Obituary – Elmer L. Cottle, 101½, passed away Sunday, March 23, 2008, at Parkdale Manor Care Center in Maryville, MO. He was born September 27, 1906, to Nathaniel Francis and Clara Belle Cottle of South Haven, KS. He was the next to the youngest of 12 children. He graduated from South Haven High School in 1923. He farmed in rural Skidmore, MO most of his life. He married Ermil Etoila Stevenson on June 1, 1938 at the family home in rural Skidmore. The bought the farm in December 1939 from Ermil’s family and resided there most of their lives. The farm is listed as a century family farm. To the union six children were born: George Franklin, Merle Lee, Steven Elmer, Hubert Erman, Phillip Arnold, and Phyllis Ann. Elmer loved fishing and hunting and sports. Most of all he loved to play checkers and played by mail all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe. He also played in many checker tournaments in the U.S. and won the MO State Fair Tournament in 1979. Elmer won his last first place trophy at Bedford IA Fair Tournament in July 2003 at the age of 96. He was a member of the Missouri Checker Association and was one of the nationally ranked players for many years. (copied from the Missouri Checker Association Newsletter)   I remember Elmer as a mail player in the MCA mail tournaments.