Person Page - 275

     Franklin Leroy McMasters was born on 7 July 1907 at Bridgewater, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of William John McMasters and May Blanche Harn. Franklin Leroy McMasters married Florence Grace Blinn circa 1931. Franklin Leroy McMasters married Mary Thelma Fhy on 10 May 1972 at Union Co., South Dakota. Franklin Leroy McMasters married Mary Thelma Fhy after 1944. Franklin Leroy McMasters died on 19 December 1986 at Bridgewater, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania, at age 79.¹ He was buried at Beaver Cemetery & Mausoleum, Beaver, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.¹ He lived in April 1944 at West Bridgewater, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.²

Mother, 4 Children Die in Fire
Father, Son Escape; 15 Others Flee
4 Houses Destroyed As Flames Sweep Fallston Dwellings

BEAVER FALLS, Pa., April 13. Mrs. Florence McMasters, 34, and four of her five children were burned to death early today in a fire which destroyed four Fallston houses.

Mrs. McMasters' husband, Franklin, 38, was treated in Beaver Valley General Hospital here for burns of the face, neck and arms. Their other son, Jacob, 13, uninjured, was taken to the hospital because he had no other place to go. The flames leaped to the adjoining frame houses, driving 15 other persons into the near freezing weather. Besides Mrs. McMasters, the dead were her two daughters, Sally, 8 and Jane, eight-months and her two sons, Jack, 6, and William, 3.

WAKES SCREAMING
McMasters said his wife awakened him about 3 a. m., screaming: "Franklin get up; the house is full of smoke."
He said his wife disappeared. apparently trying to reach the children's bedroom. He tried to reach them also, he said, but was driven back by flames.
McMasters said he and Jacob escaped by dropping to the ground from a second story porch.

Three fire companies- Fallston, New Brighton and Bridgewater battled the blaze for three hours. Firemen estimated the damage at $20,000.

NARROW ESCAPE
"Bud" Douds, his wife and three children who shared the other half of the double frame house in which the McMasters family lived barely escaped.

A neighbor, Mrs. George Kalcevic, said she climbed a stepladder and helped the three Douds children out a window. Mrs. Kalcevic, her husband and their four children were burned out of their home as were Louis Celinscak, his wife and their two sons. Firemen said the fire apparently in the kitchen of the McMasters home.
A neighbor, B. Krkue, discovered the blaze.

Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Thu, Apr 13, 1944 ·Page 13.²

     As of after 1940, Gale Edwin McMasters was also known as Masters. He was born on 16 December 1917 at Big Beaver Twsp., Beaver Co., Pennsylvania. He was the son of William John McMasters and May Blanche Harn. Gale Edwin McMasters married Mary Lydella Klear circa 1941. Gale Edwin McMasters died on 13 February 1989 at age 71.

     Henry Jacob McMasters was born circa 1931 at Pennsylvania. He was the son of Franklin Leroy McMasters and Florence Grace Blinn. Henry Jacob McMasters lived in April 1944 at West Bridgewater, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.¹

Jacob was not enumerated with his father in 1950. Unable to locate a birth or death record for Henry Jacob McMasters. There is a Henry Jacob Blinn (1931-1997), listed as son of Mabel Alice (McMasters) Blinn.

     Jack Garland McMasters was born on 1 November 1937 at New Brighton, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.^1,2 He was the son of Franklin Leroy McMasters and Florence Grace Blinn. Jack Garland McMasters died on 13 April 1944 at West Bridgewater, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania, at age 6.^1,2 He was buried on 15 April 1944 at Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, Rochester, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.^1,2 The cause of death was Accidental Conflagnations - Home burned - smothered and burned beyond recognition.²

     James P. McMasters was born on 19 July 1943 at Brighton Twsp., Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.^1,2 He was the son of Franklin Leroy McMasters and Florence Grace Blinn. James P. McMasters died on 13 April 1944 at West Bridgewater, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.^1,2 He was buried on 15 April 1944 at Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, Rochester, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.^1,2 The cause of death was Accidental Conflagnations - Home burned - smothered and burned beyond recognition.²

