Home Page
NWOGS
Member Application
Cemetery Burials
Cedardale
Curtis
Dunlap
Elm Grove
Elmwood A-F
Elmwood G - L
Elmwood M - R
Elmwood S - Z
Elmwood Ledger 1
Fairlawn
Ft Supply Hospital
Gnadenfeld
Haskew
Highland
McCoy
Miller
Mooreland
Moscow
Nixon
N. Persimmon
Old Ft Supply
Persimmon
Prairie View
Private/Unknown
Quinlan
Red Top
Richmond
Saint Joseph
S. Persimmon
Tangier
Union (Brown)
Vonton
Western State
Churches
History
History & Progress
Sand & Sage
History of Woodward
Condolidate Couties
OK Genealogy Database
Funeral Homes
Obits
Bios
Military
Tornado Intro
Virtual Cemetery
|
|
How many peopled died in the 1947 tornado in Woodward? Seems like an easy question to answer, but it's not! One list, with 102 names, is one compiled by the "Woodward News" at the time of the 50th anniversary of the storn.
This differs slightly from the list compiled in 1986/87 at the time of the Woodward Centennial. Inscribed in stone at the giant "W" in Centennial Park it shows only 101 names. The Centennial list does not include Ray Bell, Catherine Fithian, Kay Holcomb, or Lester Ray Kirkhart, but does include both Carl Cunningham, Sr., Muriel Lafon, and Charles Morgan the the News did not list. (Ray Bell, Roy Doughtey and Ray Dean Daugherty-Bell seem a real good possibility to be the same person).
Other variations are in spelling...and on our lists Mary Eliza Kezer will be listed as just that, her acutal name, not her nickname. It you can shed any light about names which should or should not appear on the lists of tornado victims in Woodward County, PLEASE let us know. Also, if you can furnish us with a photo of anyone on the list of those killed, we would love to have that as well. So far, Erwin Walker and Mary Eliza Kezer are the only two which we have photos for.
Submitted by Plains Indians And Pioneer Museum
Note: Reports of final death count varies. Spelling of names not always correct in newspaper accounts. Conflicting reports make it difficult to determine the acutal death count and all the victims. Some listed below could have been victims in other counties and buried in a cemetery in that county. Can't be certain this is 100% correct because of conflicting sources and unreliable newspaper lists.
Lives lost in the Tornado of "47"
1 Alfred Atwell 1 Alfred Atwell 1 Attwell, Alfred 2 2 Tom Baker 2 Tom Baker 2 Atwell, J. M. 3 Hallie Ball 3 Hallie Ball 3 Baker, Thomas Ivy age 76 2 4 Darlene Beasley 4 Darlene Beasley, 11 years 4 Ball, Hallie 5 James Behier 5 Ray Bell* 5 Beasley Darlene 6 Roy Brumley 6 James Behler 6 Brumley, Roy Albert 2 7 Johnny Catlett 7 Roy Brumley, 3 years 7 Catlett, Cecil John 2 8 Raymond Catlett 8 Edith Catlett 8 Cattett, Johnny Gottschalk (Catlet) 9 Mrs. Cattlett 9 Johnny Catlett, 3 years 9 Catlett, Raymond 2 10 Daniel Chance 10 Raymond Catlett 10 Catlett, Sarah Edith 2 11 Betty Cooley 11 Daniel Chance 11 Chance, Daniel S. 2 12 Lorenzo Coombes 12 Betty Cooley, 12 years 12 Cooley, Betty Lorene 2 13 Mrs. A. Craft 13 Lorenzo Coombs 13 Coombes, Lorenzo Bright age 89 2 14 Mrs. Olin Croft 14 Mrs. A. Craft 14 Cosby, Betty 15 Ethel Crowl 15 Cleta Croft 15 Croft, Mrs. H. O. 2 16 William Crowl 16 Ethel Crowe 16 Corwe, Ethel E. (Mrs. Bill Crowl) 1 17 Carl Cunningham 17 William Crowe 17 Crowe, Willaim A. (Bill Crowl)1 18 Carl Cunningham, Sr.