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Jay Jess Boness

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Birth	:	4 Feb 1892 Chico, Butte County, California, USA
Death	:	8 Dec 1957 Plumas County, California, USA
Burial	:	Chico Memorial Mausoleum and Crematory, Chico, Butte County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.7346010, -121.8374560
Description	:	The Sacramento Bee; Sacramento, California; Monday, December 9, 1957; Front Page Traffic Mishaps Kill 11, Three by Plunge Into River Eleven persons died in Superior California traffic accidents, including three Chico, Butte County residents who drowned after their car plunged into the Feather River in Plumas County. One occupant swam to safety. The dead: Jay B. Boness, 65 year old retired butcher and his 61 year old wife, Vada. Belden Wreck Mr. and Mrs. Boness and Mrs. Doughty drowned about noon yesterday when their car plunged 70 feet... Read More	The Sacramento Bee; Sacramento, California; Monday, December 9, 1957; Front Page Traffic Mishaps Kill 11, Three by Plunge Into River Eleven persons died in Superior California traffic accidents, including three Chico, Butte County residents who drowned after their car plunged into the Feather River in Plumas County. One occupant swam to safety. The dead: Jay B. Boness, 65 year old retired butcher and his 61 year old wife, Vada. Belden Wreck Mr. and Mrs. Boness and Mrs. Doughty drowned about noon yesterday when their car plunged 70 feet off US Highway 40A into the Feather River seven miles west of Belden, Plumas County. A fourth occupant of the car, Mrs. Nettie Harrington, also of Chico, escaped from the submerged car by opening a window and swimming 40 feet to the bank. She climbed the cliff to the highway and hailed a passing car driven by Charles Vance, fire chief of Gridley, Butte County, who took her to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company station at Storrie, Plumas County, where she was treated for shock. Boness' body was found partially out of a window of the car by George Hallett of Tobin, Plumas County, and William Lund of Storrie who reached the vehicle in a boat. Hallett said Boness was almost to the surface of the water but his leg apparently was clutched by Mrs. Doughty and he drowned while trying to struggle free. Body Is Recovered Mrs. Doughty's body was recovered when the car was pulled from the 100 yard wide pool by a tow truck. Mrs. Harrington told Highway Patrolman Dave Story she saw Mrs. Boness swimming away from the car and urged her to try to make her way to the bank. Mrs. Boness' body was found floating downstream 300 yards from the automobile. Mrs. Harrington said Mrs. Boness was driving when the right wheels of the westbound car left the pavement and ran along the ditch. Mrs. Boness swerved the car in an attempt to pull clear of the ditch, Mrs. Harrington related, but the automobile skidded across the highway and over the cliff, striking the embankment once before it plunged into the ten foot deep water. The Chico Enterprise-Record; Chico, California; Monday, December 9, 1957; Front Page (with pictures of the deceased) Three Chicoans Die In Icy Feather River Woman, 68, Is Single Survivor Three Chicoans were killed as their auto plunged 70 feet down a canyon wall and into the icy waters of the Feather River near Quincy yesterday while another survived the tragic accident. Killed were Jay Jess Boness, 65, and his wife, Vada, 61, of 427 Salem Street, and Mrs. Viola May Doughty, 72, of 310 Normal Street. The lone survivor is Mrs. Nettie Harrington, 68, who managed to free herself from the car, which sank in nine feet of water, and swim 40 feet to shore. Plumas County undersheriff Leo J. Kelsey said Boness was trapped in the car. Mrs. Boness drowned trying to swim to shore while Mrs. Doughty was either thrown out and drowned or was killed as a result of the crash. Her body was recovered about 200 yards downstream. Mrs. Harrington was taken to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Vivian Longmire, of 369 East 17th Street, where she is under a doctor's care. The harrowing experience was related to Mrs. Longmire yesterday after the injured woman's arrival in Chico. Mrs. Harrington said she was sitting in the back seat with Mrs. Doughty when the car went out of control. She doesn't remember what happened to Mrs. Doughty but she recalled that Mr. and Mrs. Boness were conscious and aware of their grim situation when the car stopped in the water. Boness told the occupants of the car to "roll the windows down and get out." Mrs. Boness succeeded in getting out, as did Mrs. Harrington and Mrs. Doughty, but Boness only got part way out of the car. Mrs. Harrington said Boness "couldn't swim." She saw him partly out of the car when she reached shore and looked back, Mrs. Boness, weighted down by a heavy coat, "could swim a little," Mrs. Harrington told her daughter, "but she couldn't make it to the bank." She said there were no witnesses to the accident and that she climbed up the embankment, hailed a passing car and went (continued on page 2 column 2) The Chico Enterprise-Record: Chico, California; Tuesday, December 10, 1957; Page 3 Obituaries Jay, Vada Boness The Rev. L. G. Marony will officiate at funeral services to be conducted in the chapel of the Brusie Funeral Home Wednesday at 11 a.m. for Jay and Vada Boness, who died Sunday as a result of an automobile accident. Emtombment will be in the Chico Mausoleum. Survivors of Mr. Boness include two sisters, Mrs. Jessie March, of Chico, and Marjorie Boness of Los Angeles.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Jay Jess Boness's memorial?
Jay Jess Boness's memorial is located at: Chico Memorial Mausoleum and Crematory, Chico, Butte County, USA.
When did Jay Jess Boness death?
Jay Jess Boness death on 8 Dec 1957 in Plumas County, California, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Jay Jess Boness's memorial?
Latitude: 39.7346010
Longitude: -121.8374560

