The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
August 23, 1922
Page 1
Column 4KILLED AT RAIL CROSSING
Shocking Death of Geo. L. Bur-
ner, Well Known Man of
Denver.George L. (Fatty) Burner, was instantly killed at the Wabash crossing near Denver, about noon Thursday, Aug. 17th. The body was all cut to pieces and had to be gathered up in baskets.
Mr. Burner, who was about 45 years old, was driving south in a winter-top Ford car and when he went to cross the Wabash railroad tracks one mile east and one and one-half miles south of Denver, the noon passenger train going towards Keokuk struck the car and instantly killed the driver. The car was completely demolished and the killing of Mr. Burner was a most shocking affair. Blood and bones were scattered in all directions and while the only eye witnesses to the killing were those on the train, those who quickly gathered at the scene a few minutes later, say that the sight was something awful.
The funeral of George L. Burner, was held at the house Saturday morning, at 9 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Taylor of the Christian Church, and Rev. David Todd of the Congregational Church. A quartette composed of the following, furnished the music: Chester Clark, Arthur Graham, Hamill Graham and Homer O'Brien. The pall bearers were his cousins: Clifton O'Harra, Roswell O'Harra, Lige Burner, Cale Jones and Will Mathias. Burial at Harmony cemetery. The following obituary was read at his funeral:
George Lee Burner, son of Ambrose and Clara Burner was born at Franklin, Ill., December 27, 1875. He was the oldest of four children, the others being, Lertin Burner and Mrs. Maude Hughett of Carthage, Ill., and Roy Burner of Hutchinson, Kansas.
He grew to young manhood on the farm and on March 27, 1898, was married to Miss Emma Mathias, who passed away December 16, 1904.
On June 12, 1907, he was married to Miss Vernie Kennedy of Bentley, who survives him.
He spent all his life in this county, and is known over a large territory, due to the fact that he has dealt in stock for years. The last three years he was the manager of the Denver Cooperative Elevator Co., just recently having given up this work.
George Burner was a big hearted man, who never turned a deaf ear to a call for help. Always accommodating, he often went far out of his way to do a kindness for a friend or neighbor.
It has been said to really know people, one must live with them, and so it is true that he will be most missed by the wife to whom he had been indulgent to an unusual degree and by his continued thoughtfulness made her path in life bright because of it.
To children he always showed a marked tenderness and little faces always brightened at his pleasant words. His neighbors will miss his ready greeting and his instant acquiescence when asked a favor of even though it often caused him an inconvenience to grant it.
On Thursday morning he started out in his car in a happy frame of mind, over an anticipated deal, when about two and a half miles southeast of Denver at the crossing, he was struck by the passenger train going west and his life went out in a few minutes.
He leaves to mourn their loss, his wife, aged mother, one sister and two brothers and a large circle of friends.
