GILMER, Bert 1886 - 1951

GILMER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 10/21/2023 at 21:56:25

"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Wednesday, April 11, 1951
Page 5, Columns 5, 6, and 7

DEATH TAKES BERT GILMER

Death came last night to a well known Fairfield resident and a man who could have no doubt laid claim to the title of one of Fairfield's best known greeters.

He is Bert GILMER, colored porter at the Turner hotel for 15 years, who passed away at the Jefferson county hospital last night after an illness of several months.

"Bert" as he was known by most everyone in town, entered the hospital last December after he had been a patient for some time at the University hospital in Iowa City.

Last rites will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Hoskins funeral home with Dr. C. R. Douglass and Rev. Allen of Ottumwa in charge. Burial will be in Evergreen cemetery.

Bert was born of slave parentage in Kentucky, and came to Jefferson county when a lad of five years old with the GILMER family, so he assumed that name. After living in the Glasgow community for a time he came to Fairfield and has made his home here since.

He had been employed at the Turner hotel for the past 15 years. During that time he made thousands of friends with traveling salesmen, tourists and other visitors to Fairfield. He will be long remembered by many of those who expected and appreciated his service while employed there.

Bert has no known relatives here according to records at the undertaking establishment, but he will be long remembered by many Fairfield residents who considered Bert one of their friends.

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"The Fairfield (Ia.) Daily Ledger"
Tuesday, May 1, 1951
Page 4, Column 3

I did not have the space last week to reproduce the charming tribute John Montgomery paid to the late Birt GILMER, the colored man, who was the Turner Hotel's greeter and handy-man for so many years. John's tribute was attached to the menu cards a few days after Birt's death. It follows:

"With Birt goes a part of Fairfield, a part of every individual that ever came in contact with him, and an important and irreplaceable part of this institution.

"For a generation he served this community; for fifteen years he was as much a part of Hotel Turner as the front door. With him goes that intangible something that a personality brings to an institution. Humbly and respectfully he served both customer and employer.

"Proud of the institution he represented he was almost fanatical in his loyalty. Never above the humblest assignment, yet he would rise to the heights of regal dignity and graciousness implied by the gold braid of the uniform he loved so well, when the occasion presented itself.

"It truly can be said, Fairfield is a better community, Hotel Turner is a better institution, we are better people for having known Birt GILMER."

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried in Lot 1st.072. According to his WWII Draft Registration Card, Bert was born June 1, 1886. His gravestone notes a birth year of 1885. His death certificate lists his birthdate as 'unknown', his age as a question mark, and his parents as 'unknown'.