Saunders, Mark Christopher (1867-1937)

SAUNDERS, BUMP, SUFFERN, FLACK, WITTFOTH

Posted By: ELMIRA SMITH (email)
Date: 10/21/2007 at 14:51:09

JEFFERSON HERALD, JEFFERSON, IOWA - FEBRUARY 11, 1937
REV. M. C. SAUNDERS

Mark Christopher Saunders, son of Augustus and Martha Saunders was born near Cuba, Fulton County, Illinois on June 25, 1867.

In the year 1888 he was united in married to Lily Bump, who passed away on June 1, 1930. to this union five children were born: Ernest, of Waterloo, Iowa; Allan Guy, who preceded his father in death in August 1930 and daughters Nellie and Jessie both of Churdan, Iowa. One child died in infancy.

Mr. Saunders was introduced to his Lord in an open country church near Cuba, Illinois. He soon felt the call to the Gospel Ministry and entered the Greenville College at Greenville, Illinois. He was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by the Free Methodist Church. He served the following churches; Hettick and Mason City, Illinois; Churdan, Sac City and Hopeville and several other Iowa Churches. He retired from the active pastorate a number of years ago, due to the ill health of his wife

In the year 1933 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Nelle Suffern of Springfield, Illinois.

He was taken seriously ill last May and passed away February 8, 1937 in Churdan, Iowa, at the age of sixty-nine years, seven months and thirteen days.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife, Mrs. Nelle Suffern Saunders, Mr. and Mrs. Alta Flack and Mr. and Mrs. Niles Wittfoth of Churdan, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Saunders of Waterloo, Iowa; one brother, A. L. Saunders of Canton, Illinois. There are also ten grandchildren and other relatives and a host of friends.

He was a good husband, a kind father and a good minister of Jesus Christ. It was his special request that nothing adorn his casket save the Bible, opened to the twenty-third Psalm. He loved the Bible, believed in the efficacy of prayer and looked forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Funeral service were held Wednesday afternoon at the Baptist church in charge of the pastor, Rev. George Foster, assisted by Rev. Alta Nichols, pastor of the Methodist church. A male quartet, Albert Clark, Rev C. B. Driver, Ray Mattison and Eric Perkins sang two songs, "Asleep in Jesus" and "Abide With Me", accompanied by Miss Helen Ferguson. the casket bearers were: Edmund Brown, Charles Conant, Emery Harriott, Dewey Flack, Ralph Flack and George Howard. Interment was made in Highland township cemetery.