STRAIT, Merle Cecil: Died 1941

STRAIT, CARRUTHERS

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 11/13/2013 at 14:27:34

Milton Man Dies Following Fire He Helped To Fight

Merle Strait Is Victim Of Suffocation In Theatre Blaze.

Milton. - Merle Strait, young Milton business man, died at Laughlin hospital, Kirksville, Mo., Monday afternoon of suffocation.

Strait collapsed Monday morning after carrying feed out of a store house at the rear of the Town theatre during the fire which destroyed the two-story brick building between 4 a.m. and 5 o'clock.

His death occurred about 15 minutes after his arrival at the hospital where he was taken about 1:30 p.m.

Strait owned and operated a garage in Milton for the last several years. Most of his life was spent in the Keosauqua vicinity.

Survivors include his widow, the former Miss Eva Carruthers of Keosauqua; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Strait of Keosauqua, several brothers and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Strait of Milton.
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Merle Strait Rites Today
**Handwritten: Aug. 7 - 41

Garage Operator, Overcome at Theatre Fire, Leaves Wife, Parents, 6 Brothers

Funeral services for Merle Cecil Strait, who was overcome by smoke while fighting the fire which destroyed the Town theatre in Milton Monday morning and who died that afternoon in a Kirksville, Mo. hospital without regaining consciousness, will be held at 10:30 o'clock this morning in the Christian church at Milton, at 10:30 o'clock this morning to the Christian church at Milton.

In charge of the final rites will be the Rev. A.M. Hadley of Milton. Singers will be Mrs. Letha Atkins, Mrs. Tressa Price and Gay Morgan, with Mrs. Vera Carr as pianist.

The bearers will be O.H. Davis, Halsey Harbin, Walter Godown, Emmet Canfield, O.A. Younker and Robert McSwain. Burial will be at Sunnyside cemetery at Milton.

Mr. Strait who was 31 years old, was born near Douds. He spent much of his life in Keosauqua moving a few years ago to Milton, where he operated a garage.

Surviving are his wife, the former Miss Eva Carruthers of Keosauqua, who has been critically ill since Mr. Strait's death; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Strait of Keosauqua, and six brothers, Mern of Keosauqua; Keith and Donald of Cedar Rapids, Clair of Burlington, and Warren and Robert at home.
(Transcribed as published.)
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Many Attend Strait Funeral

Milton. - Out-of-town relatives attending the funeral of Merle Strait held at the Christian church here Thursday included Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Mize and Mrs. Bessie Holbert, Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Keith Strait, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Strait, Cedar Rapids; Clair Strait of Burlington, Mr. and Mrs. H.O. Davis and daughters, Moulton; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Davis, Mr. and Mrs. K.C. Carruthers, Ottumwa; Mr. and Mrs. George Farmer and George Parsons, Selma; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Carruthers, New Salem, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Victor Strait and Warren and Robert, Mr. and Mrs. Merne Strait and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Carruthers, Mrs. Elizabeth Craig, Mrs. Riss Brill and sons, Carl and Joe, Mr. and Mrs. Willard Carruthers and two daughters, Russell Carruthers, all of Keosauqua, and Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Carruthers of Troy.
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**Heading under photo: Milton Fire Takes Life - Life of volunteer fireman and the complete destruction of a two-story brick building were counted today in the cost of the Monday morning fire which destroyed the Town theatre of Milton, Merle Strait, one of the volunteer fireman who fought the blasé died of suffocating after being overcome by smoke. Picture shows all that remained of the theatre building after the flames had been extinguished.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 320, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA

Van Buren Obituaries maintained by Rich Lowe.
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