Ava Marner

MARNER, SCHWIMLEY

Posted By: Misty Christner (email)
Date: 5/2/2018 at 10:14:24

Source: Muscatine Journal & Tribune 4/20/1923

WELLMAN GIRL DIES OF BLOOD POISONING

Iowa City, Ia., April 26, - Miss Ava Marner, 18 years old, a senior in the Wellman High School, died at a local hospital here Tuesday night of blood poisoning caused by a slight scratch on her nose last Thursday. She died less than 24 hours after being brought here.
The deceased was one of the most popular members of her class in high school and was to have been graduated this spring. She is survived by her mother, Mrs. L. R. Marner, and her grandfather, P.F. Schwimley. She was a member of the Sharon Evangelical church.

Source #2: Unsure of Newspaper Title

Ava Marner Dies At Iowa City Monday

The entire community was shocked on Monday afternoon, when the news was telephoned from Iowa City that Miss Ava Marner was rapidly sinking, and bidding her friends here to come at once if they wished to see her alive. But few people knew of her illness, which had only been of a few days' duration, and still fewer knew that she had become rapidly worse and been taken to the University Hospital on that morning, and those that knew of it, with perhaps the exception of the physicians, had not realized that she was so critically ill. Everyone fervently hoped that the news was exaggerated and that her disease would yield to treatment, but in spite of the fact that she was in the care of some of the most skilled physicians in the world, death could not be stayed, and the end came at ten o'clock Monday evening. Her death was due to blood poisoning, resulting from a slight infection in side the nose. The infection quickly spread upward through the sinus and out to the brain. Fortunately such cases are not common, for statistics prove them almost 100% fatal. On last Thursday forenoon, Ava attended school for the last time. She took dinner at the home of her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Schwimley, and in the afternoon complained of feeling too ill to go to school, although not seriously sick. On Friday and Saturday she was no better. On Sunday she was much worse and suffering intensely. On Sunday night she walked the floor all night with pain, and on Monday morning she was taken to Iowa City to the hospital, where it was hoped an operation might be performed to relieve her, but nothing could be done. Dr. Dean, in speaking of her case, is reported as saying, "That she was another case just like Dr. Littig," the well-known surgeon who died so suddenly in Iowa City a few years ago. Her friends can take some comfort in the memory they they did everything possible to save her.
Her funeral was an unusually large one, attesting the deep respect which was freely accorded her by all of her acquaintances, and the flowers were wonderful in profusion and beauty, speaking eloquently of love for her, and sympathy for her bereaved mother and other dear ones.
The body was brought here from Iowa City on Wednesday morning and short services were held at the home, conducted by her uncle, Rev. A. Schwimley. At this service, Miss Marie Shetler sang, "Face to Face" and a quartet of ladies sand, "Sweet By and Bye". The Senior class acted as pall bearers. All the high school and faculty were present, high school having been dismissed for the afternoon. At the close of services here, nearly all the high school and many other friends from here joined in the sad procession that then wended its way to the Evangelical church at Sharon Center, where the family have their membership. Rev. Shank, pastor of this church, conducted the regular services, which were attended by many from Wellman, and by a large concourse of sorrowing friends from their old home community.
The body, which was robed in the beautiful dress she had intended to wear at her graduation, was then laid beside her sleeping father in the peaceful Sharon cemetery. At the services here, and also at Sharon, the following beautiful tribute to the deceased was read:

Obituary
"Miss Ava Marner, beloved daughter and only child of Mr. L. R. and Mrs. Carrie Marner, was suddenly and unexpectedly called out of this life and taken from endeared fellowship of many loved ones and assertions which to her was ever delightful and uplifting. In the midst of strength and high hopes, and joyful fellowship, and busy school work, she was suddenly stricken with a serious affliction and hurried to the state hospital at Iowa City, where scientific treatment might be given her, but to no avail. Disease did its fatal work in a short time, ending her beautiful life the same evening. April 23, 1923.
She was born May 31, 1905, at Sharon Center, Johnson County, IA., and was aged 17 years, 10 months, and 22 days. In this locality the family lived for a number of years, and in the fall of 1919 they moved to Wellman, where she entered the Wellman High School, where she soon go a greater vision of life and its development, pursuing her studies with zeal and ambition to develop brain and body, and looking forward to the time so near when she would received her well earned papers from the Wellman High School. Also about which time she would reach her age of maturity, events of great interest to all young men and women in the development and history of human life and years. She was loved and esteemed by her many friends in the circle of social relationships. It is evident that these will miss her in the days to come. She was a teacher of the class called "Busy Bee" workers in the Baptist Sunday School, a fine class of girls which were endeared to her very much and hailed her with delight every Sunday morning as they met. Just entering the threshold of life's activity and usefulness, in the Providence of God, mysterious to us, she has suddenly been called to a higher realm of life, where affliction and parting of friends and loved ones are not known, and where none say; I am sick, and where all tears are wiped away.
Her father preceded her to the life immortal nearly two and a half years ago, with whom she now no double has joined to abide forever. She leaves behind her loving, broken hearted mother and many dear relatives and friends to mourn. By whom she will be missed in all the walks of life. May the Great Comforter be very near to these especially the lonely mother.

Her School Life
Ava began her school life in Wellman when she entered the 8th grade, at the beginning of the second semester, in January 1920. From the first, she was an unusually good student and finished the grammar school at the close of that school year, with an average high enough to excuse her from all examinations, and a record for excellent deportment. On the first Monday in September of the same years she entered the Wellman High School with what is now the Junior Class. Her splendid record in scholarship for that year, and her ambition to finish her school work as quickly as possible, that she might take her place in the world's activities, led her to take extra work, and she had completed her remaining three year's work in two years with the exception of the few weeks intervening between the date of her death and the graduating exercises of the class of 1923. By this she made an exceptional record in scholarship and application. During her high school course she found time aside from her work to take an active part in the social life and athletics of the school. During her Freshman years she was a substitute on the basketball team, and last year played on the regular team, helping to win their many victories. Just a week ago last night she served as chairman of the refreshment committee at the Senior-Junior banquet, and filled this responsible place with credit to herself and class. During this spring she had been very busy with plans for her approaching graduation and looked forward to the event with pleasant anticipation. She had a part in the class play in which she took a great interest. Her death is unspeakable sad, especially to her bereaved classmates and to her teachers with whom she was a general favorite because of her diligence in the classroom and her respectful attitude toward her instructors. her memory will long live in the Wellman High School, where it will serve as an inspiration to those who follow her.