STEPHEN HURST

HURST, HEBENER, HUBBELL, BAILEY

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 4/27/2002 at 16:45:24

Decatur County Journal
Thursday, December l8, l9l9

Many hearts were made sad in our community when it was announced that STEPHEN, only son of MR. and MRS. CHARLES E. HURST, was dead. He was a young man of exceptional executive ability and a general favorite with all, and universally respected and loved by all who knew him. He was born at Leon, Iowa, June 20, l90l, and departed this life at the parental home, Saturday evening, December 6th, l9l9, at 8 p.m., at the age of l8 years, 5 months and l6 days.

With the exception of a short period of time spent in visiting relatives and friends and in sight-seeing, his life was spent in Leon. He graduated from the Leon High School in the class of l9l8 with honor to himself and school. At the close of the school year in May, l9l7, he spent the vacation period in visiting his grandmother, MRS. ALICE HEBENER, who at that time resided on a ranch near Burns, Oregon. Before returning home he visited a short time with his aunts, first at the home of REV. and MRS. HUBBELL, of Pendleton, Oregon, and at the home of MR. and MRS. C.B. BAILEY, at Portland, Oregon. Before returning home he visited several of the coast cities. On his return home, not feeling fully well, the family physician was called and after examination pronounced the disease from which he suffered, diabetes. He was then placed under the care of specialists at the sanitorium in Battle Creek, Michigan. Improved in health he returned home in October, l9l7, and entered the senior class in high school. By perseverance and diligent study he was soon able to make up the time lost in September and early part of October, and graduated in the class of 'l8.

Soon after leaving school, he became assistant manager to W.F. Lindsey during his ownership of the Leon moving picture business. At the time the Adams Company came into possession of the business, STEPHEN became manager, which position he retained until he resigned to enter the State University at Iowa City. He was enrolled in the Liberal Arts Department of the University. He was always interested in clean athletics, enjoying to the fullest extent this form of pleasure. Just prior to his last and fatal illness, he accompanied the University Football Team to Chicago to witness the game between the University of Iowa and University of Chicago.

When in Chicago he visited at the home of his uncle and aunt, MR. and MRS. JOHN F. HURST, where he was taken suddenly ill. When news reached home of his serious illness, his father hurried to his bedside, remaining with him until immediate danger was thought past, then returning home. STEPHEN was left in the care of specialists, and on recovering somewhat desired to return home. Physicians and relatives urged him to remain but he wanted so much to be at home with father and mother for Thanksgiving. Definitely deciding to return home, his cousin, RAYMOND L. HURST, accompanied him, arriving home on Wednesday before Thanksgiving. His last illness was brought on by acute indigestion and this, with the chronic trouble, diabetes, hastened death.

He was a member of the Church of Christ and was converted during the Union Tabernacle meeting held in April, l9l5, by Evangelist Harper, of Fairfield, Iowa.
STEPHEN, with a number of his schoolmates, gave their hearts to Christ and their lives to his service. STEPHEN united with the Church of Christ at the close of the Union meetings and during the ministry of Brother Henry Esche. He was a young man of excellent character, of a loving disposition, generous hearted, unselfish, courteous and kind in his treatment of all, a loving, obedient son, loved by all who knew him. His place cannot be filled; it leaves a void not only in the hearts and lives of the dear parents, but in the thoughts and lives of the near relatives and his many friends. He leaves to mourn his early departure, the loving, grief-stricken parents, grandmother, MRS. S.W. HURST and MRS. ALICE HEBENER, of Leon, Iowa; uncles as follows: JAMES W. HURST, of Des Moines, Iowa; JOHN F. HURST, of Chicago, Ill.; CHARLES HEBENER, of Los Angeles, Calif.; A.E. HEBENER, of Burns, Oregon, and LELAND HEBENER, of Leon, Iowa. Aunts as follows: MISS MARGARET HURST, of Leon, Iowa; MRS. BAILEY, of Portland, Oregon; MRS. H.H. HUBBELL, of Spokane, Washington, a number of cousins and many friends.

Funeral services were held at the home on Tuesday afternoon, December 9th, l9l9, at 2 p.m., conducted by his Pastor, Rev. P.H. Green, Mr. Ralph Petty sang Tennyson's, "Crossing the Bar." Pianist, Mrs. Bert Woodard. The pall bearers were classmates and close friends as follows: Robert Beardsley, Ray Robertson, Lynn Gardner, Neal Smith, Harry Gillham, Ether Bean.
The floral offerings by relatives and friends were profuse and beautiful.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
April 24, 2002