Kern County Obituaries

Harry Merl Durham

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Source Unknown; 3 Dec 1953

Boy Dies From Fall in Red Rock Canyon
While on a Scout hike in Red Rock Canyon last Saturday, Nov. 28, 1953, Harry 
Merl Durham, 11 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry K. Durham of Simi, Calif., fell 
to his death from the top of  a cliff, when the Scout staff he was carrying dropped 
from his grasp and he made an effort to retrieve it.	
The rock which he was standing on slipped from under him and he fell 50 ft., 
followed by another fall of 30 ft. further, fracturing his skull. The boy was a member 
of Scout Troop No. 602 of Ventura County Council and 200 Scouts of that group 
made the trip to Red Rock Canyon for an overnight hike on Friday last. They 
intended to stay over until Sunday, but left for home after the tragic accident 
occurred. 
O'Donnell's ambulance brought the boy to Mojave Medical Center where he died at 
11:30 a.m. 
An inquest was held by Deputy Coroner Ross Jones of the Coroner's office at the 
O'Donnell Funeral Home in Mojave on Monday, resulting in a verdict of accidental 
death. 
Funeral services were held in the Church of Christ at Tarzana, Calif., on Tuesday, 
Dec. 1,. under the direction of O'Donnell Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. E
Louis Mick officiating.	
Interment was in the Oakwood Cemetery at Chatsworth, Calif.,

with Troop No. 602 of Boy Scouts of America, Simi, Calif. and other Scouts of the 
Ventura County Council in attendance.