Bio-Stairs, RayClayton

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Ray Clayton Stairs
(1895-1924)

Ray Clayton Stairs was born on April 12, 1895 near Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, PA, the son of Lehman G. and Mattie (Minerd) Stairs. A veteran and survivor of World War I, he tragically lost his life at a young adult age of burns suffered in a gasoline explosion.

When World War I broke out, Ray joined the US Army on May 25, 1918. He is pictured in the book Westmoreland Towns in the World War, which says that he "was sent to Camp Greenleaf. He was attached to Base Hospital No. 61, later assigned to the Infantry officers' School Infirmary at Camp Lee and was honorably discharged April 29, 1919."

On April 20, 1920, Ray married Myrtle Anna Begonia (1892-1980), the daughter of John and Flora Belle (Burke) Begonia. They had two sons -- George Ray Stairs and Donald Clyde Stairs.

In March, 1924, Ray and his brother Earl and another co-worker were burned "in the Freedom Oil Company's gasoline explosion" near Mt. Pleasant, said the Connellsville Daily Courier. They were rushed to the nearby Frick Memorial Hospital. Sadly, two weeks after the accident, on March 27, 1924, Ray died of his injuries. Fortunately, said the Courier, brother Earl was "getting along nicely at the hospital," and survived.

Myrtle was left alone with her two young sons, but lived another 56 years after her husband's death. She was a member of the United Brethren Church in Mt. Pleasant.

Sadly, in 1975, Myrtle endured the death of grandson Donald R. Stairs.

Myrtle passed away at the age of 88 on Christmas Eve 1980. She was buried at Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Tarrs, PA.