Submitted by
Ken and Lenora
Durrett
Typed by Marie Durrett Johnson
This newspaper obituary was in a scrapbook presented to Kenny and Lenora Durrett from her grandmother, Mrs. Tommie (Lizzie) Briley. Lizzie was born 20 Dec 1883 and died on 11 Jul 1966. These obituary clippings do not have the dates; Death dates will be supplied from the Sumner County Cemetery Book by Margaret Snider and Joan Yorgason when possible.
PORTLAND POLICEMAN & DOG KILLED BY TRAIN
W. G. McCormack, 74 to be buried today.
Portland, Tenn., Feb. 20
Night Policeman, W. G. McCormack, 74, and his dog, a constant companion on his round were killed when struck by a north-bound Louisville and Nashville passenger train shortly after 1 o'clock this morning. Two unidentified maneuver soldiers, the only known eyewitness to the accident, said that the elderly officer started across the tracks in a leisurely manner apparent unaware of the closeness of the onrushing locomotive. Mr. McCormack was hurled against the stop gate to the crossing with such force that it was torn from its base. His mangled body was found about 20 yards west of the crossing on Main Street. The body of the dog was found on the opposite side of the tracks from that of it's master.
Mr. McCormack was a native of Dyer County but had lived in Sumner County most of his life. Formerly a farmer of the Fifteenth Civil District, he had been a member of the local police force about a year. He was a member of the General Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held at 11 o'clock Monday morning at the Portland Baptist Church with the Rev. J. Burch Cooper officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
He is survived by his widow Mrs. Lula Pleasant McCormack, four daughters, Mrs. C. B. Culbreath of Portland, Mrs. Alan Thompson of Fountain Head, Mrs. S. O. Donoho and Mrs. J. W. Rutledge both of Nashville and a son J. C. McCormack of Portland.
* Sumner County Cemetery Book by Margaret Snider and Joan Yorgason: Maple Hill Cemetery - McCormack, Walter G. - 1869 - 1944
Genealogist's Companion to Research in Sumner
County, Tennessee