CURTIS, Etta Lewis

CURTIS, LEWIS, WILLETT, COLE

Posted By: Michael Kearney (email)
Date: 8/16/2002 at 22:36:47

The Advertiser Monday May 19, 1924 p. 3 Etta Lewis Curtis, wife of the late Hon. George M. Curtis, died peacefully early this morning at her home in this city. She had been in poor health for a number of years, but did not suffer and the end came after an illness of two weeks, during which she grew steadily weaker as the various organs refused to function. Her life was ended in far happier circumstances than its beginning. Born at Jerusalem, N.Y., February 15, 1850, her mother, Maryette Willett Lewis, died four days later and her father, William W. Lewis, was forced to leave her with her mother's parents while he sought a livelihood in the far west. He died when she was 10 years of age, and the young daughter then went to live with her Aunt Maria Lewis Cole, who, with her husband, Elisha D. Cole, made a home for the child in Grass Lake, Mich., -later in Wheatland and Clinton, Iowa, - until she was married in Clinton to George Martin Curtis, September 4, 1872. Of that union, four children were born, two of whom, a boy and a girl, died in infancy. The eldest and the youngest of the four are G.L. Curtis and E.J. Curtis of this city, who with seven grandchildren, are left to mourn her loss. Notwithstanding early vicissitudes, hers was on the whole a happy life. Keenly interested in the affiars of her husband and later her children and grandchildren, her home life was nearly ideal and her home was, to the very hour of her death, a pleasant haven for all the member of her family. Her courageous spirit never faltered throught the years of failing health and she was always promptly ready for any enterprise with family, friends, or associates in outside activities. Mrs. Curtis was instrumental in the organization of the Associated Benevolent society and served as its president most of the time since its inception. She was first a Methodist but for many years an active and faithful member of the Presbyterian church. She was a member-lately, an honorary member - of the Sunoida club and at various times participated in the work of the community's welfare institutions. She was an interested member of the D.A.R. and at one time served as regent of the local chapter. Her life was useful as well as happy, and she reached the end with the same determined spirit with which she lived. Funeral services will be held at the house on Fifth avenue, Tuesday, May 20, at 3:30 p.m. Internment at Springdale cemetery.

The Advertiser Wednesday May 21, 1924 p. 6 Mary sorrowing friends, following the remains of the late Mrs. George M. Curtis to their final resting place in Springdale Tuesday afternoon, united in a touching tribute of love and honor to her memory. Services at the home of Fifth avenue were simple and impressive. Rev. J.M. Duer, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, read the Scriptures, and pronounced an eloquent and beautiful prayer. It was a prayer of thanksgiving for the life and devoted service to others of the departed Christian mother, and of consolation to those left behind, in the promise of a happy reunion beyond the grave. Mrs. H.H. Hobart sang three verses of "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere." The home was thronged with friends who had gathered to pay a last tribute t the memory of Mrs. Curtis. The coffin was banked with flowers, the beauty and profusion of which was an eloquent token of the love and esteem in which she was held. The pallbearers wre: A.C. Smith, A.M. Compton, C.F. Tucker, George Hutchins, J.A. Lubbers, R.N. Howes, Sr., Dr. F.O. Kershner and F.H. Van Allen. Honorary pallbearers were: F.D. Grant, H.H. Hobart, H. Purvis, S.W. Towle, Dr. H.R. Sugg, A.R. Olney, James Leslie, G.E. Lamb, L.P. Allen, A.G. Smith, W.S. Gardiner, Henry Sanford and J.D. Van Allen.