October 14, 1954
Newsclipping: Mrs. Grover Miller is Fatally Injured in Car Crash. Mr. Miller Seriously Hurt.
Another inexcusable highway accident has caused the death of a Hydro woman, Mrs. Grover Miller, and has seriously injured Mr. Miller, who is still in the Kingfisher hospital.
The tragedy resulted from a a two-car collision that occurred about 9 am Friday, 13 miles west of Kingfisher on State Highway 33. Mrs. Patricia Ann Hauser, 20, was driving the other car.
The Millers were enroute to visit their children in Stillwater, Ponca City, and Blackwell. They were driving east at about 55 mph when they noticed a car on a rural road approaching the highway from the north. Mr. Miller thought the car was coming a little fast, so he started honking and slowing down. The driver of the oncoming car apparently made no attmept to slow her car, but crossed the state highway and struck the Miller car inthe middle of the left side, it was said. Mrs. Hauser, Omega, said she did not see the Hydro car and that she was driving at least 40 mph. The scene of the accidnet was a flat, open corner, with nothing to obstruct the view of the Omega woman.
Mrs. Miller was immediately thrown from their car, which overturned several times. Mr. Miller was thrown to the pavement as the car rolled over in its last turn. Mrs. Miller sustained a skull fracture and concussion, a broken collar bone and arm, dislocated vertibrae and multiple bruises. Mr. Miller is suffering from a fractured collar bone, several broken ribs, multiple bruises and a head wound that required several stitches.
Mrs. Hauser, who is an expectant mother, was uninjured.
The Miller's four children were with them constantly and special nurses attended them day and night.
Mrs. Miller died shortly before 10pm Sunday. She appeared to be conscious at times, but was unable to speak. She was thought to recognize her children, her father and sisters and borthers at different times.
The Miller's car was completely wrecked and their luggage and an electric sewing machine they were taking with them were demolished, but Mr. Miller's glasses were later found in the car, unbroken.
Mrs. Hauser's car was only slightly damaged, it was said.
Don Lemon, Kingfisher, a former Hydro resident and a friend of the family, happened to be driving over the same road and came upon the wreck soon after the accident occurred. He had the Millers taken to the hospital, telephoned all the members of the immediate family at once and remained at the hospital until the children arrived and assisted them with all the arrangements.
Funeral services were conducted at the First Methodist Church Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Noble Wiltshire officiating, assisted by Rev. Charles Groves, Yukon.
Mrs. Claude Bixler and Mrs. Fred Strange sang for the service and Rev. Groves was soloist. Miss Viola Helen Entz was organist. Bearers were Earl Ethel, Garland, Tx, Willard Kidd, J. W. Glass, Tippy Lassiter, Lowell Ethel and Earl Johnson. Honorary bearers were John Duncan, M. G. Armstrong, Walter Rust, Guy Schroder, Len Piper and Paul Payne.
Burial was in the Masonic Cemetery.
All the children and grandchildren were here for the service, alsoall the brothers and sisters except Dennis, Lester, and Vernon. A nephew, Floyd Talkington and Mrs. Talkington, came from Petus, Texas.
Mr. Miller begged to brought here in an ambulance for the services, but his physician would not permit him to be moved. A tape recording of the entire service was taken by Rev. Waldo Kaufman, at the request of the family, for Mr. Miller's benefit.
Mrs. Miller is survived by her husband, two daughters, Mrs. Louis Strong (Eileen), Blackwell, OK, and Mrs. Elgin Kern, (Lora Lee) Ponca City, OK; two sons, Earl Miller, Denver, CO, and Wayne Miller, Stillwater; her father and step-mother, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Talkington, Hydro; two sisters, Mrs. Sid Thomas, (Allie Pearl) Hydro, and Mrs. Elmer Kilgore (Nina Fay) Chickasha; and six brothers, Cecil Talkington, Hydro, Ernest of Charlotte, Texas, Vernon of Yakima, WA, Leonard of Flagstaff, AZ and Lester and Dennis of Caldwell, Idaho.
Mrs. Miller is the first of Mr. Talkington's nine children to be taken. Her mother preceded her in death.
Mr. Miller is now thought to be on the way to recovery. He was dangerously ill for several days and has been given oxygen most of the time.
Mrs. Miller came to Hydro with her parents as a child in 1908 and had lived her continuously since that time. she was married here and she and her husband reared their family here.
She was an active and faithful member of the First Methodist Church and of the Hydro Chapter of the Eastern Star.
She and her husband were in business together for many years, operating the Magnolia Service Station with a wholesale and retail oil business. For several years she was a member of the local Red Cross committee and an inspector on the local election board.
Mrs. Miller's tragic death has brought overwhelming grief to her family and friends, since it was so sudden and so needless. Never will a wife and mother be missed more and never will a communtiy lose a more dearly beloved citizen.
She was a wonderful mother and her children did "rise up and call her blessed". Her calm, quiet admonition and cousel had their way and her voice was never raised in anger or argument. everyone who knew her was her friend,and not one word of criticism or gossip ever passed her lips.
She lived a beautiful, useful, fruitful life, but was cut off in its prime without warning. Yet she was ready-prepared for eternity throught the sweetness of her everyday living.