Hanford Morning Journal
Tuesday, March 13, 1928

COAL OIL BLAZE FATAL TO WOMAN

Mrs. Ruth H. Morgan, wife of Joseph A. Morgan of the Stringtown community, died late Sunday night in a local hospital as the result of severe burns sustained at seven o'clock in the morning, when, starting the morning fire with kerosene, an explosion set fire to her clothing and the house. Mr. Morgan, who was outdoors gathering kindling for the fire, rushed to his wife's assistance but was unable to extinguish the flames until she had been fatally burned. The house and its contents were totally destroyed, other members of the family barely escaping with their lives. It was thought that live coals in the firebox of the stove were responsible for the explosion.

Mrs. Morgan, who was a native of Utah and a member of the Mormon church, was 40 years of age. She had been a resident of this county for some three years and had resided at the place of her death for only three weeks. She is survived by her husband, Joseph A. Morgan, and six children, William, Lee, Gladys, Erma, Mae and Helen Morgan, all of the Stringtown district; her mother, Mrs. Ruth Hadlock, and several brothers and sisters residing in Lemoore.

Funeral services will be held at two o'clock tomorrow afternoon at Eighth and Harris streets. Burial will be in Grangeville cemetery.

Coroner Ora D. Strong is investigating the matter and stated yesterday that so far as he could determine no inquest would be necessary.


Note - There is some confusion as to where Ruth's body is buried. She is listed on the records of two cemeteries. A headstone was placed in the Utah cemetery in recent years by family members. There were also one daughter, Gladys that died and is still buried in Calif. A son, Cecil A passed in Idaho and was buried in Malad but a grave cannot be located. A memorial stone was also placed in their memory in Utah at Larkin Cemetery.