McLAUGHLIN, Leota 1902 – 1927

MCLAUGHLIN, KING

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/28/2013 at 07:00:50

Leota Boddicker McLaughlin, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. King, was born at Blairstown, Iowa, April 7, 1902, and departed this life Wednesday morning, March 16, following an illness of three days duration. She was at the home of her parents where she had gone to recuperate after a light operation for an abscess on her nose. Complications set in, however, but her condition was not thought alarming until a few hours before she passed away, death being the result of blood poisoning.

Her father died when she was but six months old and when she was five years old she moved to Brooklyn with the family, entering the rural school, later Brooklyn high school, graduating with the class of 1920. She also attended St. John’s school at Victor. She fitted herself for teaching following that profession up to the time of her fatal illness.

On December 28, last, she was united in marriage to Mr. John McLaughlin. They immediately went to light housekeeping in Grinnell, moving a few weeks ago to a farm northwest of the city.

Leota, as she was familiarly known to everyone, will long be remembered by those who knew her best for her sterling Christian qualities, her ready response to the call for help in any good cause, her respect for law, her love and devotion to family and friends. It can be truly said of her, she was one who cared not for honors but loved honor. She is gone and will be missed by all who knew her, but most of all by those in the home which she left a few short weeks ago, a happy bride and the home which she entered to become a part, and with the Parish and community we extend our sympathy to the husband, mother, father and brother left to revere her memory. These, after all, have the consolation of knowing her every effort was put forth to fight the good fight to keep the faith and win the crown promised to all those who persevere unto the end.

The floral offerings were many and beautiful and mutely testified to the esteem in which she was held.

The funeral said to be among the largest in this community, was held Friday morning at nine o’clock at St. Patrick’s church with Solemn High Mass of Requiem sung by Rev. E. W. Barron, as celebrant, Rev. W. E. Carroll of Marengo, as deacon, Rev. M. J. Hannon, of Grinnell, as sub-deacon, assisted by the Parish choir of which the deceased was a faithful member.

She also was a member of the ladies Sodality and a Sunday School teacher.

The pallbearers were Willie Flannigan, John Hotchkins, Joe HItchkins, Franklyn Jacobi, Clemant Cantwell and Raymond Cantwell, all cousins of the deceased.

After the beautiful and impressive service for the dead of the Catholic Church were ended, this large concourse of friends of all denominations followed the girl they loved in life and death to Calvary cemetery at Marengo and there performed the last sad rites by tenderly closing the tomb but carrying home with them the remembrances of an exemplary life.

Source: Unknown newspaper clipping found in scrapbook belonging to my great grandmother, Edith (Kann) Newton.