Ray L. Cerka (1900-1939)

CERKA, JACKSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/24/2021 at 13:53:06

From Nevada Evening Journal February 3, 1939 (page 1)

Tragic Death of a Former Story County Man

Ray Cerka, 37, former Colo man died in the General Hospital at San Pedro, California, Sunday evening, as a result of injuries sustained in a 200-foot fall down a steep cliff at point Fermin, where he had been with a picnic party, according to word reaching relatives and friends in Iowa.

Mr. Cerka who had lived in California for several years was a vice-president and in charge of the Auto Glass department of the Standard Glass and Mirror company of Los Angeles, with his home in Long Beach.

Mr. and Mrs. John Ellis and their son Ronald, who had gone to California from Nevada some time ago, had been living with Mr. Cerka in his Long Beach home and on Sunday they had gone to Point Fermin for a picnic. About the time they were to start home Mr. Cerka and the boy climbed the steep cliff and in some manner Mr. Cerka lost his footing and his body fell down the cliff to the beach below.

An ambulance was called and the injured man was hurried to a hospital at San Pedro but died shortly after arriving there.

Iowa relatives were advised of the fatal tragedy and a sister Mrs. Ruby Jackson, accompanied by her husband, Maynard Jackson of Rhodes left at once for California with the intention of returning the body to Colo for burial by the side of the parents who have long been dead. Besides the sister Mrs. Jackson, there is a brother Earl Cerka in Chicago and another brother John Cerka, who is located in Iowa. There is also a cousin in Los Angeles.

Word and particulars as to the fatal accident reached Nevada first through word received by Mr. and Mrs. I. O. Gibbs, from their daughter Mrs. Mildred Gibbs-Ellis who with her husband and son had been living in the Cerka home.

No definite word has been received here or at Colo regarding the probable arrival of the body in Colo and the time for the funeral and interment.