STEVENS, Elsie 1873-1943

STEVENS, MARTZ, LEIGHTER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 8/19/2010 at 18:50:40

Mrs. J. F. Stevens Dies Tuesday; Was Sick Past Year

Mrs. John F. Stevens died at her home in Grundy Center late Tuesday afternoon, following an illness from cancer during most of the past year. She was 70 years old and was a lifetime resident of Grundy county.

Funeral services will be held at the home at two o'clock Thursday afternoon and later at the Methodist church. Rev. J. B. Bird of Nashua will be the officiating pastor, assisted by Rev. H. H. Palmer. Burial will be in the Grundy Center cemetery.

Obituary
Elsie Viola Martz, daughter of Jacob and Mary Leighter Martz, was born on the Martz homestead seven miles southwest of Grundy Center, January 16, 1873, where she grew to womanhood. She came to Grundy Center and took up the profession of dressmaking, managing a shop with her sister, Stella Martz, until her marriage Sept. 16, 1896, to John F. Stevens. They made their home in Grundy Center. To this union two children were born, Neola Mae of Brainerd, Minn., who has been at her bedside during her illness, and John LuRae, who is located at Seattle, Wash.

All through her life Mrs. Stevens was a busy and active woman; an excellent homemaker, wife and mother. Her outside activities included membership in the Methodist Church, Woman's Society of Christian Service, Winmore Sunday School class, a charter member, also president of the Woman's Relief Corps, a member of the Pythian Sisters, holding the office of Mistress of Finance at the time of her death, a member of the Woman's Club, and a faithful worker in the King's Daughters Society for many years, always eager to help the needy. She also taught a Sunday School class for many years.

She leaves to mourn her passing, her husband, John F. Stevens; the daughter, Mrs. D. C. Duncan of Brainerd, Minn.; the son, John LuRae, lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, Seattle, Wash.; four grandchildren; one brother, C. S. Martz of Grundy Center; two sisters, Stella Mumper of Donna, Texas, and Bessie Keller of Dodge, No. Dak., who were unable to be here; besides a host of other relatives and friends who will greatly miss her.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 29 July 1943, pg 6

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Mrs. John F. Stevens, 70, at her home in Grundy Center Tuesday after 17 weeks illness of cancer; born on a Grundy county farm Jan. 16, 1873, and lived there and in Grundy Center all her life; attended rural schools and at the age of 18 opened a dressmaking shop in Grundy Canter, which she operated for 12 years; married to John F. Stevens, Sept. 16, 1898; leaves husband; two children, Mrs. D. C. Duncan, Brainard, Minn.; Lt. J. L. Stevens, stationed at Seattle, Wash.; one brother, Clyde S. Martz, Grundy Center, and two sisters, Mrs. Stella Wumper, Donna, Tex., and Mrs. Bessie Keller, of Dodge, N. D., also four grandchildren survive; funeral Thursday.

--Waterloo Daily Courier (Waterloo, Iowa), 29 July 1943