INFORMATION FROM: THE NEWSOK
Collision snuffs out seven fruitful lives
Marella Synovec | Published: August 9, 1983
- Marilee Neill was to begin teaching a vacation Bible school class Monday night at Boulevard Christian Church in Muskogee.
Today, the congregation of her church is stunned. The woman and her family are dead.
Mrs. Neill, 38; her husband, Frank V., 43; their children Peggy, 16, Deborah, 15, and Frank Jr., 7; and her niece and nephew, Stephanie Steinberg, 10, and Chris Steinberg, 6, of Oklahoma City were killed Monday in a traffic accident four miles west of Muskogee.
The Muskogee family was going west on the heavily traveled SH 16 at 3:45 p.m. when Neill swerved his 1979 Datsun station wagon off the road to miss an oncoming pickup that had crossed the center line.
Highway Patrol investigators said Neill apparently oversteered, going back across the highway, before being struck by an Oklahoma Gas & Electric truck.
Trooper Jim Hiseley said the OG&E driver, Donnie Ray McGrew, 46, of Muskogee, had tried to avoid hitting the station wagon.
Hiseley said the fact that seven people were riding in a compact-sized vehicle was a major factor in the accident.
"I think any vehicle can go out of control. But a compact vehicle, with that many people in it" may have caused the driver to oversteer, Hiseley said.
The wagon was equipped with seat belts but none appeared to be in use, the trooper said. "Mainly, they were pinned in the wreckage and had to be cut out," Hiseley said.
"I don't know if it (seat belts) would have done any good."
The deaths were all attributed to massive head and internal injuries. All but Neill were dead on arrival at Muskogee General Hospital; he died at 6:20 p.m. The Neills were a strong part of the Boulevard Christian Church congregation, said senior pastor James McKracken, who moved to Muskogee about seven weeks ago.
"They had been members at least 10 years. They were a real core family for us," McKracken said.
"The mother and father were youth-group sponsors and teachers in Bible school. They were very, very involved people in our congregation.
They were among the first who greeted us when we moved here.
"It's a rough situation," the pastor said.
Neill, a switchboard repairman for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., was idled by a Communication Workers of America strike against American Telephone & Telegraph.
"He had just got out on strike and had been by the church that morning," McKracken said. "He said he was going to have to walk the picket line, although I don't think he really wanted to. Marilee was supposed to teach vacation Bible school that week. She didn't make it."
Peggy and Deborah had traveled this summer, attending national "Bible Bowl" competition in St. Louis and a Christ in Youth conference in Durango, Colo. "At youth night Sunday, they shared some of the things they learned at the conference. It was a very good night Sunday night in that respect," the pastor said.
Frank Jr. had just completed swimming lessons and was looking forward to first grade.
Stephanie and Chris Steinberg were staying with the Neills while their father was hospitalized with a kidney ailment in Oklahoma City.
McKracken said rites for the Neills will be held at the church, although details are pending.
"Marilee's parents live in Tulsa and are unable to make that decision right now," he said Tuesday morning. "It's a real shock to have five grandchildren wiped out in one swoop."
Services for the Steinberg children are being handled by Bill Merritt Funeral Home, Bethany.
Despite the tragedy, McKracken said there is one thing to be thankful for.
"They were very committed Christian people. We know they are all together. That's a blessing." BIOG: NAME:
Archive ID: 138757
Collision snuffs out seven fruitful lives
Marella Synovec | Published: August 9, 1983
- Marilee Neill was to begin teaching a vacation Bible school class Monday night at Boulevard Christian Church in Muskogee.
Today, the congregation of her church is stunned. The woman and her family are dead.
Mrs. Neill, 38; her husband, Frank V., 43; their children Peggy, 16, Deborah, 15, and Frank Jr., 7; and her niece and nephew, Stephanie Steinberg, 10, and Chris Steinberg, 6, of Oklahoma City were killed Monday in a traffic accident four miles west of Muskogee.
The Muskogee family was going west on the heavily traveled SH 16 at 3:45 p.m. when Neill swerved his 1979 Datsun station wagon off the road to miss an oncoming pickup that had crossed the center line.
Highway Patrol investigators said Neill apparently oversteered, going back across the highway, before being struck by an Oklahoma Gas & Electric truck.
Trooper Jim Hiseley said the OG&E driver, Donnie Ray McGrew, 46, of Muskogee, had tried to avoid hitting the station wagon.
