Obits for Butler County, Kansas Genealogy Trails

BUTLER COUNTY, KANSAS

OBITUARIES

COFFMAN, VIRGILENE A.

Virgilene A. Coffman, 94, of Towanda, died Tuesday, Aug. 10 at Wheatstate Manor in Whitewater. Services were held at 10 a.m. today at the Towanda Cemetery in Towanda.

She was born July 16, 1910 to Samuel R. and Lacy Corbin Murrey in Towanda. She graduated from El Dorado High School. She married Max Guy Coffman on May 22, 1931 in Wichita and they lived in Butler County.

She was a homemaker and enjoyed cooking and working in her garden, especially working with roses. She formerly worked at Whitewater Creamery and during World War II was a warehouse clerk at Boeing Aircraft.

Survivors include several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters, Blanche Hull, Amber Wike and Florence Priest.

A memorial has been established with Hospice Care of Kansas. Contributions and condolences may be left with Kirby Morris Funeral Home who is assisting the family with the arrangements. (El Dorado Times, August 12, 2004)

FINLEY, DELERT D.

Delbert D. Finley, 67, of Latham, died Wednesday August 11, 2004 at Via Christi St Francis Medical Center in Wichita. Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Carlson Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Latham Cemetery.

He was born Nov. 27, 1936 at Latham, the son of Verne and ??? Finley. He was a farmer and stockman and spent all his life in Latham. On May 22, 1980, he was united in marriage to Joyce (Province) Lambing in Miami, Okla.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce of the home, sons, Michael Finley of Wichita and Trini Finely of El Dorado, daughter Jacquline Kelsey of Valley Center, mother, Mary Emma Finley of Rose Hill, brother Gilbert Finley of Winfield, Sisters, Velma Creed of Wellington, Kansas, Sonya Knowles of Wichita and Patricia Craig of Latham, stepsons Robert W. Lambing of Fort Worth, Texas, Danny Lambing of Augusta, Tom Lambing of McCook, Neb., and Mike Lambing of Latham, 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Friends may call at Carlson Funeral Home who has the arrangements. (El Dorado Times, August 12, 2004)

PRATT, LEWIS M.

Lewis M. Pratt is Dead at Age of 87

Lewis Marion Pratt, 87, who had lived in El Dorado for 30 years died here this morning at 2:05 o'clock. For the past several years he had made his home with Ernest Pratt, a son, at 118 South Poplar Street.

Mr. Pratt was a retired building contractor, and also an inventor. He held 23 distinct patent rights on inventions.

He was born on May 28, 1859 at Blakesburg, Ia., the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Pratt. In 1878 the family moved to Belleville, where Mr. Pratt resided until 1917 when he came to El Dorado. His wife is the former Emma Irvins whom he married April 6, 1883, at Belleville. She survives him, together with four sons, Ralph of Wichita, Glen, Lawrence and Ernest of El Dorado; three daughters, Mrs. Leotis Bealer and Mrs. Minnie Bennington, both of El Dorado and Mrs. Mary Mitchell of Wichita; 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. One grandson, Lawrence D. Pratt, was killed November 16, 1944 while serving with the armed forces in Germany.

Funeral services will be conducted from the Byrd Funeral Home, Monday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m. Dr. Ozie Pruett, minister of the Baptist Church will be in charge. Burial will be in Sunset Lawns Cemetery. (El Dorado Times, March 21, 1947)

CAR CARRIES MAN TO DEATH IN RIVER

Must Start Over On Safety Drive

Fatal Accident Ends Butler County Record Just Short of 100 Perfect Days

The encouraging "no fatality" box feature which The Times has been ended at 97 days with the motor accident which took Willard Silver's life east of El Dorado last night.

County and city officers together with members of the Highway patrol, have been watching the Butler County situation closely and urging all drivers to proceed with such caution that the number of consecutive days without a traffic fatality in the county could proceed indefinitely. At least they had hoped that the 100 days figure with no fatality could be reached.

Accident Ends Record

That hope however has been dashed by the happening tragedy reported and the proud box in The Times has been removed.

The last traffic fatality before the Silver's case broke the string of deathless days occurred at 1:25 o'clock on the morning of Friday, December 13, 1946. At that hour, the overturn of an automobile on Highway 77, 4-1/2 miles south of El Dorado, took the life of Leroy Davis of Augusta. A few hours previously at 7:30 o'clock the evening of December 12, Elmus Kay Chandler of Halstead, died after his automobile was struck by a Santa Fe freight train at the main Highway 54 crossing in east Augusta.

WILLARD GRANT SILVER OF EL DORADO LOSES LIFE WHEN MACHINE LEAVES HIGHWAY 54 AND PLUNGES INTO WALNUT

Another Escapes

Floye Lee Eastham Saves Own Life by Forcing Open Door of Vehicle and Making Way out of Six Feet of Water
Willard Grant Silver, 33, of El Dorado, lost his life and his companion, Floye Lee Eastham, 21, narrowly escaped death by drowning late last night when their motor car went out of control after a collision on Highway 54 and plunged into the Walnut River.

