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Lorum Ellis Stratton, 96, died Sept. 19, 2007, in Willcox.

He was born March 22, 1910, in Snowflake to William Ellis and Minnie Kartchner Stratton. Lorum lived most of his life in Snowflake. He is probably the last of the second-generation pioneers of Snowflake.

Lorum had a great love for Snowflake and his friends everywhere. He attended Snowflake Union High School where he was active in sports, student government and the only junior to be student body president. After high school, he served in the Northern States Mission as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one of three missions he would serve.

He spent much of his early adult life working in the lumber and logging areas around Snowflake. Later he was appointed postmaster in Snowflake, where he worked from 1961 to 1978, a position that suited him well because of his love and concern for people. He served in state and national positions in the Postmaster Association. He served in various civic organizations in Snowflake, including Kiwanis.

He loved horses and rodeos and spent many happy days riding, serving as a trail wrangler and head wrangler for the trail rides. He attended the National Finals Rodeo for more than 20 years.
Lorum married Annette Hakes in 1936 and they had five children. She passed away in February 1982. He later married Beulah T. Hunt with whom he served two missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one in San Antonio, Texas, (l983-1984) and one in London, England (1990-1991). He was a life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in various ward and stake callings, including high councilor, counselor in the Snowflake Stake Presidency and during the last years of his life, stake patriarch. He was a temple worker in both the Arizona Mesa and Snowflake Temples.

In addition to these lasting memories, which he will leave with all who knew him, he will also be remembered for the legacy of his carefully crafted handmade benches. During some 15 years he made 1,000 benches of various shapes and sizes. He relished the opportunity to give them to family, friends and some to folks who just asked. He was a friend to everyone he met. He genuinely loved people. He never met anyone he didn't like and couldn't talk to. He truly treasured being able to call so many "friend".

Lorum is survived by his wife, Beulah; 11 children, Lorum H. (Karen), Lynnette (Mike) Waite, Trudy (Sam) Grimes, Blaine K. (January) and Jilene (Gary) Hatch, and his Hunt family children, Todd (Gloria) Hunt, Pete (Connie) Hunt, Rob Hunt, Brad (Cheryl) Hunt and Lisa (Steve) Ault and Hilton Honyoama; 50 grandchildren and 61 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Sue Hunt Hageman as well as his first wife, Annette.