Stearns, Mary Elizabeth (Preston) 1871 - 1919

STEARNS, PRESTON, BELL

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/5/2021 at 20:31:24

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 17 April 1919.

Mrs. Dr. Willis L. Stearns of Mason City, died at the home of her parents Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Preston of this place, about two o'clock this morning, of tuberculosis, after an illness of several years.

Mary Elizabeth Preston was born in Elkader August 10, 1871, and grew to womanhood here. She graduated from the Elkader High School in the class of 1889 and then taught several terms of schools in the country. Later she graduated from the commercial department of Highland Park College at Des Moines and entered the law office of her father as his stenographer.

June 30, 1896, she was married to Dr. Willis W. Stearns, a former schoolmate who had graduated in medicine and was building up a practice at Mason City. This has since been their home except as her health has compelled her to live elsewhere.

One son, Dana, came to enrich their home nearly twenty-one years ago and he is now in the service of his country in France where the sad news of his mother's death will reach him.

Mrs. Stearns was one of Elkader's sweetest and most attractive girls endowed not only with physical charms but also those which came from mental ability and general grace and high character. The beautiful promise of girlhood developed into the gracious, talented woman, the devoted wife and mother, popular with all - and then ________ struck. About sixteen years ago she contracted tuberculosis, which destroyed a portion of one lung, but that time with the aid of her devoted husband she won the fight over the dread disease and regained her health. Some six years ago the dread disease again struck and this time won in spite of a most courageous fight in which she was aided by all that could be done by science and her husband and friends.

She spent the past winter in the south returning here several weeks ago apparently improved in health, but the bad weather of the past two weeks told on her and Tuesday she became so much worse that Dr. Stearns was summoned from Mason City. From that time she sank rapidly to the end.

During all the years of illness she was always the same cheerful, courageous woman endeavoring to render what service she could to all around her.

She is survived by her husband and son, by her parents, one sister, Mrs. Wm. B. Bell of Washington, D.C., and a little niece Doris, to whom she has been a second mother.

The funeral services will be held tomorrow, Friday, afternoon at 2:30 p.m. from the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Preston, and she will be buried in the family lot in the East Side cemetery. Rev. Rull will officiate and former schoolmates will be the pallbearers.

Although cut short in years and shadowed by disease, still her life was rich, rich in love, rich in service and she leaves behind her a beautiful memory. As her warm sympathy was always with those who suffered and sorrowed so the sympathy of all who knew her will be with those who mourn her death.