Guessford, Catherine Isobelle Blakley. – 1850-1927

BLAKLEY, BRALEY, DONNAL, GREEN, GUESSFORD, KLINE

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:37

Pioneer Resident Dies Last Night
Rites For Mrs. W. M. Guessford to be Held Thursday at 10 at Morgan Funeral Home
Mrs. W. M. Guessford, a well-known pioneer resident of Jasper county, died at her home last evening at 8:45 o’clock following an illness of eight days. Heart trouble is given as the cause of her death.
Funeral services will be conducted from the Morgan Funeral home Thursday morning at 10 o’clock with Dr. Robert Lee Stuart, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church in charge. Burial will be made in the family lot at the Newton Union cemetery.
Mrs. Guessford is survived by her husband, W. M. Guessford, one daughter, Mrs. Lou Donnal of Ames, four sons, Edward Guessford of Newton, Elmer Guessford of Mitchellville, J. R. Guessford of Des Moines and Earl Guessford of Sioux Falls, S.D., and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Kline of Killduff and Mrs. Maggie Green of Newton and a niece Mrs. Fannie Braley of Kellogg. One daughter Cora preceded her in death, seven years ago.
Source: Newton Daily News; Tuesday, September 6, 1927

To Hold Guessford Funeral Thursday
Services Will Be Conducted From the Morgan Funeral Home at 10 O’clock
Funeral services for Mrs. W. M. Guessford of this city, who died Monday evening, following an illness of eight days will be held tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock from the Morgan Funeral home.
Dr. Robert Lee Stuart, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church, will deliver the funeral address and burial will be made in the family lot in the Newton Union cemetery.
Source: Newton Daily News; Wednesday, September 7, 1927

Funeral Held For Pioneer Resident
Mrs. W. M. Guessford, Well Known Newton Woman, is Buried Today
Funeral services for Mrs. W. M. Guessford, one of the well-known pioneer residents of Jasper county, who died at her home, 215 South Second avenue East, Monday evening after a brief illness, were conducted from the Morgan Funeral home this morning at 10 o’clock. The funeral chapel was filled to capacity by relatives and friends to pay their last tribute.
Dr. Robert Lee Stuart, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church delivered the funeral address, taking as his topic the ninety-first psalm. Burial was in the family lot at the Newton Union cemetery.
Pallbearers included the four sons, Edward Guessford, Elmer Guessford, J. R. Guessford and Earl Guessford, a brother-in-law, Dr. O. N. Green and son-in-law, J. C. Donnal.
Favorite songs of Mrs. Guessford were sung by a quartet composed of Mrs. Myrtle Burr, Mrs. Sam McMahon, Fred Hough and George Ross, with Miss Marjorie Hough accompanist. The songs were “Rock of Ages” and “The last Mile of the Way.” A solo “The End of a Perfect Day” was sung by Fred Hough.
Mrs. Guessford is survived by her husband, W. M. Guessford, and five children, Edward Guessford of Newton, Mrs. J. C. Donnal of Ames, Elmer Guessford of Mitchellville, J. R. Guessford of Des Moines and Earl Guessford of Sioux Falls, S. D., two sisters, Mrs. Mary Kline of Killduff and Mrs. O. N. Green of Newton, and a niece Mrs. O. G. Braley of Kellogg, who has been considered as a sister by Mrs. Guessford. One daughter, Cora, preceded her in death seven years ago. She is survived by seven grandchildren.
Obituary
Catherine Isobelle Blakley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Z. W. Blakley was born in Knox county, August 1, 1850, and died at her home in Newton Sept. 5.
She moved with her parents to Cedar county, Ia., when young and later she moved to Jasper county, when a young girl. She lived on the farm with her parents for a number of years.
Sept. 29, 1869, she was united in marriage to W. M. Guessford and to this union six children were born, of whom one daughter died seven years ago and the five children of whom survive her. She, with her husband, lived on a farm southeast of Newton in Buena Vista township for a number of years.
They moved to Newton later and have made Newton their home since 1865.
Active Church Worker
Mrs. Guessford had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since childhood and had always been one of the most active members of the local church. She assisted in the work of the church societies and organizations.
She had been failing in health for the last three years but her condition had not been considered serious until eight years before she died, she took suddenly ill at her home and grew gradually worse. Heart trouble was given as the cause of her death. All her children were there at her bedside, except for her son Earl of Sioux Falls who arrived here shortly after her death.
Source: Newton Daily News; Thursday, September 8, 1927