Rea LaVern Shelite, the second child of Orval and Dora Shelite, was
     born July 8, 1928, at Capron, Oklahoma. His family moved to Barber
     County when he was about four years old; he received his first nine
     years of schooling in or near Kiowa. When his family moved south of
     Medicine Lodge, he attended and graduated from Medicine Lodge High
     School, in 1947. Rea worked in Medicine Lodge unilt he was drafted
     into the service in 1950; he served in the Korean conflict until his
     discharge in 1952.
       Phyllis Jean Simpson, the eldest child of Robert and Marjorie Simpson,
     was born in Barber County, February 2, 1931. After her first four years
     in the rural schools, she attended in Medicine Lodge, graduating from high 
     school in 1949. Following one year at Emporia State Teachers College, she
     taught one year in a rural school in Barber County. Rea and Phyllis were
     married in the Medicine Lodge Christian Church parsonage, October 6, 1950.
       After Rea's return from Korea, Phyllis was busying raising their five
     children: Alyce Ann, born January 14, 1953; Janet Leigh, February 20, 1954;
     Paul Kebin, April 7, 1955; Kala Sue, October 15, 1956; Donna Ray, May 16,
     1959. All five attended and graduated from the Medicine Lodge schools. All
     were musically talented and performed as a group at various functions in
     the community.
       After his military discharge, Rea worked at various jobs until employed
     by Cities Service Gas Company in 1958. After 19 1/2 years work with the
     company in Medicine Lodge, he was promoted to foreman and transferred to
     Sublette, Kansas. For many years Rea gave active leadership to Boy Scouts
     of America.
       The only family member living in Barber County is Paul and his wife
     Shirley (nee Harbaugh). Alice (Mrs. Daniel Byers) and two sons live in
     Garden City; Janet (Mrs. Bill Koch) and two daughters live in Lyons;
     Kala (Mrs. Ron Schwerdtgfeger) and son live in Pratt; Donna is completeing
     her second year in Pratt Community College.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 411 
     Submitted by: Phyllis Shelite