Sikeston - Judge Elon Proffer, died this morning at the Sikeston Hospital following a heart attack at his home near Matthews Wednesday. He was 80 years.
Judge Proffer was instrumental in bringing REA service to Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi, Stoddard and Cape Counties.
In 1937, when he and a few other men started the drive for REA service, 480 families subscribed to the service, which at that time had 160 miles of electrical lines. There ar e now 10,600 families being served by 2,480 miles of electrical lines, James C. Stephenson, office manager of REA, reported.
Judge Proffer has been president of the board of directors of REA in this area since 1937.
Prior to that, he taught at Matthews, and was a New Madrid County judge from 1918-1939, state representative of New Madrid County from 1922-1924, and at one time farmed more than 2,000 acres near Matthews. He retired from farming in 1940 to devote full time to his position with REA.
For the past 14 years he had been president of the Missouri-Arkansas Generating Co-op at Poplar Bluff and for the last five years was vice president of Association Electrical Power Co-op at Springfield.
Judge Proffer was a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner and was active in national and state REA meetings.
Born at Burfordsville in 1885, he attended State College. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Bertie Proffer; one son, George Proffer; one daughter, Mrs. Lyle (Helen) Byrd and seven grandchildren.
Southeast Missourian∼From his obituary in an undated newspaper clipping: Matthews, MO: Judge Elon Proffer, 80, known as the father of rural electrification in Southeast MO, died shortly after being admitted to the Missouri Delta Community Hospital in Sikeston, Mo. His death was attributed to a heart attack. Chief organizer when the new Scott-New Madrid-Mississippi Cooperative was formed in 1937, of which he served as president from its origin until his death. His chief interest was rural electrification. He was born near Burfordville, the son of George and Martha Proffer. He was a farmer for half a century and began teaching school in the Noxall school near Matthews which lasted a short time. He then married Bertie Moore of Matthews on 1/3/1912 and they began farming near Matthews. He served as county judge in New Madrid Cty from 1918-1938. He was a Democrat serving one term in the State Legislature form 1922-1924. Survived by wife; daughter Mrs Lyle Bird of Matthews; son George Proffer of Matthews; half sisters Ila Proffer and Mrs Charles Saylor both of Adelphia, MD; and 7 grandchldren. The body is at the Welsh Funeral Home.

Sikeston - Judge Elon Proffer, died this morning at the Sikeston Hospital following a heart attack at his home near Matthews Wednesday. He was 80 years.
Judge Proffer was instrumental in bringing REA service to Scott, New Madrid, Mississippi, Stoddard and Cape Counties.
In 1937, when he and a few other men started the drive for REA service, 480 families subscribed to the service, which at that time had 160 miles of electrical lines. There ar e now 10,600 families being served by 2,480 miles of electrical lines, James C. Stephenson, office manager of REA, reported.
Judge Proffer has been president of the board of directors of REA in this area since 1937.
Prior to that, he taught at Matthews, and was a New Madrid County judge from 1918-1939, state representative of New Madrid County from 1922-1924, and at one time farmed more than 2,000 acres near Matthews. He retired from farming in 1940 to devote full time to his position with REA.
For the past 14 years he had been president of the Missouri-Arkansas Generating Co-op at Poplar Bluff and for the last five years was vice president of Association Electrical Power Co-op at Springfield.
Judge Proffer was a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner and was active in national and state REA meetings.
Born at Burfordsville in 1885, he attended State College. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Bertie Proffer; one son, George Proffer; one daughter, Mrs. Lyle (Helen) Byrd and seven grandchildren.
Southeast Missourian∼From his obituary in an undated newspaper clipping: Matthews, MO: Judge Elon Proffer, 80, known as the father of rural electrification in Southeast MO, died shortly after being admitted to the Missouri Delta Community Hospital in Sikeston, Mo. His death was attributed to a heart attack. Chief organizer when the new Scott-New Madrid-Mississippi Cooperative was formed in 1937, of which he served as president from its origin until his death. His chief interest was rural electrification. He was born near Burfordville, the son of George and Martha Proffer. He was a farmer for half a century and began teaching school in the Noxall school near Matthews which lasted a short time. He then married Bertie Moore of Matthews on 1/3/1912 and they began farming near Matthews. He served as county judge in New Madrid Cty from 1918-1938. He was a Democrat serving one term in the State Legislature form 1922-1924. Survived by wife; daughter Mrs Lyle Bird of Matthews; son George Proffer of Matthews; half sisters Ila Proffer and Mrs Charles Saylor both of Adelphia, MD; and 7 grandchldren. The body is at the Welsh Funeral Home.