Francis Marion Lovejoy Munns

MUNNS, LOVEJOY, BANDY

Posted By: Marlene Skalberg (email)
Date: 2/26/2012 at 14:34:35

It was with sincere grief and with a sense of great personal loss that many learned of the death of Frances Munns, which occurred Wednesday morning, March 13, at 2:50 p.m. Mrs. Munns was a woman gifted in many ways and one who used her gifts freely in the community in which she lived and where she was greatly loved. Her life work was ended and she was ready to go, but to the very last her splendid vitality and personality exerted an important influence upon those about her.
Funeral services will be held Friday, March 15, 1929, at 10 a.m. at the home of her son, Charles K. Munns conducted by Rev. G. T. Roberts. Interment will be made in Walnut Grove Cemetery.
Francis Marion Munns, daughter of Joseph Allen and Eliza Ann Lovejoy, was born in Greece, New York on January 22, 1842, and departed this life Wednesday, March 13, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George A. Bandy in Villisca, with whom she has lived since the death of her husband. Her age at the time of her death was 87 years, 1 month, 19 days.
Her early life was spent in the city of New York, where she attended the public schools of that city and later for six years a girls' boarding school in Danbury, Connecticut.
With her parents, she moved to Belvidere, Ohio in 1862, and later to Fayette, Iowa, where she was married to James Munns, Jr., November 23, 1865. They journeyed overland by stage coach to Quincy, Iowa, where the parents of her husband lived.
In 1875, they moved to Corning, Iowa and this was her home until the death of her husband in 1914. She had been well educated in music and taught instrumental music for some time until her children demanded her time.
Three children were born to this union; Joseph Allen, who died when 4 years old, Charles K., who lives in Corning, and Mrs. George A. Bandy who lives in Villisca, Iowa
Mrs. Munns was an earnest church worker, being an enthusiastic Sunday School worker before she left New York. Her parents and those of her husband were members of the same Methodist Church there, but the Congregational Church being the principal church in Quincy, Iowa, the membership of herself and her husband's parents were transferred to that church.
When the county seat was moved to Corning, they helped organize the Corning Congregational Church, Mrs. Munns was a charter member of that church and at the time of her death was the oldest living member. For 25 years she was church organist. Her father, Rev. J. A. Lovejoy was the second pastor of the Corning Methodist Church.
Mrs. Munns was always a devoted wife and mother, showing an unusual Christian Spirit and there are many friends who will miss her happy voice and constant friendship.
Adams County Free Press, March 15, 1929, page 18