* 18 Carl Cunningham, 20 months 18 Cunningham, Carl Douglas1 19 Paula Damron 19 Paula Damron, 2 months 19 Damron (Damson),Charles † 2 20 Fred Dart 20 Fred Dart 20 Damron (Damson), Paula Gayle 2 21 Earnest Davidson 21 Ray Dean-Daugherty Bell, 14 years 21 Dart, Fred W. 2 22 Lavina Davis 22 Ernest Davidson, 6 years 1 22 Dart,Lloyd 23 Roy Doughtery 23 Lavina Davis 23 Daugherty, Ray Dean 2 24 Robert Duke 24 Robert Duke 24 Davis, Ernest Gaylord See Davidson 25 Lillie Durrill 25 Lillie DunlI 25 Davis, LaVina 31 Clyde Glass 31 Iness Gieswein 31 Duke, Robert Harrison 2 32 Mrs. C.N Good 32 Clyde Glass 32 Fiel, Eldeen Bert (Eldon Ray?) 33 Milton Grayson 33 Mrs. C.N. Good 33 Fiel, Eldine Marie 2 34 Beryl Grimm 34 Milton Grayson, 4 years 34 Feil, Eldon Ray 2 35 Irene Gusler 35 Beryl Grimm 35 Fiel, Roberta Jean 2 36 Ann Hagerman 36 Irene Gusler 36 Fiskin, Irene Elizabeth 2 37 John Hagerman 37 Ann Hageman 37 Goble, Cleta Mae Croft 2 38 Henry Harper 38 John Hageman 38 Geiswin, Mrs. John (Ines) 2 39 Lou Harper 39 Henry Harper, 2 months 39 Glacen, Nelson Owen 40 Monty Harper 40 Lou Harper 40 Glass, Clyde 41 Roy Harper 41 Monty Harper 41 Gottschalk, Johnny 42 Mary Hawk 42 Roy Harper, 4 years 42 Grayson, Milton Owen 2 43 Cliff Hayes 43 Mary Hawk 43 Grimm, Beryl 44 Georgia Hingston 44 Cliff Hayes 44 Gusbar, Lena 45 Treanadale Holster 45 Georgia Hingston 45 Hageman, Anna Dorgan (HAGERMAN) 2 46 Sue Houlette 46 Kay Holcomb, 6 years* 46 Hageman, John Wesley (HAGERMAN)1 47 Jimmie Hutchinson 47 Trena Dale Holster, 18 months 47 Harper, Henry C., Jr. 2 48 Olen Hutchinson 48 Sue Ann Houlette, 3 years 48 Harper, Lou Ellen 2 49 Flossie Irvin 49 Jimmie Lee Hutchison, 4 years 49 Harper, Monty Lawrence 2 50 George Irvin 50 Olen Hutchison 50 Harper, Roy Lea 2 51 Delores Johnston 51 FlosI. Irvin 51 Hawk, Mary (Hawks) 2 52 Grover Jordan 52 George Irvin, 5 years 52 Hayes, Cliff 53 Mary Eliza Kezer 53 Debris Johnston, 3 months 53 Hayes, Thomas Clifton 1 54 Georgia Kingston 54 Grover Jordan 54 Hingston, Georgia Mae 2 55 Louis Knight 55 Mary Eliza Kezer 55 Holcomb, Kay Frances 2 56 Pauline Kollar 56 Georgia Kingston 56 Holster, Treana Dale 57 Catherine Kreger 57 Lester Ray Kirkhart,1 year 57 Houlette, Sue Ann 2 58 Glendola Kreger 58 Louis Knight 58 Hutchison, Jimmie Lee 2 59 Muriel Lafon* 59 Pauline Kollar 59 Hutchison, Olan Leslie 2 60 Armanda Layer 60 Glendola Kreger 60 Irvin, Flossie Belle Taylor 2 61 Elizabeth Little 61 Kathryn Kreger, 2 years 61 Irvin, George Merrill (IRWIN) 2 62 Delmer Long 62 Amanda Layer 62 Johnston, Delores Alice 63 George Lucas 63 Elizabeth Little, 9 months 63 Jordan, Grover A. 2 64 Albert Lukes 64 Delmer Lee Long, 8 years 64 Keeser, Dollie (Mary Eliza Kezer) age 89 2 65 Patsy Lukes 65 George Lucas 65 Kollar, Pauline Franics 2 66 Eva Main 66 Albert Lukes 66 Knight, Louis Raymond 2 67 