Norman Merrill Jones (1924-1944)

JONES, KNIGHT, PLETCHER

Posted By: Eileen Reed
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:58

Norman Jones, third son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Jones, met with an accident that resulted in his death Monday just before noon. Norman was employed on the Eldon Pletcher farm. He was hauling corn in from the field in a tractor drawn wagon and it is surmised that he suffered a fainting spell and fell off the tractor, causing injuries that resulted in his death.

Arnold Michaelson, coming along the field road, discovered the body. He immediately called Mr. Pletcher from the crib where he was elevating corn. They called the doctor and coroner who found 2 broken vertebrae at the base of his neck and cuts and bruises on his face and shoulders. No definite knowledge of the accident could be obtained as Norman was alone at the time.

He had been suffering from stomach ulcers and it is believed he had an attack of pain while driving the tractor. He had been at the Pletcher house about 10 o'clock and complained then of not feeling well.

Norman Jones graduated from Goldfield high school in 1942, and since his graduation had been employed at various jobs around Goldfield. He had only been at the Pletcher farm for about a week.

His untimely death comes as a shock to relatives and friends.

The funeral was held at the Kastler Funeral home in Eagle Grove at 2:30 o'clock. Burial was made in the Glenwood cemetery. The obituary will be published in next week’s issue.

The Goldfield Gazette --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, November 9, 1944
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Norman Jones, 20, son of Walter Jones of Goldfield, in the Evergreen neighborhood, was killed Monday morning while hauling corn from the field to the crib on the Eldon Pletcher farm three miles south of Eagle Grove.

His body was discovered by Herman Mickelson, son of Michael Mickelson of Eagle Grove, who was running the corn picker on the Pletcher place. Mickelson was employed by John Stith, owner of the corn picker.

Young Jones had just hooked on to a load of com with the Pletcher tractor, and left an empty wagon for Mickelson, to start for the house about 11:20. Mickelson finished filling his load and was hauling the load behind the picker to the crib when he discovered the body near the lane through the field.

Mr. Pletcher, who was waiting at the crib to operate the elevator was notified and he called Dr. George Martin who called Coroner H. P. Walker. The coroner's verdict was accidental death resulting from a broken neck and a skull fracture. Dr. Walker's deduction was that Jones had been thrown from the seat of the tractor, landing on his head. There were no marks on his body to indicate that the wagon or tractor had run over him as was first supposed. He had only a few slight cuts on his face probably caused when his glasses were broken. One lens of the glasses was found near the body but the other lens and frames were not found.

Jones had been working on the Pletcher place for the past week helping with the hemp and just lately hauling corn from the field to the crib. He was a cousin of Mrs. Pletcher.

The run-away tractor that Jones was using to haul the corn made a turn west through the field finally swinging south where it plowed through the pasture fence coming to a stop with one of the rear wheels hooked onto a tree. Neither the tractor nor the load of corn tipped over and the only damage to the tractor was a warped wheel.

Jones body was taken to the Kastler funeral home. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the Kastler Funeral Home. Rev. Harry N. Throckmorton had charge of the services. Burial was in Glenwood cemetery, Goldfield.

The Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, November 9, 1944
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Norman Merrill Jones was born in Liberty township near Goldfield, April 9, 1924, and died Nov. 6, 1944, at the age of 20 years, 6 months and 28 days.

He attended elementary school at Elmwood in Eagle Grove township. He finished his schooling in Goldfield high school, graduating with the class of 1942. Since that time, he has been doing farm work in this vicinity.

Norman was a boy of pleasing personality and because of this happy disposition was very well like by those who knew him.

In his untimely passing he leaves to mourn his death, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Jones, three brothers and a sister, Francis of Goldfield, Cpl. Sylvus of Pyote, Texas, and Raynard and Letha at home, and his fiancee, Miss Ione Knight, who will mourn his passing.

One sister, Kathryn, preceded him in death.

The Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
November 16, 1944
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Following is the obituary read at the funeral service for Norman Jones, last Wednesday:

Norman Jones was born in Liberty township, near Goldfield, April 9, 1924 and died November 6, 1944, at the age of 20 years, 6 months, 28 days.

He attended elementary school at Elmwood in Eagle Grove township, and finished his schooling at Goldfield high school, graduating with the class of 1942. Since that time, he has been doing farm work in this vicinity.

Norman was a boy of pleasing personality and because of his happy disposition was very well liked by those who knew him.

In his untimely passing, he leaves to mourn his death, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Jones, three brothers and a sister. They are Francis of Goldfield, Cpl. Sylvus of Pyote, Texas, and Raymond [Raynard] and Letha who live at home. One sister, Kathryn preceeded him in death. Others who will mourn his passing are Miss lone Knight, his fiancee, and many relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held last Wednesday at the Kastler funeral home in Eagle Grove. Harry N. Throckmorton was in charge of the service, Leonard Madison the soloist, accompanied by Mrs. Glen Braden. Pallbearers were Kenneth Axon, Bill Olson, Jerry Anderson, Merle Harvey, James Gangstead and Kenneth Hanson.

The Goldfield Gazette --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, November 16, 1944