The tragedy, which occurred just outside the city limits on East Central Avenue, was the first fatal traffic accident in Butler County in 97 days.

Sheriff Tom Turner and Harry Weber, acting chief of police, said the car occupied by Silvers and Eastham left the highway and landed upside down in the river following a crash with a car which was being pushed across the road on the curve just west of the Santa Fe overpass.

They said that Eastham accompanied by Silver, was driving east in a 1934 Chevrolet tudor sedan owned by Eastham's father W. E. Eastham of Route 2, El Dorado.

Crash Occurs at Curve

As they rounded the curve, their car struck the left rear end of a 1939 Buick sedan which was being pushed to the south and east across the highway by Jack McMillan 228 Jones. This latter car according to the investigating officers is owned by Howard Cook 120 Woodland and had developed a flat tire.

Cook had turned the car into the east driveway of Aikens filling station on the north side of the highway. The station was closed and Cook left McMillan with the car while he started walking to his home to telephone for assistance. Shortly after Cook left, McMillan decided to push the car across the road and into the lot of the State Highway Department's district shop. McMillan's written statement to police follows:

"I was pushing the car out of the driveway at Aikens filling station on East Central when this other car came around the curve from the west. They did not see the car I was pushing until too late to keep from hitting it."

Misses Abutment

Smashing into the left rear of the stalled machine, the car occupied by Silver and Eastham then started careening to the left of the highway and appeared to be headed directly for the concrete abutment just west of the overpass.

Narrowly missing the abutment the car plunged from the road and on down into the river somersaulting over on to the top as it struck the water.

The car immediately sank to a depth sufficient to leave only part of one wheel sticking up above the surface.

Despite the face the machine was upside down, Eastham managed to grasp a door handle and struggled desperately against the force of the water pressure until he succeeded in pushing open the door.

It is not known whether Silver was knocked out during the car's plunge or whether he survived the crash only to be unable to free himself from the car after it sank to the bed of the river.

Brought Back to the City

Crawling from the water Eastham made his way back up to the highway and joined McMillan who meanwhile had pushed Cook's machine back into the driveway of Aikens Service Station. It was only then McMillen later informed officers that he had learned that the other car had plunged into the river.

Eastham and McMillen were picked up and brought to the police station by Clarence Smith of Fort Scott who was driving along the highway. Immediately after their arrival at police headquarters, Chief Weber notified Sheriff Turner and Undersheriff Tom West and dispatched to the scene a police car occupied by officers Barnes and Brown, wrecking equipment was secured to drag the submerged car from the water. Silvers body was found in the machine when it was taken out of the river.

Statement by Eastham

In a written report at police headquarters Eastham made this statement: I was driving east on Central when I hit a car coming backwards out of the filling station. Being on a curve, I did not see the other car in time to keep from hitting it. I lost control of my car and it went into the river.

Chief Weber said Eastham told him that he was unable to control the machine because its steering apparatus apparently had been damaged in the collision. Eastham thought for a moment Weber said that the car was going to hit the concrete abutment and relates that he shouted a warning to Silver to get set for the crash. The car, however, kept on careening to the left and plunged off the highway and into the river after barely missing the abutment.

Injury is Discovered

After Silver's body was recovered, a swollen place on the left side of his head was noted. It is the opinion of officers, however, that Silver died from drowning and not from any injuries received in the motor crash.

Dr. G. G. Whitley of Douglass, county coroner, was expected to arrive about noon today to make an investigation.

Silver's watch had stopped at 11:15 o'clock which is considered to fit the exact time of the fatal accident.

Silver had returned to El Dorado yesterday from Kansas City where it is reported he had made arrangements to go to work.

Aids in Car's Recovery

Heavy trucks with power winches, owned by A. L. Stover and Pete Ellis went to the scene of the accident at the request of officers and removed the Chevrolet car from the river's waters. Howard Cook waded out and fastened chains to the submerged vehicle and did an excellent job of it, Undersheriff Tom West says.

Spotlight Illuminates Scene

A new one man spot light recently secured by the sheriff's office helped to illuminate the scene and proved a valuable aid in this emergency.

In the initial collision which caused the subsequent fatality the left rear fender and bumper on the Buick sedan were extremely damaged. It is reported that the Eastham Chevrolet had been owned by the family for only four days.

Father of Five Children

A steam fitter by trade Mr. Silver was married and resided at 621 N. Star. He was the father of five children, Jerry 13, Larry 12, Don 11, Bobbie 7 and Barbara 9.

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Archie G. Silver and a brother of Bob Silver owner of the El Dorado Appliance Company.

Mr. Silver was born in El Dorado on December 11, 1913, and had lived here all of his life. He attended both the elementary and high school here. His wife is the former Margaret Louise Danner and they were married at Eureka, June 6, 1933.

Funeral services will be held at the Byrd Funeral Home, Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock, Dr. Oxie Pruett, Baptist Minister will be in charge. Burial will be in Sunset Lawns. (El Dorado Times, March 21, 1947)