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The Body of Wilson H. Blevens, 57, truck driver who lived at 1418 Elm
Street, was found about 11 o'clock yesterday morning in the woods southwest
of the Natatorium. Dr. W.S. Hudiburg of Independence, Montgomery county
coroner, said Mr. Blevens ended his life by shooting himself in the mouth
with a .38 caliber revolver. The gun was found under Mr. Blevens' legs. A letter left for his mother, Mrs. Mary Adamson, who lived with her son, indicated Mr. Blevens planned to end his life because of ill health and financial worries. At 1 o'clock yesterday morning, Mrs. Adamson asked her son why he did not go to bed, and he replied his arthritis in his arms and back was paining so that he could not sleep. When Mrs. Adamson went to awaken him yesterday, he was gone. Glenn Zimmer, 16, Paul Zimmer, 12, both living at 104 Adams street, and their cousin, Billy Shorter, 619 Penn street, saw Mr. Blevens' body when they were hunting in that vicinity. They went to the Leroy Hill home north of the onion creek bridge and told them they had seen a man lying in the timber. Hill and Frank Mack went to the spot and determined that Mr. Blevens was dead. They went to the port of entry and told Charles Huffman, who called the police. Patrolman Bob Stotts and Orville Wright who were searching in that vicinity, and Deputy Sheriff Art Henry were summoned and Mr. Henry called Dr. Hudiburg, who was accompanied here by Clement H. Hall, county attorney. Mr. Blevens was born in Ashmore, Ill. He formerly was employed in the oil treating department at the Sinclair refinery, and later was a carpenter there in the construction program in 1932. He had worked in the flour mill here and he owned a grocery store on Washita street. He had operated a pickup-and-delivery service by truck about a year. Before coming here Mr. Blevens was employed in a Fort Worth, Tex. refinery. He also worked in a Tulsa refinery ten years. Besides his mother, Mr. Blevens is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Ollie Baker of Coffeyville and Miss Helen Blevens of Los Angeles, and one son, Jim Blevens of Los Angeles, all formerly of Coffeyville, and a brother, C.L. Blevens of Los Angeles. The Body was removed to the Skinner funeral home. Arrangements for services are incomplete. |
| COFFEYVILLE JOURNAL, Coffeyville, Montgomery Co., KS, 24 Oct 1939 |