Updated: 06 Sep 2009

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SPEER, Lafe
Sapulpa Herald, Creek Co. OK
01-19-1937 

Lafe Speer Dies After Illness of Several Months 

Funeral Rites For Pioneer And Former Mayor To Be Held Thursday 

Lafe Speer, Sapulpa pioneer, died at his home last night at 10 o'clock of a paralytic stroke. He had been confined to his sickroom for several months and has been in ill health for some time. 

He is survived by his widow and three brothers, Lawrence Speer of Morrison, Warren and Thurman of Perkins, one sister, Mrs. Jack Martin of Wynoka. 

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Lewis and Landrith Chapel. Rev. P. J. Conkwright of the First Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will be made in South Heights Cemetery. 

Speer was born in Winterset, Madison County, IA., and came to Oklahoma with his parents as a boy in 1893 when the Cherokee strip was opened. 

In August 1903 he came to Sapulpa and opened the Lafe Speer Abstract office which he sold to J. A. Boyd and company in 1910. He was the first register of deeds in Creek County after statehood and also Creek County tag agent. 

He was married to Miss Ethel B. Jones of Sapulpa in 1907. 

In 1912 Speer opened an abstract office in Holdenville. He returned to Sapulpa in 1923 and became associated with C. T. McAllister in the insurance business. 

Speer was elected city commissioner in April of 1928 and served as mayor of Sapulpa for a number of years. 

His recent illness dates from last Labor day from which time he has gradually declined.