This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: MargieRoopPearce Surnames: Gephart, Wells, Bodle Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties.adams/3079/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Decatur Daily Democrat, Adams County, IN; Monday, November 8, 1926, p. 1 KEROSENE EXPLODES; YOUNG MOTHER IS FATALLY BURNED TRAGEDY OCCURS AT HOME OF JOE GEPHART SUNDAY Mrs Gephart Pours Kerosene On Fire In Kitchen Stove; Dies Today HUSBAND BURNED IN EXTINGUISHING FIRE Mrs. Joe Gephart, age 28, of near Wren, Ohio, died in the Adam County Memorial Hospital here at 5 o'clock this morning, of burns sustained early Sunday morning when kerosene, which she poured on the fire in her kitchen stove, exploded and set fire to her clothing. Mrs. Gephart's entire body was badly burned before the fire was extinguished by her husband. Four young children were left motherless by the tragedy. Mrs. Gephart was engaged in preparing breakfast about 5 o'clock Sunday morning. She had started a fire in the kitchen stove, but it was not burning properly and she took a two gallon can of kerosene and started to pour some of the oil on the fire. The kerosene exploded, hurling the blazing fluid over Mrs. Gephart's dress. HUSBAND EXTINGUISHES BLAZE Mr. Gephart was still in bed, but when he heard the noise of the explosion and his wife's screams, he ran to the kitchen. Mrs. Gephart was entirely enveloped in flames when Mr. Gephart reached the kitchen. He grabbed Mrs. Gephart and laid her on a rug, which he wrapped about her body, extinguishing the flames. Mr. Gephart's right arm was badly burned, also. The house caught fire and considerable damage was done to the interior of the building before the blaze was extinguished by Mr. Gephart and a young man by the name of Wolf, who was at the Gephart home. Removed To Hospital A physician was summoned and Mrs. Gephart's burns were dressed. At 7 o'clock Sunday evening she was removed to the hospital here. Mr. and Mrs. Gephart resided on a farm two miles southwest of Wren, Ohio, on the Indiana side of the Indiana-Ohio line. The farm is owned by Mr. Gephart's father, John Gephart. May Gephart was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Wells. She was born near Pleasant Mills, October 2, 1898. She was married to Joe Gephart June 10, 1916. Five children were born to this union, one son preceding her in death. The surviving children are Albert, Marie, Junior, and Doyl. Other surviving relatives include the mother, Mrs. David Bodle, of Decatur, and two brothers, Ernest Wells, of Marion, and Orval Wells, of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Funeral services will be held at the home at 1 o'clock Wednesday afternoon and at the United Brethren Church in Wren, Ohio, at 2 o'clock. The Rev. Mr. Sullivan will officiate at the funeral services. Burial will be made in the Wren Cemetery. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.