Arleta Marston 67 Patsy Lukes, infant 67 Kreger, Glendola 2 68 Darla Marston 68 Merritt MacLaren, 16 years 68 Kreger, Kathryn Lanell 2 69 Goldie Marston 69 Eva Main 69 Kdruger Bill 70 Merritt McLeran 70 Arteta Marston, 15 years 70 LaFon, Olive Muriel (Sleigh) 2 71 Thomas Mitch 71 Darla Ann Marston, 9 years 71 Laver, Amanda F. 2 72 Charles Morgan* 72 Goldie Marston 72 Little, Elizabeth Ann 2 73 Gloria Morrison 73 Thomas N. MItch, 5 months 73 Long, Delmer Lee 2 74 Fred Morrow 74 Gloria Morrison 74 Lucas, George F. (George Edward LUCAS) 2 75 R.T. Myers 75 Fred Morrow 75 Lukes, Albert D. 2 76 Flora Pierson 76 R.T. Myers 76 Lukes, Patsy 2 77 Earle Pollard 77 Flora Pierson 77 Main, Minnie Marie 2 78 Pauline Pollard 78 ErIe Pollard 78 Martson, Arletta 2 79 Ruth Potter 79 Pauline Pollard 79 Marston, Darla Ann 2 80 Dottie Rabe 80 Ruth Porter 80 Marston, Goldie Audry 2 81 Bertha Reed 81 Dottie Rabe, 4 years 81 MacLaren, Merritt Richard (McLaren) 2 82 Peter Rieth 82 Bertha Reed 82 MITCH, Thomas Noble2 83 Albert N. Rosenbrook 83 Peter Rieth 83 Morgan , Charles 84 Clarence F. Rosendale 84 Albert Rosenbrook 84 Morrison, Mrs. Damon (Gloria Lee) 2 85 Bessie Schamhorst 85 Clarence Rosendale 85 Morrow (Marrow), Fred 2 86 Ruby Schamhorst 86 Bessie Schamhorst 86 Myers, Robert Theodore 2 87 Leon Schneider 87 Ruby Carol Schamhorst, 6 years 87 Pantle, Gloria L. 2 88 Al Schutt 88 Leon Schneider, 14 years 88 Pierson, Florence 89 Beulah Mae Shidler 89 Al Schutt 89 Pollard, Earl Allen 2 90 Everett Smith 90 Beulah Shidler, 18 years 90 Pollard, Pauline 2 91 Mrs. C.L Sparks 91 Everett Smith 91 Porter, Ruth J. 2 92 Cora Steed 92 Mrs. CL Sparks 92 Pounder, Leo 93 Dean Story 93 Cora Steed 93 Rabe, Dottie Mae 2 94 Erwin Walker 94 Dean Story, 15 years 94 Reid, Bertha Edith (REED) 2 95 Laveme Warren 95 Erwin Walker 95 Rieth, Peter William age 83 2 96 Arthur Warnner 96 LaVeme Warren 96 Rosenbrook, Allbert M. 2 97 Carol Wingert 97 Aithur Wamner 97 Rosendale, Clarence 2 98 Sam Wood 98 Carol Wlngate, 2 years 98 Scharnhorst, Bessie (Schornhorst) 99 unknown child 99 Sam Wood 99 Scharnhorst, Ruby Carol (Schornhorst) 100 unknown child 100 Girl, approx. 12 years 100 Schneider, Leon Gene 2 101 unknown child 101 Girl, approx. 3 years 101 Shidler, Beulah Mae 2 102 Girl, approx. 6 months 102 Shutt, A. L. Missing 103 Shyler, Beulah Joan Gay Croft, 4 years 104 Stalett, Baby 105 Steed, Cora Ann Nixon, age 83 2 106 Story, Elton Dean 2 107 Swift, Mrs. Bill 108 Trueblood, Mary 109 Unidentified, Girl 8mo 2 116 Unknown, Girl 9 2 117 Unknown, Girl 1 2 110 Walker, Erwin Vincent age 50 2 111 Warren, Laverne 112 Warringer Arthur J. 1 113 *Wingate, Carol Diane (Wingent,Carol I.) 2 114 Wingent, Irene Elizabeth 2 115 Wood, Sam 2 * name not on Woodward News list *name not on centennial List † Incorrectly reported as a victim he was flown to
