Oldham-Henry-Jefferson County KyArchives News.....Burns Kill Mother, 60, Daughter, 21 - Stove Blast Hurts 7-Year Old Louisville Boy. July 30 1957
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Roger Mattingly http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00010.html#0002292 June 2, 2004, 1:55 pm

The Louisville Courier-Journal, Tuesday, 7-30-1957.
BURNS KILL MOTHER, 60, DAUGHTER, 21 - STOVE BLAST HURTS 7-YEAR OLD LOUISVILLE 
BOY.
A 60 year old Skylight woman and her daughter were fatally burned early 
yesterday in an explosion and fire at their home on U. S. 42. A 7 year old 
Louisville boy, grandson of the elder woman, was seriously burned.

North Oldham Fire Department volunteers said a gas explosion from a kitchen 
stove took the lives of Mrs. Lula Kelly Flack and her daughter, Miss Doris 
Marie Flack, 21. The boy, Eugene Graybeal, son of Mrs. Jean Mattingly, 905 
Stanley, suffered severe burns over 45 percent of his body. He was spending 
the week with his grandmother.

Dies 7 Hours Later

Mrs. Flack died in Mallory Taylor Memorial Hospital, LaGrange, at 12:50 p.m. 
about 6 hours after the explosion and fire. Her daughter died there 2 hours 
later. The boy was admitted to Children's Hospital here, where his condition 
was listed as serious last night.

Oldham County Magistrate Harry Nelson said the explosion occurred at 6:30 a.m. 
when Mrs. Flack lighted a match to prepare breakfast on the bottle-gas stove. 
The blast "puffed out" the walls of the two room frame structure and set 
curtains, shades, and other flammable materials afire. The building did not 
catch fire.

Screaming In Doorway

Mrs. Flack's son, Lester Flack, who lives in a larger house about 30 yards 
nearer the highway, found his mother standing in a doorway screaming. Her 
clothes were ablaze. Flack beat out the fire and then ran inside the building 
and carried his sister outside. The boy ran out unaided. North Oldham 
Assistant Fire Chief George Carter said he found three burners on the gas 
stove in an "on" position when he entered. He said the burners may have been 
left on the night before.

No Defects Found

Deputy State Fire Marshall Frank Broadus said he could find no defects in the 
stove or pipes. He said he saw nothing else that could have caused an 
explosion. However, Broadus said, he would investigate further before listing 
a cause. 

Mrs. Flack was the widow of Grover C. Flack, Skylight service station operator 
who died in 1953. Besides her son and daughter, Mrs. Flack is survived by two 
other daughters, Mrs. Christine Gill, Crestwood, and Mrs. Margaret Freeman; 
two other sons, Carroll Flack, Crestwood, and Edward Flack; a sister, Mrs. 
Irene Tuggle, Glencoe, Ky., and 20 other grandchildren. 

The bodies are at Radcliffe Funeral Home, LaGrange. The funeral will be a 
joint service at 2 p.m. Thursday at Radcliffe Funeral Home, LaGrange. Burial 
will be in Valley of Rest Cemetery, LaGrange.

Additional Comments:
Mrs. Lula Kelley Flack's name was incorrectly spelled as: Mrs. Lula Kelly 
Flack in the article.

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