Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Olsen W. Penry, 1925
Tuesday, 16 Sep 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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PENRY, OLSEN W.
(12 Nov 1925, Thursday, Elk City News Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Olsen W. Penry, foreman of the News-Democrat, was the victim of a tragic
accident last Friday morning when the can from which he was pouring coal
oil into the stove exploded, resulting in burns from the effects of which
he died that evening about 5:45.
Mr. Penry was acting as foreman of the News-Democrat when it came under
the present management last February having held that position the greater
part of the time for the past ten years.
Last Friday morning he was the first man on the job and started to kindle
a fire in the heating stove.  The kindling being damp and the fire slow he
secured the coal oil can and as there was but a small quantity in the can,
unthinkingly poured it on the fire.  The can exploded with a loud report,
and literally covered his body with the burning oil.
Everything possible was done, but other than afford relief, nothing was of
avail and he passed away about 5:45 that evening.
Mr. Penry was born at Atoka, Okla., April 26th, 1885, attended school in
Oklahoma City and started to learn the printing trade when ten years of
age.  At the age of fourteen he was a splendid printer and was employed on
a daily paper in Oklahoma City.
He was first married to Miss Annie Riddle of Edmond, Oklahoma, who died
five years after the marriage.  On May 3rd, 1913 he was married to Miss
Nora Peavler of Alva, Oklahoma, and they were living happily together at
the time of his death.
When eighteen years of age he joined the Capitol Hill Baptist church in
Oklahoma City and was baptized by Dr. A. Finch.
For a time he published a newspaper at Groom, Texas, and it was in Groom
that he was made a Master Mason.
He leaves to mourn his passing his wife and step-daughter, Ritche Penry,
his mother, Mrs. M. L. Penry and sister, Mrs. J. W. Hawes of Dallas,
Texas, two other sisters and two brothers, one of these C. W. Penry of
Leedey, Oklahoma.
The funeral was a manifestation of the esteem in which he was held in the
community.  Rev. Mitchell of the First Baptist church conducted the
services, assisted by Rev. Gettys of the First Methodist Church and Rev.
Lemmex of the First Christian church.  The remains were escorted to the
church and again to the cemetery by the Masonic order, who conducted the
burial with the beautiful and impressive ritual of that Order.
Interment was made in Fairlawn cemetery near Elk City, Grubitz & Son,
having carried out all the arrangements.
Those from out of town who were here for the funeral were:  his mother,
Mrs. M. L. Penry and sister, Mrs. J. W. Hawes of Dallas, Texas; C. W.
Penry a brother and a nephew, Luther Penry and wife of Leedey; Geo.
Boomer, his brother-in-law, of Groom, Texas; also P. E. Johnson and Roy
Leeper, Masons and old friends also of Groom, Texas.  Mrs. Jack Daugherty
of Hornerville, Mo., a daughter of Mrs. Penry, with her husband arrived
too late for the funeral.

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