McKinley, Phyllis 1901-1931

MCKINLEY, PENFIELD

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/25/2010 at 11:20:41

The Brooklyn Chronicle (Brooklyn, Iowa) Sept. 17, 1931

GRINNELL GIRL DRINKS POISON

Phyllis McKinley, Known Here As Professional Nurse, Commits Suicide

Phyllis McKinley, graduate nurse at the Community hospital in Grinnell and well known in Brooklyn on account of numerous professional trips here, committed suicide Saturday morning at about 10 o'clock by drinking two ounces of carbolic acid. Miss McKinley had bought the poison the day previous at a Grinnell drug store, according to relatives.

Mrs. Penfield reported that when she left the home about 7:30 Saturday morning Phyllis was up and seemed cheerful and well as usual. On her return shortly before noon she found the house in order but no lunch prepared. She called Phyllis and receiving no reply went to her room on the second floor and there found her lying on her bed cold in death. She was neatly dressed, her hair carefully arranged and evidently died without a struggle.

Phyllis was born in Grinnell Dec. 2, 1901, graduated from Grinnell high school in 1920 and took up nurse's training at the Community hospital where she completed her course in three years. She was employed there for a time and since has worked whenever opportunity offered. It is thought by her mother and aunt that inability to find employment and enforced idleness brought about the despondency and mental condition which caused her to take her life.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from Snyder Bros. chapel conducted by Rev. Robert Inglis of the Grinnell Congregational church.