Billy Dailey

BILLY DAILEY VICTIM OF DIPHTHERIA MONDAY

Aged 8 Years, Eldest Son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Dailey Passed Away.

Billy, eight year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Dailey, was the victim of diphtheria Monday at midnight at St. Mary's Infirmary, Cairo, after an illness of but a couple of days, where he had been taken by his parents in the hope of saving his life.
Billy was ill last week but seemingly was improved Sunday as he played with his younger brother, Harold Jr., in the home in the northeast part of the city.  He enjoyed the comic sections of Sunday's papers.  Later he ran a temperature and a physician was called on Monday who pronounced the ailment as diphtheria.  Upon a second visit of the physician Monday late in the afternoon, a consultation was held when it was found Billy's condition had become worse very rapidly.  There was little hope for recovery but he was taken to Cairo to the Infirmary where an incision was made in the throat and a tube inserted as a last effort to save the boy's life.  Five hours later he passed away.

Some few weeks ago a pet dog of the neighborhood which Billy and other children played with, bit him.  The dog was killed, his head sent to the Health Department at Jefferson City where it was declared the dog had rabies.  Serum shots were administered and he seemed none the worse because of the bite.  Serum was also injected for diphtheria when it was observable that this was the cause of Billy's illness, but the disease seemed so rapid in developing that it was for naught.

Surviving the boy are his parents, one brother, Harold Jr., and an elderly aunt, Miss Lou Dailey of this city, and the grandparents, Mr. and Mr. G.W. Hunt of Nevada, Mo., to mourn his death.  Harold Dailey, the father, is an employee of the Enterprise-Courier office, he having accepted the position of news and advertising manager on September 12, 1932.  Funeral services were conducted at the residence on North Fifth street by the Rev. A. B. Cooper, pastor of the First Baptist Church Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Interment was made in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.

AN APPRECIATION

With hearts heavy with the Tragedy of Life, we pause in an effort to attempt to express the gratitude that likewise exists for the countless acts of kindliness and neighborliness that so many have shown us during the past few days of our trial and sorrow.  Words are futile things when used in an effort to describe that which the human heart feels, whether it be joy, sorrow, appreciation, gratitude or what not, but we want you to know that there is gratitude and appreciation of your acts, your words, your sympathy, in our hearts - though the tongue falters with confirmation.

It would be impossible to list all whom were so kind in so many different ways, and each one fully appreciated, but we especially want to express our thanks to Mr. and Mrs. S.P. Loebe, Cletus Doolittle, Mrs. Rhilda Howlett, Scotty Cottrell, Drs. Love and Johnson and Rev. Cooper.  We also thank Mr. and Mrs. O.W. Joslyn, Mr. and Mrs. S.P. Loebe, the Baptist Sunday School, the primary grades of the Eugene Field school, Paul Will, Junior Gordon, Father Wieberg, Charles Rugerio, Mrs. Lee Carr, Mrs. Harley Estes, Mrs. Roy Gordon, Mrs. E. Will, Joe Ketterer, Cletus Doolittle, Paul Jones, Russell Coursey, Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Hunt, Mrs. Maude Whitehead and children, who made possible the abundance of beautiful flowers.

To one and all, we give our heartfelt thanks and assure you that your kindness, in whatever way expressed, will long remain as a ray of light in a most dark hour.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Dailey


Source: Articles from the “Enterprise-Courier” and Charleston “Times” dated 16 Nov 1933.  Submitted by Lisa Perry.