September 5, 1972
SHERRARD -- A Rock Island woman drowned Monday night in Frye Lake near Sherrard after the fishing boat in which she, her husband, 11-month-old son and brother were riding sank in the south end of the lake.
Mercer County Sheriff's deputies said Mrs. George Nixon, 22, of 4421 10th Ave., Rock Island, handed the child to her husband, who swam to shore believing his wife, reportedly an excellent swimmer, was behind him.
Witnesses said the woman went under about 15 feet from shore, out of sight of her husband and brother, James DeWitt Jr, 2901 44th St., Moline.
The body was recovered by rescue units in 12 feet of water at 7 p.m., about an hour and a half after the mishap, according to Robert Fippinger, Mercer County coroner.
The boat was aluminum and powered by a small outboard motor.
Fippinger said an inquest into the death would be scheduled later this week
Services for Mrs George Nixon will be 1;30 P.m. Thursday at the First Church of the Nazarene, Rock Island. Burial will be in Moline Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Wendt Brothers Funeral Home, Moline.
Clarice DeWitt was born in Zurich, Mont. She was married to George Nixon June 7, 1969 in Rock Island.
She was employed as a registered nurse at Illini Hospital.
Surviving are the widower; a son, Andrew Keith Nixon at home; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James DeWitt, Moline; maternal grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Hofeldt, Wausaukee, Wis.; a sister, Mrs. Vernon McGee, East Moline, and four brothers, Roger, Milwaukee, and James, Gerald and David, all of Moline.
She was preceded in death by a sister.
Obituary from the Moline Daily Dispatch; Tuesday, September 5, 1972