NOBLE METHODIST MINISTER AND CHILD DROWN
Tragedy Occurs on Picnic at Farm Pond Friday
Rev. Paul Mitchell, pastor of the Methodist church at Noble and a language instructor last year in the Purcell high school, sacrificed his life Friday in a vain attempt to save an 11-year old Noble girl from drowning in a farm pond. The double tragedy occurred Friday afternoon when Rev. Mitchell and his sister, Miss Mary Mitchell, had accompanied a small group of children on a Sunday school picnic outing on the Rollins pond west of Noble.
Miss Mitchell stated that the group had finished eating and several of the children were wading at the edge of the pond. Jeanette Harris, 11, stepped off into a hole that was estimated to be 15 or 20 feet deep. Miss Mitchell and two other children attempted unsuccessfully to reach her and Rev. Mitchell, an expert swimmer, plunged into the water fully clothed. He reached the child and was bringing her to the bank when they suddenly disappeared and never regained the surface. He is believed to have been seized by cramps.
Help arrived quickly but it was two hours before the bodies were recovered. Swimmers were unable to reach them by diving and finally seines were employed to drag the deep hole. The Norman fire department with pulmotors was on hand but was not needed. The double tragedy brought to eight the number of drownings this year in Cleveland County.
Rites were conducted Sunday afternoon in the Noble Methodist church, with Dr. Robert J. Smith, district superintendent for Methodist churches, Rev. L. F. Grover and Rev. John Walker officiating.
Additional services for Rev. Mitchell were held Monday afternoon at Weatherford. Interment was made in the family burial plot in the Weatherford cemetery. Burial for Jeanette was made in the IOOF cemetery at Norman.
Mitchell had been pastor of the Noble Methodist church for the past two years and was working on a University of Oklahoma degree in doctor of philosophy. He held degrees from SMU and served from 1937 to 1945 as missionary in Cuba. In addition to his sister, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. C. F. Mitchell, Noble; two brothers, Elbert Mitchell, Hammond, OK; Rev. Charles Mitchell, Lake Arthur, Louisiana.
Jeanette is survived by her parents, Wilder Harris, Noble, and Mrs. Floyd Sappenfield, Boise City; two brothers and two sister, Frankllin W. Harris, Jr., Benjamin, Polly Anna, and Evelyn Ruth, all of Noble; her grandparents, Rev. and Mrs. B. R. Harris, Healy, KS; and Mr. and Mrs. Mannie Catanisky, Kenton, OK.
Tragedy Occurs on Picnic at Farm Pond Friday
Rev. Paul Mitchell, pastor of the Methodist church at Noble and a language instructor last year in the Purcell high school, sacrificed his life Friday in a vain attempt to save an 11-year old Noble girl from drowning in a farm pond. The double tragedy occurred Friday afternoon when Rev. Mitchell and his sister, Miss Mary Mitchell, had accompanied a small group of children on a Sunday school picnic outing on the Rollins pond west of Noble.
Miss Mitchell stated that the group had finished eating and several of the children were wading at the edge of the pond. Jeanette Harris, 11, stepped off into a hole that was estimated to be 15 or 20 feet deep. Miss Mitchell and two other children attempted unsuccessfully to reach her and Rev. Mitchell, an expert swimmer, plunged into the water fully clothed. He reached the child and was bringing her to the bank when they suddenly disappeared and never regained the surface. He is believed to have been seized by cramps.
Help arrived quickly but it was two hours before the bodies were recovered. Swimmers were unable to reach them by diving and finally seines were employed to drag the deep hole. The Norman fire department with pulmotors was on hand but was not needed. The double tragedy brought to eight the number of drownings this year in Cleveland County.
Rites were conducted Sunday afternoon in the Noble Methodist church, with Dr. Robert J. Smith, district superintendent for Methodist churches, Rev. L. F. Grover and Rev. John Walker officiating.
Additional services for Rev. Mitchell were held Monday afternoon at Weatherford. Interment was made in the family burial plot in the Weatherford cemetery. Burial for Jeanette was made in the IOOF cemetery at Norman.
Mitchell had been pastor of the Noble Methodist church for the past two years and was working on a University of Oklahoma degree in doctor of philosophy. He held degrees from SMU and served from 1937 to 1945 as missionary in Cuba. In addition to his sister, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. C. F. Mitchell, Noble; two brothers, Elbert Mitchell, Hammond, OK; Rev. Charles Mitchell, Lake Arthur, Louisiana.
Jeanette is survived by her parents, Wilder Harris, Noble, and Mrs. Floyd Sappenfield, Boise City; two brothers and two sister, Frankllin W. Harris, Jr., Benjamin, Polly Anna, and Evelyn Ruth, all of Noble; her grandparents, Rev. and Mrs. B. R. Harris, Healy, KS; and Mr. and Mrs. Mannie Catanisky, Kenton, OK.
