Fatally Burned: The Short Life of Betty Jean Duncan

Back in August/September when I was working on the Gibson Cemetery - I stumbled upon the tragic death of my 5th cousin 2x removed, Betty Jean Duncan. Betty isn't buried at the Gibson Cemetery, but her ancestors might be. I know her Duncan ancestors are out in the Duncan Cemetery which isn't too terribly far away from Gibson Cemetery. It's out in the Corydon/Dixie area. 

Betty was the 4x Granddaughter of Nathaniel Benjamin Duncan and Jane Rainey -- my 6x Grandparents through their daughter, Susan Duncan who married Berryman Gibson.. Susan and Berryman are of course buried at the Gibson Cemetery. 

Betty was the daughter of Fines William Duncan and Lola C. Farris. She was born on January 19th, 1934. The tragic accident happened on April 17th, 1945 - Betty was just eleven years old. Betty was left home alone with her younger siblings while her father was apparently at work and her mother went down the road a few blocks to a neighbors house. 

They lived at 534 Dixon St, according to an article in the Evansville newspaper. Little Betty went to light a fire in the stove using coal oil. Unfortunately, her clothes ended up catching on fire, and well, the rest is a tragic history. 

Betty was buried in Fernwood Cemetery but has no tombstone. I would say she's very near where her parents are in the cemetery. It's possible she had an infant tombstone many decades ago and it's just 'gone' now, or beneath the dirt a few inches. I'll try to prod for it sometime this spring.