     Mabel Alice McMasters was born on 6 August 1902 at Sharon, Mercer Co., Pennsylvania.¹ She was the daughter of William John McMasters and May Blanche Harn. Mabel Alice McMasters married Samuel Lawrence Freed circa 1922. Mabel Alice McMasters and Howard Merle Blinn were unmarried partners at Pennsylvania. Mabel Alice McMasters died on 4 April 1937 at Beaver Falls, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania, at age 34.¹ She was buried at Beaver Cemetery & Mausoleum, Beaver, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.¹

     Sally May McMasters was born on 28 August 1935 at North Rochester, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.^1,2 She was the daughter of Franklin Leroy McMasters and Florence Grace Blinn. Sally May McMasters died on 13 April 1944 at West Bridgewater, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania, at age 8.^1,2 She was buried on 15 April 1944 at Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, Rochester, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.^1,2 The cause of death was Accidental Conflagnations - Home burned - smothered and burned beyond recognition.²

Sally's Pennsylvania death certificate affirms she died tragically along with her Mother and three brothers in a house fire at 3 a.m. on April 13, 1944.²

     William Franklin McMasters was born on 28 February 1941 at New Brighton, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.^1,2 He was the son of Franklin Leroy McMasters and Florence Grace Blinn. William Franklin McMasters died on 13 April 1944 at West Bridgewater, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania, at age 3.^1,2 He was buried on 15 April 1944 at Sylvania Hills Memorial Park, Rochester, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.^1,2 The cause of death was Accidental Conflagnations - Home burned - smothered and burned beyond recognition.²

     William John McMasters was born on 4 February 1871 at Bellaire, Belmont Co., Ohio.¹ He was the son of Leander H. Masters and Margaret Jane Conner. William John McMasters married Jenell A. Whiting in 1893 at Hancock, West Virginia. William John McMasters married May Blanche Harn, daughter of Thornton Fleming Harn Sr. and Margaret Esther Molter, on 7 May 1901 at West Bridgewater, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania. William John McMasters died on 15 September 1951 at New Brighton, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania, at age 80.¹ He was buried at Beaver Cemetery & Mausoleum, Beaver, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania.¹

     Adelaide Gertrude McMillen was born on 30 June 1936. She was born in 1938.¹ She married Steven John Barry, son of Basil Francis Barry and Esther Charlotte McCarthy, on 2 May 1959 at Cook Co., Illinois.¹ Adelaide Gertrude McMillen died on 2 January 2015 at age 78.² She was buried at Christ the King Cemetery, Hesperia, Oceana Co., Michigan.²

     Claude Edward McMurtry was born on 19 June 1899.¹ He married Ferne Irene Fellows, daughter of William Leander Fellows and Mary Mable Jordan, on 19 December 1922 at Great Falls, Cascade Co., Montana. Claude Edward McMurtry died on 27 April 1970 at age 70.¹ He was buried at Fairview Cemetery, Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff Co., Nebraska.¹

     Frieda McMurtry was born on 14 August 1918 at Crown Point, Essex Co., New York.² She married Rylan X. Hillick, son of Francis Xavier Hillick and Sidney Virginia Brewer, on 28 June 1941 at Crown Point, Essex Co., New York. Frieda McMurtry died on 8 November 2007 at Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York, at age 89.² She was buried at New Cedar Grove Cemetery, Chaumont, Jefferson Co., New York.²

     Gary McMurtry was born in July 1938 at Nebraska. He was the son of Claude Edward McMurtry and Ferne Irene Fellows. Gary McMurtry married Judith Ann Burback on 16 August 1957 at Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff Co., Nebraska. Gary McMurtry died on 28 November 2019 at age 81. He lived in December 2000 at Gering, Scotts Bluff Co., Nebraska. He lived in May 2014 at Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff Co., Nebraska.

