Ellis, Obert R.

Picher Oklahoma, Sep. 19 The body of Obert R."Lightning" Ellis, 40 year old miner killed instantly in a fall down a district mine shaft, was recovered at 9:15 Thursday night more than 300 feet below the surface, according to Joe Hobson, assistant state mine inspector for this district.

Ellis, a member of a repair crew at the Shorthorn Mine, about two miles north of Commerce Oklahoma, was working at the mouth of the mine shaft when a platform gave way and dropped him into the depths, Hobson said. The accident occurred shortly after the repair workers had returned to their duties after lunch Thursday. The victim was a veteran of World War II with 14 months of overseas duty in three years of military service. He had lived in Picher for 20 years.

Ellis' mishap was discovered by his co-workers and tedious rescue operations were immediately launched, but the mine inspector said the emergency squad was forced to proceeded toward the body with caution in order to avert further disasters.

A hard rock lead and zinc mining property owned by F. W. Evans, Hobson said the shaft in which Ellis died was 370 feet deep. The miner's body, "badly broken," was lodged between the 320-feet level and the bottom of the shaft, according to the inspector. Who directed the rescue operations.

Ellis lived at 104 North Connell avenue, Picher, with his wife, Mrs. Martha Ellis, an elementary teacher in the Picher school system. The couple had no children.

Working from a platform while repairing the shaft opening with rocks and cement, the victim's companions told investigators that Ellis was holding a boulder in his arms when the foundation parted and caused him to fall. The repair activities were being conducted in preparation of a reopening of the mining property, which has been closed for several months, Hobson reported.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 Saturday afternoon at the first Baptist church in Picher. Officiating ministers will be the Rev. Floyd Lukehart, the Rev. Howard Wheat and the Rev. W. A. Evans.

Besides his wife, Ellis is survived by his mother, Mrs. Sara Jane Furlong, St. Louis, Missouri; two sisters, Mrs. Ola Paine, Joplin, Missouri, and Mrs. Violet Green, Marionville Illinois; one brother, Windlow Ellis, St. Louis, Missouri; and his grandmother, Mrs. Lydia Mathews, Fairland Oklahoma.

He was a member of the Knights of Pythias, IOOF and Rebekah lodges and the American Legion post in Picher. IOOF rites will be held at the church followed by Knights of Pythias and Legion military services at the grave in Mount Hope cemetery, near Joplin Missouri. Goodson-Durnil funeral home of Picher is in charge of arrangements.

Obert "Lightning" Ellis, 40 years old, was fatally injured Thursday afternoon when he fell more than 300 feet down a shaft at the Shorthorn Mine, west of Cardin Oklahoma. Ellis is reported to have been working on top of the shaft with a crew of men engaged in recribbing it with cement and rock. There were no eye-witnesses to the fall which occurred about 1:30 pm, but when other workers discovered Ellis missing an investigation was begun. The mine is located one mile north of the Eagle-Picher Central Mill, and was not in operation.

Ellis had been a resident of Picher Oklahoma for more than 20 years, with the exception of three years which he spent in the military service. He served fourteen months of this overseas. He was a member of the American Legion, Knights of Pythias, IOOF and Rebekah lodges.

Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Martha Ellis; his mother, Mrs. Sarah June Furlong of St. Louis; a brother, Windlow Ellis of St. Louis; two sisters, Mrs. Ola Paine of Joplin Missouri and Mrs. Violet Green of Marionville Indiana, and a grandmother, Mrs. Lydia Matthews of Fairland Oklahoma. Note: One article had Marionville Illinois and one article had Marionville Indiana.

Funeral services were held at 1 Saturday afternoon at the First Baptist church. The Rev. Floyd Lukehart, pastor officiated, assisted by Rev. William Howard Wheat, Methodist minister, and Rev. W. A. Evans of Joplin, a former pastor of the local church. Burial was in the IOOF cemetery at Webb City Missouri, under direction of the Goodson- Durnil funeral of Picher Oklahoma.

The Picher IOOF lodge conducted the funeral ritual at the church, and the Knights of Pythias and American Legion Post conducted services at the grave side.