How Ross County reacted to the assassination of JFK 60 years ago

CHILLICOTHE — On Nov. 22 60 years ago President John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a motorcade in Texas. His death would shock the nation sending communities into mourning for the president.

Archived articles from the Gazette show that hundreds of events nationally and locally were canceled in respect of the president. Parliamentarian Lewis Deschler was on his way to Chillicothe to celebrate his parent's anniversary when he was given the news of the president's death. Deschler was said to be "stunned" by the news and lost all interest in celebrating.

At Millennium Grove in Chillicothe, a crabapple tree stands with a plaque describing the death of Kennedy. The tree is the same type as the one planted at the gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery. There is also a tree in the grove from the home of President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was sworn in soon after Kennedy was pronounced dead.

What did people think?

Today, many people still remember where they were when the president was killed. Lynn Carden remembers being in college walking to class when a student behind her yelled that the president had been shot. In her art class, her teacher commented that this event would change many works, for Carden her work that day was much darker than normal.

"It was a sudden darkening of our world," said Carden.

Darrell Malone said he doesn't remember who told him but he knows exactly what he was doing, putting windows on the house he was building. He said it was a "big shock" hearing the news and many worried about what would happen next. There were also many rumors swirling around about who was behind the attack as JFK was loved by some but hated by others.

"Boy did it upset me," said Malone. "Our president had been killed."

Sue Smith also remembers people talking a lot after the incident as it was "quite the shock." She said she remembers being shocked at how brutal it was towards a president and how bad it must have been for his wife who was right next to him.

Hilda Pyles said a friend told her the news and she was absolutely "devastated" as she had thought the world of the president and what he could do.

Shelby Reeves is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. You can email her at SReeves@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @Shelby_Reeves_

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Local people remember the JFK assassination 60 years later