Beckham County, OK - Obits: Thomas Weldon Matthews, 1925
19 August 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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MATTHEWS, THOMAS WELDON
(10 Sep 1925, Sayre Journal, Sayre, Beckham Co, OK):
Weldon Matthews, 18 year old son of Rev. Matthews living nine miles south
of Sayre, was burned so severely at the Gurley Tailor Shop cleaning plant
on Thursday noon, following the ignition of his trousers caused, it is
believed by a spark from the gasoline engine, that he died Friday evening.
Weldon was a brother of Mrs. Henry Gurley and was employed in the Tailor
Shop with his brother-in-law.  He was a favorite boy among his companions
and enjoyed a host of friends in the city and community which he lived.
Near noon Thursday as the bustle of the down town district was preparing
for the noon day meal, the fire sirens sounded the alarm of the burning of
the Gurley Cleaning plant just north of the Herbert Hotel, on the arrival
of the fire department, the small cleaning house was completely enveloped
in flames, which spread quickly, being assisted with gasoline and other
combustants used in the cleaning plant.
Eye witnesses say young Matthews ran from the building aflame and
endeavored to roll in the dirt to put the flames which had caught his
clothing but it was to no avail, presently, however, the department
arrived and the chemical attachment was effectively used in extinguishing
the flaming clothing.  The clothing was near entirely burned from his body
and he was taken to the Gurley home, and medical attention was given.
According to the brief account young Matthews could give of the cause of
the igniting he believed his trouser leg caught from a spark from the
gasoline engine and being saturated with gasoline, the flames spread all
over his body immediately and caught the fumes inside the building.
Funeral services were held in Shamrock, Texas, at 3 o'clock Saturday,
September 5th, with Rev. Morgan of that place officiating.  Interment was
made in the Shamrock cemetery beside the grave of his mother.
Members of the family at the bedside of Weldon were his father, J. T.
Matthews, two sisters; Vera Gurley and Miss Buena; two brothers, Jerry and
Homer and his grandfather from Texas.
CARD OF THANKS
signed by
J. T. Matthews
Jerry Matthews
Buena Matthews,
Homer Matthews, and
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gurley.
(Census, 1920 Oklahoma, Beckham Co, Bettina Twp, ED 1, pg 6B, #103/107
(T625-1451):
James T. Matthews, age 46, widowed, b Ms; f/m b Ms; farmer;
Vera I., daughter, age 19, b Tx; fb Ms; mb Tn;
Jerry W., son, age 18, b Tx; fb Ms; mb Tn;
Ona B., daughter, age 16, b Tx; fb Ms; mb Tn;
Thomas W., son, age 13, b Tx; fb Ms; mb Tn;
Homer E., son, age 10, b Tx; fb Ms; mb Tn.)

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