Willey, Frank E. – 1859-1949

LACEY, LAWS, WARD, MC LEOD, WILLEY, WOODHOUSE

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 5/31/2009 at 13:07:09

Frank E. Willey Died at Home Friday Evening
Pioneer Resident of Colfax; Funeral Services Held Monday Afternoon
Frank E. Willey, 89, died Friday evening at his home in west Colfax. He had been in failing health for several months due to his advanced years. Mr. Willey has been a resident of Colfax for many years coming here first as a coal miner. In his later years he added horticulture as an avocation and after retiring from active mining spent his entire time working with plants, flowers and shrubs at his home and at the Ed Bollhoefer estate. He at one time had one of the show places of the city, the flowers growing to unusual size and coloring under his “green thumb.” He had been a member of the Methodist Church since 1925 and for over sixty years a member of the Colfax Odd Fellow lodge. Frank E. Willey was born in Greasboro, England, November 27, 1859 and passed away September 2, 1949 at his home in Colfax, Ia., at the age of 89 years, 9 months and 6 days.He was married to Sarah Amelia Woodhouse on June 3, 1882 in the County of Barnsley, England. To this union two children were born, Daisy Willey Laws and Lester Willey, both of Colfax, Iowa. He is survived by his wife, his son and daughter, four grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, one brother Tom Willey of Gillispie, Ill., and three sisters, Polly McLeod and Hannah Ward of Colfax and Florence Lacey of Des Moines along with a host of nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at the Methodist church at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon with Rev. Floyd Shepherd, officiating. Music was provided by Mrs. George Rinker and Miss Mable Kaldenberg with Miss Jean Binkerd at the piano. Pall bearers were Lewis Edwards, Fred Sayre, Hull Irwin, C. L. Graham, Tom Hughes and R. E. Cummings. The Odd Fellows were in charge of the graveside rites at the Colfax cemetery.
Source: The Colfax (IA) Tribune; September 8, 1949, page 1, col. 1