62 Years Ago Today

On this day 62 years ago, Ralph Lloyd Jones, Hazel’s uncle, was taking his family out to the Macon lake to celebrate his oldest daughter’s birthday. Shirley Jones was turning 20 years old on this day.

In the car was the entire Jones family: Ralph and his wife, Ruth, their three children, Shirley, Margaret, and Ralph, Jr., and also my mother, Hazel. (Ruth Jones is Hazel’s aunt, Mildred’s sister.)

The Jones family lived north of Bevier, just north of Ruth’s parents, out in the country. They had a cake and were carrying along birthday party provisions, including a knife with which to cut the cake.

Ralph, Jr., Shirley, and Margaret Jones

As they approached the turn-off to the lake, Ralph made the fatal mistake of turning left, from the wrong lane, into the path of a tanker semi that was trying to pass them.

The tanker broadsided the Jones vehicle, killing Ralph instantly, and injuring his five passengers, though not critically, thank goodness. This was well before the time of required seatbelts in vehicles. The knife meant for cutting the cake was responsible for some of the injuries, as it flew around on impact. Ralph was only 46 years old.

The next day, the local paper had three large photos of the accident on the front page, along with this article:

Ralph L. Jones of Bevier Dies in Collision Here

Ralph Lloyd Jones, 46, of Bevier was killed instantly, the Patrol said, when the car which he was driving was involved in an accident with a gasoline transport. The accident occurred at 5:30 p.m. yesterday in front of the Bowzer Service Station on Route 36 west of Macon.

Jones, driving a ’49 model sedan was east bound and attempted a left turn off the highway in front of the gasoline transport, driven by Arbie Hogan of Kennett, Mo., which was trying to pass. The truck apparently hit the Jones car in the side, the Patrol said.

Mrs. Ruth Jones, Mrs. Hazel Pagliai, Miss Shirley Jones, Miss Margaret Jones, and Ralph Jones, Jr., were all passengers in the Jones car, and were all taken to  . . . . (this part of the article is illegible — it’s a really old newspaper!) . . . the Edwards Funeral Home in Bevier, where it will remain until  . . . . (another illegible part) . . .

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow at the First Baptist Church in Bevier, conducted by the pastor, the Rev. Esra Coppin. Burial will be in the Richardsdale Cemetery.

Mr. Jones was born Feb. 11, 1911, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Jones of North Bevier.

He was married to Miss Ruth Rector of Bevier, who survives. In addition to his wife he leaves three children, Shirley of Macon and Margaret and Ralph Lloyd, Jr., both of the home; two sisters, Mrs. Elmer Thomas of New Cambria and Miss Jennie Jones of Bevier; and five brothers, Daniel E. of Moline, Ill., Dewey of Brookfield, and David L., George R., and Thomas W., all of Bevier.

It’s so sad and tragic when a silly mistake ends a life, and changes the course of so many other lives. And still, it could have been so much worse.

And to have your birthday permanently marked with such a tragic event would make it hard to celebrate in future years. Poor Shirley.

Ruth did eventually remarry; I’m not sure exactly how much later, and the man she married was Dale’s uncle, Alexander Louis Britt! Alex was a barber and a painter (as in house painting), and they lived in a little house in Macon before moving to a different neighborhood in Macon upon Alex’s retirement.

Today, the scene of the accident looks like this:

Exits have been changed to make driving safer, and local traffic is routed on outer roads to avoid the highway altogether. Left turns, from any lane, are no longer allowed in this area.