Painter, Ella Rhees (Born 1847)

PAINTER, RHEES

Posted By: Carla Hillgren (email)
Date: 2/23/2019 at 16:09:22

Decatur County Journal
September 20, l900
ELLA RHEES PAINTER was born January 4, l847, in Indiana and lived there
with her parents until entering girlhood, when they moved to Iowa, where
she has lived with the exception of two years when she resided in
southern Missouri, coming to Pleasanton in l87l. She became acquainted
with and married J.N. PAINTER in l873. By her kind disposition and good
deeds she soon won the esteem, love and admiration of all, which lasted
and grew with freshness and fragrance as the years passed by;
strengthened each day by strewing loving and kind words along the
pathway of some needy; not for gain in this earthly home but to lay up
treasures in Heaven, trying to make her neighbor's burden lighter, that
they too might see a bountiful harvest to reap by and by.
Her field of action was enlarged at the outset of her married life by
assisting her husband in his business affairs. Their business increased
each year until they had built a good trade and invested largely, she
putting her shoulder to the wheel of progress at each revolution, sowing
seeds of kindness along their way. Time rolled on, the months came and
went; monuments erected through the wisdom of God while floating down
life's streat; until about a year ago, she took sick from which she
never recovered; although loving hands, kind words of encouragement and
skilled medical aid were given which proved only palliating.
Confined to her sick bed she stood her misery and pain with patience,
offering what little she could do for the Master's cause. Much of the
success in laying the foundation for the permanency and perpetuation of
the Methodist Class and it's auxiliaries here of which she was a member,
are due to her wisdom and unceasing, never tiring prayers, her counsel
was wisdom. The glory of God shown out from her and cast its rays on
all. She had a good word for all, and was resigned to her condition.
About two weeks ago, after repeated requests from her sister and niece,
she consented to be taken to Bussey, Iowa, to be treated by a physician
whom they thought could make a cure. The evening before her departure,
a few of her friends gathered at her home to encourage and console her,
as she so regretted to leave her husband; but she said "the Lord will
take care of us just the same". The last words the writer heard her say
which were in answer to "how do you feel", after she had been taken to
the depot were, I'm in no pain; all is well. The trip was made without
much fatigue to her, as she the next morning after her arrival there,
went to the table, ate her breakfast, then walked to the telephone and
talked to her husband. About a week later, an operation was decided and
performed and was healing up and doing well, until last Friday, August
3lst when she began to grow weaker, but rallied, and Saturday morning,
Sept. lst she took worse with hemorrhage of the stomach, vomiting blood
until half past ten o'clock she fell asleep in Jesus as quietly as a
child. She was perfectly rational until the last. Even after her sight
grew dim she knew what was said. In answer to "if she realized the end
was near" she said yes, I wish PAINTER was here, but I am in the hands
of the Lord. Then the spirit took its flight to God who gave it. Her
sister or daughter was with her all the time she was away.
The remains were brought home the following Monday, accompanied by her
husband and sister, MRS. MOLLIE PRATT, and were taken to the residence
and viewed by many loving friends until 2 o'clock p.m. then taken to the
M.E. Church where the funeral was (cannot read the next 3 lines.)
Afterwards a large concourse of friends followed the remains to the
south cemetery where the Ladies Auxiliary of which she was an (cannot
read the next several lines.) Her spirit is resting with Jesus. She has
gone from us in body, but left everlasting memories, which she can watch
from her home in Heaven. She leaves a loving husband, two sisters and a
brother, besides relatives and friends unnumbered to mourn her going.