SMELSER, Edith (Lucas) 1865-1938

SMELSER, LUCAS, KING, FOX

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 12/30/2012 at 23:55:19

[Progress Review, Thursday, November 17, 1938, La Porte City, Iowa]

Mrs. Edith Smelser
Died Friday; Buried
In West View Mon.

Funeral service for Mrs. Edith Smelser was held Monday afternoon at two o'clock in the Presbyterian church and was conducted by the pastor Rev. Paul K. Figge. Two favorite hymns, Rock of Ages and The Old Rugged Cross, were sung by Mrs. F. E. Lehman and Mrs. H. D. Kline.

Accompanied by Miss Lillian Garrabrant.

The casket attendants were members of Lotos Lodge No. 705, I.O.O. F. P, W. O'Brien, C. A. Fultz, Roy Brown, Leroy Young, Henry Bookmeier and Henry Peters. Interment was made in the Lucas family lot in West View Cemetery.

Edith Lucas, daughter of Thomas and Caroline (King) Lucas, was born December 14th, 1865, on a farm three and one-half, miles southeast of town in Benton county, and died in her home in La Porte City last Friday morning at 1:45, aged 72 years, 10 months and 27 days. Her death terminated a long illness during which she was tenderly cared for by her brother, A. J. Lucas, and her sons.

When the deceased was eleven years old her parents moved from the farm to La Porte City and two years later she went with her family to Red Cloud, Nebraska, making the trip in a covered wagon. They returned in 1880 and she spent the remainder of her life in this community with the exception of one winter when she lived in Wisconsin.

In 1894 she was married to R. A. Smelser and five children were born to this union, three of whom survive. In early life she became a member of the Presbyterian church and assisted in the work of that denomination as long as her health permitted.

Surviving are three sons: Thomas E., Bert A., and Gaylord E., all of La Porte City; one brother, A. J. Lucas of this place; one sister, Mrs. J. W. Fox, of Waterloo; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two daughters, Cleo and Myrta, and eight brothers and sisters.