Mildred Pauline (Leeper) Taylor (1943)

LEEPER, TAYLOR

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson
Date: 9/29/2004 at 10:38:52

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, August 11, 1943

Mrs. DeVere Taylor of DeKalb, Ill., a former Earlham resident, and little Sylvia Mae Simmons, daughter of a former Winterset girl, were killed at DeKalb last Friday when struck by a train as they were crossing the tracks.

Mrs. Taylor and the little girl, who was 7 years old, and the latter's mother, had been down town shopping and had started home. An eye-witness to the tragedy said that they waited for an east bound train to pass, and as soon as it went by they started across the tracks, directly in the path of a west bound train. The left cylinder of the engine struck Mrs. Taylor and Sylvia Mae, hurling Mrs. Taylor 40 feet and the little girl 50 feet. The woman was instantly killed, and the child died before she could be taken to a hospital. Mrs. Simmons was not hit.

Sylvia Mae was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Simmons. Mrs. Simmons was the former Emma Johnson of Winterset. The little girl is a granddaughter of Emil Johnson of Winterset.

Mrs. Taylor, who was 27 years of age, leaves her husband and two small children, LaNell, aged 8, and LaVerne, aged 15 months. She was the former Mildred Pauline Leeper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Leeper, and was born Jan. 15, 1916, near Earlham. As a girl she joined the Early Chapel church.

She was married to DeVere W. Taylor on July 29, 1933. Nine years ago they moved to DeKalb, where they had since made their home.

In addition to her husband and children, she leaves her parents; three brothers, Harold Leeper of Des Moines, and Richard and Russell Leeper of Earlham; and two sisters, Irene and Ruby Leeper.

Funeral services were held Tuesday from the Early Chapel church in charge of the Revs. Marguerite and Clayton Shepard. Burial was made in the Penn Center cemetery.
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Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
Thursday, August 12, 1943

Tragic Accident Takes Life of Mildred Taylor

A shopping trip to DeKalb, Illinois, was tragically ended by the death of Mrs. DeVere W. Taylor and Sylvia Mae Simmons, eight year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Simmons, residents between Creston and Rochelle. The accident occurred while the two were crossing the railroad tracks in DeKalb.

Mrs. Simmons and her three children had driven to the Taylor home Friday morning enroute to DeKalb on shopping errands. Mrs. Taylor and her two children, LaNell, age 8 and LaVerne, age 15 months joined the group and spent a portion of the morning shopping. Then they returned to the Taylor home for lunch. In the afternoon they returned to DeKalb. They parked the car on South Second Street while Mrs. Taylor and Sylvia Mae started across the railroad tracks to a store. As they reached the crossing they were forced to stop as an east bound train came through, and stood watching the train as it cleared the crossing.

Their attention was apparently riveted on the departing train on the north track and they started across the south track unaware of the approaching train. Mrs. Taylor was the first to realize their danger and tried desperately to jerk the little girl from the rails. It appeared that the left cylinder of the engine struck the two throwing Mrs. Taylor about 40 feet to the west and a little south of the track and Sylvia Mae was tossed about 30 fee in the same direction.

Help was immediately summoned and Mrs. Taylor was found to have been killed almost instantly. Little Sylvia was alive when the ambulance arrived but passed away before she could be taken out of the vehicle at the hospital.

Mrs. DeVere Taylor was the former Mildred Leeper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Leeper of Earlham. Mrs. Taylor will be buried at the Penn Center cemetery.---DeKalb Daily Chronicle.

OBITUARY

Mildred Pauline Leeper, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Leeper was born January 15, 1916 near Earlham, Iowa and was taken from us August 6th, 1943, at the age of 27 years, six months and 22 days.

Mildred grew to young womanhood in the Earlham community. She gave her heart to Christ as a girl and became a member of the Early Chapel Church of Christ.

On July 29th, 1933 she was united in marriage to DeVere W. Taylor and to this union two children were born, Lanell, now age eight and LaVerne, now age 15 months.

Nine years ago the family moved to DeKalb, Illinois, making their home there since that time.

Besides her faithful husband and children she leaves to mourn her loss, her parents, three brothers, Harold of Des Moines, Richard and Russell of Earlham, two sisters, Irene and Ruby of Earlham. One sister, Evelyn, preceded her in death in 1928 at the age of 14 years. She also leaves many other relatives and a host of good friends.

Mildred was a loving mother and wife, always looking after welfare of others before thinking of herself. She was a good neighbor and kind friend.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Early Chapel church, conducted by Rev. Marguerite and Clayton Shepard, in charge of Welch Funeral service.

Interment was at Penn Center cemetery.

Gravesite
 

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