DAVIS, Paul 1905-1957

DAVIS, MORRISON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/14/2016 at 16:56:07

Paul Davis Killed Sunday Morning In Car Crash

Accident Two Miles East of Grundy Center; Two Others With Him in the Car

Paul Davis from Grundy Center was killed instantly about three o'clock Sunday morning when his car went out of control on a turn in the paving on Primary 58, two miles east of Grundy Center. His car, a 1949 Hudson, jumped into a ditch on the highway and broke a pole for the Iowa Light & Power Company. After the car severed the pole, it kept going forward and had speed enough left to leap across a 12-foot ditch before it stopped. The distance from where the car left the paving and where it stopped was about a block and a half. Davis was thrown out of the car. His body lay about 20 feet back of the car. He died almost instantly. His chest was crushed against the steering wheel. It is believed that he was dead when the body was tossed out of the car.

Iowa Falls Girl Injured
With Davis in his car were Bonnie Haan, 28 years old, from Iowa Falls. The third person in the car was Gene Barrow, manager of the Hemp Mill Cafe. The girl was riding in the middle between the two men. She seemed to be badly hurt and she was taken to the Grundy hospital. She suffered severe cuts and body bruises. She was examined at the hospital by Dr. Rose and it was found she received no broken bones. She was released from the hospital late Sunday and she returned to her home. Gene Barrow escaped with only a few scratches and some bruises. He was taken to the hospital for a check-up, but was released shortly after.

The three people had been at the Hemp Mill Cafe. Barrow the manager, and the other two were attending the usual Saturday night party at the Cafe and they decided after the Hemp Mill Cafe closed to drive to the Skyway Cafe near Reinbeck.

County Coroner Harold Engelkes, Sheriff John Meyer and Deputy Lester Craven were called to check up on the accident. The coroner decided death came accidentally as a result of the car crash and no inquest was regarded as necessary. The body was brought to the Engelkes Funeral Home. Officers believed the car was going at an excessive speed when it failed to make the wide turn on the pavement. The car is considered a complete loss.

Funeral Services Wednesday
Funeral services for Paul Davis were at the Engelkes Funeral Home Wednesday afternoon. Rev. Basye, pastor of the Methodist church, conducted the service.

Burial was in the Grundy Center cemetery.

Lived in County All His Life
Paul Davis resided in Grundy county all of his life. He was 51 years old last November. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Emery Davis and was born on the Davis farm in Lincoln township November 12, 1905. He attended school in Grundy Center, and the past 12 years was employed by the John Deere Co., Waterloo. He and Maida Morrison were married at Manchester, July 28, 1939. They had two children, Robert Paul, 13, and Betty Lee, 15. Paul and his wife were divorced a number of months ago.

Paul's father died three years ago and his mother, with whom he had been making his home, died on January 10 of this year.

Other surviving members of his family, aside from the former wife and the two children, are one sister, Mrs. Louis Reynolds, Waterloo; two brothers, Edwin Davis, Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Lee, Manhattan Beach, Calif. Ruth and Almeda Davis, Grundy Center, are his aunts.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 30 May 1957, pg 1, 6