved to a farm north east of Galesburg called the Schwartz Farm. There were many memories made while they lived here. This is where I have my earliest memory of Grandpa. I can still remember the anticipation of hoping to get a ride on that yellow lawn tractor that he always kept in the shed. I also remember him chewing the grandkids out for swinging on the lighting cable that hung off the back of the house. In 1976 Grandpa built a new home near Henderson. Because Grandpa had started selling real estate while farming, it was during these times that he and Grandma were able to some traveling.

They would spend there winters in Arizona where Grandma's sister and brother lived. They built wonderful memories during these trips. Memories like the time when Grandpa stopped for gas and Grandma was asleep in the back seat of the car. Grandpa went inside to pay while Grandma woke up to go the restroom. 100 miles later, Grandpa returned to pick Grandma up. Grandpa and Grandma also spent some of their winters in Florida until he had his stroke in January of 1998. Grandpa was always honest and sincere with the people he met through his walk in life. But more than that, he was totally submissive to the word of the Almighty God.

Hallelujah and Praise the Lord, for Grandpa's free.
He followed the path God laid for him.
He took God's hand when he heard His call.
He turned his back and left it all.
He could not stay another day,
to laugh, to love, to work or play.
Things left undone must stay that way,
for Grandpa's found peace at end of the day.
If Grandpas parting has left a void,
he'd want you to fill it with remembered joy.
Don't be burdened with times of sorrow,
for there is always the sunshine of tomorrow.
Grandpa's life was full, and he savored much,
with good friends, good times and a loved one's touch.
Perhaps his time seemed all to brief,
but Grandpa wouldn't want you to lengthen it with undue grief.
Life up your hearts and share with me,
Grandpa's with Jesus, and God set him free.