William F. “Bill” Lehr, 73, of El Dorado, died Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at St. Francis Harry Hynes Unit.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John’s Catholic Church in El Dorado. Recitation of the Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Friday at Carlson Funeral Home. Interment will follow the funeral mass in Walnut Valley Memorial Park.
Bill was born on April 30, 1936 in El Dorado, the son of Andrew J. and Flora Mae (Rogers) Lehr.
Bill owned and operated Lehr’s Creative Interiors for many years and was still working every day up to his retirement. He graduated from El Dorado High School. He was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church where he served as an usher for 50 years; a member of the El Dorado Boosters Club; was an outstanding craftsman; and loved being with and doing things with his grandchildren. He had served in the United State Air Force.
On March 8, 1956 Bill and Beverly Church were united in marriage in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Those he leaves including his wife of the home are: two daughters and their husbands, Debra and Craig McGraw and Julie and Mark Utech, all of El Dorado; five grandchildren, Meghan Brown and husband Trent of Wichita, Andrew McGraw and Ryan McGraw of El Dorado, and Katlyn and Kristyn Utech of El Dorado; one great-grandchild, Brooklyn Brown; sisters, Mary Eaton, Judy Badway, Pat Evans, Joan Lewis and Ruth Smith; a brother, Jim Lehr; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Richard.
Memorials in his memory for PIE or El Dorado High School sports may be left with Carlson Funeral Home, where friends may call.
Condolences to the family can be sent to www.carlsoncolonial.com.
