Rex Edward Cherry, 67, well-known Osawatomie resident and retired mortician, died Sunday, Feb. 15, 1987, at the Miami County Hospital after becoming ill at his home.

He was born Oct. 29, 1919, in Sedan, Kan., the son of Charles Edward and Myrtle B. Glenn Cherry. The family moved to Osawatomie when he was a child. He grew up in Osawatomie, attended local schools, and graduated from Osawatomie High School

in 1939. While still in high school, he began working for Birchard Funeral Home.

Mr. Cherry enlisted with the United States Army and serv ed during World War II. After the war he went to Mortuary College in St. Louis, Mo. Upon graduation he began working for a funeral home in Nevada, Mo.

On Jan. 15, 1949, he married Marie S. Sapp in Nevada. They moved to Osawatomie in the 1950s and he returned to employment with Birchard Funeral Home. He later worked for Eddy Funeral Home. The two funeral homes combined in 1977 and he then worked for Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home until he retired in October 1984. Mrs. Cherry died June 1, 1976.

On Sept. 24, 1976, he married Shirley Gwartney Hanes in Osawatomie. After his retirement he assisted Mrs. Cherry with her floral business, Hanes Florist and Greenhouse.

Mr. Cherry was a member of the First Baptist Church, Osage Valley Lodge No. 24, A.F. & A.M., the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 921, Hanlin-Kelly Post 2258 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Lions Club, all of Osawatomie.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley, of the home; two stepdaughters, Kimberly Hodgson, Topeka, and Kelly Johnson, Osawatomie; a brother, Charles Wayne Cherry, Leavenworth; a sister, Dolores Jean Foland, Kansas City, Mo.; and seven grandchildren.

The services were at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie. The Rev. Rich Roberts Jr. officiated. Nelle Dollar was the organist.

Nancye Snyder and Jean Smith sang "How Great Thou Art" and "The Old Rugged Cross."

The burial was in the Osawatomie Cemetery. Serving as the pallbearers were Gene Brownback, Dick Fritts, Bill Birchard, Everett Reeder, Lloyd Goodeyon, and Charles Freeman. Honorary pallbearers were William W. Eddy, Stanley Butner, Joseph Whiteford, Joe Moreland and Larry Brown.

A memorial was established in his name to the church or the Elks Scholarship Fund.