Roy Merle Blackburn

BLACKBURN, MORRISON, RITZ, LASLEY, CANADY, VANDERGRIFF

Posted By: LuRee Runnells (email)
Date: 4/17/2005 at 16:52:49

Selma Youth Killed In Accident Sat. [May 20, 1939]

3 Companions Seriously Injuried in Weekend Smash

Merle Blackburn, 18, of Selma died Saturday night [May 20, 1939] in the Ottumwa hospital from injuries received two hours before in an automobile accident on the Selma Eldon road at the edge of Selma. Three companions were injured two of them seriously.

The other occupants of the car, a sport model Ford with rumble seat, were Stanly Lasley, 19, driver of the car, Donald Canady, 24 and Alvin Vandergriff, 20 all of Selma. Lasley and Canady each have fractured skulls and severe lacerations about the face.

This accident breaks Van Buren County's 21-month record of no automobile fatalities. The boys are alleged to have started for Eldon about 7:45. A few minutes later the car turned over and over and came to a stop on the opposite side of the road. The bodies of Blackburn and Vandergriff who had ridden in the rumble seat were lying side by side in the foad thirty feet from the car. Canady and Lasley were twenty feet from the first two.

Blackburn was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Blackburn was graduated from the Selma High school in 1938. His teachers always found him to be a dependable student, interested in athletics, dramatics and other school activities. His love of music revealed much of his fine character in the home and among his many friends.

In his home life Merle was a loving and kind son and brother, having no bad habits, and always revealing a cheerful disposition. His entire life had been spent with his father on the farm near Selma. At an early age he began to accept responsibility in a partial partnership on the farm with his father and brother. All his loved ones knew him to be a fine young man of strong moral character which reflected the Christian atmosphere of the home in which he was reared.

To mourn his departure Merle leaves his parents; a brother Bruce; a sister, Helen; his fiancee, Miss Doris Ritz; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Blackburn; and his grandmother, Mrs. Emmett Morrison; a number of uncles, aunts and cousins and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held at the home in Selma at 12:30 p.m. Monday in charge of Rev. Jay N. Waterman of Birmingham, a former pastor at Selma, and then the body was taken to Center Chapel church, where Rev. Waterman, Rev. Hugo Orf and Rev. Benj. Hollis conducted the services.

Burial was in the Center Chapel cemetery.

I am related; posting this obituary for those who might have an interest.