Garrett, Merle K.

a 31 year old Cardin Oklahoma hard rock lead and zinc miner was killed shortly after noon Saturday in a premature explosion of dynamite at the Woodchuck Mine a half-mile south of Cardin. It is reported that he was tamping a hole in which he had placed dynamite when the explosion occurred. He was brought to the top and rushed to the Picher hospital where he was pronounced dead. His helper, Harold Eugene Newland, age 20, who was standing nearby, suffered minor injuries. He was also brought to the Picher hospital for treatment and then dismissed. Garrett, an overseas veteran of nine months in World War II, resided on the Wigman Mining Company lease near the Woodchuck Mine property. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Leo Garrett, two daughters Joann Garrett, age 11, and Patty Garrett age 8, all of the home; his mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Louie Alberta, Oklahoma City Oklahoma; a brother Denzil Garrett also of Oklahoma City and two sisters, Mrs. Nelpha Pritchard and Mrs. Delores Pritchard, both of Fort Worth Texas. Funeral services were held at 1:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at the Baptist church in Cardin. The Rev. Roy Durham officiated. Burial was in the G.A.R. cemetery under direction of the Cooper funeral home.