Hiseley said the fact that seven people were riding in a compact-sized vehicle was a major factor in the accident.
"I think any vehicle can go out of control. But a compact vehicle, with that many people in it" may have caused the driver to oversteer, Hiseley said.
The wagon was equipped with seat belts but none appeared to be in use, the trooper said. "Mainly, they were pinned in the wreckage and had to be cut out," Hiseley said.
"I don't know if it (seat belts) would have done any good."
The deaths were all attributed to massive head and internal injuries. All but Neill were dead on arrival at Muskogee General Hospital; he died at 6:20 p.m. The Neills were a strong part of the Boulevard Christian Church congregation, said senior pastor James McKracken, who moved to Muskogee about seven weeks ago.
"They had been members at least 10 years. They were a real core family for us," McKracken said.
"The mother and father were youth-group sponsors and teachers in Bible school. They were very, very involved people in our congregation.
They were among the first who greeted us when we moved here.
"It's a rough situation," the pastor said.
Neill, a switchboard repairman for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., was idled by a Communication Workers of America strike against American Telephone & Telegraph.
"He had just got out on strike and had been by the church that morning," McKracken said. "He said he was going to have to walk the picket line, although I don't think he really wanted to. Marilee was supposed to teach vacation Bible school that week. She didn't make it."
Peggy and Deborah had traveled this summer, attending national "Bible Bowl" competition in St. Louis and a Christ in Youth conference in Durango, Colo. "At youth night Sunday, they shared some of the things they learned at the conference. It was a very good night Sunday night in that respect," the pastor said.
Frank Jr. had just completed swimming lessons and was looking forward to first grade.
Stephanie and Chris Steinberg were staying with the Neills while their father was hospitalized with a kidney ailment in Oklahoma City.
McKracken said rites for the Neills will be held at the church, although details are pending.
"Marilee's parents live in Tulsa and are unable to make that decision right now," he said Tuesday morning. "It's a real shock to have five grandchildren wiped out in one swoop."
Services for the Steinberg children are being handled by Bill Merritt Funeral Home, Bethany.
Despite the tragedy, McKracken said there is one thing to be thankful for.
"They were very committed Christian people. We know they are all together. That's a blessing." BIOG: NAME:
Archive ID: 138757
INFORMATION FROM: THE NEWSOK
Collision snuffs out seven fruitful lives
Marella Synovec | Published: August 9, 1983
- Marilee Neill was to begin teaching a vacation Bible school class Monday night at Boulevard Christian Church in Muskogee.
Today, the congregation of her church is stunned. The woman and her family are dead.
Mrs. Neill, 38; her husband, Frank V., 43; their children Peggy, 16, Deborah, 15, and Frank Jr., 7; and her niece and nephew, Stephanie Steinberg, 10, and Chris Steinberg, 6, of Oklahoma City were killed Monday in a traffic accident four miles west of Muskogee.
The Muskogee family was going west on the heavily traveled SH 16 at 3:45 p.m. when Neill swerved his 1979 Datsun station wagon off the road to miss an oncoming pickup that had crossed the center line.
Highway Patrol investigators said Neill apparently oversteered, going back across the highway, before being struck by an Oklahoma Gas & Electric truck.
Trooper Jim Hiseley said the OG&E driver, Donnie Ray McGrew, 46, of Muskogee, had tried to avoid hitting the station wagon.
Hiseley said the fact that seven people were riding in a compact-sized vehicle was a major factor in the accident.
"I think any vehicle can go out of control. But a compact vehicle, with that many people in it" may have caused the driver to oversteer, Hiseley said.
The wagon was equipped with seat belts but none appeared to be in use, the trooper said. "Mainly, they were pinned in the wreckage and had to be cut out," Hiseley said.
"I don't know if it (seat belts) would have done any good."
The deaths were all attributed to massive head and internal injuries. All but Neill were dead on arrival at Muskogee General Hospital; he died at 6:20 p.m. The Neills were a strong part of the Boulevard Christian Church congregation, said senior pastor James McKracken, who moved to Muskogee about seven weeks ago.
"They had been members at least 10 years. They were a real core family for us," McKracken said.
"The mother and father were youth-group sponsors and teachers in Bible school. They were very, very involved people in our congregation.
They were among the first who greeted us when we moved here.
"It's a rough situation," the pastor said.
Neill, a switchboard repairman for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., was idled by a Communication Workers of America strike against American Telephone & Telegraph.
