Obituary from newspaper clipping

BECK, WHITMORE, DICE, RIPPLE, MCCREERY, CARR, BARRETT

Posted By: Jo Gruenwald (email)
Date: 4/9/2007 at 21:04:05

DEATH ANGEL CALL MRS. CHRIS BECK TO HER ETERNAL HOME.

Again has the icy touch of death enshrouded another happy home in our midst and almost without warning has bourne away the soul of a devoted wife and loving mother. To coin words expressive of such loss to home and loved ones is but candid admittance of our weakness; to pen words of sympathy is but frail attempt to paint the meaning of the heart-love which perfumed the every nook of home sweet home. Mrs. Chris Beck, loving mother, devoted wife and faithful friend, has left us for that mystic borderland just past the limit of our work-day, play-day world. Mystery has unfurled her banner over a sorrowing household; none among us can fathom the meaning of this untimely desolution and heart-pain. Yet rare indeed is there a home upon which such mysteries have not fallen, and we in our weakness seem prone to censure whereas we merely did not understand.
Mrs. Chris BECK, but a few days ago blythely attending to the duties of her home, elated in gratitude that health and happiness were with her and hers, has given up the life that she greatly loved, but that her loved ones loved even more. From the clear sky the dark cloud of trouble arose last Monday, gradually growing darker and darker until the mid-day angels of Friday brushed away the deepening blackness and tenderly chaperoned her to that grand Beyond. But sometime when life's lessons have all been learned, these heartbreaking things over which we grieve with tear filled eyes, will flash before us out of this dark night just as the stars shine most from the deepest tints of blue, and then and only then we shall see how God's love-plans which-
Like lilies pure and white unfold,
We must not tear the close-shut leaves apart;
Time will reveal the calyxes of gold.
Fannie Gertrude WHITMORE was born at Bridgeport, Ia., Dec. 7, 1895, and spent her girlhood and young womanhood on the old homestead at that place. On Christmas eve, 1903 she was united in marriage to Chris BECK in the Methodist Episcopal parsonage, and to this union five children were born, two of whom, Bennie and Rolland, passed away in early childhood. The surviving children being Mrs. Wilma DICE of near Delmar, Mrs. Oma RIPPLE of this city, and Donald, aged 10, at home, who with the bereaved husband and father mourn the loss of a loving mother and devoted wife. Mrs.BECK also leaves her aged mother, Mrs. Ella WHITMORE of Dubuque and grandmother, Mrs. Nancy J. McCREERY residing in this city; two brothers, Truman WHITMORE of Dubuque and Gordie of Calmar, Ia., and two grandchildren, Betty Lucile DICE, and Lois Marie RIPPLE; also two half brothers, Ed WHITMORE of New York state and Frank WHITMORE of Atlantic, Ia., and two half sisters, Mrs. Luta CARR of Edgemont, S. Dak., and Mrs. Carrie BARRETT of Hot Springs, S. Dak.
Mrs. Beck was a faithful member of the United Methodist church at Union Center, and also a member of the Philathea class of the Maquoketa Methodist Sunday school; a true Christian, a loving wife and mother and a kind and faithful friend.
Last Monday Mrs. BECK was taken suddenly ill and a physician was called, and despite all medical skill and willing hears and hands could do, her condition became more serious and on Wednesday she was removed to Memorial hospital, specialists and a special nurse summoned, but all efforts to stay the inevitable failed and she passed away at noon on Friday, August 12, 1927.
The funeral services were held from the Methodist church following a prayer at the home at 2:30 Sunday afternoon, Rev. F.C. Worcester of the Methodist church officiating. Interment was made in the cemetery at Bridgeport.

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CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the neighbors and friends for the many acts of kindness, floral tributes and expressions of sympathy during the illness and at the death of our beloved wife, mother, daughter and sister, Mrs. Chris BECK.

The Family