On March 13, 1927, City Marshal David Waymire succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained days earlier while attempting to arrest two men wanted on a Baxter Springs, Kansas warrant for stealing an automobile in Oklahoma.

On March 8th, 1927, Marshal Waymire had received a tip that the men, Raymond Hemphill (aka Raymond Smith) (18) and Elza Sisco (16), were at the Harrison Hemphill residence 2 1/2 miles west of town. Marshal Waymire and his deputy, William Miller, drove to the house at 10:30 am that morning and located the two repairing a vehicle. Hemphill suddenly grabbed a .45 caliber revolver from the vehicle's front seat and opened fire on Marshal Waymire. One of the bullets struck him in the abdomen and exited his hip. Marshal Waymire returned fire, his bullets missing their mark, as Hemphill escaped on foot. Hemphill fled to the farm of an acquaintence, Robert M. Lusk, 2 1/2 miles southwest of Marionville. Hemphill spoke to Lusk in the barn, advising him that he had shot the marshal and that a posse would be after him. He then committed suicide with the same revolver that he had used to attack Chief Waymire eight hours before.

Marshal Waymire was taken to Springfield Baptist Hospital where he underwent surgery for a single gunshot wound to the abdomen that pierced his intestines. Marshal Waymire died of his injuries on Sunday morning, March 13th, 1927. Funeral services were held at the home of Marshall Waymire's grandparents.

Marshal Waymire had served as the elected city marshal for two years. He was survived by his wife, Rose, adult daughter and son, and four siblings. The funeral was held at the Crane Presbyterian Church. Interment: Crane Masonic Cemetery, Crane, Missouri.