Individual Details
Cleo Clyde CHREST
(14 Jun 1914 - 27 Jan 1951)
From:
To:
Subject: Re: Cleo Clyde Chrest
Date: Monday, October 15, 2001 12:26 AM
You asked: What all can you tell me about your father's death?Was it a auto
accident?
I have copies of the newspaper clippings - yes, it was a(reported) drunk
driver who crossed thecenter line and hit the patrol car headon.
The Manhattan News(paper) wrote of the accident (written acrossthe top is:
accident occurred Jan. 24, 1951 -Alfred Voelker's birthday) andI think which
I believe Lorna sent to me.
The Jan 25, 1951 article has the following information: OnWednesday
evening of Jan 24th, Manhattan Police Force officers wereinvestigating the
sudden death of Mrs. Julia Thom . And were on their way to getthe coroner
who was reported to be at a truck stop on US24-40, when thecollision occured.
The patrolcar was driven by Officer Gordon Armstrong, age 23,collided with
a car driven by Don Collier, age 20, on a curve about 100 yardswest of the
Blue River Bridge. The cars were in their respective lanes untiljust prior
to the Collier car swerving across the middle of the road.Officer Cleo Clyde
was thrown fromthe vehicle and was taken unconcious to thehospital where he
remained in a coma.
Pfc. Lincoln W. Cornelius, age 20, Fort Riley military policemanfrom West
DePere, Wisconsin was riding in the rear seat and was taken tothe Fort Riley
hospital with left leg fractures, possible concussion, andpossible broken
back. He was taken to the fort hospital by the Coroner.
Following the accident the patrol car caught fire with Armstrongwedged in
the front seat, passerbys put the fire out and pulled Armstrongfrom the
vehicle.
In the January 28, 1951 newspaper article reporting the death ofCleo, the
headlines say 2nd officer is in coma - Officer Armstrong in acoma following
surgery following a cerebral hemmorage and was also sufferingfrom a
splintered spine.
In the newspaper obituary, Pallbearers included: Chief ofPolice Clint
Bolte, Capt August Krey, Capt. Leo Osbourn, Desk Sargent RussellDavis, and
PatrolmanRay Hosier, and Hugh Snodgrass.
--------------------------------------------------------
The notes in the genealogical data base has this information:
Cleo enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1947 and was still anactive member at
the time of his death. On Oct. 15, 1948 he entered theManhattan Police
force as a probationary Patrolman. At the time of his death hewas a 1st
Class Patrolman. His death was caused from injuries in ahighway traffic accident while he was on duty.
He was injured on Jan 24, 1951 and died on the 27th, injuriesincluded
multiple fractures of the ribs and a cerebral contusion.Funeral services
were held Tues., January 30, at 2:30 p.m. at the Stewart FuneralHome in
Wamego, conducted by Rev. Gordon Coldsmith. Pallbearers wereChief of Police Clint Bolte, Captains August Krey and LeoOsbourn, Sgt. Russle Davis, Patrolmen Ray Hosier and HighSnodgrass. All in attendance where eight highway Patrolmen and20 Military Police. Burial was in the Louisville TownshipCemetery, Pottawatomie Co., Kansas. He is buried in his uniformand the Manhattan Police Officers conducted the police officer'suniform service.
=====================================================
from Marji Chrest Cochran, daughter of Cleo Clyde Chrest andThelma Alice
(Prather) Renfro.
To:
Subject: Re: Cleo Clyde Chrest
Date: Monday, October 15, 2001 12:26 AM
You asked: What all can you tell me about your father's death?Was it a auto
accident?
I have copies of the newspaper clippings - yes, it was a(reported) drunk
driver who crossed thecenter line and hit the patrol car headon.
The Manhattan News(paper) wrote of the accident (written acrossthe top is:
accident occurred Jan. 24, 1951 -Alfred Voelker's birthday) andI think which
I believe Lorna sent to me.
The Jan 25, 1951 article has the following information: OnWednesday
evening of Jan 24th, Manhattan Police Force officers wereinvestigating the
sudden death of Mrs. Julia Thom . And were on their way to getthe coroner
who was reported to be at a truck stop on US24-40, when thecollision occured.
The patrolcar was driven by Officer Gordon Armstrong, age 23,collided with
a car driven by Don Collier, age 20, on a curve about 100 yardswest of the
Blue River Bridge. The cars were in their respective lanes untiljust prior
to the Collier car swerving across the middle of the road.Officer Cleo Clyde
was thrown fromthe vehicle and was taken unconcious to thehospital where he
remained in a coma.
Pfc. Lincoln W. Cornelius, age 20, Fort Riley military policemanfrom West
DePere, Wisconsin was riding in the rear seat and was taken tothe Fort Riley
hospital with left leg fractures, possible concussion, andpossible broken
back. He was taken to the fort hospital by the Coroner.
Following the accident the patrol car caught fire with Armstrongwedged in
the front seat, passerbys put the fire out and pulled Armstrongfrom the
vehicle.
In the January 28, 1951 newspaper article reporting the death ofCleo, the
headlines say 2nd officer is in coma - Officer Armstrong in acoma following
surgery following a cerebral hemmorage and was also sufferingfrom a
splintered spine.
In the newspaper obituary, Pallbearers included: Chief ofPolice Clint
Bolte, Capt August Krey, Capt. Leo Osbourn, Desk Sargent RussellDavis, and
PatrolmanRay Hosier, and Hugh Snodgrass.
--------------------------------------------------------
The notes in the genealogical data base has this information:
Cleo enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1947 and was still anactive member at
the time of his death. On Oct. 15, 1948 he entered theManhattan Police
force as a probationary Patrolman. At the time of his death hewas a 1st
Class Patrolman. His death was caused from injuries in ahighway traffic accident while he was on duty.
He was injured on Jan 24, 1951 and died on the 27th, injuriesincluded
multiple fractures of the ribs and a cerebral contusion.Funeral services
were held Tues., January 30, at 2:30 p.m. at the Stewart FuneralHome in
Wamego, conducted by Rev. Gordon Coldsmith. Pallbearers wereChief of Police Clint Bolte, Captains August Krey and LeoOsbourn, Sgt. Russle Davis, Patrolmen Ray Hosier and HighSnodgrass. All in attendance where eight highway Patrolmen and20 Military Police. Burial was in the Louisville TownshipCemetery, Pottawatomie Co., Kansas. He is buried in his uniformand the Manhattan Police Officers conducted the police officer'suniform service.
=====================================================
from Marji Chrest Cochran, daughter of Cleo Clyde Chrest andThelma Alice
(Prather) Renfro.
Events
| Birth | 14 Jun 1914 | Louisville, Pottawatomie Co., KS | |||
| Marriage | 2 Aug 1938 | Riley, Co., KS - Thelma Alice PRATHER | |||
| Marriage | 26 Feb 1947 | Alma, KS - | |||
| Death | 27 Jan 1951 | Manhattan, Riley Co., KS | |||
| Burial | Louisville, Pottawatomie Co., KS |
Families
| Spouse | Thelma Alice PRATHER (1905 - 1938) |
| Child | Living |
| Father | Joseph CHREST ( - 1916) |
| Mother | Bertha Jane DARNELL ( - 1916) |
| Sibling | Roy Dean CHREST (1916 - 2001) |
| Sibling | Walter Ray CHREST (1919 - 2000) |