Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Estep, Richard Lee 1943
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net December 31, 2009, 1:37 pm

Ionia Sentinel, 8 Nov 1943

Train Kills Muir Man at GT Crossing

Ionia county’s seventh motor fatality of 1943 took the life of 87-year-old
Richard Lee Estep, of Muir, for 60 years a veterinarian, at 3:54 p.m. Monday,
Ionia time, when his car was demolished by a speeding Grand Trunk Western
passenger train at the Hayes crossing in the village of Muir.

The well-known veterinarian, who is the father of Coral Estep, Muir postmaster
and former supervisor, was en route to the Muir postoffice to take his son home
when the crash occurred.

Trainmen said his car was struck squarely by the locomotive and it was rolled
end over end along the South right-of-way for 240 feet.  The body of Dr. Estep,
which was battered and broken, was hurled from the smashed car into the ditch
along the double railroad tracks.

Engine Damaged

Dr. Estep was driving south on the Hayes road when he entered the crossing.  The
fast moving passenger train was en route to Ionia and consisted of six passenger
coaches and baggage car besides the engine and tender.  The locomotive was
damaged.  Its pilot was broken off and steam connections under the engine
broken.  It pulled the train into Ionia at a slow rate of speed and another
locomotive for the run to Grand Rapids and Muskegon was hooked on here, after a
delay of two hours.

Engineer of the train was J. Gottlieb of Detroit and conductor was W. L.
Washburn of Muskegon.

The smashed car was viewed by scores of Muir residents who found bits of
automobiles and locomotives along the tracks, as well as pills and powders from
Dr. Estep’s veterinarian supply bag.  Crossing boards along the track were torn
up by the hanging steam pipes under the locomotive.

Native of Sebewa

Dr. Estep was born in Sebewa township August 10, 1856, and had lived on a farm
two and a half miles north of Muir for 60 years.  He had been living with his
son since the death of his wife in 1936.

Surviving is the son, Coral, of Muir.  One son died 13 years ago.  There are
three grandchildren.  He was a member of the Lyons Masons.

It was the third death at a Muir crossing in 10 years and the fifth in 20 years.

Coroner Harry Myers stated Tuesday following a conference with Prosecuting
Attorney Geer Smith that an inquest was ruled unwarranted.

Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock at the Muir
Presbyterian church.  Dr. Paul Stewart will officiate, and burial will be in
Muir cemetery.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/e/estep1972nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/

File size: 3.0 Kb