Catherine Okey

OKEY, VERNON, NEWCOMB, TURNER, DONALDSON

Posted By: Marlene K. Skalberg (email)
Date: 3/29/2018 at 16:57:28

Mrs. Athur Franklin Okey Found Dead
Mrs. A. F. Okey found by her daughter, Mrs. Walter Newcomb, honing in the attic of the latter’s home in this city Tuesday of this week, at a few moments before noon. She was still alive when found, but expired a short time after, thou every possible effort was made to resuscitate her.
The story of Mrs. Okey’s death is a very sad one and was a terrible shock to the community. Briefly it is the story of a breakdown of a devoted wife in caring for the husband who passed away a short time before. Most of our readers know that for months previous to the death of Mr. Okey. It was expected that he might pass away at almost any moment and Mrs. Okey could not be persuaded to leave his side. The terrible strain of those days broke down the physical constitution of Mrs. Okey and when the relapse came her mental facilities seemed to suffer to an extent. Recently the family have deemed it wise to keep a careful watch over her and not three minutes before the terrible deed, she answered the call of Mrs. Newcomb inquiring as to her whereabouts.
Mrs Okey was staying at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Walter Newcomb. For some time she had suffered with insomnia and on the morning of her demise, she had slept a few hours and it was not deemed wise to disturb her. During the forenoon she arose and responded to frequent calls from her daughters and others about the house in her usual spirits. Mrs. Newcomb stepped over to the home of Mrs. H. H. Hill for a moment, cautioning her little daughter to keep watch concerning her grandmother. Mrs. Okey came down stairs during her daughters absence, but returned to the second story in a moment. A short time after, Miss Grace went to see if she could be of any service to her grandmother, but could not find her. She called her mamma and Mrs. Newcomb called to her mother as she entered the house. Mrs. Okey responded and it was only two or three moments after that Mrs. Newcomb went up stairs to see her mother. Not finding her in her room, she searched the house and found her in the attic, where she had secured the clothes line and committed the terrible deed. Just at that time, Mrs. F. C. Okey chanced to arrive at the home. She and Mrs. Newcomb hurriedly took Mrs. Okey down and summoned a physician, but the lady’s vitality was so nearly exhausted that she expired soon after.
The death comes as a shock to the community. Mrs. Okey was widely known in the county, where she had resided for almost a half century. She was born in Ohio, February 26, 1842, were she resided until her marriage to A. F. Okey in October 1866. Her maiden name was Catherine Vernon The next year after their marriage she and her husband came to Adams County where they located near Nodaway, but soon after came to Corning, which was their home ever since. To them were born five children, Edward and Clifford, engaged in the banking business in this city, Mrs. Walter Newcomb, Mrs. T. B. Turner, of Corning, and Mrs. Robert Donaldson of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In addition to the children, she is survived by Carl Vernon of this city, an only brother. A. F. Okey, husband of the deceased died in this city on the 17th of June 1909. Mrs. Okey has devoted the energies of her life to her loved ones and it was her unswerving devotion to her husband during his lingering illness that was largely responsible to her mental condition at the time she took her life. No one who knew her could beloved she would think of such a thing when in her right mind.
Mrs. Okey was an active worker of the Methodist Church of which she had been a member for a great many years. The funeral services will be conducted tomorrow by Rev. Jay Kirkendall, pastor of the M. E. Church, at the home of Walter Newcomb, at 10 o’clock and interment made in Walnut Grove Cemetery.
Adams County Free Press, Wednesday, December 22, 1909, page 13