This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: JONES Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/nZB.2ACE/348 Message Board Post: The Hood River Glacier, Hood River, OR., November 4, 1920, page 1 MISS EZMA JONES KILLED BY AUTO Miss Ezma Jones, retired nurse aged 65, was instantly killed Tuesday night when struck by an automobile driven by Miss Bertha Cate, daughter of E.U. Cate. Miss Jones’ neck was broken. She was returning home from the Rockford store when struck by the car. The accident occurred about 6:15. The young woman, who was prostrated after the tragedy, according to those who were at the scene of the accident, became confused when she tried to steer her car around another automobile turned out for a spray machine. She ran too far off the highway and struck Miss Jones, who was well to the side of the road, it is said. Ms. Jones is survived by an only brother, Lewis Jones, locomotive engineer of Walla Walla. Miss Jones, who was a nurse in New York, has lived here for many years. She took a great interest in civic affairs of the community. During the war no one served more patriotically than she. She was beloved by all who knew her, and her tragic death left a pall of grief over the community. Funeral services will be held at the Anderson Chapel today at 2 p.m.. The body will be shipped to Walla Walla for interment. ------------------------------- The Hood River News, Hood River, OR., November 5, 1920, page 1 Just as residents of various sections of the valley were congregating at the Commercial club to hear the election returns on Tuesday evening, a rumor began to circulate that Miss Esma Jones, of Barrett, had been instantly killed in an auto accident. Unfortunately, the rumor proved to be true, and the sad news cast a gloom over the many people who had known this fine old lady at some point during her career as nurse or since her retirement. The tragedy adds another death to the long list of those which have resulted from an inexperienced driver losing their nerve at a critical moment. Miss Alberta Cate, the 16 year old daughter of E.U. Cate, of Hood River was driving a car shortly after dark on the main road near the Rockford store. It was raining at the time, and it is possible her vision was obscured by rain on the windshield. But, as developed at the inquest held by Coroner Anderson on Wednesday, the girl passed a power sprayer on the wrong side of the road, just as a car approached from the opposite direction. Whether she became confused is not accurately known, but the tracks of the car prove that the auto ran right off the road on the grass adjoining. Miss Jones was returning to her home from the Rockford store and was walking in the grass, several feet from the edge of the road, when she was struck by the car, which is stated to have been traveling faster than the condition then prevailing would war! rant. Miss Jones was thrown many feet away by the force of the impact, and had, apparently, died instantly, a subsequent examination proving that she had sustained an extensive fracture at the base of her skull. Miss Cate, who is prostrated with grief, says she did not see Miss Jones until the car struck her, and is evidently quite confused as to what happened immediately preceding and following tragedy. Miss Jones was one of those sweet old ladies whom to know was to love. There are scores of men and women of this valley who can bear witness to kindly ministrations of Nurse Jones, and there is not a family within a mile of her home which is not now morning her sad death. She was 65 years of age, and the only known relative is a brother living at Walla Walla. At the inquest held on Wednesday the jury found that death was caused by an extensive fracture at the base of the skull, caused by being struck by the automobile, driven by a girl who was not only inexperienced in driving autos, but who was not in possession of the driver’s license. The jury recommended that she be not permitted to drive a car again. Funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at Riverside church, the Woman’s Relief Corps having charge of the arrangements. The Rev. J.L. Hershner paid a glowing tribute to the beautiful character of Miss Jones and said she had been a ministering angel to many and many family in this valley. Ever attentive to the wants of others, she had no thought of herself, and her death is deeply mourned in families in every section of the valley. During the war she played fairy godmother to a number of the boys from this county who went overseas, and her letters and gifts cheered many a boy during hours that would have been dismal and lonely. The church was crowded and the casket was hidden beneath a very large number of floral tributes. The remains are to be shipped to Walla Walla by C.C. Anderson. It was learned yesterday that Miss Cate, who was driving the car at the time of the accident, is suffering acutely and was on the verge of collapse after the inquest. This was posted for reference only. I am not related to, nor am I researching this family. If you have additional information about the person or event listed above, please post it as reply to this message.