Obit of Florilla Ann Barker (b626) - Alfalfa County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Richard Ross 29 Nov 2002 Return to Alfalfa County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/alfalfa/alfalfa.html ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ==================================================================== Surnames: Barker, Ross Mrs. B. F. Barker Dies From Burns Received Oil Fumes Exploded Setting Fire to Her Clothing On Monday morning of this week, while attempting to start a fire in the cook stove at their home, Mrs. B. F. Barker met with a distressing accident which cost her life within a few hours. She had undertaken to pour coal oil from a can into the cook stove with which to start the fire, but while in the act, flames ignited the fumes and caused an explosion which cast the contents of the oil can over her almost completely immersing her with the fluid, and her clothing were burn from her body almost completely. It is believed that she thought the fire of the evening prior had entirely died, but that in all probability had not, and when the oil was poured onto what was supposed to be a few ashes were in reality smothered coals, thus causing gas to form. The flames followed the oil to the can in her hands and it was bursted, throwing the oil over her entire person, saturating her clothing. Mr. Barker hurried to the rescue and with his bare hands fought the fire to prevent it from burning but with little success, as when the fire was finally extinguished the clothing were almost totally destroyed and her body burned horribly. In his effort to rescue his wife, Mr. Barker also suffered severe burns about his arms, body and head, his hair being almost completely singed from the scalp. The ambulance was called and they were both taken to the Masonic hospital, where Mrs. Barker died about noon of Monday. Mr. Barker is in a critical condition, but it is now believed he will recover. The fire alarm was given and the apparatus responded, but the flames were prevented from destroying the house before it arrived. The tragedy occurring at a very early hour, many of the closest neighbors failed to discover the distressing situation for several hours after it occurred. This is indeed a very distressing incident. Just the day prior, most all their children had gathered at their home in honor of their father's 67th birthday, which fell upon the following day, the day on which the tragedy occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Barker were among the oldest residents of Cherokee, having moved here the summer the townsite was opened and have continuously resided here since. They have seen the city grow from its infancy and have been identified with that growth as enterprising citizens. Mrs. Barker was widely known as the only woman in the city of that group who in her girlhood days learned to weave carpets, as many of our mothers did, and she did more or less weaving even in her latter years. The funeral of Mrs. Barker was held at the Baptist church on Wednesday, October 31, with Rev. Spencer officiating, and interment made in the local M. W. A. cemetery. She had past her 70th year, and was in excellent health when the tragedy occurred. The sympathy of our entire citizenship goes out in condolence for the bereaved husband, and family in the deplorable incident. Card of Thanks We wish to express our heartfelt thank to each and everyone who so kindly assisted us in our distress and during the accident which so ruthlessly deprived of our beloved wife and mother, Mrs. Florilla Barker. B. F. Barker and Family -------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Alfalfa County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/alfalfa/alfalfa.html