     James L. McMurtry was born on 27 March 1930 at Sweetwater, Buffalo Co., Nebraska.¹ He was the son of Claude Edward McMurtry and Ferne Irene Fellows. James L. McMurtry married Bessie Pomplun on 1 January 1950. James L. McMurtry died on 11 October 2012 at Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff Co., Nebraska, at age 82.¹ He was cremated.¹ He lived in December 2000 at Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff Co., Nebraska.

     Mella McMurtry also went by the name of Mellie. She was born on 3 November 1925 at Elm Creek, Buffalo Co., Nebraska.¹ She was the daughter of Claude Edward McMurtry and Ferne Irene Fellows. Mella McMurtry married Halley E. McKinney at Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff Co., Nebraska. Mella McMurtry died on 3 May 2014 at Highland Park Care Center, Alliance, Box Butte Co., Nebraska, at age 88.¹ She was buried at Alliance Cemetery, Alliance, Box Butte Co., Nebraska.¹ She lived in December 2000 at Alliance, Box Butte Co., Nebraska.

     Monte McMurtry is the son of James L. McMurtry and Bessie Pomplun.

     Peggy McMurtry is the daughter of James L. McMurtry and Bessie Pomplun.

     Ruth McMurtry was born on 18 February 1924 at Buffalo Co., Nebraska.¹ She was the daughter of Claude Edward McMurtry and Ferne Irene Fellows. Ruth McMurtry married Albert P. Hauschild Jr. on 20 October 1942 at Hastings, Adams Co., Nebraska. Ruth McMurtry died on 13 January 2016 at Ravenna, Buffalo Co., Nebraska, at age 91.¹ She was buried at Highland Park Cemetery, Ravenna, Buffalo Co., Nebraska.¹ She lived in December 2000 at Ravenna, Buffalo Co., Nebraska. She lived between 1947 and 1966 at Ravenna, Buffalo Co., Nebraska.

     Sharon McNabb married Roger E. Fellows, son of Leroy LaVelle Fellows and Emma Louise Dennhardt, on 29 September 1962 at Holy Redeemer Church, North Bend, Coos Co., Oregon.

     Anna Eliza McNally was born on 10 July 1881 at Taymouth, Saginaw Co., Michigan. She married William Reid Kerr on 26 December 1900 at Taymouth, Saginaw Co., Michigan.¹ Anna Eliza McNally died on 26 July 1977 at California at age 96.

     Brandon McNamara was the son of Thomas Joseph McNamara and Denise Estelle La Croix.¹ Brandon McNamara died before 2009.¹

     Thomas Joseph McNamara married Denise Estelle La Croix, daughter of Clayton Peter La Croix and Patricia Margaret Zimmerman, on 5 June 1992 at Rice Co., Minnesota.¹

     Tyler Joseph McNamara is the son of Thomas Joseph McNamara and Denise Estelle La Croix.¹

     Benjamin McNeal is the son of Paul McNeal and Sandre Fowler.

     Paul McNeal married Sandre Fowler, daughter of Virgil Beauregard Fowler Jr. and Dorothy Sandre Stansell.

     Shannon McNeal is the daughter of Paul McNeal and Sandre Fowler.

     Stephen McNeal is the son of Paul McNeal and Sandre Fowler.

     Stella S. McNeeley married Perry O. Ackerson, son of William Perry Ackerson and Mary Etta Smith, on 23 November 1937 at Bushnell, McDonough Co., Illinois.¹ Stella S. McNeeley died on 4 April 1990.¹

     Martha Jane McNeil was born on 22 February 1861.^2,3 She married Reason Elmer Harn, son of Jonathan Harn and Susan Crabtree, circa 1885.⁴ Martha Jane McNeil died on 11 February 1936 at Illinois at age 74.^5,3 She was buried at Waterford (Sepo) Cemetery, Lewistown, Fulton Co., Illinois.^2,3

     Carol Tommylee McNutt is the daughter of Thomas McNutt and Marvel Jean Hartley. Carol Tommylee McNutt married Samson C. Velasco on 27 November 1984 at Reno, Washoe Co., Nevada. Carol Tommylee McNutt and Samson C. Velasco were divorced on 19 September 1988 at Washoe Co., Nevada.