Wormley, Mary E. Spencer – 1862-1937

CHAMBERS, MCKIBBEN, MOLLECK, SPENCER, WORMLEY

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:40

Mrs. Wormley Dies Enroute From California
Widow of Pioneer Newton Educator Dies of Heart Attack Today
Mrs. George W. Wormley, 78, widow of Prof. George W. Wormley, pioneer Newton educator, died this morning in Pueblo, Colo., as the result of a heart attack suffered on a train enroute home from a winter’s sojourn in Long Beach, Calif.
Death occurred at 8:40 a.m. at St. Mary’s hospital in Pueblo. Mrs. J. B. Kerr of Newton, who had spent the winter with Mrs. Wormley in California, was accompanying her home and was with her at the time of her death.
No Arrangements
Funeral arrangements have not been made. The body will arrive in Newton early Monday morning.
Mrs. Mary E. Wormley, daughter of Henry M. and Amanda (Chambers) Spencer, was born in Jasper county Jan. 27, 1862, and was the last surviving member of a family of four children. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Charles, William and Burton Spencer.
Of a family of Jasper county pioneers, her parents came to this county as early as 1858. They were both natives of Ohio.
She was married to George Wormley March 17, 1885, and to this union six children were born, all of whom survive.
Husband was Educator
In the same year of his marriage, Mr. Wormley purchased the old Hazel Dell Academy and served as principal of this school for a period of years. In 1893, the name was changed to Newton Normal college and Mr. Wormley continued with it until moving to a farm in 1894.
Mr. and Mrs. Wormley returned to Newton in about 1917, and lived at 617 West Fifth Street South, where Mr. Wormley’s death occurred 12 years ago. In recent years, Mrs. Wormley had been making her home with her daughter, Mrs. N. E. Molleck.
Surviving relatives include two daughters, Mrs. Molleck and Mrs. Hazel McKibben of Newton; four sons, Donald Wormley of Kingsley, Dr. George M. Wormley of State Center, and B. H. and Fred B. Wormley of Newton, and 15 grandchildren.
Source: Newton Daily News; Saturday, April 17, 1937

To Hold Services For Mrs. Wormley in Newton Tuesday
Funeral services for Mrs. George W. Wormley, 75, will be conducted from the Methodist Episcopal church Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. by the pastor, Dr. Leslie B. Logan. Interment will be in the Newton Union cemetery.
Mrs. Wormley died Saturday morning in Pueblo, Colo., as the result of a heart attack suffered en route home from a winter’s vacation in Long Beach, Calif. The body arrived in Newton this morning.
Members of Palo Alto Grange, of which Mrs. Wormley was a charter member, will attend the rites in a body. Members are asked to meet in front of the First Presbyterian church at 2:15 p.m.
Source: Newton Daily News; Monday, April 19, 1937

Hold Wormley Services Tuesday
Dr. Logan Conducts Rites at First Methodist Episcopal Church
Funeral services for Mrs. George W. Wormley, 75, were conducted from the Methodist Episcopal church Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. by the pastor, Dr. Leslie B. Logan.
Music for the rites was provided by Richard Toedt, who sang, “Face to Face” and “Going Home.” He was accompanied at the organ by Lois Hundling.
Burial was in the Newton Union cemetery, beside her husband, the late Prof. George W. Wormley, pioneer Newton educator. A graveside service was conducted by the Palo Alto grange, of which she was a charter member.
Pall bearers were T. J. Kating, P. H. Healy, Eben Turner, J. H. Mallicoat, S. S. Marshall and Jay Parsons. The flowers were arranged by Mrs. A. P. Twogood, Mrs. Harry Awtry, Mrs. M. S. Vincent and Mrs. N. E. Nelson.
From Out-of-town
Those attending the rites from out-of-town were Dr. and Mrs. George Wormley of State Center; Mr. and Mrs. D. S. Wormley, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Wormley and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wormley of Kingsley; Dorothy Smith and Mrs. Mary Harriman of Ames;
Also, Bushnell Lamb of Iowa City; Harvey Skinner and Letta Skinner of Des Moines; Mrs. N. Molleck, Mrs. W. L. Molleck and Lena Goetz of Peoria, Ill.; H. E. Backman and Harlan G. Pfantz of State Center.
Mrs. Wormley died early Saturday morning at a Pueblo, Colo. Hospital as the result of a heart attack suffered en route home from her annual winter’s sojourn in Long Beach, Calif.
Obituary
Mary E. Spencer, daughter of Henry M. and Amanda Spencer, was born in Jasper county, Ia., Jan. 27, 1862, and was the last surviving member of a family of four children. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Charles, William and Burton Spencer.
Her parents were Jasper county pioneers, who came to this county from Ohio in 1858.
She grew to womanhood on a farm in the Metz neighborhood southwest of Newton and was married to George W. Wormley March 17, 1885. He preceded her in death in 1925.
Six Children
To this union was born six children, Donald S., of Kingsley, Ia., Dr. George of State Center, and Burton, Fred, Hazel McKibben and Mary Molleck, all of Newton. She is survived by all of her children and 18 grandchildren.
She united with the Methodist church early in life and remained a faithful member until her death. She was a member of the Bishop Stuntz division and the Ladies Aid society of the church.
A charter member of Palo Alto Grange, she was given a life membership in recognition of her long service.
Source: Newton Daily News; Wednesday, April 21, 1937