Oklahoma City for treatment of severe injuries but survived. Paula Gayle his infant daughter did not survive.The names on the left are from the list on the "Woodward Tornado Memorial" in Centennial Park, compiled in 1987 by Darrel Johnston & Centennial Commitee. In the center is the "List of Tornado Dead" from list compiled by Woodward News in 1997 on the 50th Anniversary of the tornado. Copy of the left and center lists provided by Plains Indians and Pioneers Museum. These two lists were used as part of their display in April 2002 on the 55th anniversary. On the right is information taken from Woodward News, The Daily Oklahoman, Woodward Daily Press April 1947 issues, and Elmwood Cemetery Ledgers (incomplete search), compiled from webmaster's research.
Comments from Vernon Maddux in email to webmaster. Reprinted here with permission from Vernon.
I have done a little research on the Woodward Tornado and though I would share a few thoughts. Here is a breakdown of the "age" list below the main victim list on your website.
James Behler Question: Why is Behler on the fatality age list but not on the main fatality list? His name appears on the injured list of April 16, 1947 and on both on both News and Memorial lists but no other record of him found. He may be the son of John and Eveline Behler and if so, would be about 50 years old.
Lorenzo Coombs His name is consistently misspelled, even on his tombstone! (by the enumerator perhaps) Lorenzo Bright Coombes buried Elmwood Cemetery TS: L. B. Coombs (sic), 7 Mar 1858, 9 Apr 1947 ("L.B. Coombes," Pampa News, April 11, 1947). On April 16 list; News list as "Lorenzo Coombs;" on Memorial list properly as "Lorenzo Coombes." (see Pioneers v1: 94-95, photo). In 1942-43 Phone Book, lived at 1724 Madison Ave, center of the destruction.
Carl Cunningham Carl Douglas Cunningham, Elmwood Cemetery TS: d. 29 July 1947 Infant. On April 16 list as Carl Cunningham, Jr; Memorial Lists him as "20 months;" News list as "Carl Cunningham." His parents are yet unknown.
Lillie Durell "Mrs Lillie Durill" on injured list in the April 16 Press. Listed on Memorial and News lists. No genealogy or cemetery record found. She is confirmed a victim by survivors in the April 9, 2003 meeting. She is said to be related to the Burl A. Jackson Hosier family that includes son Elmer and daughter Coleen and daughter Elizabeth Hosier who married Mr. Beresic and moved away just before the night of the tornado.
Catherine Fithian Her name is apparently consistently misspelled. Catherine Fithen is buried in Elmwood Cemetery TS: d. 10 May 1947 She appears on no April 1947 lists. Her name is on News List but not on Memorial list.
Irene Grisler Her name is apparently consistently misspelled ("Lena Gusler Dosenbruck," Pampa News, Apr. 11, 1947). She is listed on both Memorial and News lists as "Irene Gusler.
" Lou Ellen Harper "[A] ring and bracelets enabled a son to claim the disfigured body of Mrs. Louella Harper." Mooreland Leader, Apr 17, 1947. She is listed on April 14, 16; Memorial; and News lists.
Georgia Hingston "Georgia May Hingston" buried Prairie View Cemetery TS: 9 Apr 1947, 4 y 0 m 20 days,. Buried next to Leonard Ward, 6 Jul 19, Age 0 yrs 3 mos 26 days. Listed as "Georgia Mae (sic) Hinston" (Pampa News, April 11, 1947).
