Kertz, Melvin "Blackie"

a resident of Picher Oklahoma, 27 years, succumbed to a long illness at 8:40 p.m. Saturday at his home, 503 North Picher Street. A native of Lebanon Missouri, he was 49 years old. Kertz, a miner, is survived by his wife, Mrs. Maude Kertz; two sisters, Mrs. Carl Moore, Wellsville Kansas, and Mrs. Tom Pierce, Denver Colorado; and a nephew Walter Moore, Wellsville. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of the Hunter mortuary, Picher. The Rev. Basil Meeks will officiate. Burial will be in the Oak Hill cemetery, Galena Kansas. Pallbearers will be Walter Novak, Kenneth Horine, Walter Moore, Ed Jarrett, Gene Crockett and Burley Riggs. The body will lie in state at the home from 4 p.m. today until the funeral hour. Kertz was a member of the First Baptist church at Picher.