HURST, Margaret Lillian

HURST

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/1/2017 at 05:50:14

Obituary ~ Margaret Lillian Hurst
July 01, 1875 ~ September 28, 1924

The Leon Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, October 02, 1924

The entire community was shocked and grieved Sunday morning when it became known that Miss Margaret L. Hurst was dead at her home in this city. The particulars of her death are not known. Miss Hurst, while serving as Deputy County Recorder, suffered a nervous breakdown about two years ago, and since then has been in very poor health, having gone to Chicago and Des Moines for special treatment. Recently she appeared to be greatly improved, and on Saturday, the family were greatly pleased at her condition, as she appeared to be very jovial and more like herself, and Saturday evening with relatives she remained up until a late hour enjoying a radio concert. About 5 o'clock Sunday morning, Mr. John Newton, a neighbor who keeps his auto in the barn at the Hurst home, started to the barn to look after some work on his car and found Miss Hurst lying a little north of the barn, her death having been caused by her clothing becoming saturated in oil and fired, but how the terrible accident occurred cannot be told as no one witnessed it and from the examination by physicians, her death was probably instantaneous.

Margaret Lillian Hurst, daughter of Stephen White Hurst and Frances Hurst, was born in Leon, Iowa, July 1, 1875. Practically all her life was spent in and about Leon. She was a graduate of the Leon High School, and in 1900 was graduated from the Liberal Arts Course of the State University of Iowa.

From 1909 to 1915, Miss Hurst taught English in our High School. She was a faithful, willing and efficient worker in this field of labor. Her patient sympathetic and loyal endeavors have left a lasting impression on her pupils and fellow workers. Later, she served through two terms as Assistant to Miss Mabel Horner, (now Mrs. Jacobs) County Superintendent of Schools, and later served as Deputy under the County Recorder, Miss Keown. But that which ever lay nearest to her heart was the work and interest of her own home where her devotion was unlimited.

An illness of more than a year had followed a severe breakdown, but all who knew her believed her to be approaching complete recovery, when word came of her death which occurred with tragic unexpectedness at her home in Leon, Sept. 28, 1924.

Her father, two brothers, George and Louis, and two infant sisters preceded her in death. Of her immediate family, there survive; her mother, and three brothers, Chas. E. and James W., of Leon and John F., of Chicago.

Miss Hurst was an active member of the P.E.O., also of the Order of the Eastern Star. She united in 1908 with the Methodist Episcopal Church of this city under the Pastorate of John L. Boyd, remaining for sixteen years a loyal and consistent member.

Funeral services were held at the home by her Pastor, Rev. J.E. Habliston, of the Leon M.E. Church. Interment was in the Leon Cemetery.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2016