SYMES, Ethel Mae 1905-1936

SYMES, BAKER, COOK

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 10/17/2012 at 11:48:23

Ethel Mae Symes – November 22, 1905 – November 30, 1936

HOUSEKEEPER’S BODY IS FOUND LOCKED IN CLOSET
SHOOTING AT FARM SOUTH OF EMERY CALLED SUICIDE BY CORONER

The body of Ethel Mae Symes, 31, housekeeper at the home of Oscar Long, farmer residing 2 ½ miles south of Emery, was found locked in a closet of the home late Monday afternoon when Mr. Long returned home. She had been shot through the temple with a 22 caliber rifle, which lay beside her. The closet door was locked from the inside.

Coroner J. E. McDonald pronounced the death suicide. The body was found in the closet off from her bedroom. When Long was unable to locate her upon returning home, and finding her bedroom door locked from the inside, he went to a neighbor to help him enter the room from an outside window.

Miss Symes had been working at the home for the past five months. She was born November 22, 1905, at Yale, Iowa.

Surviving Miss Symes are her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred H. Symes, Portland township; two sisters; Mrs. Wayne Baker, Portland; and Miss Dorothy Symes, at home; and two brothers; Ray and Walter Symes of Rockford.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon at the M.E. Church at Rockford, with the Rev. Fort in charge. A prayer service will be held at the home in Portland Township at 1 o’clock Thursday afternoon. The body will lie in state at the Patterson Funeral Home until 10 o’clock Thursday morning when it will be taken to the home and will lie in state there until the time of services.
Burial will be at the Rockford Cemetery.

Mason City Globe Gazette, Tuesday December 1, 1936

note* Ethel Symes was the daughter of Alfred Henry Symes and Birdie Alice (Cook) Symes.