Edith Shepherd 1888-1921

SHEPHERD, FLETCHER

Posted By: jo (email)
Date: 9/10/2008 at 19:26:51

ONE OF MAQUOKETA'S MOST LOVED YOUNG WOMEN CALLED
As friends and loved ones awaited with eager care and tear-filled eyes just before the noonday of yesterday, angels gently bore a soul, pure and sweet, across the vast solitudes of heaven and gave it to God. As the gates of that golden land were opened there entered one who had finished a noble life on earth and completed a course, all along which shine forth the glory of Successful achievement. Edith Shepherd is dead in body, but that is all. Her beautiful character, her wonderful conception of goodness; her exemplification of kindness, like the fragrance of the rose, lingers around the shattered vase, and is with us still - yes and forever.
But in the glory of the brightest day, the night came on-yet were there no night we could not see the wonderful beauty of the stars. We seem unable to measure joys only by their loss. The richest clusters of earth's garden seem to grow around the cross, and how dear are our greatest blessings after they have faded and gone.
But the blackest night that ever enshrouded earth could not destroy the stars. The fact that Edith Shepherd has lived is a heaven born delight to alll who knew her. In her untimely passing, her loved ones and friends are not alone impoverished, but the world is made poorer. A jewel is taken from earth's most valued mines - the school and the church. Her life was greater and grander than any text-book from which she taught, and her charachter was an inspirattion to those she sought to help and uplift.
A wonderful monument shall stand as a masterpiece and with skilful hand and heart and mind of purity and love she chiseled deeply the name of Edith Shepherd into the very lives of everyone wh knew her so-as Edith's life fo love and usefullness has left its indelible imporint upon the young souls she guided, so should her example be emulated to us all, and we know that even the flowers which bloom over her grassy mound will have an added color, an enhanced fragrance, sweetly telling the story of a noble life.

OBITUARY
Edith P. Shepherd was born in Chicago, Ill., July 4, 1888, and was left motherless at the age of four years, and with her father, the Rev. Samuel Shepherd, pastor of the Congregational church, two sisters and brother came to Maquoketa which city had since been her home. Edith's mother, having passed away when she was so young, she knew but one mother -Mrs. Minnie Fletcher-Shepherd, who came into the home in 1896, and no greater devotion ever existed between mother and daughter that was developed between these two. Death called a sister, Miss Grace, in 1900 while four years later the father was taken.
Edith graduated from our high school with the class of 1907, and from Grinnell College in 1912, fitting herself for a life work as a teacher and in which vocation she taught in the schools at Baynard, Ia., and served as principal in the Maquoketa and Batavia, Ill., schools. Her rare ability, her patience and love for everyone and everything that was beautiful caused her pupils as well as the people in general to idolize her and hundreds of hearts are aching today in the thoughts of her untimely death. Her devotion to her mother and sister was wonderful and their close attachement and mutual interests in blended in delightful harmony. Ever mindful of others, self-sacraficing, Edith lived and gloried in her life's work. A beautiful example of this filial devotion was exemplified on last Mother's Day when she came home unannounced and at the doorway met her mother saying, "I did not send you flowers this time, Mamma. I came myself," and rest assured no flower could have been more welcome than the one who came that evening.
But upon the horizon of this life the clouds arose and illness crept in and Miss Edith was compelled to give up her school work before the school year ended last June. Since that time she had gradually failed although the tenderest care and most able medical skill did their utmost to baffle the malady. Several days ago she was taken to the hospital at Iowa City and there submitted to an operation and seemed to rally nicely for a time but later it was found that another operation was necessary and this she was unable to withstand, and at 11 o'clock Monday forenoon her soul took flight to Heaven.
Her body accompanied by her sister, Miss Ruth, arrived here this forenoon at 11 o'clock and funeral will be held from the home on Maple street Wednesday afternoon at three o'clock. Rev. J. G. Morgan officiating.
Besides her mother and sister, she is survived by one brother, Frank, of Glenwood, Minn., unable to be here because of illness, and many distant relatives. Also legions of friends who extend heartfelt sympathy to the loved ones in this their irreparable loss.

DEATH DATE: July 18, 1921
SOURCE: Jackson Sentinel, July 9, 1921