Patterson Cemetery District, Stanislaus County, CA 

Obituaries for 1930

Submitted by Gale Stroud and Burta Herger 26 Aug 2007

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Gaffery Jean 300725 p1
Power Line Fatal to Three; re: Jean Gaffery; Merced Tragedy Strikes Heavy Blow on Gaffery Family; A strange tragedy
that was terrible in consequences laid a heavy hand on the John and Tom  Gaffery families Monday when three deaths
and two critical injuries resulted from contact with an 11,000 volt power line near Merced. Mrs. John Gaffery was
instantly killed in the catastrophe; Jean Gaffery, her niece, 13-year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Gaffery, never
regained consciousness; and William Gaffery, 19-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Gaffery, passes away that night as
the result of terrible burns.  Mrs. Gaffery's body was burned almost to a crisp before it was released from the grip of the
current a half-hour later.  First-aid crews worked over Jean for several hours, but to no avail. Aileen, aged 14, and Jane,
aged 12, sister of William, were also caught by the current, but were rescued by a neighbor. Jane's condition was critical
for a time but she is now believed out of danger although very badly burned, Aileen was the least seriously hurt and had
been released from the hospital.
Fixing Aerial; The tragedy occurred when the family were attempting to change a radio aerial.  John Gaffery was ill in
bed, and had complained of poor reception due to the interference of the power line.  Believing that the trouble might be
remedied by changing the aerial from a location parallel to the adjacent high-tension power line to a new site at right
angles, William had prepared a new pole and was on the roof attaching the wires while the others held the pole on the
ground, when the pole fell or was blown over on the 11,000 volt line
Patterson High Graduate; The John Gaffery family had resided near Vernalis until about two years ago, when they
removed to Modesto and thence to Merced.  William  was a graduate of Patterson high school with the class of 1927, a
member of the football team and also of the basketball squad.  He has been attending Modesto Junior College and would
have completed his course there next year. Jean Gaffery had just graduated from grammar school and planned to enter
Patterson high this fall.  She was visiting her aunt when the tragedy occurred, the Tom Gaffery family still residing in the
Vernalis district.  Mrs. Tom Gaffery and Mrs. John Gaffery were sisters and the disaster bears  heavily on the former,
who loses a daughter, sister and nephew.  Four brothers - Leonard, Raymond, Thomas and Robert, survive Jean.
Leonard is in the East, accompanying Mr. and Mrs. Bibler, parents of Mrs. Gaffery, on an auto tour, and funeral
arrangements were held up pending attempts to get in touch with them through radio broadcasts, there exact location not
being known. Funerals Tomorrow; Being still unlocated yesterday, however, it was decided not to delay any longer and
plans were made for funeral services to be held tomorrow, Saturday, morning, at the Shannon funeral chapel, Modesto,
followed by interment at Modesto. The tragedy caused a profound shock in Merced and a relief fund has been started
there to aid the surviving members of the family, including the bedridden father, John Gaffery, whose illness has been
heightened by the shock.