Family Members:

Parent

William John Boness

(1828 - 1905)

Margaret Jane Farris Boness

(1853 - 1919)

Spouse

Vada June Ott Boness

(1896 - 1957)

Siblings

William John Boness Jr.

(1871 - 1958)

Mary Ellen Boness

(1873 - 1941)

Francis Eugene “Frank” Boness

(1879 - 1921)

Amos Edward Boness

(1882 - 1954)

Reba Rebecca Boness Camper

(1884 - 1938)

Ada Florence Boness

(1887 - 1945)

Pvt Frederick Joseph Boness Sr.

(1890 - 1965)

Margaret Josephine Boness

(1896 - 1981)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Chico Memorial Mausoleum and Crematory
Chico, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7346010, -121.8374560

2. Chico Cemetery
Chico, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7391470, -121.8367800

3. Mechoopda Indian Cemetery
Chico, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7328930, -121.8558910

4. Glen Oaks Memorial Park
Chico, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7076721, -121.8084641

5. Durham Cemetery
Durham, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6758003, -121.7688980

6. Dayton Cemetery
Dayton, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6520004, -121.8679962

7. Bragg Cemetery
Nord, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7750980, -121.9568170

8. Monroeville Cemetery
Butte City, Glenn County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6747760, -122.0002560

9. Martin Family Cemetery
Artois, Glenn County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6087220, -121.9547550

10. Nicholl Cemetery
Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8119000, -121.6557500

11. Centerville Cemetery
Centerville, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7994003, -121.6461029

12. Pine Creek Cemetery
Chico, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8617240, -121.9842480

13. Paradise Cemetery
Paradise, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7589989, -121.6119995

14. Nelson Cemetery
Nelson, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5571410, -121.7694570

15. Clear Creek Cemetery
Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6632996, -121.6138992

16. Cohasset Cemetery
Cohasset, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.9124880, -121.7333220

17. Nimshew Cemetery
Magalia, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8460007, -121.6200027

18. Skyway Memorial Park
Magalia, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8059998, -121.5790024

19. Magalia Cemetery
Magalia, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8088570, -121.5800629

20. Forest Ranch Cemetery
Forest Ranch, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.9022700, -121.6596500

21. Smith-Lunt Family Cemetery
Yankee Hill, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7126420, -121.5404070

22. Mound Cemetery
Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5026460, -121.8605080

23. Orland Catholic Cemetery
Orland, Glenn County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7030983, -122.1393967

24. Orland IOOF Cemetery
Orland, Glenn County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7026000, -122.1401000