Rachel Mae McGregor 1861-1957

MCGREGOR, BOWEN, GIBSON, ROELF, SIMPSON

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 11/23/2016 at 08:05:07

29 August 1957 - The Clarence Sun

To Mrs. Mae McGregor was given the privilege of almost ninety years of life. Rachel Mae Bowen was born at Shell Rock, Butler County, Iowa, on August 6, 1861, the daughter of Byron Bowen and Minnie Gibson Bowen. In that community she grew to womanhood and spent over 65 years of her life. She was united in marriage with William H. McGregor on August 17, 1893. Mr. McGregor operated a grocery store until his death in 1935. To them were born two children, Bruce, who passed away in infancy, and Louise, now Mrs. Kermit Roelf. Mrs. McGregor was a life-long member of the Congregational Church.

After her husband's death, she came to live with her daughter and son-in-law. She has been a resident of Clarence 20 years. At the time of her passing from this life, she was the oldest woman in Clarence. Mrs. McGregor took a great interest in the growth, progress and welfare of her grandsons, Robert and Gary Roelf. It was a great satisfaction to her to see them grow to virile manhood.

A long mental and physical decline culminated in several month's confinement to her bed. Through it all, she was most tenderly cared for by her daughter, Mrs. Louise Roelf, who left nothing undone in the care of her mother. Mrs. McGregor passed from this life on the evening of August 11, 1957, having reached the age of 89 years and 5 days.

She is survived by her daughter and family mentioned above, a sister, Mrs. Ethel Simpson, of Waverly, Iowa, and two brothers, Burnett and LeClair of Shell Rock.

Funeral services were conducted from the Chapman Funeral Home, Clarence, Iowa, by Gordon Smith on the morning of August 14th, 1957. Organ music was provided by Arlynn Kintzel. Honorary pallbearers were Forrest Adair, Robert Roelf, John Simpson, Carland Fishel, Ruloff Wedeking, Stanley Simpson and Lloyd Phillips.

She was laid to rest in the Riverside Cemetery at Shellrock, Iowa.