CRASH TAKES TWO LIVES ON HIGHWAY HERE Tilden and Oscar Keeler Laid to Rest at Georgetown Two caskets were lowered side by side to their final resting places in the Georgetown Cemetery Thursday afternoon as the melancholy finish of a Christmas eve tragedy that claimed the lives of Tilden Keeler, 58, Preston Bend farmer; and his 14-year-old son, Oscar, w hen their wagon was dashed into splinters by an automobile on Highway No. 91 while they were en route to a Christmas tree party at the Preston Bend Baptist Church. The accident occurred about 6:30 p.m. Sylvester Shives, 1330 West Chestnut street, suffered a severe gash on h is head when his automobile plowed through the farm wagon. S.H. Whitley, Preston Bend farmer who was riding on the wagon with Mr. Keeler and his son, escaped without serious injury when he was hurled several feet out on the right of way by the impact. The loss of a wagon wheel a few minutes before the tragedy probably saved the lives of Mrs. Keeler, Mrs. Whitley and Wanda Spruill, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs.Keeler, who had walked ahead to the church a short distance away while the men repaired the wagon to follow them later. The entire party had left the Keeler home 2 and one-half miles northwest of Preston Bend for the Christmas party as passengers in the ill-fated vehicle. Crash at Crossroads Within a few yards of the church, the wagon was traveling east along a lateral road and the automobile was moving south on the highway. The crash occurred with such force that the 2 victims were hurled amid fragments of the wagon to instant death about 75 feet beyond the intersection. His body badly broken by the explosive impact, the youth was picked up from the middle of the highway and the lifeless form of the father was lying on the east edge of the concrete slab. The badly battered automobile came to a stop along with the entangled wreckage of the wagon chassis on the west side of the highway. James Shaw of Denison was the first person to reach the tragic scene, and summoned Short-Murray's ambulance from Denison by telephoning from Jackson's store at Preston Bend. Still dazed from the injury suffered when his head was thrust through the windshield and then the top of the car, Mr. Shives himself was the first to notify Deputy Sheriffs Bart Shipp and Wesley Barnhill of the accident. Describes Tragedy Mr. Whitley explained that the two men and boy were continuing to the church after remounting the wagon wheel and that he was riding in the rear watching the wheel to signal Mr. Wheeler should it come off again. Upon seeing the lights of the approaching car as the wagon started across the highway, Mr. Whitley warned Mr. Keeler: "I don't think you are going to be able to make it." The crash followed instantly. Mr. Whitley said his being hurled from the splintered wagon was like being catapulted from a springboard. The team escaped injury as the wagon was swept from behind them and were found grazing a short distance away. The old automobile chassis used in improvising the wagon was left om twisted debris 75 feet down the highway, with one wheel being hurled at least 150 feet from the point of collision. Fragments ripped from the front of the automobile also were mingled with the splinters of wood scattered about the death scene. Believed Unavoidable After a preliminary investigation of the accident. Officers Shipp and Barnhill said they believed the tragedy to have been unavoidable. Mr. Shipp indicated that a court investigation may be held to officially dispose of the matter. The elder Mr. Keeler was born in Williamson county, Texas, January 23, 1877, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Keeler, and was married in Williamson county to Miss May Preece, May 4, 1898. Mr. Keeler came to Grayson county in 1918 from Mills County, Texas and lived in the Georgetown community 9 years before moving to West Texas and later to Oklahoma. After 7 years away from Grayson county, he and his family returned to the Preston Bend district 2 years ago. Oscar Keeler was born at Preston Bend 14 years ago, and was a student in the Preston Bend school. The youth assisted his father in operation of the farm. Surviving the victims are the widow and mother, Mrs. May Keeler; 3 daughters and sisters, Mrs. Besse Clements and Miss Willie Keeler of Preston Bend; and Mrs. Myrtle Travis of Pottsboro; 3 sons and brothers, Sam Keeler of Pottsboro; and Bill and Joe Keeler of Gracemont, Oklahoma; Mr. Keeler's mother-in-law, Mrs. Fannie Preece of Leander, Texas; and the granddaughter of Mr. Keeler, Wanda Spruill. Double funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Georgetown Cemetery with Rev. S.M. Black, pastor of Waples Memorial Methodist Church officiating. Short-Murray, funeral directors, were in charge.  Georgetown Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |
