Stoops, John W. 1859 - 1949

STOOPS, WILLIAMSON, ATWOOD, GRISWOLD, BAGBY, RALLEY

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/25/2017 at 11:22:28

Clayton County Register, Thur., 4 Aug. 1949.

Funeral services for John W. Stoops, 90, who died at the home of his son Curtis in Sanger, Calif., on Thursday, July 28, were held at the Witt funeral chapel at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 3. Rev. Paul Kitterer officiated. Burial was in the East Side cemetery.

Mr. Stoops had been confined to his bed for several months. Death was due to the infirmities of old age.

John Stoops was born July 20, 1859, at Fayette, Iowa. His parents died when he was a small child. His uncle, Henry Williamson, of near Elkader, then took him into his home, where he grew to manhood. His entire life with the exception of the last four years was spent in this community.

His chosen profession was that of contractor, at which he worked for more than 40 years in partnership with Curtis Williamson.

On November 23, 1882, he was married to Martha E. Atwood, who preceded him in death on Sept. 5, 1914. Three children were born to this union, Curtis of Sanger, Calif., Mrs. Sadie Griswold of Woodward, Iowa, and John who died on Nov. 7, 1919.

After the death of his son John he made his home with his daughter-in-law and two grandsons, Malcolm and Burnell, where he shared the responsibility of rearing his two grandsons.

Following the death of his first wife, Mr. Stoops remarried twice, to Lillie Bagby, who died in 1917, and to Mary Ralley, who preceded him in death on Nov. 12, 1940. After her death he made his home with his grandson, Malcolm Stoops, until 1944, when Malcolm was called into the service of his county. At that time he went to his son Curtis at Sanger, Calif., with whom he lived until his death.

Surviving besides the two grandsons, Malcolm and Burnell Stoops, are three granddaughters and nine great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Ray Cousins, Carl Staack, Carl Roeder, Arno Gossman, John Downie and Albert Geno.