Percy Kuykendall McGuire

Notes:

.A/K/A Robert Henry McGuire
A/K/A Albert Henry McGuire

Excerpts from a biography of Percy, written by his nephew, Keith McGuire Jr. Keith received some of the information below from Percy's youngest daughter, Nelda.

Percy was the eldest child of Henry and Mamie McGuire, born in Kansas. His family then moved, in December 1898, to western Oklahoma.

When he was 19 he travelled with his father in work in Canada on a clear water pump on the Mackenzie River, to furnish water for a coal mine. When an ice jam broke loose and destroyed the pump they employment was terminated, and they returns to Oklahoma. Percy later moved to Hurley, New Mexico, where worked for a mining company.

On 8 March 1918, Percy enlisted in the Navy in El Paso, using the name Robert Henry McGuire, and the birthdate 8 January 1897, for "business and legal reasons." He was on active duty until his discharge on 31 January 1919, at which time he returned to Oklahoma. He was a Quartermaster Second Class, and discharged from the U.S. Naval Training Camp in San Diego, California, due to a Physical Disability, not specified.

In 1921, he married Ruby Weber in Guthrie, OK, and they had two daughters. He and his family, along with his younger brother Keith Sr, moved to Illinois for work. He later followed jobs across the country during the mid 1920s to the early 1930s, working in California, Kansas, Missouri, Idaho and Nevada. One of his jobs was working on the Boulder Dam, now known as the Hoover Dam. He was also a guide for the Park Service at the dam site.

He returned to Oklahoma, where he lived and worked in various cities for the remainder of his life, expect for a brief time in Corpus Christi, TX (1940-1941).

He was diagnosed with tuberculosis in the mid 1930s, receiving treatments at the Veterans Administration in both Clinton and Sulphur, OK.

Keith Jr recall's that Percy visited their family in Camargo, in the early 1940s, entertaining he and his sister Pat with card tricks. He refused to sleep in their home, however, saying it would be safer for their family if he slept in the camper shell on the back of his truck, as he did not want to expose them to tuberculosis. He died of this disease on 18 April 1946. Some two weeks before his death, he wrote his brother Elvis, that "---it sure is a job for me to write. I am eating pretty good and my throat is much better so I still have courage. By the way old top I want your return expense account and would like to know if extra batteries can be got for that little radio and if they can be charged outside of the set, if so I think I want one. The 2 sets they have here are completely dead from daylight to dark and I can't find any radio news or ads of any kind so far. Write when you can. I will try to answer. I hope my health will improve with the weather, it has been cold and raining for several days but nice today. Best Luck to All, Your brother, Percy."

Prior to his death, he moved to Nevada for for health, and his sister Ellen helped care for him.

Obituary

R.H. McGuire, 49, veteran of World War One, passed away in the Lincoln Co hospital, Caliente, NV, April 18.

Services held at the Turner funeral home, Yukon, Friday. Rev. CA Burkhart, pastor of First Christian, conducted the ceremony. Burial in Yukon.

Survived by wife, Ruby A McGuire, two daughters, Nelda Walker and Helen McGuire, Oklahoma City, two grandchildren, David and Charles Walker, OKC, three brothers and two sisters. Brothers E.H. McGuire, Tuscaloosa and K.D. McGuire, Camargo, attended the last rites.

Mr. McGuire lived with his family in Yukon, and was employed as a carpenter and builder for many years. He had been sicek for several years, and was a patient at the VA in Sulphurs until 5 months ago, when he went to Nevada for his health.

Following service in the Navy in WW I, he married Ruby Alice Weber at Guthrie, June 16, 1921.

He was a member of the American Legion.

The funeral program for Percy, xerox provided by Keith McGuire Jr, showed:

In Memory of Robert H. McGuire
Born January 8, 1897 Died April 18, 1946
Services from Turner Funeral Home Yukon, OK at 4 pm on
Friday, April 26, 1946
Clergyman Officiating Rev. C. A. Burkhart
Final Resting Place Yukon Cemetery

(Research):

Census Listings

1930 Census
California, Imperial County, Brawley Twp and City
Enumerated April 9, 1930
ED 13-1 SD 21 Sheet 9A Stamped 154
171-228
Morris, Rudolph Head M W 21 M 20 Ala Ala Ala Repairman General Farm
Morris, Myrtle Wf F W 24 M 23 Ok Ok Ok
McGuire, Percy Roomer M W 35 M 24 Ks Ks Ks Carpenter General Farm
McGuire, Ruby Roomer F W 27 M 18 Pl Germany Ill
McGuire, Nelda Roomer F W 7 S Ok Ks Ok
McGuire, Helen Roomer F W 5 S Ill Ks Ok

Percy married Ruby Alice Weber on 26 Jun 1921 in Guthrie, Logan County, Oklahoma. Ruby was born about 1903 in Oklahoma; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]