Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Robert L. Burke, 1923
26 Oct 2007
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell) 

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BURKE, ROBERT L.
(25 Jan 1923, Thursday, Elk City News Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
FROM FOSS ENTERPRISE.  Robert Burk (sic) Killed.
Robert L. Burk (sic) was instantly killed at 12:30 o'clock yesterday
afternoon by a falling tree.  His neck was broken and his skull crushed. 
The accident occured (sic) about 9 miles southeast of Foss.  With the
unfortunate man at the time were his brother-in-law, Dick Read and
Clarence Browning.  The body was taken to the Burk home, 2 miles from the
scene of the accident, and 7 miles southeast of Foss.  Funeral
arrangements have not been made.
Burk and Read were working in the timber and had sawed a tree down.  They
were standing aside, out of range of the falling tree, and were watching a
squirrel climb in a nearby tree.  The falling tree crashed into another
tree, and a large limb from the second tree hit Burk on the head with
great force.  He never breathed after being struck, in the opinion of
Read.
The deceased was about 24 years old and had spent most of his life in
Washita county.  He returned here about six months ago from the Rio Grande
valley of Texas, where he resided a short time.  A few years ago he filed
on land in Colorado.
He was married about five years ago to Miss Bertha Browning, who, with two
daughters and a son, survive him.  He is survived also by his parents, who
are said to be in Texas.  For many years they resided in the Boggy
community.
The untimely death of her husband was a great shock to Mrs. Burk, who is
recovering, at her home from an operation performed at the Clinton
hospital three weeks ago.