By Roger and Marcia Eaton, grandson*
*Relation to Andy and/or Flora Lehr
After seventeen years of working at the Fina Refinery in El Dorado, Kansas, Bill Lehr decided to leave it behind and purchase a paint store. The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in this gene pool. Of Andy and Flora Lehr’s eight children, six operated businesses. Bill and Beverly Lehr operated Lehr’s Creative Interiors in El Dorado, Kansas for over twenty-five years (1976-2002).
Of all my uncles, and I have many, the one I knew the best was Uncle Bill. During my craftsman years, I purchased many square feet of countertop laminate and gallons of wood finish from his store. He was usually installing flooring or countertops, but when I would see him (at the store) he would ask me about my current projects. He’d ask detailed questions about them. His approach was pretty smooth. I didn’t realize, until years later, that he was checking up on his sister’s kid. Once in a while, he’d throw some work my way. Those jobs received my extra focus. I didn’t want to tarnish a referral from him.
While Bill was on job sites, Beverly anchored the store operations. On my trips to the store, I was able to stay current on family situations through Beverly. She was always at the store and fully engaged in family happenings. Before they purchased the paint store, Beverly operated a children’s clothing store, Lil’ Folks. That retail experience was helpful in building a successful and enduring business.
I’m sure that the marketing people had someone like Uncle Bill in mind when they created the Energizer Bunny. I could barely keep up with him when I was in my twenties – and he was on his second career. He worked many evenings installing cabinets, countertops and flooring. While one job was setting, he’d return to a previous job to do some finish work. On one job (that he referred to me), I installed a kitchen countertop. He came by later to install the sink – and that was on a holiday.
The first store was one door to the south of the building in the photo above. When the corner building became available, they moved in and expanded their business. The store included carpet, wood flooring, ceramic tiles, window treatments and of course paints.
Bill established a strong working relationship with management of Davis Paints. He toured their plant in Kansas City, Missouri and told me that he was impressed with their operation.
When their working years came to an end, they sold their inventory and fixtures and dedicated their time to their expanding family.
By Julie (Lehr) Utech
I don’t remember that much about his first or his last store. We all would end up there on Saturday mornings and there would be donuts. My girls loved the smell of the basement at his store. We didn’t think much about having two working parents because mom was a dental assistant before dad bought the store.