On all April 14, 16; Memorial; News lists. Charles Morgan (Pampa News, Apr. 11, 1947). April 16 and Memorial but not on News List. An article in the Woodward Daily Press (Apr. 16, 1947, p. 4) mentions that Morgan's body was taken to Minnesota for burial.
Thomas N. Mitch. Thomas Noble Mitch buried Fargo Cemetery. "Died from Tornado". 11-22-46, 4-09-47 Blk O Nw, l28, p4. An infant, he shares plot with Thomas E. Miller, another infant. Probably son of John Mitch. "Thomas Mitch" on Memorial; "Thomas N. Mitch 3 years" on News; and on April 16 as "Thomas Noble Mitch."
Dottie Rabe Dottie Mae Rabe. "4 years" listed in both Memorial and News lists. ("Baby Rabb," Pampa News, Apr. 11, 1947).
Bertha Reed Misspelled. Mrs. Bertha Reed. Listed on April 16, Memorial and News lists. Also called Bertha Edith Reid. No other information found.
Peter Rieth Peter William Rieth. age 83 (Pioneers, v2, p. 373). "Peter Rieth." April 16, Memorial and News lists. He was the Rieth patriarch.
Al Schutt Misspelled. A. L. "Melvin" Shutt married Helen Richmond of Woodward and died the day the tornado struck Woodward. Listed on April 16 ("A. M. Shutt), Memorial and News lists, but his family in Pioneers does not mention his death in the tornado (Pioneers, v2, p. 371). Note: Helen the widow Shutt later married Oklahoma governor Johnston Murray.
Everett Smith "J. Everett Smith" on "injured" list, April 16. He on Memorial and News fatality lists. His tombstone in Elmwood (or the enumerator) is in error giving his death as "March 13, 1949." He was 80 years, 2 months, 28 days old when he died.
Laverne Warren. She is listed on Memorial and News lists ("Laverne Warren," Pampa News, April 11, 1947). No other information found.
Note that I attempted to show the reader exactly where I got the information. April 13, 14, 15, 16 are the Woodward Daily Press; Memorial are the names listed by the memorial committee and engraved in the park and News is the list that was published a few years ago by the newspaper on the 50th anniversity. News reporters in their need to beat deadlines often get names wrong. This is why I try to be careful in sending them along. I have researched the full list of fatalities the same way and have found about 90 per cent of the burials, including the Texas fatalities.
I am preparing a book for publication on the Tornado and am earnestly interested in getting all the facts accurate. A few months ago I gave a Powerpoint presentation at the Woodward Museum on the April 9 anniversary and hope to do the same next year.
I am Vernon Maddux, Norman, Ok/vrm
1 - Elmwood 2 - Dunlap 3 - Gnadenfeld * 4 - Mooreland 5 - Persimmon 6 - Praire View 7 - Fargo , Ellis Co 8 - Brumfield , Seiling
*FIEL, Johnny - Not listed above, but shown in
Gnadenfeld Cemetery as having died 09 Apr 1947.
Click button to e-mail webmaster
============================================================
NOTICE : In keeping with the policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The contents of these pages are not to be copied to be placed on any other web site, including online databases and archives, without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material then you must have their personal permission by snail mail unless otherwise consented to by them personally.
All information found on these pages is under copyright of Donna Dreyer and Northwest Oklahoma Genealogical Society (NWOGS). This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter of the information will retain copyright as well. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to Donna Dreyer and/or NWOGS to make it available on any of the Oklahoma State websites, Ellis, Woodward, Harper, Dewey Counties websites, or any related Oklahoma pages maintained by Donna Dreyer and NWOGS. This material will always be available online at no cost, it will always remain free to the researcher.
============================================================
This is a FREE page, located at The Dewey County, OK History and Genealogy web site with FREE access to this information!"============================================================
USGenNet
AHGP
ALHN
OKGenWeb
USGenWeb
Access Genealogy
Independent History
and Genealogy Researchers
©404 Not Found 404 Not Found
nginx
All Rights Reserved.
for Northwest Oklahoma Genealogical Society
You are the [an error occurred while processing the directive]Visitor to this Site
This page was last updated(none)
