William Lee Moore was the second born son of Robert and Deana Irene (Griffin) Moore. He was a 9th grade student at Mason Junior High School. He had 4 brothers and 2 sisters. Billy and his brother Donald died in a tragic drowning accident at the Ingham County Road Commission sand and gravel pit located on Kerns Road Thursday night June 30, 1966 at 7:50 p.m. William was 16 and his brother age 8., Thjey were hunting frogs some 8 feet from the water's edge when the boys were pitched into the water when the earth underneath gave way plunging them into the water. Walking with them was another brother, Ron, 14, and friend Dan Perfitt, 17. They said the earth suddenly fell apart plunging William and the Perfitt boy into the pit full of water. Perfitt was bringing William into shore on his back when the youngest boy Donald jumped into help. The Perfitt boy said William immediately let go of him and went after his younger brother Donald, who didn't know how to swim, never came up to the surface. Ronald also jumped in the pit in an attempt fo find one or both of the boys but had to give up. Billy died while trying to his brother. Police Chief Stoltz surmises that the two boys became trapped in the sand and couldn't struggle free. Perfitt also was trapped in the sand up to his hips, but was able to get free. Nine skin divers were sent to the scene. They almost had given up hope of finding the boys when they discovered them some 30 feet from shore in about 20 feet of water at about 1:50 a.m. Friday. The accident happened at 7:50 p.m. Thursday with police summoned at about 8:20 p.m. Funeral services were held at the Jewett Funeral Home of Mason on Tuesday, July 5, 1966 and burial in Maple Ridge Cemetery, Holt, MI
William Lee Moore was the second born son of Robert and Deana Irene (Griffin) Moore. He was a 9th grade student at Mason Junior High School. He had 4 brothers and 2 sisters. Billy and his brother Donald died in a tragic drowning accident at the Ingham County Road Commission sand and gravel pit located on Kerns Road Thursday night June 30, 1966 at 7:50 p.m. William was 16 and his brother age 8., Thjey were hunting frogs some 8 feet from the water's edge when the boys were pitched into the water when the earth underneath gave way plunging them into the water. Walking with them was another brother, Ron, 14, and friend Dan Perfitt, 17. They said the earth suddenly fell apart plunging William and the Perfitt boy into the pit full of water. Perfitt was bringing William into shore on his back when the youngest boy Donald jumped into help. The Perfitt boy said William immediately let go of him and went after his younger brother Donald, who didn't know how to swim, never came up to the surface. Ronald also jumped in the pit in an attempt fo find one or both of the boys but had to give up. Billy died while trying to his brother. Police Chief Stoltz surmises that the two boys became trapped in the sand and couldn't struggle free. Perfitt also was trapped in the sand up to his hips, but was able to get free. Nine skin divers were sent to the scene. They almost had given up hope of finding the boys when they discovered them some 30 feet from shore in about 20 feet of water at about 1:50 a.m. Friday. The accident happened at 7:50 p.m. Thursday with police summoned at about 8:20 p.m. Funeral services were held at the Jewett Funeral Home of Mason on Tuesday, July 5, 1966 and burial in Maple Ridge Cemetery, Holt, MI
