Alice L. Saunders, 1848-1913

SAUNDERS, BOWEN, PYLE, TUTT, GARDON, BORT, STUBBS, BOWMAN, MCCHORD, FOUCHE, GARVIN, GRANT, TIMMERMAN, COOPER, WALLBANK, OSBORN

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 3/12/2015 at 15:00:03

IN MEMORIAM.

Many were the friends whose hearts were saddened when the message came of the passing to the other side of Mrs. Alice L. Saunders, at her home in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday, November 13, 1913. She was so well known and loved by her friends in Mt. Pleasant where she lived when a girl and where she spent the greater part of her life. She was born October 11, 1848; was married at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, to Alvin B. Saunders, second son of Presley and Huldah Bowen Saunders, on June 2, 1868. He was manager of the Saunders' Dry Goods Store, the oldest store in Iowa. The old Saunders home was a historic place and there has never been a home in this city in which there clusters so many happy historic incidents, nor one so worthy to be enshrined in the memory of every early settler and old friend as that of Huldah and Presley Saunders who founded and named Mt. Pleasant, and whose memory is revered. Their last years were made pleasant and bright by the son and this devoted daughter and their family, who remained in the old home to tenderly care for and minister to every want and comfort. This hospitable home of nearly a half century has been the scene of social gatherings among the old as well as the younger generation, weddings of children and grandchildren and dark shadows of departing dear ones.

Soon after the death of Alvin B. Saunders July 12, 1903, Mrs. Saunders and the three children, Lillian, Ollie and Ralph, moved to Kansas City, to be near her beloved sister, Emma K. Pyle, and daughter, May. Mrs. Saunders always a very bright, capable and active woman, developed into a wonderfully successful business woman. Transferring her business interests to Kansas City, she became interested in building and during her residence in that city, she planned and erected a six apartment building between two of the prominent boulevards of the city and a residence at 1002 East 33rd St. She kept herself well informed of, took a deep interest in all affairs, both temporal and spiritual for she lived near God. Many unwritten deeds of kindness were constantly enriching her life and, her character was imbued with Christian grace and her long years of service were a benediction and inspiration. Today her work is done, her hands which have been so active in life ministering to others, are today folded. The heart that never failed to respond to those who needed her or to their needs, has ceased to beat; from among us has been taken one whose life has been an example and whose memory will ever be cherished by the dear ones of the family circle and the friends to whom she was one of the truest of friends.

Impressive funeral services were held at the home in Kansas City, conducted by Dr. John Tutt of First Church of Christ Scientist. A beautiful solo was sung by Mrs. Jane Gardon. The remains were accompanied to this city by her devoted brother George S. Saunders, of Wichita, and her two daughters, Mrs. Lillian Saunders Bort and Ollie Saunders Stubbs. Mr. Ralph Saunders, the son, of Los Angeles, Cal., reaching Kansas City in time for the service there, also her niece, Mrs. Flora Bowman McChord of York Neb. The remains reached Mt. Pleasant Monday morning and were taken to the home of Miss R.B. Fouche, the old W.G. Saunders home where brief services were held. The pallbearers were, S.W. Garvin, J.A. Grant, H.L. Timmerman, F.E. Cooper and A. Wallbank. A comforting prayer offered by Rev. Thomas Osborn, after which, on that calm November morning amid a wealth of flowers, expressions of love and sympathy of friends, the mortal remains of Alice L. Saunders was placed in a vault in the beautiful plot of ground known as the Saunders Circle in the city cemetery.

"How living are the dead,
Enshrined, but, not apart,
How safe within the breast
We hold them still - our dead
Whatever else be led!"

["Mt. Pleasant Daily News," Tuesday, December 9, 1913]