Ted "Popcorn" Effos

When my husband joined Bedouin Shrine Temple in 1986 one of the first men I ever met was "Popcorn".
As usual when we had special parties the ladies would be behind close doors putting out all the wonderful things we made to eat. On rare occassions some of the men would "break in" and get food from the table before we were ready for them to. One night I am putting out the food and a Shriner was getting something to eat and I cracked him on the knuckles with my wooden spoon. Well, Popcorn was in the room when I did that and forever more I was "Wammer" to my special friend Popcorn. Once you were a friend of "Corns" you were a friend forever. We went on many trips to Mexico together and I will never forget the good times we all shared with him. I will miss you my good friend.
Pam and Mark Hamrick, Potentate 1998 of Bedouin Shrine Temple

My brother, sister and I referred to Ted as "Uncle Ted". Uncle Ted was a very thoughtful, giving man. When we were small children, he stayed at our home during the Tri-State Fair in Superior, WI. Every morning was like Christmas when he was in town, as we'd wake to find plenty of Cotton Candy, Caramel Apples, and Caramel Corn waiting for us. During the Christmas season, he would also send us gifts. He held a special place in his heart for my sister, who was born with a physical handicap and has always used a wheelchair. His heart for children like her was evident with the work Ted did with the Shrine. Ted was a very down-to-earth guy, honest and transparent. My last memory of him was during the Superior Fair this past summer. I sat next to him while he collected money for the bottled water on a hot summer day. He didn't just refer to me as "his friend Rob's daughter", he called me "his friend Pam". Uncle Ted will be greatly missed, the fair just won't be the same without him. I love you, Uncle Ted.

My friend Teddy, while working as a barker on the midway for the exotic shows and playing the razzle game, I met Teddy long before he moved to Muskogee. He always had the cleanest food trailer on the any midway we played. He was a hard worker that knew the value of a dollar and invested his profits wisely. After we helped him enter the Shrine Temple, he finally slowed down and took a sincere interest in assisting with all the programs to help the crippled and burned children. Teddy will be missed by everyone that knew him. I'm sure he is already helping someone in need in the better world that he has gone to.

Ted was a very good friend of my parents Don and Karen Hughart. We, like others have shared trips with Ted on the road with the carnival. I specifically remember and have a photo that I would like to find and possibly upload of him and my dad. They were in Vegas and Ted has his finger in my dads ear for some reason!?

Ted was one of my Dad's best friends and he was like an uncle to me and my sisters. We always enjoyed having Ted stay with us in the summer when he came up for the fair in Superior, WI. He had many stories to tell about what he had done and where he had been in the previous year and he could always make us laugh. When we were young, he brought us Oklahoma Sooners shirts and hats and even toothpaste from Mexico. Everyone in our family liked Ted. Grandma and Grandpa loved having him over for dinner and out to the cabin. We certainly will miss seeing him and we are glad we had him for a friend.
Tim Christman (Rob's son)

Teddy Effos was one of the biggest characters I've ever know. He gave me the name of "Queenie" and even my friends and co-workers call me that. He also liked to tease me allot about sports and would send me sports schedules and put "Sooner's" bumper stickers on my vehicle and I wouldn't know it until someone else told me. He also was very frugel which his trips tp the Goodwill drove me crazy because even if it didn't fit all he cared about is that is was cheap!!! Bob or as Ted called him Rob were very good friends,as well as myself. My last photo of him was on our patio on Little Grand Lake with a newspaper,smoking a cigar and "Kramer" the Golden Retriever laying next to him. He yelled in the door "Queenie make Dinner for the men folk, be quiet and obiedent. Anyone who knows me know I am never quiet but I would always laugh and make dinner. We will miss him allot when Corndog season comes around. He will be there in spirit selling Hot dogs and bottled water for us. Rest in peace my friend.
Lynn Christman (Rob's Wife)

I have many fond memories of Ted as he and my family were friends in the carnival business for many years. I was fortunate to attend many parades with Ted in San Antonio while playing the Fiesta celebration and he was always so disappointed that the Shriners were not there. He was a great man to be around and always smiling. Ted is one person that I thank God for putting in my life. God Speed Teddy.