CRARY, Louisa 1869-1901

CRARY

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/17/2016 at 08:48:43

Death Of Miss Louisa Crary

One of Grundy Center's Most Intelligent Young Women was Laid to Rest Last Sunday Morning

Mrs. E. A. Crary has the sympathies of the entire community in the loss of her eldest daughter, Miss Louisa, who died of typhoid fever last Thursday morning, May 9, 1901. For several weeks deceased struggled against the inevitable and though very ill from the beginning some hopes were entertained for her recovery till within a few days of her demise. For weeks before taking her bed she complained of feeling badly but not till the disease had fastened itself upon her frail constitution did she relinquish her school work and submit to medical treatment. But medical skill and the tender care given by a loving mother and anxious members of her family could not stay the claims of death, and early Thursday morning (6:30) the spirit took its flight and the tired eyes closed in a peaceful sleep that knows no waking till the trumpet shall sound, and the dead in Christ shall rise first according to the promise of her loving Master in whom she believed and in whose vineyard she was a faithful and devoted worker.

Nothing so stirs the community as the taking away of the young and useful. Miss Crary was helpful in the work of the M.E. church of which she was a member, and her influence over the young under her charge in the public school was that of a consistent and painstaking teacher and lovable Christian character. Her place in the home can never be filled by another. She was the solace and comfort of her mother in her declining years and it was her skill and energy that planned their beautiful residence a year ago in which she has just laid down her life. And yet when one soul is capable of giving so much happiness to others on earth, it is not to be wondered at that there is a higher and better use for her faculties in the bright beyond where the petty cares of earth cannot mar the beauty of the builder's art, and eternity alone can measure the reward for usefulness. That death is only a dissolution from the snares of mortality the entire world admits, and the comfort that comes to the family this Christian young woman has left behind is the comfort of the gospel and the same that they have leaned upon in the past and must in the future if they hope for a reunion in the life beyond. Such a hope they have, and their trust is in God, who will sustain them and uphold them as no earthly friend with all his wisdom and words can hope to do. We join with the friends of the family in human sympathy and commend them to the giver of good and perfect gifts, who will soothe their hearts in sorrow and will be their rod and staff in every time of need.

The funeral was conducted from the M.E. church at 10:30 o'clock Sunday morning, Rev. Clements of Conrad, officiating. He spoke from that beautiful text "If ye believe in God believe also in me," which always comes like the balm of Giliad to every bereaved heart. His words were tender and appropriate and full of comfort and faith. Rev. Jordan assisted in the reading of the scriptures, I Cor., 15. the choir sang appropriate selections and "One Sweetly Solemn thought" was very effectively rendered by Misses Spencer, Williams, Albrook and Tompkins. The funeral cortege was large, the school children and citizens alike marching in solemn procession to the cemetery where the remains were laid to rest by those of her father recently removed from the home graveyard in Felix township.

The pastor read the following obituary from the pulpit.

Mary Louisa Crary was born Jan. 28, 1869, in Felix township, Grundy county, Iowa. She resided with her parents, Capt. and Mrs. E. A. Crary, until 1887, when she took up teaching as a profession and in order to make herself more proficient she attended the State Normal School and was graduated therefrom in 1896. In the summer of 1898 she was elected as teacher in the public schools of Grundy Center, where by her faithful efforts she did credit to herself and school. She has been a faithful Christian girl from childhood and united with the Congregational church while at Cedar Falls, and since residing at Grundy Center, she united with the M.E. church. She died May 9, 1901, with a fervent faith in her God.

A beautiful "Gates Ajar" with a white dove resting above the gates, was the remembrance of the mother, her son, E. A. Crary, and her three daughters, Masdames Martin and Barnes and Miss Lucy; I. W. and A. H. Crary sent from Lincoln, Neb., an anchor, wreath and tree of flowers; the Eastern Star, Rebekahs and King's Daughters each sent a beautiful flora representation of their respective societies; the ninth grade room of the public school sent a fine pillow of tea roses and lilies containing the words "At Rest;" her chair in the choir was draped in white with red roses. Roses came from the following sources; Epworth League, public school teachers, M. E. Aid Society, Harve Miner, Wayne Morrison, Drs. McAlvin & Thielen, eighth grade pupils, Naomi Tompkins. Carnations came from Mr. and Mrs. Holck; Floyd and George Crary, of Marshalltown; Elizabeth Stover, Mrs. Simms' Sunday school class, Class of 1901, Miss Davis and Clara Davis, Geo. and Amy Crary, Cedar Falls. Mrs. Gottsch sent lilies. Miss Edna Williams, lilies of the valley; lilies of the valley also came from Nora Haskins of Whitten and Geo. Wilson of Cedar Falls.

Those from a distance who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Crary, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Crary, Marshalltown; Mrs. Lucy Prentice, Elkader, Iowa; Mrs. Lizzie Jurgensen, Macon City, Mo.,; Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Martin, Tripoli, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. O. M. Barnes, Whitten; Miss Ida VanSickle, Waterloo; Rev. Clement, Conrad; Mr. and Mrs. Abe Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Arnold, Mrs. Helen Eckler, Mrs. Cheeseman, Whitten; Mr. John Threvarten, Mrs. Enlyses Threvarten, Eldora; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Crouse, Anna Crouse, Mrs. John Lister, Conrad.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 16 May 1901, pg 1