Verle Eugene Steele, 44, of near Table Grove, died Tuesday morning in the McDonough District Hospital in Macomb. Death was due to shock from burns received Monday afternoon.
The fire and explosion of a gasoline fuel tank occurred on farm land Steele owned and was farming near Industry. Melton Hoke, Steele’s hired man, was the first one to arrive on the scene after the accident. He was arriving to relieve Steele during the noon hour. He stated he believed Steele had brought the tractor to the storage tank before quitting for lunch. He said that Steele did not smoke and was always cautious around the machinery. He was about three-quarters of a mile away when he saw smoke and fire and rushed to the scene where he found Steele lying on the ground with his clothing in flames. He grabbed one of Steele’s arms and pulled him from the area just as the 250-gallon tank exploded, blowing out the entire top. Steele was rushed to the hospital where Dr. Kenneth Pawlias said that he suffered burns over 95 per cent of his body.
Mr. Steele was born May 5, 1916, at Table Grove, a son of Lloyd and Lizzie Chenoweth Steele. He was a life-time resident of Table Grove. He was married to Carrie Margaret Crick on Nov. 30, 1939. She and his parents survive.
Also surviving are four daughters, Beverly Jeanne, Verla Kay, Connie Joy and Margaret Arlene and one 4 weeks old son, Jay Allen, all at home; four sisters and one brother. One son and one brother preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock in the Table Grove community church with the Rev. E. E. Catlin officiating. Burial will be in the Ipava cemetery.
Mr. Steele was very well known in the Astoria area.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus