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Submitted: 6/11/21 • Approved: 6/12/21 • Last Updated: 6/15/21 • R426370-G0-S3
1949-1957
Photo/information, courtesy of Edith Guynes Stanley
Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997
Name: Michael Joseph Felker
Date of Birth: 15 Oct 1949
Gender: Male
Birth County: Cooke
Father's Name: Bernice Glenn Felker
Mother's Name: Mary Bridget Hennessy
Roll Number: 1949_0004
Texas Death Index, 1903-2000
Name: Michael Joseph Felker
Death Date: 6 Sep 1957
Death County: Hutchinson
Certificate: 50204
*Obituary
Borger News Herald September 8, 1957
Seven-year-old Michael Joseph Felker, a second grader at St. John's Catholic School, was killed almost instantly Friday afternoon when he ran into the side of a sports car on the Bunavista-Borger expressway.
Michael's death marks the second tragedy to strike the family of Mr. and Mrs. B. G. Felker, 512 W. Madison, in the past few years. In 1950, the Felkers' 19-month-old daughter, Anne Josephine Felker, was run over and killed by a laundry truck backing out of a Borger driveway.
The boy was crossing the double highway near the Jet Drive-In on his way home from school about 3:40 p.m. Friday when he struck the left front fender of a 1957 Volkswagen convertible driven by Phil D. Phillips, a long time Borger resident and regent on the board of Frank Phillips College.
Phillips' car was travelling at a normal highway speed at the time of impact, according to police investigators. His miniature car was follwing a standard-sized vehicle and was apparently hidden from the sight of the Felker boy.
Michael, his older sister, Mary Bernice and a younger brother, Dennis, had been standing on the super-highway boulevard waiting for a break in east-bound traffic after they safely crossed the west-bound section of the twin highway. The Felker boy darted into the Borger-bound lane after the larger car passed and struck his head on the left front fender of Phillips' car.
The other children who had remained on the boulevard, ran back to the school to report the accident.
Michael was thrown down on the pavement by the jolt. Phillips, who tried to avoid hitting the youth, yanked his car to the right. The bug-shaped vehicle ran off the highway into a field and stopped about 75 yards down an embankment.
Michael was rushed to North Plains Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Death resulted from a fractured skull.
Besides his parents, he is survived by a sister, Mary Bernice, four brothers, Dennis, Barry, Kevin and Ferrin; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Hennessy, County Clare, Ireland and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Louella Felker, Gainesville, Texas.
Rosary services are scheduled today at 7:30 p.m. in the chapel of Ed Brown, Funeral Director,. Mass will be said Monday morning at 10 o'clock at St. John's Catholic Church by the pastor, Rev. Matthew Schafle.
Interment will follow in Highland Park Cemetery under the direction of Ed Brown, Funeral Director. Casket bearers will be George McKenna, D. M. Poundstone, Elmo Bonifeld, John Ronayne, Dan Mangan and Joe Collins.
Contributed on 6/11/21
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Record #: 426370