Ashley, Sylvia 1875-1940
ASHLEY, RUTHERFORD, BARBER, RICHARDS
Posted By: Jill McCarville (email)
Date: 11/7/2013 at 15:29:01
Funeral Services for Miss Sylvia Ashley will be held this Wednesday afternoon in the Methodist church at two o'clock, the Rev. Geo. W. Turner officiating. Burial will be in Oaklawn cemetery.
Miss Ashley died at the home of her sister, Mrs. Guy Rutherford at Quasqueton, Ia., Monday evening. She had lived there since her health failed in October, 1938. For two weeks she had been growing weaker until eight o'clock Monday evening when she passed away. Her niece, Thelma Ashley, to whom she had been as a mother, was at the Rutherford home for several days before her aunt's death.
Brief funeral services were held at the Harris & Garrison funeral home at Quasqueton at ten o'clock Tuesday morning after which the body was brought to the Bradley funeral home in Cresco accompanied by Mrs. Rutherford, daughter Eunice and Thelma Ashley. Rev. Rutherford and one son Bobbie came this morning. Deceased's cousin, Lucille Barber of New Hampton is also here for the funeral.
The following life sketch of deceased was read by Rev. Turner at the funeral.
Sylvia Bell, second daughter of Charles B. and Emmogene Ashley, was born in Albion township, Howard county, Ia., Sept. 9, 1875. She passed away at the home of her sister May in Quasqueton, Iowa, Monday, July 22, at eight o'clock in the evening, aged 64 years, ten months and eleven days.
Her father, mother and a brother, Carlos Cooper, preceded her in death. Surviving are Helen, Mrs. George Richards of Marchand, Manitoba, Canada; W.R. Ashley, Cresco; Erwin M. Ashley, Cresco, and May, Mrs. Guy Rutherford, Quasqueton, Iowa.
Her early education was in the rural school, and she later studied music at Breck School, Wilder, Minn. Following her higher education she taught music in Austin, Minn., for eight years. Returning from Austin, she remained at home, finally moving with her parents to Cresco, where she resided until her last illness.
She joined the Methodist Episcopal church early in life and was a faithful student of the bible, spending some time each day in its study.
She cared for her aged parents in their last illness, prolonging their lives with her tender care. She stood in the place of mother to her niece, Thelma Ashley, caring for her as though she were her own daughter.
She was a willing worker in the church and Sunday school, and was teacher of the Friendship class at the time she became ill. She was a member of the Rebekah lodge in good standing until her death, and was an officer in the Cresco Woman's club at the time of her illness. She was an ardent supporter of the Townsend movement.
She was unselfish and self sacrificing to the last, and her first thought was always for others. She leaves behind her a long record of service and kindness for others.
Besides her brothers and sisters, she leaves to mourn one uncle, Morris Barber of Cresco, and several nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.
The Howard County Times July 24, 1940 Page 5 C4
Transcribed by Jill McCarville from the files of Janice Sowers
Oak Lawn Cemetery
Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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