Crestwoods
dynamic duo
The
Stoess family name
is all over Crestwood and rightly so
By
Joe Jacobs
Contributing Writer
CRESTWOOD, Ky. (July 1999) It was a mild June afternoon
when I pulled into the Stoess Funeral Home for an appointment with Milton
and Clayton Stoess Sr.
I parked my truck in the empty lot and made my way into the building.
The air was cool and inviting, and I spent a moment taking in my surroundings.
 |
Photo
by Don Ward
From
left, brothers Milton and Clayton
Stoess relax in the Stoess Funeral Home
office, where the walls are decorated
with plaques and awards for their
many years of civic service.
|
I wandered over to an unassuming display case, which housed
several plaques and one silver award cup. Etched into their varied surfaces
were many points in Milton Stoess tenure of service to Oldham
County.
Reading them, I learned he had served as a board member of the Oldham
County Historical Society; had served on the Kentucky Funeral Directors
Burial Association Board since 1964 and was president from 1973 to 1994;
and he had received a lifetime service award from the Oldham County
Chamber of Commerce in January 1997.
Service, I would soon learn, was a word with which both brothers were
intimately familiar. And it was community service for which the two
were selected as Grand Marshals of this months Oldham County Day
Parade. They also will be honored at a July 13 luncheon.
I made my way into the office area, where I noticed an entire wall of
framed certificates. It was there that I first met Clayton Stoess Sr.
I introduced myself, as did he, taking my hand firmly in his with a
warm smile. Clayton invited me into the adjoining conference room.
As we waited for Milton, Clayton and I exchanged pleasantries. Looking
into a persons eyes, you can tell the kind of man or woman they
were, and are, and will be.
Claytons spoke of gentle humor, kindness and respect for others;
they also spoke of a life, long and well-lived, with few regrets if
any, and much hope for the future.
Milton joined us shortly, his pace measured and dignified. I rose for
an introduction and to shake hands. His grip was firm and friendly.
Miltons eyes, too, spoke of humor, though with a wonderfully devilish
edge; and they shone with much history. Indeed, both brothers
lives were folded into the rich history of this county; its story
was also theirs.
What is now South Oldham was then quite a small, rural community with
little infrastructure. As the brothers told me, paved roads slowly entered
into the area beginning in the middle 1920s. In the late 20s, Hwy 22,
the first state highway in the area, was put in place.
Growing up, both brothers attended Crestwood Elementary and later Crestwood
High School. And in their 20s, they began work in the family businesses:
a hardware store and funeral home, both of which are still operating
today.
In addition, both attended the University of Louisville, where Milton
received certification as a civil engineer and Clayton as a chemical
engineer.
Their service to the community began in earnest during the 1950s. Both
helped to found the South Oldham Lions Club (1948) as charter
members (Milton the charter president, Clayton with perfect attendance)
which assumed much of the duties that the Chamber does today. Thereafter,
Milton, through the Lions, sponsored the construction of a fire
department and rescue squad. The brothers helped to sell no-value certificates-in
effect public donations-to raise money for the venture, as well as the
areas first ambulance.
The new department and rescue squad was an all volunteer affair, with
the brothers routing calls through the funeral home on a short-wave
radio. As Milton said, We had three phones: a black phone for
the residence; a white phone for the funeral home; and a red phone for
the fire department. Milton therein assumed the position of fire
chief, while Clayton assumed the position of squadron leader.
And that was how their many years of public service in Oldham County
began: identifying important needs, the brothers and their community
put their heads together for the common good. In the years that followed,
the brothers helped build an area gymnasium and establish a water district
with Milton as chairman (later sold to the Louisville Water Company)
which initiated a booming residential expansion still going strong.
Clayton became a council member after Crestwood incorporated and today
still serves; in addition, he also sat on the Board of Education for
16 years.
Their story told, Milton and Clayton leaned back in their swivel chairs.
Most of it weve passed on now, Clayton said. Let
the younger generation have a go at it now, Milton added.
And it seems the spirit with which the brothers helped a community grow
is fast set in the hearts of many community residents. Those I spoke
with regard Milton and Clayton with great fondness and appreciation.
Ed Noe, an insurance broker and realtor, noted how glad he was
that the county is honoring those two guys. And Richard Beard,
who entered into business with and under the guidance of both brothers
insists they are an inspiration in everything accomplished in
South Oldham. Projects such as the Oldham County Day festivities,
the historic Main Street district in LaGrange, and the Greenway are
reminders to us all about what community and service truly mean.
Milton and Clayton Stoess, Sr. have lived their lives amidst the guiding
principle that a community working for the common good can create and
foster valuable resources for good living. And should we ever falter
in our vision of what Oldham County can and should be, we need only
head down to the Crestwood Dairy Queen each morning at 9:15, in what
Ed Noe affectionately calls the Liars Club Board Meeting, to regain
that sense of what a community centered on common goals can achieve.
work in the family businesses: a hardware store and funeral home, both
of which are still operating today.
In addition, both attended the University of Louisville, where Milton
received certification as a civil engineer and Clayton as a chemical
engineer.
Their service to the community began in earnest during the 1950s. Both
helped to found the South Oldham Lions Club (1948) as charter
members (Milton the charter president, Clayton with perfect attendance)
which assumed much of the duties that the Chamber does today.
Thereafter, Milton, through the Lions, helped establish a fire
department and rescue squad. The brothers helped to sell no-value certificates
in effect, public donations to raise money for the venture,
as well as the areas first ambulance service.
The new department and rescue squad was an all-volunteer affair, with
the brothers routing calls through the funeral home on a short-wave
radio.
We had three phones: a black phone for the residence, a white
phone for the funeral home and a red phone for the fire department,
Milton said.
Milton therein assumed the position of fire chief; Clayton became squadron
leader.
And that was how their many years of public service in Oldham County
began. By identifying important needs, the brothers helped the community
work for the common good.
In the years that followed, the brothers helped build an area gymnasium
and establish a water district with Milton as chairman (later sold to
the Louisville Water Company) which initiated a booming residential
expansion still going strong. Clayton became a council member after
Crestwood incorporated and today still serves; in addition, he also
sat on the Board of Education for 16 years.
Their story told, Milton and Clayton leaned back in their swivel chairs.
Most of it weve passed on now, Clayton said.
Let the younger generation have a go at it now, Milton added.
And it seems the spirit with which the brothers helped a community grow
is fast set in the hearts of many community residents.
Ed Noe, an insurance broker and Realtor, noted how glad he was
that the county is honoring those two guys.
And Richard Beard, who entered into business with and under the guidance
of both brothers insists they are an inspiration in everything
accomplished in South Oldham.
Milton and Clayton Stoess, Sr. have lived their lives amidst the guiding
principle that a community working for the common good can create and
foster valuable resources for good living.
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