To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 9/18/11 • Approved: 11/6/20 • Last Updated: 11/9/20 • R589357-G589356-S3
20 Jul 1921 - 07 Aug 1943
Marriage: 26 Nov 1939 Izard County, Arkansas
Ercie Olene (Sanders) Lancaster wife of Fed N Lancaster. Ercie Olene (Sanders) Lancaster daughter of Arthur H Sanders and Nola H (Dockins) Sanders. Ersie died from a Natoma, Baxter County, Arkansas.
**obituary and news article
The Calico Rock Progress, Calico Rock, Arkansas, August 13, 1943:
Two Die As result of Car Crash Near Mountain Home
Mrs. Loreta Sanders and Mrs. Ersie Lancaster of Rodney Are The Victims
A car and truck crash, six miles south of Mountain Home, Saturday morning between 1:30 and 2 o’clock, cost the lives of Mrs. Loreta Sanders, 31 and Mrs. Ersie Lancaster, 21, both of the Rodney Community, ten miles north of here.
The accident occurred on a sharp curve near Natoma store and service station, when a car driven by W. H. Carpenter, an employee of Norfork dam struck a truck on which a large number of Rodney people were returning home from the Mountain Home picnic. Mrs. Sanders and Mrs. Lancaster as well as others on the flat-bed truck, were riding with their feet hanging over the side. The Carpenter car, which had just cone onto No. 5 highway from a side road, en route to Mountain Home, struck the truck on the left side. Mrs. Sanders and Mrs. Lancaster received the full impact of the crash, which was of such force that the formers legs were completely severed and the latter’s legs were horrible mangled. Others on the truck escaped with slight injuries and occupants of the Carpenter car were only slightly injured.
The victims were taken to the Norfork dam hospital, but died soon after arrival there. The bodies were removed to the McGuire Funeral Home at this place, remaining here until Sunday morning.
After investigation of the wreck, State Policeman Gene Mooney and Prosecuting Attorney Ernie Wright said there were no grounds to hold either driver criminally responsible.
Homer Sanders was driver of the truck. The carpenter car was completely wrecked. Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Keys of Colorado were also occupants of the Carpenter car.
Double funeral services for the victims were held at Wayland Arbor cemetery Monday at 2 p.m., Rev. J. C. Wilcox of this place officiating.
Arrangements were in charge of the McGuire Funeral Home.
Mrs. Sanders is survived by her husband, Roy Sanders; a son, Coy Dale, two daughters, Hazel and Willie May; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Stowers of Rodney; five brothers, Adolphus Stowers, Rodney, Elmer and Sam Stowers, Norfork, Lonnie Stowers, Jordan and Chas. Stowers, Houston, Texas; and six sisters, Mrs. George Bunch, Calico Rock, Mrs. Addie Havner, Mrs. Sarah Skidmore, and Mrs. Pauline Sanders, Dolph, Mrs. Wadie Dewitt, Oil Trough, Ark., and Mrs. Dessie Smith, Mtn. Home.
Mrs. Lancaster is survived by her husband, Fed Lancaster; Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Sanders of Dolph and three brothers and five sisters.
(Photo courtesy of Vera Reeves)
Contributed on 9/18/11 by maxparnell
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 589357