Searcy, Elmo Charles

Picher Oklahoma, June 6. Elmo Searcy, 44 years old, a mining machinist, was injured fatally at 12:35 this afternoon, Jun 7, 1952, when a slab weighing from 400 to 500 pounds fell on him. The accident occurred after he had returned from lunch at the former Nellie B. Mining Company lease No. 9, now the American Zinc Lead and Smelting Company, southwest of Picher. He was drilling when small pebbles from overhead dropped on him. Sensing danger, he leaped to escape, but was pinned down.

Bill Reed, 30, was working with Mr. Searcy but managed to avoid serious injury. Both were brought to the Picher hospital in a Roberson-Hunter ambulance, but Mr. Searcy was pronounced dead on arrival. He was believed to have lived only a few minutes after the accident occurred. Reed was treated for head and leg bruises and dismissed from the hospital.

Mr. Searcy came to Picher in 1923 from Oronogo Missouri. His residence here is at 214 South Valley street. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Imogene Searcy; three daughters, Ava June Searcy and Connie Sue Searcy of the home and Mrs. Margie Norman of Picher; two sons, Elmo Searcy, Jr. of Fort Worth Texas and Charles Searcy of Roseville Calif-ornia; three brothers, Leo Searcy of Picher Oklahoma, Dewayne Searcy of Miami and Captain Leroy Searcy of Temple Texas; four sisters; Mrs. George Martin and Mrs. L. E. Thornton of Picher Oklahoma, Mrs. L. F. Stutzman of Keifer Oklahoma, and Mrs. Pauline Richards of San Francisco California, and three grandchildren. The body was received by the Roberson-Hunter funeral home.

Funeral services for Elmo Searcy, 44 year old Picher miner, were held at the Methodist church in Picher, at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. Burial was in the G.A.R. cemetery at Miami Oklahoma. Searcy was killed at work about 12:30 Friday afternoon, Jun 7, 1952, the victim of a cave-in at the American Zinc Lead and Smelting Company. The fatal mishap occurred at what was formerly known as the No. 9 shaft of the Nellie B. Mine. Fellow workers report that Searcy was drilling when the boulder dropped, pinning him down, before he was able to get in the clear. A miner working with him on the machine, Bill Reed, Picher, managed to escape the falling boulders. Both were rushed to the Picher hospital where Searcy was pronounced dead upon arrival. Reed was treated for a minor head and leg injuries.

Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. William Howard Wheat assisted by the Rev. R. J. Palmer. Active pallbearers were H. O. Ritchie, Carl Box, W. H. Wilhim, Ted Holstrom, Joe Davis, Fredas Cook. Honorary pallbearers were Gabe McKinzie, Guy Smith, Marvin Cass, Jerry Feezel, Burly Rigg, Austin Keithley and Harold Foran. Arrangements were under the direction of the Roberson Hunter funeral home.

Obit Info: Elmo Charles Searcy was born at Aurora Missouri, Aug 27, 1907, and passed from this life on Jun 6, 1952, at the age of 44 years ten months and eleven days. He came to Oklahoma from Oronogo Missouri, in 1917, and has lived here since. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Ima Jean Searcy of the home; two sons, Elmo Searcy, Jr., Fort Worth Texas and Charles Searcy of Rocklin California; three daughters, Mrs. Marjorie Norman, Picher Oklahoma, Ava Jean Searcy and Connie Searcy, both of the home; three brothers, Leo Searcy, Picher, Dewayne Searcy, Miami Oklahoma, and Leroy Searcy with the army in Tempie Texas; four sisters, Mrs. Pauline Richards, San Francisco California, Mrs. Willena Stutzman, Keifer Oklahoma, Mrs. Lois Thornton, Picher and Mrs. Thelma June Martin, Picher, other relatives and a host of friends.

Of Interest article: Ima Jean Beyke Searcy Crice Lalicker, age 77, of Austin Texas died Saturday. Formerly of Picher Oklahoma. She met and married Elmo Searcy in Picher. He was killed in a mining accident in 1952. She later married Gerald Crice of Grove Oklahoma. He also preceded her in death. After her children completed high school, she married Gerald "Jack" Lalicker and moved to a small cattle farm in Welch Oklahoma where she lived for 25 years. He preceded her in death in 1996. Thomas funeral home in Welch Oklahoma. Burial in the Welch Oklahoma cemetery.