Edna Temple 1878-1925

TEMPLE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/23/2013 at 00:38:09

Died at Nora Springs
Miss Edna Temple, first junior high school principal in Estherville, died Sunday morning at Nora Springs. She will be remembered by many Estherville people. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, October 14, 1925)

Tribute Given to Miss Edna Temple
Students in the Mason City grade schools stood silently at their desks for half a minute Tuesday afternoon in tribute to the life and work of Miss Edna Temple, teacher in the Mason City schools, who died Sunday after a lingering illness. At the Garfield and Jefferson schools, where Miss Temple had held the post of principal, classes were dismissed Tuesday afternoon.

Teachers of these schools attended the funeral, having driven to Nora Springs.

Through the kindness of the school board, teachers of other schools who wished to attend and pay tribute to their fellow worker, were allowed to leave and substitutes were furnished.

Miss Edna M. Temple was born December 8, 1878, near Plainfield, Butler county, Iowa and passed away in Mason City, on Sabbath morning, October 11, 1925.

When four years of age she moved with her parents to Nebraska, returning to Nashua, Iowa, in 1889. Here she received her public school education. She later attended Nora Springs Seminary from which she graduated in 1900. In 1903 the family moved to Nora Springs and there the family home has since been maintained.

Miss Temple chose the profession of teaching as her life’s work, and in it was a successful and ardent worker, placing spiritual values upon the obligations she assumed.

She was principal of Seventh and Eighth Grades of the Nora Springs schools from 1903 to 1906.

Later she taught in McCook, Nebraska, for two years; in Orange City, Iowa, one year; was principal at Spirit Lake, Iowa, for three years; at Estherville, Iowa, for three years; and at Mason City for six years.

She became a member of the Congregational church at Nashua at the age of fourteen, her membership at the time of her death being in the Congregational church at Mason City.

Miss Temple was preceded in death in 1910 by her only sister, Lottie; in April, 1923 by her father; and in July, 1924, by her mother. She leaves to mourn her passing two brother, Algernon F. and Wilber R. Temple and their families, all of Sac City, Iowa, and an innumerable throng of loving friends.

Miss Temple made a brave struggle against fatal disease and in its victory a capable and sweetly unselfish life came to an end. As the Sabbath morn was breaking she peacefully slipped over the border into death - the last word was written and the book of life on earth was ended.

Miss Temple was a young woman of rare personal charm, beautiful of both face and character. She was gentle of speech and manner, sincere in thought and deed. There was something in her life that lifted her above the plane of average womankind and endeared her to all who knew her.

In life’s changing scenes she played a noble part. As a teacher her life touched and entered the knowledge of many. Her relationships in the schools over which she presided as principal were beautiful. She gave herself in a quiet, kindly way through years of self-sacrificing labor and loyal devotion. There was a sweet dignity and perfect poise in the manner with which she faithfully discharged her duties. The influence of her gentle spirit and high ideals will serve as memorial of her, and in the heart of every teacher and child who – knew her there is a tablet inscribed to her memory. Today the children of two schools in Mason City speak of her with reverent love and mourn the passing of one who was a friend.

The teachers with whom she labored cherish her example of unselfish service, her loyalty of spirit, her unbounded charity and her fidelity as a friend.

Perhaps it was as a friend that she seemed most rare. She was one member of one of the most loving friendships that Mason City has ever known. No tribute to her would be complete without mention of the friend of her girlhood and young womanhood, Miss Mabel Decker, who remained a constant companion to the last, ministering to her as a sister.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday at two o’clock pm. in the – at Nora Springs.

The body was laid to rest in the family lot in Rock Grave cemetery amidst the flowers to await the final resurrection.

She is not gone, thought the dear voice is stilled.
We know not why, we know but this -- God willed. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, October 21, 1925)

Former Nashua Girl Dies
Miss Edna Temple Passed Away at Nora Springs Oct. 11. Graduate of Nashua Public Schools
Miss Edna Temple, a former Nashua girl, passed away Sunday, Oct. 11, at her home in Nora Springs, death being due to cancer. The following account of her life we take from the Nora Springs Advertiser:
[Same obit] (Nashua Reporter, Nashua, IA, October 21, 1925)

Nashua - Miss Edna Temple died Sunday at the home of her father, Lucien Temple, in Nora Springs from cancer of the stomach. Miss Temple lived here and was graduated from our schools and for many years was a teacher. Her mother and sister, Lottie, preceded her in death. (Waterloo Evening Courier, October 22, 1925)