Ray R. BECKLEY

Ray R. BECKLEY

Male 1887 - 1938  (50 years)

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  • Name Ray R. BECKLEY 
    Born 18 Dec 1887 
    Gender Male 
    Died 3 Jul 1938  Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried 5 Jul 1938  Rose Hill Cemetery, Harrison County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • From the Council Bluffs newspaper, 1938


      GUNSHOT WOUNDS MAY BE FATAL
      Mo. Valley Man Hurt by His Own Rifle

      Ray Beckley, 54, of Missouri Valley, Iowa, owner of the Farmers Grain and Implement Company, who suffered two gunshot wounds in the abdomen Sunday at his farm two miles south of Loveland, Iowa, was reported in a critical condition Monday at Jennie Edmundson Hospital. Dr. J.P. Cogley said the bullets, which were from a .22 caliber automatic rifle, went through the abdomen and severed arteries. Two transfusions were given during the night. Mrs. Beckley, who talked with her husband at the hospital, said that he had gone to the farm, which is unoccupied, to shoot pigeons. In a shop at the farm Beckley was reloading the gun when the hammer was accidentally tripped, Mrs. Beckley said. After some time he dragged him self to the house and sought to use the telephone but it was disconnected. He lay about a half an hour near the phone and then dragged himself to the car and drove to Loveland.

      Mrs. Beckley Monday morning was not able to verify a note which was reported to have been written by her husband as follows: "Was go to load gun….went off 12….1:30….in great pain….had to finish it." The note was found by Deputy Sheriff Norval Hartsock of Logan, Iowa in the shop. The injured man's notebook and pencil were found on the floor.

      Harry Hansen, Loveland garage man, took Beckley to Missouri Valley where he was attended by Dr. F.X. Tamisiea before being brought to Council Bluffs in an ambulance. Mrs. Beckley and a son, Robert, were at home at the time. Another son, James, lives at Los Angeles, California.
      Monday, June 27, 1938

      Beckley's Condition Improves Slightly
      Ray Beckley, 54, of Missouri Valley, Iowa, who suffered two gunshot wounds in the abdomen Sunday at his farm two miles south of Loveland, Iowa, was in a slightly improved condition Tuesday at Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Dr. J.P. Cogley said. He was given a blood transfusion Tuesday noon. Tuesday, June 28, 1938

      Wounded Man's Condition "Fair"
      The condition of Ray Beckley, 54, of Missouri Valley, Iowa, owner of the Farmers' Grain and Implement Company, was "fair" Wednesday at the Jennie Edmundson Hospital. He was shot twice through the abdomen when a .22 caliber automatic rifle he was reloading went off accidentally. He was given a third blood transfusion Tuesday noon, and will undergo more in a day or two. The accident occurred Sunday on his farm two miles south of Loveland, Iowa.
      Wednesday, June 29, 1938


      Beckley Dies of Gunshot Wounds
      Valley Grain Man Hurt by own Rifle
      Ray Beckley, 54, owner of the Farmer's Grain and Implement Company of Missouri Valley, Iowa, died Sunday night in a local hospital of gunshot wounds suffered June 26 at his farm two miles south of Loveland, Iowa. In a shop at the farm he was reloading a .22 caliber automatic rifle when the trigger was tripped. He was shot twice, the bullets going through the abdomen and severing arteries. He managed to drive his own automobile to a garage in Loveland for help.Â

      He is survived by his widow, Gertrude Beckley; two sons, James Beckley of Los Angeles, California, and Robert Beckley at home; two brothers, Ralph and Sterling Beckley of Omaha, and one sister; Mrs. Bruce Cox of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska. The body was removed to Hardy's Funeral Home at Missouri Valley. Funeral services have been set tentatively for Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church at Missouri Valley. The Rev. R.J. Rutt will officiate. July 4, 1938
    Person ID I18389  Complete
    Last Modified 6 May 2008 

    Family Gertrude JONES,   b. 21 Nov 1886, IA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 May 1987, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 100 years) 
    Married 27 Mar 1912  Missouri Valley, Harrison County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. (Private)
     2. William McClellen BECKLEY,   b. 15 Apr 1916,   d. 4 Jun 1916  (Age 0 years)
     3. Robert BECKLEY,   b. 19 Apr 1924, Missouri Valley, Harrison County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Jun 2005, Corona CA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years)
    Family ID F7266  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 27 Mar 1912 - Missouri Valley, Harrison County, Iowa, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 3 Jul 1938 - Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - 5 Jul 1938 - Rose Hill Cemetery, Harrison County, Iowa, USA Link to Google Earth
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