NOBLE METHODIST MINISTER AND CHILD DROWN
Tragedy Occurs on Picnic at Farm Pond Friday
Rev. Paul Mitchell, pastor of the Methodist church at Noble and a language instructor last year in the Purcell high school, sacrificed his life Friday in a vain attempt to save an 11-year old Noble girl from drowning in a farm pond. The double tragedy occurred Friday afternoon when Rev. Mitchell and his sister, Miss Mary Mitchell, had accompanied a small group of children on a Sunday school picnic outing on the Rollins pond west of Noble.
Miss Mitchell stated that the group had finished eating and several of the children were wading at the edge of the pond. Jeanette Harris, 11, stepped off into a hole that was estimated to be 15 or 20 feet deep. Miss Mitchell and two other children attempted unsuccessfully to reach her and Rev. Mitchell, an expert swimmer, plunged into the water fully clothed. He reached the child and was bringing her to the bank when they suddenly disappeared and never regained the surface. He is believed to have been seized by cramps.
Help arrived quickly but it was two hours before the bodies were recovered. Swimmers were unable to reach them by diving and finally seines were employed to drag the deep hole. The Norman fire department with pulmotors was on hand but was not needed. The double tragedy brought to eight the number of drownings this year in Cleveland County.
Rites were conducted Sunday afternoon in the Noble Methodist church, with Dr. Robert J. Smith, district superintendent for Methodist churches, Rev. L. F. Grover and Rev. John Walker officiating.
Additional services for Rev. Mitchell were held Monday afternoon at Weatherford. Interment was made in the family burial plot in the Weatherford cemetery. Burial for Jeanette was made in the IOOF cemetery at Norman.
Mitchell had been pastor of the Noble Methodist church for the past two years and was working on a University of Oklahoma degree in doctor of philosophy. He held degrees from SMU and served from 1937 to 1945 as missionary in Cuba. In addition to his sister, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. C. F. Mitchell, Noble; two brothers, Elbert Mitchell, Hammond, OK; Rev. Charles Mitchell, Lake Arthur, Louisiana.
Jeanette is survived by her parents, Wilder Harris, Noble, and Mrs. Floyd Sappenfield, Boise City; two brothers and two sister, Frankllin W. Harris, Jr., Benjamin, Polly Anna, and Evelyn Ruth, all of Noble; her grandparents, Rev. and Mrs. B. R. Harris, Healy, KS; and Mr. and Mrs. Mannie Catanisky, Kenton, OK.
Tragedy Occurs on Picnic at Farm Pond Friday
Rev. Paul Mitchell, pastor of the Methodist church at Noble and a language instructor last year in the Purcell high school, sacrificed his life Friday in a vain attempt to save an 11-year old Noble girl from drowning in a farm pond. The double tragedy occurred Friday afternoon when Rev. Mitchell and his sister, Miss Mary Mitchell, had accompanied a small group of children on a Sunday school picnic outing on the Rollins pond west of Noble.
Miss Mitchell stated that the group had finished eating and several of the children were wading at the edge of the pond. Jeanette Harris, 11, stepped off into a hole that was estimated to be 15 or 20 feet deep. Miss Mitchell and two other children attempted unsuccessfully to reach her and Rev. Mitchell, an expert swimmer, plunged into the water fully clothed. He reached the child and was bringing her to the bank when they suddenly disappeared and never regained the surface. He is believed to have been seized by cramps.
Help arrived quickly but it was two hours before the bodies were recovered. Swimmers were unable to reach them by diving and finally seines were employed to drag the deep hole. The Norman fire department with pulmotors was on hand but was not needed. The double tragedy brought to eight the number of drownings this year in Cleveland County.
Rites were conducted Sunday afternoon in the Noble Methodist church, with Dr. Robert J. Smith, district superintendent for Methodist churches, Rev. L. F. Grover and Rev. John Walker officiating.
Additional services for Rev. Mitchell were held Monday afternoon at Weatherford. Interment was made in the family burial plot in the Weatherford cemetery. Burial for Jeanette was made in the IOOF cemetery at Norman.
Mitchell had been pastor of the Noble Methodist church for the past two years and was working on a University of Oklahoma degree in doctor of philosophy. He held degrees from SMU and served from 1937 to 1945 as missionary in Cuba. In addition to his sister, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. C. F. Mitchell, Noble; two brothers, Elbert Mitchell, Hammond, OK; Rev. Charles Mitchell, Lake Arthur, Louisiana.
Jeanette is survived by her parents, Wilder Harris, Noble, and Mrs. Floyd Sappenfield, Boise City; two brothers and two sister, Frankllin W. Harris, Jr., Benjamin, Polly Anna, and Evelyn Ruth, all of Noble; her grandparents, Rev. and Mrs. B. R. Harris, Healy, KS; and Mr. and Mrs. Mannie Catanisky, Kenton, OK.
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