Parker, Mary Melissa Crane 1856-1931

CRANE, KENDELL, SAVIN, BURTON, TRUDELL, BECKNER, GOODRICH, DINGMAN

Posted By: Wanda J. Huisman (email)
Date: 2/27/2005 at 15:05:35

Pioneer Alden Resident Called To Her Final Home

(Obituary is a newspaper article dated 5 Feb. 1931, posted in the scrapbook of "Jennie" Sarah Virginia Beckner Crane)

The death of Mrs. J. E. Parker, pioneer resident of this community cast a pall of sadness over the people here last Friday when work was circulated of her passing at the family home northwest of Alden. Funeral services were held Sunday at 12:30 at the home, 2:30 from the Foster Funeral Home at Webster City. Rev. F.F. Robinson, pastor of the local Methodist Church had charge of the services and Rev. Collins of Webster City gave a few bried remarks at that place.

Mary Melissa Crane, daughter of James Samuel and Mary J. Crane, was born on the 15th of October 1856 in Volga City, Clayton County, Iowa. Death came to her January 30, 1931, at the age of 74 years, 3 monts and 16 days.

At the age of 10 she moved with her parent to the county near the present site of the town of Willams and her life was spent there at Alden and Webster City, with the exception of seven years in South Dakota. On March 1, 1880, she united in marriage with J. E. Parker and to this union eight children were born: two of whom, Jimmie L. and Sonnie, died in infancy. The six living children are Nellie May Kendell of Palouse, Washington; J. Leslie Parker of Dows, Iowa; Olive Bell Sabin of Esterville, Iowa; Fred C and Harry R. Parker of this place, and Kittie C. Burton of Webster City. Besides the husband and children she leaves to mourn her decease four sisters, two brothers: Mrs Lillian Trudell of Deering, South Dakota; Mrs Alice Beckner of Lebonon, South Dakota; Mrs. Millie Goodrich of Fort Dodge; Mrs. Louie Dingman of Lehigh; Edmond J. Crane of Lebonon, South Dakota, and Charles Crane of Ispswich, South Dakota. There are also twenty-five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

During the year 1893, she united with Evergreen Evangelical Methodist Church at Radcliffe, later identifying herself with the Vincent Methodist Church, and still later with the Methodist Church in Webster City, of which church she was a member for twenty-one years, belonging to the various societies of the church, especially the missionary societies and the ladies aide, being president of the latter for a while.

On March 1, 1930 she and her husband were priveledged to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. The happy affair was held in the basement of the Webster City Church and at the home of their daughter, Mrs Burton.

The writer wishes at this time to express his sincere sympathics to the bereaved husband and children in the loss of their beloved wife and mother.