"L. R. Hanks, 74, longtime farm leader in Unity community, was found dead of a rifle wound through the left eye, Friday afternoon in the yard of his home on Rt. 2, Sumner. Justice of the Peace J. M. Cross, who returned a verdict of accidental death, said evidence showed that Hanks, standing by his station wagon, had been shooting at a backyard target on a tree.
Presumably, he had started to reload the gun, unaware of a charge remaining in it, as empty shells were found on the floor of the car, and live shells scattered on the ground around him. Time of death was estimated at 3 p.m. His body was seen about 4 p.m, by Mr. and Mrs. Gaylon Bailey, neighbors on their way home from a Colorado vacation trip, and they notified the family of Mr. Hanks' daughter, Mrs. Sidney Townsend, living nearby.
Funeral services will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Leverett and Steel Funeral Home in Paris, burial to be made in Meadowbrook cemetery, southeast of town.
Hanks, who came to Lamar County 22 years ago, was The Paris News' Farmer of the Month for August, 1949, having made an outstanding record in diversified farm production. He and his late wife and children were all active in Maxey Community Center affairs and agricultural groups, including Extension Service sponsored clubs."
*From the record journal of Meadowbrook Cemetery; son of Ira and Sarah Culbertson Hanks, born in Wessington Springs, South Dakota, died in Sumner, TX.
"L. R. Hanks, 74, longtime farm leader in Unity community, was found dead of a rifle wound through the left eye, Friday afternoon in the yard of his home on Rt. 2, Sumner. Justice of the Peace J. M. Cross, who returned a verdict of accidental death, said evidence showed that Hanks, standing by his station wagon, had been shooting at a backyard target on a tree.
Presumably, he had started to reload the gun, unaware of a charge remaining in it, as empty shells were found on the floor of the car, and live shells scattered on the ground around him. Time of death was estimated at 3 p.m. His body was seen about 4 p.m, by Mr. and Mrs. Gaylon Bailey, neighbors on their way home from a Colorado vacation trip, and they notified the family of Mr. Hanks' daughter, Mrs. Sidney Townsend, living nearby.
Funeral services will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Leverett and Steel Funeral Home in Paris, burial to be made in Meadowbrook cemetery, southeast of town.
Hanks, who came to Lamar County 22 years ago, was The Paris News' Farmer of the Month for August, 1949, having made an outstanding record in diversified farm production. He and his late wife and children were all active in Maxey Community Center affairs and agricultural groups, including Extension Service sponsored clubs."
*From the record journal of Meadowbrook Cemetery; son of Ira and Sarah Culbertson Hanks, born in Wessington Springs, South Dakota, died in Sumner, TX.
Family Members
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Elbert Hanks
1873–1913
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Jane Isabelle "Belle" Hanks Corrin
1875–1958
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Grace Hanks Ross
1877–1954
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Clementine Hanks
1877–1964
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Birdenia Hanks Dicks
1880–1985
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Martha Agusta Hanks Miller
1892–1972
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Idessa Hanks Miller
1895–1927
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Helen May Hanks Anderson
1897–1996
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Frank Dexter Hanks
1898–1982
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Willis Andrew Hanks
1899–1970
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