"He had just got out on strike and had been by the church that morning," McKracken said. "He said he was going to have to walk the picket line, although I don't think he really wanted to. Marilee was supposed to teach vacation Bible school that week. She didn't make it."
Peggy and Deborah had traveled this summer, attending national "Bible Bowl" competition in St. Louis and a Christ in Youth conference in Durango, Colo. "At youth night Sunday, they shared some of the things they learned at the conference. It was a very good night Sunday night in that respect," the pastor said.
Frank Jr. had just completed swimming lessons and was looking forward to first grade.
Stephanie and Chris Steinberg were staying with the Neills while their father was hospitalized with a kidney ailment in Oklahoma City.
McKracken said rites for the Neills will be held at the church, although details are pending.
"Marilee's parents live in Tulsa and are unable to make that decision right now," he said Tuesday morning. "It's a real shock to have five grandchildren wiped out in one swoop."
Services for the Steinberg children are being handled by Bill Merritt Funeral Home, Bethany.
Despite the tragedy, McKracken said there is one thing to be thankful for.
"They were very committed Christian people. We know they are all together. That's a blessing." BIOG: NAME:
Archive ID: 138757
Collision snuffs out seven fruitful lives
Marella Synovec | Published: August 9, 1983
- Marilee Neill was to begin teaching a vacation Bible school class Monday night at Boulevard Christian Church in Muskogee.
Today, the congregation of her church is stunned. The woman and her family are dead.
Mrs. Neill, 38; her husband, Frank V., 43; their children Peggy, 16, Deborah, 15, and Frank Jr., 7; and her niece and nephew, Stephanie Steinberg, 10, and Chris Steinberg, 6, of Oklahoma City were killed Monday in a traffic accident four miles west of Muskogee.
The Muskogee family was going west on the heavily traveled SH 16 at 3:45 p.m. when Neill swerved his 1979 Datsun station wagon off the road to miss an oncoming pickup that had crossed the center line.
Highway Patrol investigators said Neill apparently oversteered, going back across the highway, before being struck by an Oklahoma Gas & Electric truck.
Trooper Jim Hiseley said the OG&E driver, Donnie Ray McGrew, 46, of Muskogee, had tried to avoid hitting the station wagon.
Hiseley said the fact that seven people were riding in a compact-sized vehicle was a major factor in the accident.
"I think any vehicle can go out of control. But a compact vehicle, with that many people in it" may have caused the driver to oversteer, Hiseley said.
The wagon was equipped with seat belts but none appeared to be in use, the trooper said. "Mainly, they were pinned in the wreckage and had to be cut out," Hiseley said.
"I don't know if it (seat belts) would have done any good."
The deaths were all attributed to massive head and internal injuries. All but Neill were dead on arrival at Muskogee General Hospital; he died at 6:20 p.m. The Neills were a strong part of the Boulevard Christian Church congregation, said senior pastor James McKracken, who moved to Muskogee about seven weeks ago.
"They had been members at least 10 years. They were a real core family for us," McKracken said.
"The mother and father were youth-group sponsors and teachers in Bible school. They were very, very involved people in our congregation.
They were among the first who greeted us when we moved here.
"It's a rough situation," the pastor said.
Neill, a switchboard repairman for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., was idled by a Communication Workers of America strike against American Telephone & Telegraph.
"He had just got out on strike and had been by the church that morning," McKracken said. "He said he was going to have to walk the picket line, although I don't think he really wanted to. Marilee was supposed to teach vacation Bible school that week. She didn't make it."
Peggy and Deborah had traveled this summer, attending national "Bible Bowl" competition in St. Louis and a Christ in Youth conference in Durango, Colo. "At youth night Sunday, they shared some of the things they learned at the conference. It was a very good night Sunday night in that respect," the pastor said.
Frank Jr. had just completed swimming lessons and was looking forward to first grade.
Stephanie and Chris Steinberg were staying with the Neills while their father was hospitalized with a kidney ailment in Oklahoma City.
McKracken said rites for the Neills will be held at the church, although details are pending.
"Marilee's parents live in Tulsa and are unable to make that decision right now," he said Tuesday morning. "It's a real shock to have five grandchildren wiped out in one swoop."
Services for the Steinberg children are being handled by Bill Merritt Funeral Home, Bethany.
Despite the tragedy, McKracken said there is one thing to be thankful for.
"They were very committed Christian people. We know they are all together. That's a blessing." BIOG: NAME:
Archive ID: 138757
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