ELEFSON, Mary Jo 1942-1949

ELEFSON, PEDERSON, PULLEN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 11/10/2011 at 21:46:59

#1:

Former Osage Folks
In Highway Accident;
Daughter Is Killed

Mary Jo, 6-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Elefson of Mt. Pleasant, was instantly killed about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in a head on automobile accident on Highway 65 near Rockwell. Mr. and Mrs. Elefson are both reported to be in serious condition in a Mason City hospital.

The Elefsons are former residents of Osage. Mr. Elefson was manager of the Home Savings & Loan Association here a number of years ago. He now operates a loan and finance company in Mount Pleasant.

Tuesday's accident, which occurred on a particularly icy patch of pavement, involved a truck belonging to the Rapid Thermogas Company, which was loaded with bottled gas, the Elefson car, and a large car driven by James E. Coonley of Hampton.

Elefson's Chevrolet, headed south, collided head on with the truck. It then spun around and collided with the Coonley Cadillac, which was following the Elefson car. The truck was driven by Don Browning of Clear Lake.

Mrs. Elefson and Mary Jo were both thrown clear of the wreck and were found under the truck. The little girl was dead. Mrs. Elefson is reported to have received internal injuries and Mr. Elefson is said to have seven fractured ribs and severe cuts and bruises.

Browning and Coonley received only minor injuries. Patrolman and officers were unable to explain the accident but blamed the collision of the icy condition of the road.

Mary Jo Elefson was born in Osage in July, 1942. She had one brother Richard.

[Mitchell County Press, January 27, 1949]

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#2:

Last Rites for
Mary Jo Elefson
To Be Friday

Funeral services for Mary Jo Elefson, 6, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Elefson of Mt. Pleasant, formerly of Osage, will be held Friday afternoon at two o'clock at Mt. Pleasant. The body will lie in state at the Patterson Funeral Home in Mason City from two to four o'clock Thursday.

Mary Jo was killed instantly January 25 in a head on automobile accident near Rockwell. Her parents are still in the Mercy Hospital in Mason City and last reports are that they show slight improvement. Both suffered serious injuries.

[Mitchell County Press, February 10, 1949]

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#3:

Funeral Held For
Mary Jo Elefson,
Accident Victim

The memorial service for Mary Jo Elefson was held at the Crane Funeral Home, Friday Afternoon, February 11, at 2:00 with Dr. George G. Hunt of the First Methodist Church the officiating minister. Burial was in Forest Home Cemetery.

Mary Jo the daughter of Ray and Josephine Pullen Elefson, was born July 7, 1943 at Osage, Iowa, and lost her life in a crushing automobile accident near Mason City, on the evening of January 25, 1949.

The April following her birth the family moved to Mt. Pleasant where Mr. Elefson became director of the Production Credit Association. With the exception of the time he was in the army during the war the family has lived continuously in Mt. Pleasant. While he was in the service, Mary Jo, her mother and brother, lived with Mrs. Elefson's sister and family, the Gerald Connells of McGregor.

Mary Jo is survived by her parents who are recovering from the accident in a Mason City Hospital and her brother, Richard, and eighth grade student in the Mt. Pleasant schools. Her paternal grandmother, Mrs. P. J. Pederson of Clear Lake, Iowa, also survives.

Mary Joe was a first grade pupil at Saunder's School.

[Mt. Pleasant News, Saturday, February 12, 1949]

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#4:

Local Girl Killed; Parents Injured

Tragedy Strikes
Ray Elefson Family
In Highway Accident

Mr. leasant was shocked Tuesday evening when word was received that tragedy had struck the Ray Elefson family in an accident near Mason City late in the afternoon.

Mary Jo, six year old daughter of the Elefsons, was killed outright, and Mr. and Mrs. Elefson were critically injured

Both were still unconscious Wednesday mroning at Mercy Hosptial, Mason City, according to a report from Mrs. Elefson's sister, Mrs. Connell of McGreggor, who had gone to Mason City to be with them. Mr. Elefson reportedly had regained consciousness at times after being taken to the hospital and gave the telephone number of John Devins, who were notified of the accident and with whom the Elefson's son, Dick, was staying while his parents were away.

Mrs. Elefson's injuries include a fractured skull and a badly mangled arm. A physician said he doubted if the arm could be saved.

Mr. Elefson suffered a badly crushed chest. All of his ribs were fractured.

They had gone to Mason City to attend the funeral of a friend and were on the way home some five miles south of Mason City, near Rockwell, about 6 o'clock, when their car became involved in an accident.

THREE MACHINES INVOLVED

Witnesses said, according to International News Service, that Elefson attempted to pass another car driven by James Coonley, a Hampton attorney, when a truck operated by Russell Browning, Clear Lake, came over a small rise in the highway.

The Elefson car swerved into the Coonley machine, witnesses said, and both autos skidded on the ice and collided with the truck.

Coonley was treated at a Rockwell hospital for cuts and bruises and released. Browning was not injured.

Mary Jo was in first grade at Saunders school. Mrs. Connell in her telephone conversation with H. V. Baker, friend and business associate of Mr. Elefson, Wednesday morning said that the body would not be moved from Mason City at present.

Mr. and Mrs. Elefson at one time had given up going to the funeral of their friend in Mason City because of the road conditions, but later decided to make the trip, according to friends. They discussed leaving Mary Jo here, but decided that she should go with them and Dick should remain here at the home of his friend, Phil Devin.

Mr. Elefson is a prominent business man in Mt. Pleasant. For several years, he was manager of the Mt. Pleasant Production Credit Association and a few months ago opened his own office over Lauger's store. He is secretary-treasurer of the local finance companies, writes insurance and deals in real estate.

The tragedy was widely discussed here Wednesday. The Elefsons many friends were saddened by Mary Jo's death and are anxious concerning the condition of Mr. and Mrs. Elefson. The news received many telephone inquiries during the day, the Elefson office was called frequently and many inquiries were made at the home of their close friends.

An offer was made to fly the son, Dick, to Mason City Wednesday, but it was stated at Mason City that he should not come there yet.

[Mt. Pleasant News, Wednesday, January 26, 1949]