This item bothered me because I could not find any mention of this couple anywhere. I finally contacted the church for records and learned that the name is misspelled. This is the wife of Rev. Rubie Ray Stracener from Hopkins County, Texas. I don't know why they were in Caney or for how long. Her name was Jewell Mae Hammond Stracener and she is buried at Greenview Cemetery in Hopkins.
The Caddo Herald
May 10, 1940
Caney Woman Dies of Rifle Bullet Wound Tuesday
A .22 rifle bullet intended to kill a snake struck Mrs. Ruby Strachner in the left ear and killed her instantly at her farm home four miles west of Caney shortly after noon Tuesday.
Mrs. Strachner was shot by her husband, Rev. Strachner according to reports, after he had warned her he was going to fire at a snake under the barn and asked her if she was out of the way. The two had killed one snake at the barn, the Baptist minister said, and she had gone to the other side of the barn and called to him that she had found another reptile under the barn.
When he inquired if she was out of range she called back that she was according to the account Rev. Strachner gave. She evidently was leaning over with her head below the floor of the barn which was about two feet off the ground.
The whole community was saddened by the occurrence.
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