Mary Evelyn Greig 1899-1917

GREIG

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 3/16/2011 at 00:08:25

Mary Greig Has Left Us
Death Claims Beautiful Young Lady Saturday Evening
Operation for Appendicitis
Attending Minnesota State University and Only Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Greig of This City
“Death loves a shining mark.” “Mary Greig is gone.” Like a cruel and staggering blow the shocking words were passed around last Sabbath morning.

The lovely and greatly beloved daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Greig closed her eyes in death at St. Barnabas hospital in Minneapolis at nine o’clock Saturday [February 17, 1917] night following an operation for appendicitis on Friday. She had been ill less than a week and announcement of her death was a distressing shock to her many friends in this city where she was greatly beloved by all who knew her, for her sweetness of disposition and attractive personality. The father and mother and only brother are bowed with grief, and words of consolation seem but words of mockery in this, the saddest and darkest hour of their lives.

Mrs. Greig was called to Minneapolis where her daughter was attending the state university early last week, by a telegram announcing her illness. On Wednesday Mr. Greig was telephone for and after he reached there Mary submitted to an operation for appendicitis which was considered very successful. She rallied from the shock and her condition indicated a speedy recovery, in fact she was so much improved that her father returned home Saturday with the assurance and belief that his daughter was out of danger and would soon be back in school again, but delusive hope, it was all in vain.

That evening at an early hour a relapse came and at nine o’clock the soul returned to the God that gave it. A telephone message was sent to Mr. Greig and at 9:30 o’clock he received the distressing news. A special train was at once obtained on the Rock Island that took Mr. Greig to Livermore where connection was made with the M. & St. L. passenger that reached Minneapolis Sunday morning.. He was accompanied by J. E. Stockdale and Chas. Root.

Monday afternoon they returned with the earthly remains of Mary and Tuesday afternoon funeral was held from the home, services being conducted by Rev. Alvin Scollay Hock of Grace Episcopal church of which she was a sincere member.

The great profusion of flowers were beautiful and mute tokens of the love in which the deceased was held and hundreds were present to pay their final tribute to their dearly beloved companion, class mate and friend.

Those from out of town to attend the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Will Greig and two sons, Mrs. A. A. Ferrish and Mrs. Mary Greig of St. Paul, Miss Bessie Woodrous, Mr. and Mrs. Wintervelle, son and daughter of Primghar, Mr. Harris Shannard and Miss Jean Shannard of Bridgewater, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Brown of Emery, South Dakota, Mrs. Donaldson and daughter of Milford, Mrs. Frisbee of Sheldon and Miss Bessie Paulson of Minneapolis.

Mary Greig was the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Greig of this city. She was born in Emery, South Dakota, January 9, 1899, and hence was a little over eighteen years of age. Most of her short life has been spent in Estherville however.

Her life though short was a benediction. She was a sweet young lady just blooming into womanhood, the idol of the home and greatly beloved in the community.

She was a graduate of the Estherville high school being president of the class of ’16 and last fall she entered the Minnesota State University and had passed the first semester with high honors. The future for her was bright, indulgent parents were ready to grant her every wish and death of one so young, so kind and so promising seems untimely and yet to the grief stricken parents and brother and sorrowing friends there is consolation in the thought that –
“There is no Death: What seem so is transition.
This life of mortal breath
Is but a suburb of this life
Whose portals we call Death.”

(Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, February 21, 1917)