P.L. "Pete" Norris (d. 1939)

NORRIS, PETERS, BROWN

Posted By: Anonymous volunteer
Date: 1/23/2021 at 19:15:40

FARMER DIES AT HOSPITAL EARLY TODAY
Clothes Catch Fire While Fighting Blaze in Orchard East Of Town
P.L. "Pete" Norris, 72, prominent Mahaska county farmer, died at 3:30 a.m. today from serious burns received Monday afternoon while attempting to extinguish a grass fire at his home, two miles east of Oskaloosa.
Mr. Norris, who was brought to Mercy hospital in the Richmond ambulance at 3 p.m. Monday, was badly burned about the legs, waist and arms and his condition grew rapidly worse. His age and shock also contributed to his death.
Clothes Catch Fire.
Mr. Norris had started a fire in the orchard to clear away a patch for spring gardening. The fire got out of control and in attempting to stamp it out his clothing caught fire.
Mr. Norris made his way to the house where Mrs. Norris and passing truckers helped extinguish the flames, but the man was so badly burned he was taken immediately to the hospital. Other truckers and motorists helped extinguish the orchard fire.
In Excellent Health
Mr. Norris, who has operated a 127 acre farm, had been in excellent health for a man of his age. He is survived by his wife, three brothers, Alf D., J. Frank, and Lewis F., all of whom live within a radius of two miles in the deceased brother's neighborhood, and a sister, Mrs. Will Peters of Oskaloosa.
The funeral will be at Wilcox-Garland chapel on Thursday at 2 p.m., with Rev. J. Stewart Brown of the First Presbyterian church of Oskaloosa in charge. Burial will be in Forest cemetery.
Born at Leighton.
Mr. Norris was born in Leighton but moved to the home place now occupied by his brother, Alf D., three miles east of Oskaloosa in 1895. He moved from there to the present farm where he has lived for 31 years (unknown source; likely Oskaloosa Herald; dated March 22, 1939).