Jean Marie Hardesty

From findagrave... MEADE COUNTY MESSENGER OBITUARY - 03/10/1955 FOUR CHILDREN DROWNED DURING RAIN-HAIL STORM Swept to their deaths in a Meade County creek Friday were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Hardesty, Andyville. The 4 youngsters left a school bus to walk a mile to their home. Caught in a hail storm, they apparently started to run through the creek which was swollen to a torrent by a flash flood. They were tumbled down the steep, rocky creek bed until their bodies caught on rocks or tree branches. The worse single tragedy ever to happen to a Meade County family occurred last Friday afternoon when four of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Hardesty's children were drowned in a rain-hail swollen creek on their way home from school. Those drowned were: Jean Marie, 13 years old, Margaret, 11, Mary Ruth, 9 and Willis 7. After the children had left the school bus Friday afternoon, they started home in the rain and hail storm and in crossing a creek which was swollen from the rain and hail, all four were drowned. They were swept down the stream until their small bodies were caught on rocks and tree branches. Surviving are their parents, a brother, William Thomas, 5 years old, and a sister, Mary Evelyn, 2, also their maternal grandfather, Albert Allen of Andyville. Funeral services were conducted Monday morning at St. Mary Magdalen Church, Payneville, KY with Wright Funeral Home in charge. The entire community extends deepest sympathy in their bereavement.

obituary from Phil Burch