A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for Austin Wayne Spears
According to the genealogical information for Wanda Irene Engle, he was killed in an auto accident, along with his bride of three days and his mother. The "bride of three days" doesn't quite agree with the marriage and death dates from Knauss Family Genealogy. See article below for more details, though. Knauss Family Genealogy had the wrong dates for marriage and death.
Newspaper article (obtained from David and Wilma Gathright, April 2015; newspaper name and date not given):
Three Persons, Including Two on Honeymoon, Die In Canadian Area Wreck
By OWEN JONES (News-Capital Reporter)
Death ended a honeymoon for a newly married couple and the groom's mother, victims of a two-car collision about three miles northeast of Canadian Friday afternoon.
Another was on the critical list at McAlester General hospital today.
Killed were Austin Wayne Spears, 19; his wife of three days, Mrs. Juanita Mae Spears, 20, and his mother, Mrs. Imogene Spears, 44, Salem, Ore.
David Spears, 51, the young Spears' father, was hospitalized with critical injuries.
The Spears car collided head-on with one driven by Arlie D. Teel, 51, Tulsa, on a gravel detour half a mile east of the Gaines creek bridge. Teel also was hospitalized, but he is not believed seriously injured.
A marriage license found by Highway Patrolman Pete Forneris showed the young couple was married Tuesday at Verden. The young wife apparently lived there.
Forneris said the Spears were enroute to Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., for a visit with Pvt. John L. Spears, another son of the elder Spears.
The bride and her mother-in-law were pronounced dead upon arrival at a Eufaula physician's office. Austin Wayne died about an hour after he entered the hospital.
Hospital authorities said the father suffered fractures and internal injuries. His condition was described as critical.
The investigating officer identified young Spears as the driver. He said the Spears car and another vehicle were passing a third car on the dusty detour. They were headed east. Teel was driving west.
Forneris said the point of impact was about five feet north of the centerline. The vehicle in front of Spears completed its passing of the third car, but Spears and Teel collided.
According to the patrolman's measurements, Teel skidded about 122 feet before the collision.
"The car (Spears) just loomed up in front of me, on the wrong side of the road," said Teel of the mishap.
When the dust settled, the death car was a mass of twisted metal. From the debris a sheet of paper floated to the surface.
It caught the eye of investigators because the paper stood alone, torn out of a notebook--and the book was closed. A closer look revealed these words penned in long hand on the paper:
"Last night I dreamed an Angel came. He took my hand. He called my name. He bade me look the other way. I saw a man. I heard him say.
"He said if I be lifted up, I'll draw all men to me. He turned and then I saw His nail-scarred hands that bleed for me. I touched the hem of His garment that fell around Him there. My heart, my life I gave. My soul was in His care.
"Then, when I awoke my heart beat sore. And in the dark I saw a glow. This was no dream. He turned my way. Again, I heard my Savior say.
"I see him in a baby smile. I hear Him in the wind that says, He loves me and I know not why. He's everywhere. He calls me from a world of care. I seek him, and I find him there. He's in my heart. I feel Him there. He's everywhere."
The writing was on both sides of a single sheet of paper. Face up in bold ink, it said "The End."
Words on the paper appeared to be from a religious ballad. But, it was ironic they would find their way to the surface in a mass of death and wreckage.
Death of the trio and another raised Oklahoma's 1961 highway toll to 111 for the year. At the same time last year, 86 had died.
The other victim was Donald Praytor, Blue Jacket.
Praytor was killed when his car collided with a freight train at a crossing northwest of Grove on U. S. 59. His wife and young son were not seriously injured.
The triple Spears fatality was the first traffic death recorded in Pittsburg county since October 15. Then a woman died on the U. S. 69 bypass, south of McAlester.
Bodies of the Spears wreck were taken to Kelley Funeral home at Eufaula.
Spears was to be transferred to McBride hospital at Oklahoma City this afternoon.
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
Page generated on 31 October 2023