Raymond LaRue (1910-1943)

LARUE, HARTLEY, LILLY, ARBOGAST, WHEATLEY, MORGAN, MCFARLAND, GROOMS

Posted By: John Davis (email)
Date: 12/24/2019 at 21:29:08

Obit posted in Ottumwa Courier May 31, 1943
Father Of 5 Dies In Coal Mine
Raymond LaRue, 33, father of five children, was killed Monday afternoon by black damp which he encountered in the Hartley & Christianson coal mine a mile and a quarter south of Munterville. His home is on Blacksburg route 2, and he was an employee of John Morrell & Co. in Ottumwa. A rescue was attempted by Clyde Hartley and Hans Christianson, mine owners, but they were forced to abandon their efforts when they themselves were nearly overcome by the damp. County coroner Gordon Traul said he plans an inquest either tonight of Wednesday. The victim had gone to the mine to see Hartley, his brother-in-law. Apparently supposing that the man was working inside the slope mine, he walked in less than 50 feet when he was attacked by the damp. Shortly thereafter Hartley and Christianson, fixing a motor near the entrance, sighted LaRue and Hartley when into help. Having moved the man about 25 feet, Hartley was overcome, and Christianson had to carry Hartley outside and revive him. Christianson also suffered some effects from the gas. The men then summoned Ottumwa firemen who later entered the mine with gas masks and removed the body.
LaRue was the son of Fred and May LaRue and was born at Seymour March 20, 1910. He had resided in Ottumwa for 18 years prior to his moving to a farm 11 miles west of this city last March. Besides his parents, who live on Blacksburg route 2, he is survived by his wife Margaret; five children, Raymond, Vanita, Opal, Donna and
Fred at home; his grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Lilly, Des Moines; three brothers, Fred LaRue Jr. Pueblo, Colorado, John LaRue, Ottumwa, and Charles LaRue in the Navy at Jacksonville, Florida and five sisters, Mrs. Fannie Arbogast, Numa, Mrs. Elizabeth Wheatley, Sault St. Marie, Michigan, Mrs. Cecil Morgan, Mrs. Lanora McFarland and Mrs. Ethel Grooms all of Ottumwa. The body was removed to the Johnson funeral chapel awaiting completion of arrangements.
LaRue Burial
While funeral services for Raymond LaRue were held this afternoon at the Johnson funeral chapel, burial will be made at 4 p.m. Friday in Shaul cemetery.
Funeral services for Raymond LaRue, 33, Blacksburg route 2, who died Monday of black damp in a coal mine south of Munterville, will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Johnson funeral chapel conducted by the Rev. L.E. Welshons of the First Church of the Open Bible. Burial will be in Shaul cemetery. Pallbearers will be George Ford, Harold Miller, Bert Van Tassel, Delphin Taylor, Wendelt Reynolds and Tom Rupe. Coroner Gordon Traul said an inquest will be held into the death at 9 o’clock tonight at the Johnson chapel.