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Showmen's Rest - Part 3 

Submitted by Member on   5/8/2004
Last Modified

Showmen's Rest - Part 3

by Peter & Joyce Rosa
CLICK HERE to find the complete series


To All Showfolks and Fans:

We continue the SHOWMEN'S REST series with the gravestones of:
  • KEN "TURTLE" BENSON
  • TED BOWMAN
  • DONNIE "OKIE" CARR
All photos were taken in the SHOWMEN'S REST section of Mount Olivet Cemetery in Hugo, Oklahoma. We will scan photos and send at least three per email over the next few weeks.

We would appreciate your participation in this series. In the next email, we will send photos of the gravestones of JOHN CARROLL, C.L. "TEX" & LUCILLE CLAYTON, and JOE COOPER. If you have information you would like to see included with these photos, please send it not later than Monday, February 16, 2004, to peterscircus@AOL.com. We would especially like to list the shows that these showfolks trouped with during their careers.

Also, if there are any corrections to information we list in this series, please contact us immediately so we may set the record straight.

The photos in this email are the gravestones of:


1. KEN "TURTLE" BENSON
JUN 27, 1945
NOV 16, 2001

Turtle Benson was an elephant man with several shows, but spent his last years with Roberts Bros. Circus. His love of the Circus was so great that he left the VA hospital in his last days to go back to the Roberts Bros. Circus. He passed away shortly after that last visit. Note that there is a photograph of Turtle with an elephant doing a sit up on a bull tub and a showgirl performer on the gravestone.




2. TED BOWMAN
MAY 9, 1927
JUL 30, 1999

Ted Bowman started his Circus career with the Terrell Jacobs Wild Animal Circus in 1949. He also worked for Royal American Shows, Fairyland Circus, Gil Gray Circus, and the Al G. Kelly - Miller Bros. Circus. He usually held treasurer and management level positions. He was general manager of the Carson & Barnes Circus for 17 years.




3. DONNIE CHARLES "OKIE" CARR
JUN 29, 1940
APR 15, 1999

Okie Carr was one of the most well known Circus elephant men of his day. He was with Carson & Barnes Circus and many other shows. Note that to the left of the main stone is a carved elephant. Also note that there is a bull tub with a western hat and an ankus etched on the stone.




HOST NOTE: Photos will be sent so they show in the body of the email. We will also attach them to the email so those of you who are able to open attachments can view them at full size. Also, we will note the text etched on each gravestone if they are hard to read in the photo.

This series is being done because it is felt that many folks will not be able to journey to Hugo, Oklahoma to see these magnificent monuments. These gravestones have been erected to honor the memory of those whose varied skills have allowed the circus-going public to view the wonder of the CIRCUS.

We would like you to note that all of the showfolks interred at Mount Olivet will not not be represented. Only those monuments that noted a circus motif were photographed.

Sincerely,

Peter and Joyce Rosa

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