Maurice Callahan

CALLAHAN, FISHER

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/5/2012 at 12:12:34

Callahan Boy Died Last Night

Had Been an Invalid for Almost Three Years
Following Wound

Maurice Callahan, twelve year old son of Mrs. Mayme Callahan, died at his home, 1134 39th street Des Moines, Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m., following a period of two years and eight months during which he was an invalid resulting from a bullet wound.

The death was not unexpected as during the last two weeks the little fellow had been showing a general decline and in recent days his condition was critical. The youth was wounded February 11, 1928 while he and his brother were playing with a revolver. It was not known that the gun was loaded.

The bullet struck the boy in the right side and travelled through body severing the spinal cord. He was confined to a hospital for a period of seventeen months and every effort was made towards recovery. Examinations by eminent physicians all results in the same statement that there was no cure for the condition which existed. It was considered remarkable that he lived as long as he had as the injury was such that it left him paralyzed below the spot where the cord was severed.

During his entire illness Maurice had been cheerful and happy with his confidence for recovery unshaken almost to the end. He was above the average in intelligence and through home work had advanced in schooling equal to boys attending school. At the beginning of the term this fall he entered a school in Des Moines for invalid children and was in the sixth grade. He had many friends in the city among the young folks who will be sorrowed by his death. Numerous adults who were his friends will also feel deeply in his passing.

Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m., at the Dunn Funeral Home in Des Moines in charge of the Rev. Earl V. Fisher, Presbyterian pastor of this city. Following the service the body will be brought to Perry for burial. Brief interment services will be held in Violet Hill cemetery at 4 p. m.

Maurice is survived by his mother, one brother and several uncles and aunts.

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