Howard Brunson;12 years old;of 330 Third street;Monessen;drowned while paddling a canoe loaded with pig iron across the Monongahela River opposite Third street early yesterday afternoon;July 17;1947. Young Brunson;who was fully clad;went under about 50 feet from the Monessen shore while his companion;Charles Maise;15;of 405 Rostraver street;swam ashore. Maise said both were frightened because the water line had nearly reached the top of the canoe. He said the Brunson boy jumped into the river and the canoe was submerged. I am going to jump; Brunson was quoted as saying by Maise. While paddling across the river from the west shore Howard inquired of his companion: I’m scared;are you? Charles said he replied that he was scared;but he added that in his opinion the canoe would not have sunk if his companion had not jumped. Maise swam for shore and heard Howard;who could swim;call for help just as he reached there. He said he swam back out toward the Brunson boy and saw him go down once without coming up. He notified Pittsburth Steel Co.employees along the shore who called police. Police said they received the call about 2:15 p.m. The body was recovered by Paul Malinchak;of 510 Chestnut street;a Pittsburgh Steel employee who was searching for the body with grappling hooks. He was in a party of police and firemen;and recovered the body about 4:05 p.m. after the party had been searching for about a half hour. The boys were transporting the pig iron for Irvin Cratty;27;a scrap collector;of 227 East Donner avenue;who said he saw the canoe go down while he was standing on the west shore. He said he did not see the Brunson boy jump. The two boys;Cratty;and a boy identified as Richard Waite;of East Donner avenue;were picking up the pieces of pig iron on the west bank of the river and loading it into the canoe. Cratty said he gave the boys a few dollars for helping him. Cratty told Howard and Charles to paddle the canoe across the river to unload the iron at the opposite shore where his truck was located. Young Bronson lived with his grandfather;John Brunson. His mother was identified as Mrs.Mattie Brunson;of 1410 Schoonmaker avenue;rear;and his father is dead. He is also survived by a sister;Ruby. Friends are being received at the Edith M.Whitaker Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held from the Union Baptist Church on McMahon avenue on Tuesday;July 22;1947 at 1 p.m.with Rev.H.A.S.Cooke;pastor;officiating. Interment will be in the Belle Vernon cemetery. Edith M.Whitaker;funeral director in charge.

Lowman D. Mason; 83; of Center Street; Belle Vernon; died Saturday; May 11; 2002; in Mt. Macrina Manor; Uniontown. A son of the late David and Alice Mason; he was born March 8; 1919; in Vestaburg. Mr. Mason was a member of the Belle Vernon Church of the Nazarene where he had attended faithfully until his health failed. A Belle Vernon resident since 1944; he retired from the Monessen Plant of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Company and was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law; Robert and Judy Mason of Belle Vernon; three daughters; Janice Garletts of Mt. Pleasant; Diane Angel of Fairhope; and Rebecca Pezzelle; with whom he made his home; three sisters; Hazel Bartus of Clarksville; Pearl Burcin of Charleroi; and Betty Yates of Huntington; W.Va.; six grandchildren and their spouses; Robin and Bill Owens; Robert and Tina Mason; Natalie and Bob Paille; Kurt Watts; and Marcie and Jason Garletts; and seven great-grandchildren; Meghan; William; Krystal; Gordon; Brittany; A.J. and Cameron. In addition to his parents; Mr. Mason was preceded in death by his wife; Eleanor Hilty Mason; on June 25; 1994; one daughter; Emily Griest; one granddaughter; Jenny Billion Cipley; one son-in-law; Gordon Pezzelle; and one sister; Cora Austin. Friends will be received in the FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME INC.; a Golden Rule Member Firm; 700 Broad Ave.; Belle Vernon; on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at the Belle Vernon Church of the Nazarene; Reed Avenue; on Tuesday at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Elwood Vandiver; chaplain at Mon Valley Hospital; officiating. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery.

George Brazack;Sr.;age 73 years;of 28 Johnson street;Belle Vernon;died in Charleroi-Monessen hospital Thursday;June 5;1947 at 7:20 a.m. He is survived by one daughter;Mrs.John Balaska;five sons;George;Jr.;John;Andrew;Paul and Martin;all of Belle Vernon;nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Friends will be received at the late home. Services will be held there Sunday;June 8;1947;at 1 p.m.;followed by additional services in St.John’s Lutheran Church;Charleroi;at 1:30. Rev.A.B.Svasko will be in charge of services;and interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Chas.L.and Edwin Melenyzer are the funeral directors.

Mrs.Mary K.Boord;64;104 Meadow Avenue;Charleroi;died at her home;Saturday;May 17; at 1:15 p.m. She was a member of the Episcopal Church. Surviving are six sons and three daughters;James;Harold and Walter;Monessen;Howard and Melvin;Charleroi;Warren;West Newton;Mrs.Clement Pireaux;and Mrs.Anthony Testi;Charleroi;Mrs.Marty Bonilati;North Chartleroi;a sister;Mrs.Marlon Phillips;of New Castle;18 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren also survive. Friends are being received at the home;where funeral srvices will be held Tuesday;May 20;at 2 p.m.;with interment to follow in the Belle Vernon Cemetery. Charles L.Melenyzer and Edwin F.Melenyzer;funeral directors.

Robert B.Bauer;age 57 years;of McGill avenue;Dawson;formerly of Belle Vernon;died in Uniontown hospital;March 28;1947;at 6 a.m. He ws a member of the Phillip G.Cochran Memorial Methodist church of Dawson;and the Lion’s club of that place. He was employed by the P.and L.E.Railroad as yard master at Dawson. He is survived by his wife;Margaret Bauer;three sons;Ernest M.of Belle Vernon;Robert B.and William at home;three daughters;Mrs.Robert Frost of Coulee Dam;Washington;Mrs.Benjamin Husband of Dawson amd Mrs. William B.McCoy of Cincinnati;Ohio;his father;Frank Bauer of Fairhope;three brothers;William of Toronto;Ohio;Frank of Youngstown;Edward of CLarksville;Pa.;four sisters;Mrs.Richard Wilson and Mrs.Ruth Beazell of Fairhope;Mrs.Francis Haywood of Pittsburgh and Mrs.Lillie Dinsmore of Youngstown;Ohio;and two grandchildren. Friends will be received at the late home. Services will be held there Monday;March 31;1947;at 2 p.m. in charge of Rev.Sherman L.Burson. Interment will follow in Belle Vernon Cemetery. Chas.L.and Edwin Melenyzer are the funeral directors.