Parker, Ray W. (1847-1931)

PARKER, DURGESS, SORENSON, LUND

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 4/26/2017 at 15:00:18

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Monday, January 19, 1931

AGED FARMER HANGS SELF

Ray W. Parker, 84, Commits Suicide on Stanhope Farm

IN ILL HEALTH

STANHOPE, Iowa, Jan. 19 - Ray W. Parker, 84, a widely known farmer living a half mile south of Stanhope, committed suicide yesterday morning by hanging himself in the hog house. The body was found shortly after 8 o'clock by his son, William.

Dr. E.W. Slater, of Jewell, county coroner, was called. It was so clearly a case of suicide, however, that no inquest was held.

Mr. Parker had not been in very good health for some time, due largely to his advancing years and this, members of the family believe, was the cause of his act.

The Parker family is widely known in the Stanhope community, having lived in that vicinity for more than 60 years.

Yesterday morning Mr. Parker left the house about 8 o'clock, presumably for the barn and a short time later his son, William, went out to do the chores. Entering the hog house, he found his father hanging from a rafter just inside the door. Hastily cutting him down, he summoned a neighbor, Roy Davis, a physician and Coroner Slater. Mr. Parker, however, was dead when taken down.

Mr. Parker is survived by his wife [Clara Durgess Parker], four sons and two daughters, William of Stanhope; Frank of Lake City; Ned of Elma and Fred whose whereabouts is unknown; Mrs. Albert Sorenson of Lamberta, Minn., and Mrs. Taylor Lund, of Laurens.

The Parker family has been prominent in the Stanhope community for many years and, while it was generally known that Mr. Parker's health was none too good, his suicide came as an unlooked for shock, both to the family and to all the community. No definite funeral arrangements have been made.

[burial Lawn Hill Cemetery, rural Stanhope]