Chester Irey 1874-1921

IREY, ERB, KINSEY

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 6/8/2018 at 09:30:06

27 October 1921 - West Branch Times

Page 1
Just how the accident occurred which cost the life of Chester S. Irey and injured his companions last Saturday afternoon will never be definitely known.

Mr. and Mrs. Irey and Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle Erb in Irey's Cole-eight were returning home after attending the West Branch-Mt. Vernon football game. Wayne, the elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Irey, is a member of the local team and his family were enthusiastic devotees of the game.

As the party drove down the hill a mile east of town a Ford car passed the Irey car, cutting in quickly in front of them. In order, it is supposed to avoid striking the Ford, Mr. Irey turned his automobile to one side. It started to slide into the ditch and he turned it back quickly, but it overturned. The top was smashed but the car righted itself and remained upright, after throwing the driver to his death and hurling his three companions, Mrs. Irey and Mr. Erb failing in the stream and Mrs. Erb against the fence at the foot of the embankment.

Except for bruises and scratches, Mrs. Irey was unhurt. Mr. and Mrs. Erb also received minor injuries, Mr. Erb being badly cut abut the head and all of the party suffered from shock.

The body of Mr. Irey was taken at once to the home one-half mile south of Centerdale where he was born and had lived his entire life.

From this home Monday afternoon was held the funeral, one of the largest ever in the community. The business houses of West Branch paid a fine tribute in suspending business during the hours of 2 till 4. A mixed quartet sang and Rev. John Frederick, a former Centerdale pastor and personal friend of the deceased, read a comforting scripture and gave a splendid message of sympathy and promise to the bereaved. At the grave the very impressive Masonic service, with music by a male quartet, was used.

Chester S. Irey was a leading citizen of sterling character, one of our prominent farmers and a member of the board of directors of the State Bank. He was loved and respected by all who knew him and no finer thing can be said of him than that he has left to his sons the heritage of a manly life.

Besides his wife he leaves two sons, Wayne and Glenn, and one sister, Mrs. W. H. Erb, besides a host of other relatives and friends.

Page 2
Chester Samuel Irey, son of Samuel and Joana Irey, was born at Centerdale, Iowa, Dec. 22, 1874, and passed from this life Oct. 22, 1921.

All his life was spent on the farm south of Centerdale--boyhood, early manhood and later the founding of a happy home. When Chester was thirteen years of age, a kind and loving father was taken from the home by death. The mother and young son maintained the home, and when he became a few years older assumed the management of the farm which was continued through the remainder of his life. He was married Oct. 2, 1902, to Pearl Kinsey of West Branch, Iowa. Two sons, Wayne K. and Glenn S. came to bless their home, and are their mother's stay and comfort in this hour of sorrow.

One sister, Mrs. Will Erb, and many relatives and friends mourn his loss. All who were privileged to know him loved and respected him for those fine qualities of character which were his.

Generous, kindly, honorable and just in all that he did, his life has blessed us all and its influence shall never cease.

Funeral services were held from the home Monday afternoon at 2:30, with Rev. John Fredericks in charge. Interment was in the cemetery at West Branch.