Accidental Shot Proves Fatal to Redmond Citizen

Funeral services for Wilford Ray Blackburn held Monday

Wilford Ray Blackburn, 36, farmer and livestock raiser of Redmond, died at 3:30 p. m. Friday en route to the Salina hospital for medical attention after he had been shot at his home a half hour before.

Mr. Blackburn had gone to the garage for his car, and in attempting to remove a shotgun from the car it went off, the charge striking him just below the chest. Sheriff V. M. Fairbanks, after investigating, declared death was accidental and no inquest would be held.

Mr. Blackburn had made his home in Redmond the last four years. He formerly lived at Loa, his birthplace, but upon returning form an L. D. S. mission to California, moved to Redmond. He and his wife had one of the finest homes in Redmond and were well respected in the community. Mrs. Blackburn was well known in Richfield, having attended school here. Mr. Blackburn is a cousin of Vern W. Pace of Richfield, and for years was associated with him almost as closely as a brother.

Surviving Mr. Blackburn are his widow, Mrs. Myrtle Jeffery Blackburn, and one daughter, Coy Camille Blackburn, two years of age; his mother, Mrs. M. D. Blackburn of Salt Lake; two brothers, Earl Blackburn, Delta, and Jack Blackburn, Redmond; seven sisters, Mrs. B. W. Black, Oakland, California, Mrs. G. J. Johnson, Portland, Oregon; Mrs. C. F. Pinkerton, Mrs. J. H. Clark, Myrtle, Ione and Jessie Blackburn, Salt Lake.

Funeral services were held in the Redmond ward chapel Tuesday afternoon, with Bishop Orrin Peterson officiating. President Jos. F. Peterson offered the invocation. Music was furnished by the Redmond choir, in addition to vocal solos by James Jensen of Salina and Miss Madge Peterson of Richfield. The speakers were Vernal Bastian of Redmond, formerly associated with Mr. Blackburn as a counselor in the Redmond ward bishopric; Bishop R. A. Meeks of Bicknell; President Geo. T. Eckersly of Loa; Edgar Jeffery of Delta, all of whom spoke in terms of highest respect for Mr. Blackburn and his family. The benediction was pronounced by A. Frandson of Redmond.

A large attendance and many beautiful flowers gave expression to the esteem in which Mr. Blackburn and his family were held. Many relatives from different parts of Utah and Mrs. B. W. Black of Oakland, California, a sister of Mr. Blackburn and wife of Dr. Black who has charge of five hospitals in California, were in Redmond for the funeral.

Published in the Richfield Reaper 1931-07-02