Cemetery Tour page 4

In 1918, the world experienced an influenza epidemic.  This epidemic was so widespread that it killed more people worldwide in a six-month period than World War I over a period of four years.  Estimated deaths worldwide were 22+ million people.  This epidemic was different from other epidemics in that it didn’t concentrate on the elderly or the very young but rather on the 20 to 40 year old age group.  Large cities were especially hard hit due to population density.  Nevertheless, Oregon, though sparsely populated was not left untouched. 

Mathias and Bessie Lux were a young couple with an infant son.  Mathias had quit his job as a porter in a hotel in Coos Bay (Marshfield) to work at the Coos Bay Shipbuilding Company to help with the war (World War I) effort. 

 

Both he and his wife contracted the flu.  Bessie died on December 16th of 1918 and Mathias died five days later.  Bessie was 21; Mathias was 24.

 

In the obituary it says that Mathias “was thought to have been out of danger when his condition became suddenly worse and he gradually sank.”

 

Their tombstone is to the left of the path leading through the cemetery.

 

Matthias with baby Lowell

1918

Bessie’s high school graduation picture. 1914

Bandon elementary grade 1A

1925

Lowell Lux is the small boy in the center of the center row.

In 1925 he was 7 years old.

He was raised by his aunt and uncle and became a successful businessman in California.

He passed away in 1996.

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Lowell Lux was their infant son.

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