April 10, 1943 - June 15, 1976

Patricia Jackson (Mauck)

Patricia Ann Mauck, aged 33 years, two months and five days, entered rest at her home in Hoyleton Tuesday, June 15, 1976.  She has been an employee of the Community Trust Bank in Irvington the past three years.  She was also a member of Zion Church, Hoyleton, and a sponsor of the Hoyleton Comets 4-H Club.

Born on April 10, 1943, in Bloomington, she was the daughter of Charles and Katherine Jackson.  She married Carl Mauck at Hudson on August 14, 1961.  She was the mother of Julia, Timothy, and Amy Jo Mauck.

Surviving is one son, Timothy Carl.

City, Hudson women among 6 fire victims

Six members of families from Bloomington and Hudson died in an early morning fire Tuesday, at Hoyleton during a family reunion to celebrate the first birthday of the youngest victim. 

An ambulance driver said the fire which swept through the second floor of a frame house in the small town, 150 miles south of Bloomington, resulted in the worst tragedy this town has ever seen.

Dead are Mrs. Kathryn Jackson, 64, of 104 E. Wood, Mrs Naormi Mauck, 67, of Hudson, Carl Mauck, 33, his wife, Patricia, their daughters, Julie 14, and Amy Jo, 1.

Mrs. Jackson, a former maid at Illinois Wesleyan University, and Mrs. Naomi Mauck, the widow of a Hudson farmer, were visiting their children and grandchildren.

Mr. Mauck, an employee of the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad, grew up in Hudson and lived there until 1973 when he and his family moved to Hoyleton.

The only person to escape the blazing home was the Mauck's son, Timothy, 10, who was sleeping downstairs.

A spokesman for the Hoyleton Fire Department said the department was notified about 2:30 a.m. and by the time trucks arrived at the scene the upper portion of the house -- where as least five of the victims had been sleeping -- was engulfed in flame.

Fire Chief Carl Rommelman said a telephone company operator received a call from a woman about 2:30.  "All the operator heard was a woman asking for help and a baby's scream," he said.

Officials theorize faulty wiring in the attic of the home started the fire which grew unnoticed because everyone in the house was asleep.  By the time the fire was advanced enough to wake those in the house, it was too late for them to get out, Rommelman said.

David Barnett, administrator of the Washington County Ambulance Service, said Mr. Mauck may have been sleeping downstairs with his son when the fire erupted and rushed upstairs in an attempt to save the family.

He was found on the floor of his upstairs bedroom.  He was the only one in the bedroom.  He may have gone upstairs when the fire was advanced and been overcome Barnett said.

All of the people upstairs awakened and attempted to get out of the house, fire officials believe.  None of the victims was found in bed. 

Authorities believe at least five of the victims died of smoke inhalation in the fire that took four hours to bring under control

A passerby spotted the blaze.  He entered the house and took Timothy from it.  The passerby and an unidentified neighbor then made an unsuccessful attempt to go upstairs.

Patricia Mauck had worked in the underwriting and accounting department of the Union Insurance Group, 303 E. Washington from 1964 until 1973 when her husband was transferred by the railroad company.

Hoyleton is in Washington County, about 10 miles south of Centralia.

Above article is from The Pantagraph, June 15, 1976.