Four Die In Two Wrecks In Ozarks

Sleeper Woman Is Reported Critical From Injuries

Four persons were killed in two automobile accidents on Missouri highways yesterday, and a Sleeper woman, Mrs. Ada Mae Wilson, 38, was critically injured.  Ther latter’s two daughter’s suffered lesser injuries. 

Dead are Paul W. Stephenson, 44 of Seneca; Barney Martin Hardy, 64, and Mrs. Hazel Hardy, 53, both of Joplin; and Mrs. Mary Drake, 62, of Niles, Michigan.

Stephenson and the Hardys died  in an accident which occurred near Seneca at 11:55 a.m. Tuesday, about one mile south  of Newton County Route BB.  Their bodies were taken to funeral homes in their home towns.

Troopers said a car driven by Stephenson apparently crossed the center line on Missouri 43 and crashed into the Hardy automobile.

Mrs. Drake was fatally injured in a two-car crash about 1 p.m. on U.S. 66 about 12 ½ miles east of Springfield. Her daughter, Mrs. Wilson, and two granddaughters, all of Sleeper, were injured.

Struck by Station Wagon

Troopers said a station wagon driven by Michael Clifford Meadows, 18, of Fairborn, Ohio, struck from the rear a pickup truck apparently driven by Mrs. Wilson. Authorities said an investigation will be made to determine the cause of the crash.  Mrs. Drake was taken to Burge-Protestant hospital in Springfield, where she succumbed to her injuries about two hours later.

She was a former Laclede County resident, residing in this area until about 12 years ago.  She had been visiting in the home of her daughter and with other relatives in this area.  Her husband, Clarence Drake, is a brother of Glen Drake of Lebanon.

Daughters “Sastifactory”

Mrs. Wilson suffered a head injury, fractured collarbone and broken ribs. She was also taken to Burge where her condition is still reported as critical.

Her daughter, Donna Wilson, 15,  and Elizabeth Rose Wilson, 2, were taken to the same hospital, where their conditions are reported as satisfactory. Donna suffered from lacerations and a head injury.  The second child was admitted for treatment of shock.

Funeral Rites Thursday

Funeral services for Mrs. Drake will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Christian Church in Stoutland, under the direction of the Colonial Funeral Chapel. The body will be taken to Niles, Michigan for a second service and burial.

Survivors include her husband Clarence, of Niles, Michigan; two sons, Albert and Arthur, both of Spokane Washington; three daughters, Mrs. Ada May Wilson, Sleeper, Alice Bethurem, Stoutland, and Mrs. Katherine Wogatzke, of Niles, Michigan; one brother, Otis Westerfield of Great Bend, Kansas; five sisters, Mrs. Guy Mitchell, Mrs. Leslie Jones, Mrs. Minnie Burdue, Mrs. Grace Williams and Mrs. Charles Buck, all of Niles. She also leaves 23 grandchildren.

Transcribed by: Carrie Tuck {cvt1977@yahoo.com}