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Submitted: 4/5/11 • Approved: 4/6/11 • Last Updated: 7/30/12 • R503465-G0-S3
US Army
World War II
December 10, 1927--July 14, 1959
Born Baxter County, Arkansas.
Died Oakland, Marion County, Arkansas.
Son of Ralph Levy McCracken & Ora Violet Hodges McCracken.
Married Betty Jo Kelly.
The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Arkansas, July 16, 1959 (Part of a long article):
Two Men Die of Sudden
Asphyxiation Inside Kiln
Two men lost their lives shortly after noon Tuesday in an accidemt at a charcoal kiln on the Oakland road (State Highway 202) in northeast Marion County.
The victims were Milford James McCracken, 31, of Rt. 1, Gassville and Arlin Roy Newton, 40, of Oakland. Dr. Walter S. Guinee, county coroner, ruled that their deaths were accidental and were caused by asphyxiation.
The men were employed as operators of four kilns located four miles west of State Highway 5 near the Baxter county line and owned by TAC Enterprises, Inc., a Mountain Home corporation. The kiln are used to make charcoal from native hardwoods.
Sheriff Jack Gregory said Newton climbed down into the kiln through a porthole in the top, apparently to get a sample sack of charcoal, and called to his co-worker, McCracken, that he was fainting.
McCracken then went down the ladder into the kiln and tied a rope around Newton, but was overcome before he could pull him out.
----
The Baxter Bulletin, Mountain Home, Arkansas, July 23, 1959:
James McCracken's
Rites Last Thursday
Funeral services for Milford James McCracken, age 31, of Route 1, Gassville were held on Thursday of last week at 2 p. m. in the Gassville Methodist church with Rev. Lee Anderson of Marvell officiating.
Mr. McCracken, who was killed July 14 in an accident at a charcoal kiln near Oakland, was a member of the Methodist church and a veteran of World War II.
He was a lifetime resident of Baxter county, and was born December 12, 1927. His parents are Ralph McCracken and Mrs. Ora Hodge McCracken of Cotter. His father is a native of Marion county and his mother is a native of Taney county, Mo.
Mr. McCracken was employed as manager of the charcoal operation.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Betty Jo Kelly McCracken and twin daugters, Denise and Diane, all of the home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph McCracken of Cotter; three brothers, Wilburn, Milburn and Jurel, a sister, Shirley, of the home, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. King Hodge.
Pallbearers were Joe Sallee, Junior Crownover, John Steele, Tommy Roane, Emmett Edmonds and E. T. Murray.
Interment was in the Pilgrim's Rest cemetery. Roller Funeral home was in charge of arrangements.
Contributed on 4/5/11 by maxparnell
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Record #: 503465