Marget Isabel (Dixon) Beals (1941)

BEALS, DIXON, JONES

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler, Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/20/2014 at 17:18:52

Earlham Echo – Earlham, Iowa
November 13, 1941

Mrs. James M. Beals, 77, long time resident of the Bear Creek community died suddenly Sunday afternoon. She was attending Quarterly Meeting services at the Friends church in Earlham when she became ill and was taken home, where within a few minutes she passed away.

She and her husband had lived in the Bear Creek community for almost 40 years. Her sudden death came as a shock to her family and many friends.

Marget Isabel Dixon, the youngest daughter of Isaac and Nancy Ellison Dixon was born November 5, 1864 at Chariton, Iowa, and departed this life at her home near Earlham, on November 9, 1942 aged 77 years and four days.

It was at her birthplace and in Wayne county, in the vicinity of Russell, Iowa, that the early years of her life were spent.

When she was a young woman, her father passed away and she continued as an able assistant to her mother and brothers, until the time that she entered upon her own career as a housewife and mother.

On April 3, 1890 she was married to James M. Beals, who took her to his home near Carson, Iowa, where they lived the first twelve years of their wedded life. Five sons and three daughters were welcomed into their home and hearts—the youngest, Florence Pearl passing away in infancy.

Because of her insistence that her children have the advantages of a Christian community, a new home was secured near Bear Creek church, in the spring of 1902 and for nearly forty years, this has been their dwelling place.

In her youth, she accepted Christ as her Savior, and became a member of the Baptist church; after her marriage she joined the Methodist church, and later transferred her membership to Bear Creek Friends where she has been a quiet but loyal and faithful believer until the time of her death. It can be truly said of her that with the passing years she grew in grace and in the knowledge of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that she developed the fruits of the Spirit—love, peace, goodness, faith, long suffering, meekness—to a marked degree.

She was interested in her home, community, and particularly in the lives of those nearest and dearest to her. Her most ardent desire for her children was that each might strive to lead a Christian life.

On April 3, 1940 James and Marget Beals celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary, both of them deriving much pleasure from the events of the day.

On the morning of November 9 she attended Quarterly Meeting services at Earlham, as she loved to do. Shortly afterward she became quite ill and was taken home, where within a few moments her spirit fled leaving her family and friends shocked and grieved at her sudden going, but happy that her agony was brief.

She leaves in sorrow her faithful husband, who will miss her deeds of devotion in his declining years; one brother, George Dixon of Osceola; her seven children, Isaac and Virgil of Redfield, Mrs. Elmer S. Jones of Earlham, Ebert, Earl, Lula and Asa all of Bear Creek community; and twelve grandchildren besides many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Mrs. J. M. Beals were held at Bear Creek church Tuesday afternoon, November 11. They were conducted by Rev. Phinney, assisted by Ben Harris and Paul Barnett, both of whom are former pastors.