Fay, George W. 1877-1933

FAY, WEBB, ENO, BUCHAM, BLAKE, CAHALAN, KLUSS, FARMER, GASS, MORRIS, JOHNSON, LAYTON, THOMPSON, STAADT, KELLEY, HUBBARD, ELLIOTT, CHAMBERLAIN, OWEN, TIMMERMAN, TRUMAN, CLANCY, GOODMAN, MONLUX, NICOLAY

Posted By: S. Ferrall IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 6/6/2013 at 17:53:13

George W. Fay Passes Suddenly

Seldom have the people of this city and community been more suddenly shocked or more universally saddened than they were on Thursday afternoon last at ten minutes to five o'clock when the sorry news was swiftly wafted around of the passing of George W. Fay at the Kelleher hospital, following three days of illness of a critical nature of which but a few close friends were aware.

And we can say most truthfully that his passing removes from among us one who will be sorely missed by each and everyone who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, and their number is legion.

George W. Fay, the son of James and Elizabeth Fay, was born in Grand Meadow township, Clayton County, Iowa, August 25, 1877, and passed away in Postville, Iowa, September 21, 1933, aged a few weeks more than 56 years.

On December 11, 1901, he was united in marriage with Miss Eva Webb of Postville. For several years after their marriage they made their home on the farm, then in December of 1905 they came to Postville, which has been their home continuously since.

At first Mr. Fay was employed in the Staadt drug store, but a few years later he entered the banking business, serving first with the Postville State Bank.

For the past sixteen years, and until his death, Mr. Fay occupied the responsible position of Assistant Cashier of the Citizens State Bank, where he served with that fidelity and honor so characteristic of him in all his activities throughout life, and where by his friendly and faithful service he won the admiration and confidence of patrons and employers alike.

Mr. Fay was a charter member of the Postville Commercial Club, and from its inception until his death he was continuously its treasurer and ever one of its ardent and active members.

It was but natural that so friendly and honorable a man as Mr. Fay should at times be called upon to occupy public office, though he never sought such recognition and hence it was that he has served both as a councilman and as mayor of his home city, during all of which time he looked after the public's welfare with the same fidelity that he served his own.

Fraternally he was affiliated with Brotherly Love Lodge No. 204, A.F. & A.M.; Unity Chapter No. 62, R.A.M.; Postville Lodge No. 7070, I.O.O.F.; Post Rebekah Lodge No. 48, and Oak Camp No. 328, M.W.A., all of this city.

Though a member of no church he was a friend to them all and his life fully attested his many christian attributes.

Mr. Fay was also a great lover of his home, and when urgent matters did not prevent, there was where one would always find him, and to partake of the hospitality of that sacred place, as many did, was to enjoy just a little bit of heaven.

Mr. Fay is survived by his wife, by three brothers, Charles of McGregor, Frank of Clermont, and Dr. Oliver of Des Moines and by one sister, Mary (Mrs. John Eno) of Wagner township, Clayton county, many relatives and a host of friends.

His passing is mourned by this whole community.
His keen interest in all local matters, his strict integrity, and his sound common sense made him a valuable citizen, and his charitable and sympathetic spirit endeared him to us all. We all of us united in extending our sympathy to Mrs. Fay and to his sister and brothers. For everyone George Fay met on the pathway of life, young or old, high or low, rich or ragged, he had a cheery word of greeting; he had a friendly, kindly feeling for them all, and hence thoday there is universal sorrow that his genial voice is stilled.

The funeral was held from the Postville Community Presbyterian church at two-thirty last Sunday afternoon, Dr. R.F. Galloway conducting the service, and was one of the largest and most representative gathering of its kind ever held in this city, friends from far and near being present, and many were unable to gain admission to the church. The floral offerings were profuse and beautiful.

The service at the cemetery was in charge of the Masonic fraternity, Bro. R.R. Douglass officiating for the local lodge, close to seventy members of the craft from this and adjoining lodges being in the line of march, and just as the summer's sun was sinking in the west the mortal remains of a true friend of humanity were laid to rest beneath a wilderness of flowers.

The following out-of-town relatives and friends were present at the funeral: Dr. and Mrs. O.J. Fay, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bucham, Mr. and Mrs. Ansel Blake of Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fay of Clermont; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fay of McGregor; Mr. and Mrs. John L. Eno, Oliver and James of Wagner township; Frank Cahalan, James and Joe of Grand Meadow township; Mr. and Mrs. Emil Kluss, Mr. and Mrs. George Farmer of Waterloo; Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Gass of Calmar; Mrs. O.H. Fay of Independence; Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Morris, Mr. and Mrs. George Johnson of Oelwein; Mr. and Mrs. Willis Layton of Cresco; Russell Thompson of Waterloo; Mr. and Mrs. John F. Staadt, Mrs. Leonard Kelley of Ottawa, Kansas; Charley Hubbard, Walter Hubbard, Rosa Hubbard of Rockford; Charley Elliott of St. Paul, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Leon Chamberlain of Luana; Mr. and Mrs. Harlie Owen of Frankville; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Timmerman of Monona; Helen Truman of Elkader; Morris Cahalan, Bert Cahalan, Mrs. Arthur Clancy of Cedar Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Will Goodman of Waterloo; Mr. and Mrs. Will Monlux of St. Olaf; and Mrs. Godfrey Nicolay of Cresco.

~Postville Herald, Thursday, September 21, 1933 pgs 1 & 10
~burial is in the Postville cemetery, Area D

~transcribed from a photocopy contributed by Reid R. Johnson