In Memory
Jan. 30, 1928 - April 30, 2015 HIOLDREGE, Neb. -- Harley G. Lofton, Jr., 87 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2015, at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Harley was preceded in death by his wife, Mae last Friday, and to honor their devotion and love to each other, a combined service to celebrate their lives was Saturday, May 2, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Holdrege with Reverend Karen Watson officiating. Committal Service was in the Moses Hill Cemetery in rural Phelps County, Nebraska, following the services. Military honors for Harley was conducted by the Martin Horn American Legion Post No. 66 in conjunction with the United States Navy Military Honors Team. Harley was born Jan. 30, 1928, at McCook, Nebraska, the son of Harley Griffith Lofton Sr. and Nellie Neva (Nelson) Lofton. Harley spent his childhood in McCook. He received his education from McCook Public Schools and graduated from McCook High School with the class of 1946. Harley then served his country in the United States Navy during World War II from May 29, 1946, until his honorable discharge on March 29, 1948. He then pursed higher education at the McCook Community College for his Associates of Arts Degree. Later in years, Harley continued his education at Kearney State College, where he received his bachelors of arts degree in education. In July of 1949, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Ann Phelps and to this union two children born: Julia Ann Lofton and Harley G. Lofton III. Harley began his career in the newspaper business with The Advertiser in McCook. While attending college in 1948, he joined the staff of the Red Willow County Reporter in McCook and Indianola and in 1949, he moved to Elm Creek, where he served as the Editor of the Elm Creek Beacon and the Overton Observer until 1951. The family then made their home in Holdrege, where Harley was employed by the Holdrege Daily Citizen for next 49 years. He began as a linotype operator and pressman, and then served in other capacities including: advertising manager, business manager, associate publisher and general manager at the time of his retirement in 2000. Through the years, Harley also taught journalism, part-time at the Holdrege High School. Harley was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy on Nov. 21, 1988. On Aug. 17, 1991, he was united in marriage to Mae M. (Bergman) Murrish and he lovingly accepted her two children and families as his own. They enjoyed being active together in the community. They were members of the St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church, where he served the church in many capacities, including the vestry committee and as a lay reader. Harley also enjoyed his membership of the Martin Horn Unit No. 66 American Legion, where he served as past Commander; he was a life member of the American Legion; past Exalted Ruler of the Holdrege Elks Lodge; member and past Senior Counselor of the Holdrege Council No. 213, United Commercial Traveler's, past Master of the Masonic Lodge No. 146, active with the York Rite Masonic Bodies in McCook, and the Tehama Shrine in Hastings. Harley was also a past President of the Kearney State Alumni Association, past Chef de Gare of the Locale No. 675 of the Forty & Eight in Hastings, past President and life member of the Holdrege Optimist Club. Professionally, he also served as President of the Nebraska Daily Newspaper Advertising Managers Association, the Nebraska Daily Publishers Association and the Nebraska Press Adverising Service. Harley's hobbies included photography, gardening and loved spending time on his computer. Besides his first wife, Dorothy and his second wife, Mae; Harley was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Julia Ann who was killed in an automobile accident; brothers-in-law: Stanley Phelps and his wife, Bonnie and Eugene Bergman. Harley leaves to mourn her passing his son, Harley G. "Griff" Lofton III of Bluffton, South Carolina; two step-children: Richard E. "Rich" Murrish of Seattle, Washington, and Jacqueline Cone and her husband, Fred of Kearney, Nebraska; three grandchildren, Jared Cone and his special friend, Angie Nelson both of Lincoln, Nebraska, Erica Nelsen and her husband, Justin of Lincoln, and Tara Murrish-Spong of Wichita, Kansas; three great-grandchildren: R.J. and Katy Murrish and Brooklynn Nelsen; and other relatives and friends. Memorial book signing was Friday, May 1, 2015 at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege. A memorial has been established in Harley's honor and will be designated at a later date.
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