Clyde Starrett

Clyde Frederick Starrett, 83, died Monday, Feb. 28, 2005, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook, NE. He was born Sept. 16, 1921 in Kingman, KS to Ellis L. and Frederica Angela (Johnson) Starrett, the oldest of four children.

Clyde graduated from Atwood High School at Atwood, KS in 1939 and completed two years of college prior to joining the U.S. Army in 1942, where he was stationed in India as a cryptographer, decoding messages. After returning from the service in 1945, he married Helen V. Meyers on Jan. 6, 1946 in Norton, KS. They had four children.

He earned a law degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1950 and upon graduation worked in Kansas City as an accountant with the Arthur Anderson firm. He later lived in Wilsonville, NE before moving to McCook in 1954, where for several years he and Bill Lyons practiced law together in the firm Lyons and Starrett before he went into practice for himself in 1962. He served as Red Willow County Attorney during the early 1970s and ultimately resided in McCook for over 50 years.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church of McCook, Arapahoe Masonic Lodge, Arapahoe American Legion, and when active the McCook Elks Club.

Preceding him in death were Ralph E. Starrett, a brother; his parents; Mark R. Starrett, a nephew; Ethel (Clark) Starrett, his stepmother; and Andrew D. Matchett, a brother-in-law.

Survivors include: a son, Frederick Starrett and wife Linda of Overland Park, KS; three daughters, Barbara Starrett of Lawrence, KS, Judith Starrett and husband Andrew Lax of Cornelius, NC, and Jane Tower and husband Christopher of Export, PA; a sister, Frances L. Matchett of Austin, TX and a brother, Raymond H. and wife Joyce Taylor of La Crosse, WI; eight grandchildren, Courtney Starrett, Kathryn (Starrett) Rickley and husband Aaron, Scott Starrett, Benjamin Tower, Stephanie Tower, Jordan Lax, Austen Lax, and Samantha Tower; and seven nieces/nephews.

Funeral services will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in McCook, NE with Rev. Brian Fong officiating with burial at 1:30 p.m. in the Norton Cemetery, Norton, KS.

Visitation will be Wednesday and Thursday until 5 p.m. and Friday until 8 p.m. Friends may go online at www.carpenterbreland.com to extend condolences.

Memorials are being accepted in Clyde’s name on behalf of the American Cancer Society.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.

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