Byron Dean Furr, 16, and David Lee Furr, 18 brothers and both of Olney were killed in a highway collision northeast of Newton on December 27, 1977. Authorities said the car in which the youths were riding was southbound on Illinois 130 about two miles north of Newton when it was involved in a right angle collision with a pickup truck driven by Leroy Wakefield, 55, Newton.

The accident occurred while the brothers were returning to Olney after attending the Charleston Holiday basketball tournament where Olney had defeated Pana. Both of the victims were thrown from the car and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Byron, 16, was a junior at East Richland High School and was on the varsity golf team at the school.  He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Olney.

Surviving David and Byron are stepfather and mother, Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence J. Knox of Olney; stepsister, Mrs. Mary Ann Swisher of Cambria, Ill.; stepbrothers, Bob Knox of South Bend, Ind., Steve and Tim Knox both of Carbondale and Alex Knox of Olney; grandmother, Mrs. Mary Keneipp of Owensville, Ind.; and step-grandmother, Mrs. Rhoda Fitzsimmons of Evansville.

Services at Owensville United Methodist Church in Owensville, with burial in Bethel Cemetery in Owensville, Ind.

Byron was born January 2, 1961 a son of Dr. Jack D. Furr and Elizabeth Knox of Olney.

Published in Evansville Courier & Press (IN) - December 29, 1977